The police had no clue, but Sebastian saw right through it. There was only one person on the force who would call Reese at a time like this. Who else could it possibly be except for Matthew?


    He watched her end the call, her eyes red and puffy, her face soft and calm in a way he''d never seen before. That gentleness wasn''t for him.


    Storm brewing in his eyes, Sebastian shoved the door open and strode in like he owned the ce. The short distance to her felt like a mile, but he forced himself forward until he was standing right in front of her. He took a long, steadying breath, then lifted his gaze to meet hers-cold and unyielding.


    "What are you doing here?" Reese''s voice was like ice. She wiped away thest trace of a tear, her whole demeanor shifting back to sharp edges and thorns. The warmth she''d shown on the phone with Matthew was gone, just like that.


    "So, did youe to see how pathetic I am?" she scoffed. "Or maybe you found some new evidence and can''t wait to pin everything on me?"


    Matthew''s words echoed in her mind, and as she watched the man she''d called her husband for seven years, all she felt was bitter irony. At least Matthew believed in her. Sebastian, though, had never stopped seeing her as a suspect.


    Sebastian caught the trace of tears still shining in her eyes and the way she shut him out. Thest of his restraint snapped. She could be gentle with Matthew, but when it came to him, all he got was distance-and hate.


    It hit him in the chest, hard. He reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.


    "You think acting like this is going to make me divorce you? Think I''ll just let you walk away?" His voice was low, almost dangerous. "Forget it. I''m never letting you go. Not in this lifetime."


    He stared at her, jaw tight. "Maybe I should just have you locked up," he said quietly. "That way you''ll never get the chance to leave. You''ll always be my wife."


    Reese pped his hand away and stepped back, herugh cold as ice. "Sebastian, do you really think the Ratcliff family controls all of Bridger Lake? Get real. With what you''ve got, even the police can''t charge me. What makes you think you can?"


    "You want evidence?" Sebastian let out a humorlessugh and pulled out his phone, tapping to bring up a video. "Here. Security footage from outside Grandpa''s hospital room. During that whole time, you were the only one who went in. After Aiden left, no one else showed up until the camera was destroyed."


    So what if she hadn''t hurt grandpa? If it meant keeping her by his side, Sebastian would twist the truth as much as he had to.


    He handed the phone off to a cop, but his focus stayed on Reese. "She works in artificial intelligence. Hacking security cameras is nothing to her. No one else there could''ve done it.


    “As a member of the victim''s family,


    I''m


    charally requesting criminal ''He didn''t even vorne


    Ratcliff family isn''t backing down.


    Reese stared at him, stunned, her whole body going cold. She couldn''t believe Sebastian would actually push her this far.


    She closed her eyes and took a


    yel


    breath. When she opened them again, there was only ice left. "Sebastian do you really think would hurt your grandfather


    "What? Scared now?" He turned, stubbornness burning in his eyes. "If you promise not to divorce me, I''ll drop everything. Right now."


    Reese didn''t hesitate. "Not a chance."


    "Great. Just great." Sebastian''s


    vels


    anger finally spilled over, his face dark as thunder You think.


    Matthew''s support means you can de whatever you want?"


    “Fine. See you in court. Let''s see if you''re still this tough when you''re on the stand."


    Without another word, he turned and walked out, shoulders rigid. "Do whatever you want. The Ratcliff family won''t let this go."


    A police officer stepped up, ncing at her with a mix of sympathy and duty. "Mrs. Ratcliff... Ms. Meyer, pleasee back to the holding room with us."


    Reese watched Sebastian leave without looking back and felt a chill settle over her. This was the man she''d married!


    "Ms. Meyer?" the officer called again when she didn''t move.


    She finally let out a shaky breath and followed the officers back to the holding room.


    Even with that security footage, there was nothing to prove she''d hurt the old man. All she could do now was wait-wait for the truth toe out.


    She curled up in the corner, losing track of time, until finally, the door creaked open again.