Matthew''s brow furrowed as he stepped in front of Reese, protective and unyielding.


    "What''s so important?" he asked.


    Sebastian''s voice was raw and dangerous, like he was barely holding himself back. "What business is so urgent?"


    Matthew and Reese exchanged a quick look. This involved Leslie and the de case-stuff that was top secret. And with Sebastian''s history of covering for Leslie, there was no way they could let him in on it. Telling him would be a disaster.


    Sebastian caught their nce and lost itpletely. He lunged, fist flying at Matthew''s face, fury written all over him.


    "How dare you touch her! We''re still married! She''s your sister-inw!" he shouted.


    Matthew''s eyes went cold. He caught Sebastian''s wrist with a grip so strong Sebastian winced in pain, his arm locked in ce.


    "Sister-inw?" Matthew''s lips curled in a chilly, mocking smile. His eyes were razor-sharp as he stared Sebastian down. "Since when has the Ratcliff family ever treated me like family?"


    Even when Mr. Ratcliff found out about the inherited gic disease and made everyone get tested, Matthew had been left out.


    He released Sebastian''s arm with a shove. "Besides, there''s nothing between Reese and me. Not like you can say the same."


    He took a step forward, his years in the military written in every line of his posture. The air around him was tense and dangerous, even more so than Sebastian''s simmering rage.


    Reese shut the door behind her and nced from Sebastian, whose eyes were bloodshot with anger, to Matthew. "Don''t waste your time. Let''s just go."


    "Yeah," Matthew agreed.


    They turned to leave, walking side by side. Watching them, Sebastian''s anger red even hotter.


    "Did I say you could leave?" he spat.


    He red at Matthew, then turned to Reese, his voice rising. "What''s with that medical report? Does Matthew Or was it


    know youre sick him whe


    gave it to you? Is this what you call loyalty? Cheating on your husband?"


    His voice rang down the hallway, loud enough to make the motion sensor lights flicker on.


    Reese stopped and turned around, her eyes icy and distant. She looked at Sebastian like he was a stranger.


    "You know what, Sebastian? You are disgusting."


    He had paraded Sofia and Leslie in front of her, never once thinking about whether he was cheating. But now he was using her?


    "You want me to make a public announcement? I can grab a megaphone, record my confession about cheating and some ''dirty disease,'' and y it for the whole building. Would that make you happy?"


    Sebastian''s face twisted with even more rage. Im the disgusting one? I knew you only married me because you wanted something. And now that you''ve got Matthew, you''re just going to leave me, is that it? Keep dreaming, Reese!


    "Robbie''s still waiting for us to have another kid to save his life! If you don''t go along with it, I''ll tell everyone you''re a heartless woman who abandoned her husband and son!"


    Reese felt a stab of pain in her chest, but she just smirked, bitter and cold. she


    Typical Sebastian. He knew she never wanted this marriage, but he still used it against her. He used a


    son who had never cared for her and had even tried to hurt her-to guilt-trip her.


    "You don''t get to judge me, Sebastian," she said, her voice steady. "You want to


    know about the medical report?"


    She shot him a steely look. "Fine. Come with us. I''m going to the hospital right now. I''ll give you every answer you want."