A beautiful cake already sat on the table.
It was exquisitely decorated with Blue Tulip petals, the candles not yet lit.
Raelynn hesitated as she approached. "Do we really need to put on a show this elaborate?"
"It won't take long. Just eat the food, blow out the candles, and text Matilda a picture." Sebastian barely looked up from his screen, his focus entirely on his phone.
Raelynn knew Matilda was a woman of action.
It was obvious she had orchestrated this entire candlelight dinner behind the scenes.
What surprised her was that Matilda actually knew her favorite flower.
She preferred the quiet elegance of Blue Tulips over the loud, demanding presence of roses.
But...
The romance of this moment felt entirely hollow because the man sitting across from her didn't care.
A manufactured fairytale funded by someone else held zero appeal for her.
She glanced at Sebastian.
He was deeply engross out texting.
Probably giving his actual girlfriend a play-by-play of his evening.
Sweet, devoted, entirely smitten.
She almost wanted to applaud their love story.
"Just take a picture and send it to her," Raelynn said coolly. She walked over, grabbed the most lavish, perfectly arranged bouquet of Blue Tulips off her chair, dumped it unceremoniously on the table, and sat down without giving it a second look.
She checked the time. It was past 9 PM. She was unforgivably late.
Especially since she didn't have her phone.
Luke couldn't reach her and probably thought she was playing games with him.
She was beyond stressed.
"Are you in a rush?" Sebastian finally set his phone down, his eyes drifting to the discarded bouquet. His tone was infuriatingly calm.
"Personal business."
Raelynn's answer was sharp and offered zero explanation.
She drew a hard line, making it clear her life was none of his concern.
Sebastian didn't push the issue.
"At 9:13, there will be a fireworks show. The view from up here is the best in the city. If you aren't in a desperate hurry, watch it before you go."
He turned his head to look at the glittering skyline below.
Raelynn was surprised.
"A gift."
Raelynn stared at the box, almost wanting to laugh.
For years, Sebastian had never remembered her birthday. Every single present had been chosen, bought, and delivered by his secretaries.
This was the first time he was personally handing her anything.
She didn't care.
She certainly didn't expect it to be anything she actually wanted.
She opened it casually, but her breath instantly hitched. She snapped her head up to stare at him.
It was...
The Rosewood Padlock Charm. Her grandmother's heirloom—the very one Seraphina had maliciously snatched from Luke's antique exhibition.
"You..."
She wanted to demand why he was suddenly giving it back.
But before the words left her mouth.
The frantic, aggressive blare of the doorbell echoed from inside the suite.
Followed immediately by Luke's furious voice: "Raelynn! Open the door!"

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!...