She thought it over for a moment, then let out a long breath. "Okay, I get it. I''ll figure something out."


    Once she hung up, Leslie took a second to pull herself together before heading out to the ICU waiting area, where Jane was sitting. She sat down next to her.


    Jane pressed an iced towel against her cheek, still nursing the sting from Reese''s p. "If you hadn''t gone abroad, Sebastian would''ve married you instead."


    Leslie started gently rubbing Jane''s shoulders, speaking softly. "Sebastian and I just weren''t meant to be. Please don''t let it get to you. Reese is Sebastian''s wife now, and if this turns into a huge mess, it''s not going to look good for anyone."


    Jane bristled at that, her eyes shing with anger. "Who even knows she''s his wife? She''s already hurt Dad, now she wants to hurt Sebastian, and she even dared to hit me? There''s no way I''m letting her off the hook."


    Leslie''s lips curled into a small smile. "So what are you going to do? You''re not really thinking of calling the cops, are you?"


    "Why not?" Jane snapped. Leslie''s words seemed to spark something in her. "That''s exactly what I''m going to do. I''ll make Sebastian call the police, get her arrested, and send her to jail..."


    She didn''t even get to finish before Sebastian walked in, his voice cutting through the tension.


    "Jail? Who are you sending to jail?"


    His eyes swept over Jane and Leslie, cold and impossible to read.


    "Mom, the weather''s been greattely. How about I arrange for you to take the private jet and rx on that ind down somewhere in south?"


    It was clear to anyone he was trying to protect Reese, not about to let Jane get her way. Jane''s anger red even hotter; her face was still throbbing from that p.


    "Sebastian, what''s going on with you? You''re still defending Reese after everything she''s done? No wonder she thinks she cany a hand on me!"


    "And you haven''t exactly been innocent, have you?" Sebastian shot back. He remembered that Jane was the one who started it.


    He couldn''t get the image of Reese limping away out of his head. He frowned, feeling a heavy knot in his chest.


    "You''re yelling at me for her?" Jane''s voice


    mbled with hurt. "I''m y


    and


    you''d take the


    youre about to divorce?".


    Sebastian was beyond frustrated. He watched the two women, his face unreadable. "I don''t want either of you getting involved. If your trye, anything behind my back, you''d better hope I don''t find out."


    He turned and walked out without looking back, heading for the window at the end


    of the hall. He lit a cigarette and stared out, lost in thought.


    "Sebastian." Leslie followed after him, her tone soft. "Your mom''s just upset


    because of grandfather. You shouldn''t talk to her like that."


    Sebastian just shot her a cold look, saying nothing.


    Leslie tried again. "I really don''t think Ms. Meyer would hurt your grandfather. But your mom''s not going to stop it


    orrying. Maybe


    be better to let the police look into it, clear Ms. Meyer''s name, so there''s no more drama."


    Sebastian''s mind drifted back to Reese''s parting words: I''m done with this marriage. Smoke curled around his face, his eyes dark andplicated.


    "My rtionship with her isn''t your business," he finally said. "I''ll handle it. Go home, Leslie."


    Leslie started to say something else, but Sebastian cut her off, his voice steely and final, every word heavy with authority.


    "I said go home."


    A chill ran through Leslie. He''d never spoken to her like that before. Her eyes turned red, but when she looked up, Sebastian''s gaze was colder than ever.


    She hesitated, then finally walked away, ncing back at him with every step until she disappeared down the hall.