Jane didn''t even pick up on the sarcasm. She just felt this huge weight finally drop from her chest and let out a cold snort. "Don''t call me again. And don''t even think about using those photos to ckmail me into helping you. I''m done."


    She hung up, dropped her phone on the coffee table, and slumped into the couch, finally able to breathe easy. At least now she had some time to deal with the evidence Reese was holding over her.


    Meanwhile, over at Big X''s office, Leslie tossed her phone onto her desk, her face dark with frustration as she read thetest update. There were so many ways to force Reese out of ckOak, but that idiot Jane had to suggest getting Reese pregnant with another of Sebastian''s kids as an excuse to leave.


    Even if Leslie had given up on marrying Sebastian, they went way back. How could she just stand by and watch Reese give Sebastian not just Robbie, but another child? That was a p in the face.


    "Reese, you really know how to y the game," Leslie muttered. "One minute you''re threatening to divorce Sebastian, the next you''re agreeing to have another baby with him. If that isn''t ying hard to get, what is?"


    She''d seen through Reese from the start. Reese never really wanted to leave Sebastian, or the Ratcliff family. Who in Bridger Lake''s social circle could evenpare to him?


    Back then, Leslie had risked her life to save Sebastian from being kidnapped, even taking a hit for him. And still, Mr. Ratcliff never gave his blessing for her to enter the family. But Reese just breezed in like it was nothing.


    The thought made Leslie''s chest tighten with resentment. Why did Reese get to be the one to have Sebastian''s children?


    She forced herself to calm down, taking a long breath before picking her phone back up. She scrolled to Sebastian''s number, hesitated for a second, then pressed call.


    "Yeah?" Sebastian was workingte, trying to clear his desk so he could spend time with Reese tomorrow. When he saw Leslie''s name, he paused, frowning, his voice instantly cool and distant. "What is it?"


    All he felt for Leslie nowadays was a sense of responsibility, maybe a bit of guilt-nothing else. Sure, she''d saved his life and lost her ability to have kids because of it. He''d kept his promise to her even going behind Reese''s back to have their embryo imnted in Reése. He''d even helped her out by forcing a partnership between Big X and ckOak.


    But he''d paid the price for all that-his rtionship with Reese had nearly fallen apart. Now, things were finally getting better. Reese was willing to have aner child for Robbie''s sake, and he wasn''t about to let Leslie mess that up again.


    "I heard Ms. Meyer quit. Is she really going to have another baby with you?" Leslie''s voice trembled, like she was trying not to cry, but her face was calm. The hatred she felt for Reese was hidden deep.


    “Sebastian, I really envy her. Sometimes I wonder if I''ll ever get to be a mom."


    Sebastian''s grip on the papers tightened until they wrinkled. He knew everything Leslie had given up, and that was why he''d always gone easy on her. But that didn''t mean she could keep interfering in his life. His tone turned colder.


    "That''s my personal affair. I told you before-I''m already looking for a surrogate for you overseas. As soon as I find the right one, you''ll have your child. You don''t need to involve Reese anymore."


    "But when will you find one?" Leslie''s


    voice softened. "Even if you do, I


    don''t have many eggs left. If something goes wrong, I''ll never get to be a mother Sebastian, cant you find a way to use Reese as a surrogate one more time? You know she''s the best choice."