“Mr. Ratcliff’s condition is critical. You should start preparing yourselves.”
Reese felt her heart clench. She didn’t waste time arguing with Sebastian anymore. “But didn’t you give him the new medication? Why is it still like this?
“We did, but Mr. Ratcliff was without oxygen for too long, and his health was already fragile. We’ve done all we can,” the army doctor said with a heavy sigh. “Right now, there’s no telling when he’ll wake up. It could be a few minutes, or it could be days.
“But you need to be ready. If he does wake up, it’s probably the end.”
Reese felt like something was squeezing her heart, sharp and relentless. She’d tried to prepare herself for this day, but now that it was here, the pain was still overwhelming.
Almost without thinking, she reached for the recorder in her pocket. If Mr. Ratcliff woke up, he could finally clear her name.
But that also meant the man who’d changed her life, and who, in the end, had respected her choices, would be gone for good.
Sebastian’s anger faded as soon as he heard the doctor’s words. All that was left was sadness.
He didn’t argue with Reese anymore. He just rubbed a tired hand over his face. “Got it. I’m going out for a smoke.”
He walked down the hall to the smoking area, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag, then let the smoke out in a slow sigh. But no matter what he did, the anxiety in his chest just wouldn’t go away.
He was lost in thought when his phone buzzed. He glanced down at an unknown number and hit decline, but it rang again immediately.
“Hello? Who is this?”
“Is this Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff? Leslie was in a serious car accident. She’s at Constance Hospital and needs emergency surgery. We need a family member to sign the paperwork.
“We checked all her contacts. You’re her only emergency contact. Please come as soon as possible!”
Sebastian’s eyes dropped.
Leslie’s mother had died young, and her father was sent to prison for life after a drunk driving accident when she was still a kid. Her relatives all shunned her, called her bad luck, and cut her off.


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