Chapter 248

Leslie and her crew were cornered this time was doomed this time.
When Reese got home after work, she went straight to sorting through the files she’d need for court the next day. She couldn’t tell if it was just nerves about the trial or something else, but lying there in bed, sleep refused to come. Every time she shut her eyes, all she could think about was how Sebastian would react tomorrow and what she was supposed to say back.
It was nearly midnight when she finally switched on her bedside lamp and grabbed her medication. Usually, it worked in minutes, but tonight, nothing. If anything, she felt even more restless.
Then her phone lit up. A message from Matthew. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ
[Tracking’s on schedule. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry.]
[Get some rest, goodnight.]
He added a little bunny-in-bed emoji at the end.
Reese stared at his message, a small smile tugging at her lips. The anxious knot
in her chest loosened just a little. She turned off the light and closed her eyes.
Really, what was there left to worry about?
She’d done everything she could.
Tomorrow, she’d finally break free from Sebastian.
Downstairs, Matthew watched the light go out in Reese’s bedroom. He slipped his phone away, smiled to himself, and headed home.
Morning sunlight slipped in through the curtains, warming Reese’s face as she woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in weeks.
After a quick shower, she put on her favorite cream skirt suit. When she looked in the mirror, her eyes were steady. No more second-guessing.
She grabbed her folder and made it to the courthouse a full thirty minutes early, meeting George right outside.
“Ms. Meyer, we’re all set,” he said, handing her another file. “We went over the evidence again last night. No issues.”
Reese nodded and took it. She was about to thank him when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her.
She turned to see Sebastian, looking sharp in a black tailored suit, striding toward her. Ashton, Ratcliff Global’s head of legal, trailed behind.
Sebastian’s eyes landed on Reese, dark and intense, swirling with frustration, pleading, and something stubborn that just wouldn’t go away.
He closed the distance, reaching for her wrist. “Reese, can we please just talk?”
Reese stepped aside, dodging his hand. Her voice was cool. “There’s nothing left to say.”
Jane got out of the car a second later, just in time to see it all. She let out a loud, annoyed huff.
So Reese thought she was untouchable now, just because Mr. Ratcliff left her some shares? Jane had a pretty good idea what Leslie was really after When the truth finally came out, Reese wouldn’ the able to escape the fallout. And once she and Sebastian were divorced, who would still be on her side?
Sebastian shot Jane a glare cold enough to freeze her in place.
She bit back the snide comment she was about to make, settled for a glare of her own, and turned away.
Sebastian looked back at Reese. His voice softened a little, but the stubborn set in his eyes didn’t budge. “Do we really have to do this?”
“I know you’re upset, but we still have Robbie. We have years together. You can’t just walk away from all of that.”
“Love?” Reese repeated, like it was the world’s cruelest joke. She let out a low, cold laugh. “Sebastian, tell me—was there ever any love between us?”
She stepped closer, her gaze locked on his. For once, she let herself say all the things she’d been holding back for years.
“In this marriage, you’ve always been on top. You trapped me in that gilded cage you call the Ratcliff estate, took away my chance to study@broad, forced me to quit working, and never once admitted to anyone that I ever existed Even now, how many people in Bridger Lake know I’m Robbie’s real mother?
“You treated me like your property. Like I was just here to have your child. You thought the clothes I wore the house fived in everything Thad was your charity, so I should be grateful, obedient, wag my tail and do whatever you wanted. Just a dog waiting for scraps, right?”