Reese never actually nned to go through with the IVF, so she hadn''t bothered checking her medical report at all. When Sebastian called, she was at home, using a photo Alex sent to digitally age Nicole''s face and see what she might look like as an adult.


    She picked up the phone, still absently rolling her stylus between her fingers as the software slowly brought Nicole''s features into focus. There was something strangely familiar about the woman''s eyes, but Reese just couldn''t remember where she''d seen them before.


    "What''s up?" she said, not looking away from her screen.


    "Reese, we''re still married. What have you been up totely? How did you catch something like this?" Sebastian''s voice was tight, barely holding back his anger.


    Reese frowned,pletely lost. "Catch what? What are you talking about?"


    "Didn''t you see your medical report?" Sebastian was practically crushing his phone in his hand. "Or is this what you wanted all along? You agreed to the tests just to let me know you''ve moved on, hoping I''d finally give up and agree to a divorce?


    "Don''t even think about it, Reese. Who is it? Matthew, or is it Zach?"


    That was it. Reese''s patience snapped. The way he fired off questions felt like being hit with a hail of bullets. Her voice turned cold. "What the hell are you even using me of?"


    Sebastian let out a bitterugh, his sarcasming through loud and clear. "Did you really think I wouldn''t see your test results?"


    Reese blinked, then put him on speaker and opened up the hospital app on her phone.


    The report was blunt. High-risk HPV infection with reproductive system inmmation. Diagnosed with genital warts. The medical note below was just as harsh: Not suitable for pregnancy. Forced conception could mean birth defects or miscarriage, and there was a risk of passing the virus to the baby. With her history of miscarriage, they rmended immediate antiviral treatment and postponing any ns for a baby.


    Reese stared at the report, stunned.


    dat


    This had to be a mistake. She refreshed the page again and again, but the results didn''t change. Her heart raced. She knew her ow body-shed always been faithful, never crossed any lines. How could this be happening?


    “Sebastian, there''s something wrong with this report," she said quietly.


    He just scoffed. "Wrong? You''re the one who picked the hospital and the doctor.


    What could possibly be wrong with it?"


    He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice sounded tired. "Reese, I know I messed up before But I''ve really tried to make things. right. Why would you do this to me? Why would you be with someone else...?"


    He didn''t finish. He didn''t have to. It was obvious he''d already decided she''d cheated and brought this disease home.


    "The Meyer family has been blowing up my phone thest couple days," Sebastian went on. "Bailey keeps asking if we''re really nning on another kid. "Did you two make a deal? Have a baby so you can get your mother''s shares?


    "Tell me, Reese, do you think Bailey will still give you those shares after he sees this report?"


    Reese stared at her phone. For a second, she almost wanted to go along with it-bring up divorce again. Maybe this time he''d actually agree. As for the Meyer shares she''d figure Something out.


    But then she remembered Leslie. There hadn''t been any movement from that side, and they still didn''t have proof she''d stolen the de data. If things blew up now, who knew what would happen?


    She couldn''t let all her work go to waste.


    Reese narrowed her eyes and said, “Sebastian, I''m telling you, there''s something wrong with this report. If you don''t believe me, call the hospital and ask them yourself."