When Leslie spoke, Sebastian''s brow twitched. He stared down at the stack of paperwork on his desk, barely hiding his irritation.


    "Leslie."


    His deep voice echoed through the empty office, sharper and colder than she''d ever heard before. "You know exactly who you are and what lines you shouldn''t cross."


    He wasn''t about to make the same mistake twice.


    "Sebastian, I just want a child," Leslie said, her voice tight with frustration after a few seconds of silence. "Back then, I gave up my chance to be a mother for you. Can''t you at least-"


    "That''s enough." Sebastian cut her off, his warning clear as day. "I told you I''m already looking for a surrogate. Don''t guilt-trip me with the past, and don''t even think about involving Reese."


    He set his pen down and nced at the photo of Reese he''d just ced on his desk, determination shing in his eyes.


    "She''s my wife. I won''t let anyone hurt her. Not even you. If it''s not urgent, don''t call me again."


    He didn''t wait for another word. Sebastian hung up, tossed his phone onto the desk, and the sharp smack as itnded shattered the silence. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Reese had finally agreed, for Robbie''s sake, to try for another child. He wasn''t about to let Leslie mess that up again.


    Leslie listened to the dial tone, her face darkening.


    "Reese!” she spat, teeth grinding, eyes filled with spite. "I really underestimated you. All that drama about leaving him, and it was just a trick to get him back on your side."


    She got up and went to the massive windows, yanking the heavy curtains aside. The city lights below shimmered, their glow reflecting against the ss and painting twisted shadows across her face. But none of that light reached her eyes. Only stormy darkness remained.


    He''d once agreed without hesitation to let Reese be her surrogate. Now, he shot


    her down just as easily.


    She''d given up on marrying


    Sebastian the moment she''d


    followed Mr. Ratcliff''s orders and


    left him. Still, the way Sebastian now defended Reese, the cold warning every word, left her seething.


    "Don''t get toofortable," she muttered at the city lights. "This isn''t over."


    Across town,


    n in the


    heart of the city, Tara curled up in the corner of an Italian leather sofa, barely noticing the cashmere nket slipping off her shoulders. She looked around at the home she and Zach had poured their hearts into limited edition paintings on the walls, a crystal vase on the coffee table, even the pattern on the rug was a piece of their story.


    The more she looked, the sadder she felt.


    She hadn''t seen Zach since he''d left the hospital. Calls and texts were met with silence.


    Suddenly, her phone rang, the sound cutting through the quiet house and making her jump. She scrambled to grab it and saw Rosie''s name on the screen. Dread crawled up Tara''s spine.


    "Tara! Your dad-he''s been taken by the police!"


    "Mom, slow down. Tell me what happened," Tara said, her voice shaking as she heard her mother''s sobs. "Did they say why?"


    "They said it was about him shorting Ramos Corporation''s stock!" Rosie cried, her panic spilling through the line as she remembered the police showing up and taking Dylon away.