Besides, the Murphy family''s main business in Bridger Lake is medical equipment, which really has nothing to do with Ratcliff Global''s focus on artificial intelligence.


    Jane kept her face calm. "You know how it is. Sebastian''s been swamped ever since his father passed, and he barely has time to breathe. Once things settle down, I''ll talk to him. If he ever needs help with business in the future, of course we''ll help out."


    Mrs. Murphy could hear the polite rejection in Jane''s words. She wanted to say something more, but Aimee tugged at her sleeve, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.


    Mrs. Murphy shot Aimee a scolding look, but finally gave up and fell silent.


    "You''ve had a tough time too, Mrs. Ratcliff. I heard your father-inw passed away so suddenly. My condolences."


    The air in the room turned awkward for a moment, until Mrs. Ramirez spoke up.


    "Mr. Ratcliff just passed, and Ratcliff Global still needs Sebastian running the show. Jane, you have to stay strong. The whole family''s counting on you to keep things together."


    Jane took a sip of tea and let out a tired sigh. "Tell me about it."


    After watching Sebastian and Reese at the courthouse today, it was obvious: Sebastian was so caught up in trying to win Reese back, he didn''t have the mind for anything else.


    He hadn''t even thought about what would happen if Reese really wanted a divorce. If he pushed her too far, and she let all that evidence she had slip out, how would he clean up the mess?


    Who else was going to think about these things if not her?


    She looked around and noticed her closest friend wasn''t there. "Where''s Margaret? I thought she''d be here."


    Considering how close Neal and Sebastian were growing up, Margaret definitely knew all about the drama between Reese and Sebastian.


    Usually, Jane would check in with her for advice, but today, of all days, she was missing.


    Mrs. Kim nced around, lowered her voice, and said, "You haven''t heard? The Shaw family''s had quite the stirtely."


    "Oh?" Jane asked, raising a brow.


    "A while back, Levi got swept up with some young celebrity and started talking about divorce.


    "You know how capable Margaret''s daughter-inw is. If she left, that house would be chaos. No wonder Margaret''s so worried."


    "Howe I haven''t heard anything about this?" Mrs. Ramirez, always eager for gossip, leaned in. "Don''t tell me they already divorced in secret!"


    "No way. If they had, we''d have heard by now," Mrs. Kim said with augh. "Turns out Margaret''s


    daughter-inw found out she''s


    pregnant again, and this time it''s a girl, Levi was thrilled. He broke things off with that celebrity on his own, took his wife and Margaret


    abroad to rx and take care of the baby. That''s why she''s not here today."


    Jane''s hand suddenly stilled, and a ssh of hot teanded on her skin. She


    didn''t even notice the sting.


    Pregnant?


    Right. Why hadn''t she thought of that?


    If she could find a way for Reese to get pregnant with Sebastian''s child again, there''s no way Reese would


    insist on a divorce-not for the baby''s sake.


    Even if Reese still wanted out, she''d have to wait until after the baby was


    born. That would give Jane ten whole months which was plenty of time to make sure all that evidence Reese had disappeared.


    "Exactly," Mrs. McCoy said, swirling her tea with the authority of someone who''d been through it all. "A woman''s weakness is always her children.


    "When I caught my husband cheating all those years ago, I was ready to call it quits. Then I found out I was pregnant with my son, and everything changed.


    "Men will be men. As long as my son is his only child, I can look the other way."


    Jane''s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.


    So that''s it. Getting Reese pregnant again was the key to keeping her and Sebastian together.


    But how could she make it happen in a way Reese couldn''t refuse?


    After walking thedies out to the garden, Jane spotted Robbie kicking a ser


    ball nearby. Her eyes lit up with an idea.


    ckOak Research Division.


    Reese stepped into theb and, for once, found Matthew away from hisputer. He was lounging on the sofa, reading through a file.