Boss, Your Wife Signed the Divorce Agreement Before the Wedding novel Chapter 146

Raelynn understood immediately. He was here entirely against his will. Jenna had likely sensed that Sebastian had zero intention of bailing his own wife out of jail, forcing her to play the sympathy card and guilt him into coming. But Sebastian bringing Seraphina along was his deliberate, cruel way of making sure Raelynn knew not to read anything into his 'rescue.'

"I'm surprised you got dragged into a brawl, Mr. Sterling. Are you and Ms. Ortiz close?" Seraphina asked, her tone deceptively casual.

Raelynn frowned slightly. Seraphina was clearly fishing. The fact that Luke had thrown punches for Raelynn was something Seraphina found unsettling. The idea that a powerful man like Luke might be captivated by Raelynn was a threat she didn't like.

Luke shot a brief glance at Raelynn, noting she wasn't even looking at him. He let out a cold scoff. "It was just a situation I couldn't ignore since it happened right in front of me. Knowing Ms. Ortiz, she probably gave the guy the wrong signals, which escalated things into that mess."

Hearing Luke's obvious disdain for Raelynn's character brought a satisfied smile to Seraphina's lips. For a moment, she had genuinely worried Luke was interested in Raelynn—after all, men rarely bleed for women they don't care about.

But her real anxiety was whether Sebastian might share those suspicions. What if jealousy sparked a sudden, dangerous interest in his own wife?

She turned to check on Sebastian. He was casually replying to a text on his phone. He had clearly heard Luke's derogatory comment but didn't even flinch to defend her. Instead, he simply walked over to the desk to finalize the paperwork with the officer.

Total, unshakable indifference was written in every line of his body.

Seraphina's eyes sparkled with deep amusement. Her mood instantly soared.

Raelynn, of course, observed Sebastian's complete lack of reaction as well. She just found it deeply ironic. Even a hostile acquaintance like Luke would throw a punch when he saw her being harassed. Yet her husband of seven years couldn't be bothered to bat an eye.

"We're done here," Sebastian announced as he returned, casually checking his luxury watch. His expression was completely blank. "Mr. Sterling, are you heading back to the hotel?"

Luke had lost all interest in the night's festivities. "No, I'm done. I gave my gift and paid my respects. Do you have plans, Mr. Croix?"

Sebastian gave a curt nod. "Yes, I have another engagement."

Understanding the dismissal, Luke turned to Raelynn. "Where are you heading? I'll drop you off. Getting a ride out here at this hour is a nightmare. Plus, you really shouldn't third-wheel Mr. Croix and Ms. Vance."

His words were a blatant, mocking reminder of her place.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow; she liked Luke's words, as Raelynn really did need to be reminded not to intrude on their atmosphere. As for Sebastian, he didn't offer any opinion on another man wanting to take her home.

She had to go back.

By the time an Uber finally made it to her in this queue, the party would be long over.

Sebastian turned his gaze to Raelynn. "Get in the car."

Saying nothing, Raelynn walked toward his sleek luxury vehicle. Before she even reached the handle, Sebastian stepped forward and opened the rear door, shooting her a cool, sideways glance.

Raelynn's steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly masked her reaction and slid into the back seat.

Sebastian's action might have looked like gentlemanly etiquette to a stranger, but to her, it was a deliberate boundary. He was enforcing her place. The front passenger seat was the undisputed territory of his beloved girlfriend. It was sacred ground Raelynn was forbidden to touch.

She understood the protective instincts of a man deeply in love.

As soon as she settled into the leather seat, she looked down, gently massaging her wrist. The man at the hotel had yanked her violently, and the joint was already swelling, the skin bruised and radiating a painful heat.