Leslie stole state secrets?


    The words hit Sebastian like a punch to the gut. His face went pale in seconds and he just stood there, frozen.


    "No way... That can''t be true. Leslie isn''t like that. You''ve got to be mistaken!" He''d known Leslie for years. He knew her better than anyone. There was no way she''d ever do something like this; she just didn''t have it in her.


    "Mr. Ratcliff, the evidence is solid," the agent replied. "Don''t worry. If you''re not involved, you don''t have anything to be afraid of." But even as he said it, Sebastian could tell the case was big-big enough to drag Ratcliff Global through the mud. "Also, your mother, Jane Ratcliff, is involved. We''ve already sent people to your family estate to bring her in."


    "What?" Sebastian''s head snapped up, shock written all over his face. "How could my mother be involved?"


    The agent could see Sebastian really had no idea. He exined what he''d just heard in the observation room.


    Sebastian stood there, dazed. "You''re saying my mother and Leslie tried to steal the data together? And Leslie killed my grandfather... and my mom knew?"


    So why did his mother me Reese all that time? Was she covering for herself and Leslie? He remembered those days when his grandfather was in the ICU- how Jane kept insisting it was Reese''s fault, even pushing him to call the police. A cold chill crept up his spine.


    So his mother wanted him to report Reese, even though she knew Reese was innocent? Why? Why would she do that?


    His mind was spinning. He looked at Reese, but she just stared back at him calmly, like she''d known everything all along.


    "You knew, didn''t you?" His voice was barely more than a whisper.


    Reese met his red, desperate eyes and nodded. "Yeah. I knew."


    "Then why didn''t you tell me?" Sebastian shouted. "If you''d told me earlier-"


    He could have done something. Maybe none of this would have happened.


    1


    "I tried," Reese said, looking him straight in the eye. "I told you, Sebastian. I said Leslie was trouble. said ckOak shouldn''t work with Big X. You didn''t listen. You had Mr. Sanchez put the pressure on us anyway. I told you I didn''t hurt your grandfather. You didn''t believe me. You called the cops, you threatened me-said if I insisted on a divorce, you''d make sure I went to jail in the end you never trusted me that'' A meg that sever why things are the way they are. As for Jane and Leslie, their n didn''t work, so there was no point telling you."


    Sebastian''s shoulders slumped. For the first time, he looked defeated.


    "Reese, are you ready?" A knock broke the silence. Matthew poked his head in. "Yeah." Reese stepped toward him. "Sorry for dragging you into this again." "Don''t worry about it." Matthew gave her a gentle smile and moved to steady her when he saw she could barely stand.


    Sebastian''s eyes locked on Matthew''s hand around Reese''s arm. Reese''s words kept echoing in his head. Suddenly, anger res up, burning away hisst bit of restraint


    "Matthew, let go of her! Reese is my wife. You don''t need to y the hero here!"


    Matthew shot him a look. "Can''t you see she''s about to copse?"


    Reese nced back at Sebastian, her eyes empty. .There was no angry, not even hurt. She''s justpletely done.


    "Reese!" The look in her eyes stung more than anything she''d ever said. "We''re still married! And Robbie''s waiting for you. How can you just walk away?"


    He moved toward them, but the agent stepped in his way.


    "Mr. Ratcliff, you''re not allowed to leave yet. The agent''s expression said it all Couldn''t Sebastian see Reese was barely holding on And here he was, still obsessing over her and Matthew.