She was just a convenient pit stop—squeezed in between Sebastian's real romantic plans.
Even her "birthday fireworks" were just leftovers from his date with Seraphina.
Raelynn almost laughed out loud.
Wasn't Sebastian exhausted?
His time-management skills were honestly worthy of a standing ovation.
He claimed he was keeping her company for her birthday, but it was all just a glossy performance.
If she had actually believed he cared.
He inevitably would have ditched her halfway through to run into Seraphina's waiting arms.
Thank God.
She had expected absolutely nothing from him from the start.
Because of that, she felt nothing but cold indifference.
"What are you staring at?"
Footsteps echoed from behind her.
Raelynn turned around. Sebastian stood there, his eyes heavy and calm. He glanced at her, then looked at the intercom screen.
Luke clearly had no intention of leaving.
He looked ready to stand out there all night until the door opened.
The second that lock clicked, all hell was going to break loose.
Raelynn weighed her options for a second, then spoke bluntly: "Hide. Go wait in the bedroom."
She absolutely refused to deal with the fallout of their "secret marriage" being exposed right after their divorce.
Mrs. Croix? Not anymore.
She wanted a clean break.
Raelynn's tone was so calm.
So completely matter-of-fact that it gave Sebastian a bizarre sense of whiplash.
He felt like a dirty little secret she was trying to shove into a closet.
His dark, predatory gaze locked onto her for a long, heavy moment.
Raelynn could feel the suffocating pressure radiating off him. She knew a man with his massive ego and elite status couldn't stomach being treated like an inconvenience.
She pointed at the screen, stating her case logically. "Your precious girlfriend is right out there. If she sees us in a hotel room together, she'll be crushed, and you'll spend weeks trying to soothe her. Especially since you probably don't want Luke to know she's a home-wrecker who slept her way to the top."
On top of that.
Sebastian and Seraphina had a date tonight.
If they got into a massive fight over this, Raelynn wasn't taking the blame.
Sebastian stared at her cold, analytical face.
"How incredibly thoughtful of you," he replied dryly.
She turned around.
Just in time to see Sebastian casually lock his phone screen after sending a text.
Outside, Seraphina smiled to herself and walked away to prepare for her date.
Raelynn couldn't care less what they had texted each other. Clutching the Padlock Charm tightly against her chest, she said, "I'll handle Matilda. You don't need to worry about it. You can leave now."
She didn't bother looking at his reaction.
She walked straight into the master bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Nothing else mattered tonight. The only thing she cared about was that her grandmother's heirloom had finally been returned to her.
She didn't know how Sebastian had convinced Seraphina to give up the charm. Probably because Seraphina had gotten bored of it, and Sebastian was just throwing it back like discarded trash.
But to Raelynn, she held it like the most precious treasure in the world.
Right on cue.
The clock hit 9:13 PM.
Massive, brilliant explosions of color erupted outside the window, turning the dark night sky as bright as day.
Raelynn watched the fireworks in silence for exactly three seconds.
Then, she grabbed the remote and drew the blackout curtains, completely shutting out the spectacular romance.
She refused to consume the scraps of someone else's love story.
And she certainly had no desire to share a romantic view with a man who belonged to someone else.

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!...