Chapter 9

Reese never heard from Sebastian. Instead, her phone lit up with a call from old Mr. Ratcliff.
“Reese, can you come by the house today? I’ll have the driver pick you up. Sebastian is back too.”
She’d just finished cleaning her old pre-marriage apartment when she heard the authority in his tone. Her heart skipped. With Mr. Ratcliff, refusing was never on the table.
He was the one who’d forced Sebastian to man up after their one night together, insisting they get married. When her mother-in-law made life miserable, it was Mr. Ratcliff who told Reese and Sebastian to move out and live on their own. Reese still didn’t know how to tell him she wanted out.
Now, with him calling both her and Sebastian home, Reese couldn’t shake the feeling he knew about something.
The car pulled into the Ratcliff estate on the south side of Bridger Lake. In the drive, she spotted him.
Sebastian was leaning against his black Bentley, cigarette in hand, smoke curling around his sharp features. His jaw was tight-he looked like he hadn’t smiled in years.
Reese stepped out, her heels tapping against the stone walkway.
He glanced up at the sound. His eyes were cold and distant, a flicker of irritation behind them. That look made it clear-she was the last person he wanted to see. Reese’s stomach dropped. Mr. Ratcliff must have found out about him and Sofia. Sebastian’s voice was ice. He looked at her like she was just another problem to deal with. “Really didn’t waste any time, did you?”
Reese said nothing, just stood there facing him.
He sneered. “What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?” His eyes dropped to her stomach. “Grandpa promised you three percent of the company when the baby comes. You think just because he’s on your side now, you can do whatever you want?”
“Remember, even if you married me, you’re still nothing to me.”
Reese stiffened, but met his gaze. “Sebastian, I never cared about being Mrs. Ratcliff.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “Didn’t care? Really?”
“How many times has your uncle’s company gotten help from ours? Don’t pretend you don’t know.
“Isn’t that why you drugged me, slept with me, got pregnant, and forced your way into this family?”
His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She could barely breathe.
Back then, after that night with Sebastian and when she found out she was pregnant, Mr. Ratcliff had tracked her down at the hospital. He promised to help her uncle’s company, to invest in Zach’s business, if she married Sebastian.
Reese knew the Ratcliffs cared about appearances above all else. There was no way they’d let their bloodline be born outside the family. If she wanted to keep her child, marrying Sebastian was the only choice.
She thought that even if Sebastian didn’t love her, he’d at least feel some responsibility. But now, staring at him, she realized she’d always just been a stain on his perfect life.
Her eyes stung with tears. “Sebastian, let’s get divorced. You’re free.” Fınd the newest release on ͟.net
“Divorced?” Sebastian scoffed. “So you can throw away everything you worked for? Years down the drain, just like that?
“My advice? Behave yourself. Have the baby and stop scheming.
“You don’t get to make demands and you definitely don’t get to say anything about me and Tara.”
A voice thundered from behind them. “What the hell did you just say?”
Mr. Ratcliff stormed out from the porch, cane in hand, Robbie following close behind.
He looked furious. “What’s so special about that woman that you’d treat your wife like this?
“I told you to cut things off with her. Did you not hear me?”
Sebastian’s reply was flat. “Grandpa, Sofia’s different. She’s a top talent in Al. The company needs her.”
Mr. Ratcliff’s mustache bristled. “Didn’t Reese study artificial intelligence in college too? Why not bring her into the company instead?”