Boss, Your Wife Signed the Divorce Agreement Before the Wedding novel Chapter 259

Watching the exchange, Celia had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

The rest of the dinner was warm and comfortable.

Halfway through, Raelynn noticed a missed call from the landline at the marital home.

She checked the time—it was almost nine.

While Ian and Professor Finch were deep in conversation, she slipped outside to return the call.

"Ma'am? Are you still working late? Or are you out with friends?"

Mary's probing voice filtered through the speaker.

Knowing full well Mary was checking up on her for Matilda, Raelynn replied sharply, "Is there a problem?"

Mary said smoothly. "It's just getting late. You really should come home soon."

A dull ache pulsed behind Raelynn's temples.

She was fully divorced, the paperwork was signed, yet because of this ridiculous hostage situation with the certificate, she was still being monitored. She felt like a glorified surrogate trapped inside the hollow shell of a dead marriage.

Entirely stripped of her freedom.

A bitter scoff escaped her, though she kept her tone dangerously even. "Do I need to submit a formal report on what time I go home, if I go home, and who I socialize with?"

Mary was instantly rendered speechless.

Just then.

Ian stepped out of the dining room. From a distance, he called out, "Raelynn?"

Raelynn glanced over her shoulder and immediately hung up the phone.

Back at the marital home.

Mary turned around nervously, finding Sebastian standing right in the doorway.

He had been coming home every night recently.

The phone had been on speaker, meaning Sebastian had heard every single word—including the distinct male voice at the end.

"Mr. Croix, it seems Ms. Ortiz is quite busy. She's likely out having fun with friends," Mary offered carefully, terrified of saying the wrong thing.

After all, another man had just called out her name.

Sebastian's dark, fathomless eyes swept over the landline.

He slowly began unbuttoning his cuffs. "I heard."

The male voice had been muffled and distorted through the phone, making it impossible to identify.

Mary cautiously watched his face for any sign of fury.

But Sebastian was a master at concealing his emotions. He looked completely unfazed.

All by his own hand.

Mary shook her head in confusion.

If he didn't love her, why would he ruthlessly crush so many powerful companies to protect her? But if he did love her, why did he refuse to give her a proper wedding when the matriarch forced their union?

-

Lily was quickly mastering iMessage.

When Raelynn and Ian were getting ready to leave, the little girl practically tackled them, insisting on taking a photo together.

Ian easily agreed, and Raelynn just rolled with it.

Sitting in the passenger seat of Ian's car, Raelynn finally checked Lily's Social Feed.

The kid had posted the photo without any text, just a single smiley face emoji.

It looked exactly like a family portrait.

Despite the weirdness of it.

Raelynn dutifully liked the post to support her daughter.

Ian glanced over at her from the driver's seat.

"Is the divorce certificate finalized?"