Sebastian stared at the file, surprise flickering in his eyes. He remembered working with Big X before, but it was only for six months and ended ages ago. Later, when he went after the de project with ckOak, he kept that old partnership quiet. He even made sure Leslie understood not to bring it up. He never thought it would turn into a big deal. Now, somehow, Leslie had dragged it all into the light.


    He took the file and saw Leslie''s signature. The veins on his hand stood out as he gripped the papers.


    "My work with Big X ended long before the de project ever started. There was no breach." Sebastian kept his anger in check, forcing his voice to stay steady. "I only kept it quiet to avoid unnecessary trouble."


    The national security agents didn''t care about his exnations. They just trusted the evidence. "Mr. Ratcliff, pleasee with us for further investigation."


    Sebastian''s brows drew together, disbelief all over his face. "I want to see Leslie." They didn''t object, just motioned for him to follow.


    He adjusted his suit jacket, straightened his back, and walked out behind them. Outside, the staff who''d been sneaking nces looked stunned to see him leaving with the agents. People remembered how he''d vouched for Leslie before, and now their shock mixed with worry.


    Sebastian was the head of Ratcliff Global. If word got out that he''d been taken away by national security again, thepany could be in for a disaster.


    He tried to keep his face calm, but inside, regret was eating him alive. Trusting Leslie hadnded him in this mess.


    At the bureau, he was led into the interrogation room. Across the table, Leslie looked exhausted, her face pale, dark circles under her eyes. She shrank a little under his re, then forced a weak smile.


    "Sebastian, I''m just telling the truth."


    She didn''t have a choice. She never expected Reese to fake quitting ckOak just to trap her. Now the evidence was stacked up and she couldn''t clear her name. But she was determined not to serve time here. She had to find a way to get transferred out of the country She remembered her training before she came back: if you get caught, drag as many people down with you as possible. Make it big. Only then would headquarters step in to negotiate her extradition.


    Sebastian felt like he couldn''t breathe.


    "You said you needed help getting your footing there. That''s why I agreed to help you.


    "When you came home, you said you needed to work with ckOak for your performance. I vouched for you again.


    "And when you were used of


    leaking information, I stuck my


    Veck


    out and took the heat for you. I tried


    to protect you. Is this really how you repay me?


    "Wasn''t I good enough to you?"


    Leslie dropped her gaze, hershes hiding her eyes. Her voice was rough and quiet. "How were you ever good to me?


    "We were together for years, but as soon as you married Reese, you forgot about me.


    "And me? I lost the chance to ever have children because I tried to save you. All I wanted was a child, and you couldn''t even give me that."


    Her words were soft, but they cut right through him. Sebastian stared at her in shock, not expecting her to say these things.


    He thought about everything he''d done. He''d kept Reese in the dark and arranged for her to be Leslie''s surrogate. That secret had torn his marriage apart. Even when he realized his feelings for Reese, hed tried to find a surrogate overseas for Leslie. He thought he''d done more than enough for her. He never imagined she saw it this way.


    "If that''s how you feel," he said quietly, "there''s nothing left for us to talk about."