Boss, Your Wife Signed the Divorce Agreement Before the Wedding novel Chapter 274

Time seemed to stop.

Amidst the deafening noise, Raelynn genuinely wondered if she was hallucinating.

She stared in shock at Ian's striking face. He was looking down at her, his eyes carrying a depth of emotion she couldn't quite interpret.

Was Ian Hudson actually proposing to her?

The thought ping-ponged violently around her mind.

What snapped her back to reality was the collective gasp from the crowd, immediately followed by an explosive wave of cheering and applause.

"Oh my god! What a twist!"

"So this is the couple getting engaged!"

"We got the best dinner show ever tonight! This guy knows what he wants! Say yes!"

The voices crashed over her in waves.

The rooftop turned into a chaotic blur.

Seraphina's smile froze completely. The triumphant arrogance she had worn just seconds ago shattered. Her meticulously arranged moment, the perfect narrative she had spun, derailed the second Ian intervened.

She went from being the radiant main character to a forgotten background extra.

Her proposal was hijacked. The rings that were meant for her were snatched away. Her grand victory was suddenly a spectacular failure.

She bit her lip, completely livid over Raelynn stealing her spotlight. But more than that, she was utterly baffled. How did Ian Hudson know Raelynn? And why on earth would he want to marry her?

How did a woman like Raelynn secure a man of his status?

In that split second, panic gripped Seraphina's chest. She instinctively looked across the table at Sebastian.

Sebastian was still leaning back in his chair. The finger tracing his glass had stilled.

His dark, impenetrable eyes were locked on Raelynn.

He didn't explode in anger. He didn't stand up to stop it. He remained terrifyingly composed.

Seraphina couldn't read him at all.

She wanted to breathe a sigh of relief.

But the crowd's roaring cheers were deafening.

The diners had completely forgotten about her. Nobody was chanting for her to propose anymore. Their romantic zeal had been entirely hijacked by Ian's bold move.

Ian didn't seem to care about the whispers and the stares.

Holding the diamond ring, he spoke softly. "You don't have to feel any pressure. Take all the time you need to think about it. Marriage is a massive step, and you deserve to consider it with a clear head. And, of course, you have every right to say no. Don't let these people force your hand."

Raelynn's brain was buzzing.

But she understood what he meant.

He was telling her she didn't have to accept just to save his pride in front of the crowd.

She could reject him.

It was entirely her choice.

"Ian, you..." Raelynn stammered.

She couldn't wrap her head around it. Just moments ago, she was the pathetic ex-wife being taunted by the mistress. Now, she was the center of a fairytale proposal.

It was an unbelievable reversal.

Through her daze, Raelynn felt a chilling gaze fixed on her.

He was taking the humiliation Raelynn had just endured and shoving it right back down their throats.

The restaurant manager was quick on his feet. As soon as Preston offered to pay, he ordered his staff to pop several bottles of premium champagne.

Preston casually grabbed a bottle for himself.

He strolled right up to Sebastian's table.

Smiling down at him, he said, "Mr. Croix, you should have a glass too! Let some of this good luck rub off on you. After all, a proposal is so much more romantic when the man takes the initiative. When a woman has to beg for it, it just looks desperate."

Seraphina was already seething.

Her spotlight had been ruthlessly stolen.

Preston's comment felt like a physical slap to the face.

Most importantly...

Sebastian slowly dragged his gaze to the glass of 'lucky' champagne Preston poured for him.

His low, magnetic voice was terrifyingly calm. "Mr. Moreno, you're celebrating too early. Ms. Ortiz hasn't even accepted the ring yet."

Whether intentional or not, he spoke in flawless English.

His words carried, causing the neighboring tables to turn their attention back to Raelynn and Ian.

Raelynn unexpectedly locked eyes with Sebastian.

His gaze was sharp, profound, and utterly heavy as it pinned her down.

In that fraction of a second, Raelynn let out a soft scoff.

She reached out and took the ring right out of Ian's hand.