It wasn't long after Reese Buckingham settled into his new life in Los Angeles that he was approached by a shady character who started making threats. Due to his gambling problem, Reese was $200,000 in debt to a loan shark who had sent an enforcer to collect (via Soap Central). Reese was able to buy himself some time, but the situation grew dire when the guy began threatening the life of Reese's daughter, Zoe Buckingham. This enforcer began following both Zoe and his girlfriend Taylor Hayes to intimidate the doctor into paying up, according to SoapHub. 

The increasing pressure to come up with the cash led Reese to become even more desperate. Desperate to save Zoe from danger of his own making, he concocted the plan to sell Hope Logan's baby. Soon after he paid off his debt, Reese decided to leave Los Angeles to separate himself from the crime he committed. After bidding his daughter a mysterious and hasty goodbye, Reese left for London — leaving behind a massive pile of lies and tasking Flo Fulton with keeping his secret.