Seraphina's face went rigid as she instinctively slapped away the apple Blanche offered her. "What went wrong? Why am I being removed from the team? Shouldn't you be dealing with that cancer, Raelynn?"
She simply couldn't believe it.
In her shock, she forgot to filter her words.
The Kingsford director hesitated. Raelynn actually had the authority to fire people, and moreover, this order came directly from the highest levels of the university administration.
Professor Finch himself had spoken.
He didn't want Seraphina ruining the entire project.
But the truth was too harsh to say out loud.
Since Seraphina was romantically linked to Sebastian, the director opted for diplomacy. "This was a decision from the higher-ups, Ms. Vance. You did violate the contract deadline. If you have any objections, you can contact the university administration."
Seraphina stared at the disconnected call.
She sat there, completely stunned.
An order from the higher-ups?
Had she offended an executive?
Over at NexusMind, she had always been perfectly polite to Preston. Wouldn't Preston at least give Sebastian some face?
"What happened?" Silas asked.
"I've been removed from the project," Seraphina said, her face pale. The entire situation felt absurd.
A wave of fury burned through her veins.
This drug development project had a brilliant future. She had worked so hard, right up to the verge of clinical success and market approval! She was supposed to be one of the core developers!
Once her name was finalized on that patent, it would be the crown jewel of her resume!
And now, right at the finish line...
She was kicked out?
"How is that possible!" Blanche's expression twisted as she stood up angrily. "Shouldn't Raelynn be the one getting fired? Why are they making you leave? What dirty trick did that girl use this time?"
Seraphina scrambled out of bed and immediately called Preston.
Beep, beep, beep—
The call was rejected.
He was ignoring her!
Clearly, he knew about this and was refusing to communicate with her.
Before she could even process the humiliation, a strange landline number flashed on her screen.
Seraphina hesitated before answering.
"Is this Ms. Seraphina Vance? This is the East District Police Precinct. We need you to come down and cooperate with an investigation regarding an intentional assault case. You are claiming that Ms. Ortiz intentionally pushed you, causing your injuries, correct?"
Seraphina froze, her heart dropping into her stomach. "She called the police?"
Seraphina's anxious heart instantly settled.
No matter how bad things got, Sebastian was her safety net.
He would clean up the mess for her.
She was completely confident in that.
-
Raelynn couldn't care less about Seraphina's reaction.
Her rival relied on Sebastian's backing to disrespect the hard work of other researchers, and Raelynn refused to tolerate it.
As for the police report.
Ever since they accused her of leaking the original documents, she had been keeping her guard up. Out in the real world, if you weren't careful, you'd get eaten alive.
Now that she had Seraphina explicitly blaming her for the fall on tape, things were set.
Once the police cleared it up, Seraphina would be charged with filing a false report.
If it escalated, she would end up with a criminal record.
With Phase I of the clinical trials beginning, Raelynn headed straight to Covenant Medical Center.
As she arrived, she spotted Seraphina—who had yet to be discharged—surrounded by clueless Kingsford researchers offering their sympathies.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Boss, Your Wife Signed the Divorce Agreement Before the Wedding
I think for as slow as the beginning was, their turning point is just so fast... really hope we actually get to read about R and S and their rekindle.... we did not read 950 pages for their story to be sidelined. Im for this sideline story, but it if it's to separate from the main characters and their story, please make it separate book....
Author please update more chapters...
I really like Zella, she is becoming a good friend to Raelynn. Ian needs to go. The relationship with Chloe is confusing. Some chapters they are cousins, sometimes they're sibling. A little confusing....
Julians role as big brother- I feel comes from a genuine place, but in a relationship thats is just as stained as Raelynns and Sebastians. It hard for me to connect to his big brother role as he too was such a problem before. And while they talked a little bit, the conversation did not give me the believe there was resolution between Raelynn and Julian. For a brute, he should make his feelings clear about the situation to Raelynn and then step back, until there is more foundation for him to stand on....
Knife in my heart. I hurt for Raelynn. She has made it this far, but how much does she have in her, everyone has a breaking point. Some back of me hopes the author is joking to lighten the mood after so many intense chapters, but thats not this kind of story or couple....
My heart cannot take this. This, cannot be how it ends with these too. They need resolution with each other. Raelynn needs to be more humanize with Sebastian. We know she is hurt, but this is the branch. She needs all these answers, if not for them to be together, then for Lily to have both her parents. Stop with the mind games Raelynn!...
Its like the story is just repeating itself...
Timeline is getting lost for me. So many treasured little memories Raelynn has but yet, he was gone for years ? Anyways... still rooting for them! These two need a heart to heart. Lily "forgetting" someone, not possible in this day and age and I hope thats not their storyline....
Sebastian, the man of few words.... needs to find all the words! Needs to fight for her! On note, seven years seems like a long time for this master plan (which I am sure goes back much farther). Rereading this novel, and it seems like everything has played out in a 5-8 month time span. And I feel like all Sebastian's doings/ plan have not been revealed. I hope we get to see the whole picture and have the resolutions we hope. But seven years of mistreatment, I just don't see Raelynn fully coming back. If these was 2-3 years, maybe, and I know it changes some characters around, but it would still work. Rooting for them!...
Literally on edge!...