When Tara found out Zach was leaving the country, she ran after him, refusing to


    go along with her father''s n to have her marry Sebastian. Instead, she came up with her own scheme: she talked her father into drugging Sebastian and sent Reese into his bed.


    She forced Reese to marry Sebastian, so she would break things off with Zach.


    Later, when Zach was fighting for his life, Tara stayed by his hospital bed for a week, barely sleeping, just hoping for him to notice her at all. In the end, she finally got what she wanted—a proposal, and then his child.


    But right before their wedding, Zach found out the truth. His heart went straight back to Reese.


    That''s when Tara finally got it-Zach had only ever loved Reese. From the very beginning, it was always her.


    For Reese, he turned on Tara, acting like all the years she spent on him meant nothing. Bit by bit, he stripped away her authority at thepany, until all she had left were a few useless shares. She was a shareholder in name only.


    How could she ept that?


    Hatred twisted inside her, growing wild and tangled. Tara took a deep breath, choking down the tears, and slipped away quietly.


    Back in her empty office, she called her assistant. "Can you check the address and time for tomorrow morning''s conference? Remind me again-yeah, I''ll be there on time."


    After she hung up, she stared at her prenatal checkup results, a cold smile curling on her lips.


    Zach, Reese, you owe me. And I''ll make sure you pay, piece by piece.


    The next morning, at the conference venue.


    Reese stepped out of the car, her arm tucked through Matthew''s.


    She wore a champagne-colored gown that swept the floor, scattered with tiny rhinestones that glimmered softly under the lights.


    Matthew had traded his usual jacket and cargo pants for a pale suit. He stood tall and confident, a perfect match for Reese.


    Together, they looked like a couple straight out of a


    magazine-good looking poised totally in sync. The moment they got out of the car, everyone''s eyes were on them.


    Zach stood outside the entrance, his gaze locked on the two of them.


    But Matthew and Reese didn''t even nce his way. They walked right past him and into the venue.


    Zach was dressed to impress in a navy suit, a bouquet of white tulips in his hand. But now, the flowers just felt ridiculous.


    He watched Reese smile up at Matthew. That sweet, gentle smile used to belong


    to him, back when they were young.


    It felt like a rock was crushing Zach''s chest.


    He saw Matthew gently brush a


    stray hair from Reese''s shoulder, the


    two of them leaning close and


    talking softly. There was


    a lightet


    Reese''s eyes Zach hadn''t seen in years, and jealousy burned through him like fire.


    He squeezed the flowers so hard his knuckles turned white. The chatter andughter around him faded into nothing.


    Matthew seemed to sense his stare. He looked up, meeting Zach''s eyes with a calm, almost taunting look, like he was saying, Reese is mine now.


    Zach''s face darkened. The air around him practically crackled as he walked straight toward Matthew, who was greeting people with Reese by his side. People nearby felt the tension and instinctively stepped out of his way.


    Not far off, Tara was watching everything unfold.


    She wore a ck dress that made her already pale face look even more washed out.


    She saw Zach losing his grip, saw Matthew shielding Reese, and the cold smile on her lips only deepened.


    She gently touched her stomach,


    took a pill from her purse, and swallowed it. Then she took a ss of champagne from a passing waiter tipped her head back, and downed it in one go. A single tear slid down her cheek.


    Things had gone too far to turn back now. This baby had to go, but at least it


    would be useful onest time.