Outside the ICU.


    Robbie sat by himself on the bench right outside the hospital room, legs dangling off the edge as he stared into space. Down the hall, his dad was deep in


    conversation with a doctor, voices hushed. Grandma sat right next to him, holding tight to Aunt Leslie''s hand.


    "Trust you to know what to do," Grandma muttered, sounding pleased. "Once Sebastian gets the police to arrest Reese, let''s see how bold she is then."


    Robbie blinked, trying to make sense of everything. After all the fights and shouting, he could tell his parents were done. There was nothing left between them. Now, it was always Aunt Leslie by his dad''s side, always there when his dad needed someone.


    She clearly meant a lot to his father.


    Grandma had promised she''d make sure his parents split, and his mom looked like she''d made up her mind too. It was probably just a matter of time before the divorce was official.


    If they did get divorced, Aunt Leslie could end up being his new mom.


    If that happened, Robbie would have to stay with the Ratcliff family. His dad would be the only one he could really count on, so he couldn''t risk making him angry. And it wouldn''t be smart to ignore Aunt Leslie either.


    As all these thoughts crowded his mind, Robbie''s eyes drifted to his dad''s phone, left sitting on a little table nearby. The screen, set to silent, started to blink- someone was calling.


    Robbie nced at the name. It was his mom.


    He hesitated, biting his lip, then quietly picked up the phone and slipped into a quiet corner. He pressed decline, heart pounding, then quickly erased the call from the history and blocked his mom''s number.


    If his parents were done for good, there was no reason for his dad to get calls from Mom, especially not in front of Aunt Leslie. No point in making things awkward.


    Just as Robbie finished, Sebastian wrapped up his talk with the doctor and spotted Robbie in the corner, messing with his phone. Sebastian''s eyes narrowed.


    He strode over, snatched the phone out of Robbie''s hands, and gave him a cold, hard look.


    "Did I say you could touch my phone? If you mess with my stuff without asking again, you''ll be in big trouble."


    Robbie''s eyes went wide and he shrank back, stammering, "S-sorry. I won''t do it again."


    Sebastian just red at him, then checked the call log. Nothing from Reese. He let out a short, bitterugh.


    There''s no way, he thought. No way Reese wouldn''t try to call after thewyer spoke to her. She would be deseperate to talk, to try to bargain.


    He knew he was being harsh, maybe even cruel. But it didn''t matter. What he really wanted was for Reese toe back to him, to admit she was wrong.


    As long as Reese didn''t go through with the divorce, he''d give her anything she wanted.


    All he could do now was wait.


    Meanwhile, down a hallway at ckOak Hospital.


    Reese frowned at her phone when the call cut off. She tried again, but this time got that cold automated message. The number you vediated is unavable.


    Sebastian had blocked her.


    A sh of disbelief crossed Reese''s face.


    "You''re wasting your time, ma''am." Ashton''s voice broke the silence, calm and certain. "Mr. Ratcliff sent


    me here for a reason, He''s box!


    interested in negotiating. Are you signing the agreement, or not?”


    Reese shot him a sharp look. Then, without a word, she grabbed the


    non-divorce agreement off the table, ripped it clear in half


    and tossed the


    preces into the air content belongs


    "I''m not signing this. And if Sebastian thinks he can threaten me with a piece of paper, he''s dreaming.


    "Tell Sebastian that after today, there''s nothing between us. Ever."


    "Ma''am... you''re only making things harder for yourself." Ashton''s face darkened. He picked up his phone and made a call. Suddenly, fast footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway.