Raelynn hadn't anticipated that Ian Hudson would be invited as well.
She was briefly at a loss for words. Glancing down at the message she had just sent Dr. Hayes, she felt a sudden urge to unsend it and pretend the whole thing never happened.
But she had already agreed. Backing out at the last minute would be incredibly rude.
Plus, given Dr. Hayes's status, receiving a personal invitation was a massive honor.
"Did your brother agree to go?"
"Of course," Chloe said. "Refusing at a time like this would look like a deliberate attempt to sever ties with the Yves family. In our circle, you have to think three steps ahead. Everyone has to keep up appearances."
Raelynn fell silent again.
Her hesitation stemmed from Ian's little proposal stunt a while back.
She wasn't sure if that incident had blown over yet. Even though absolutely nothing was going on between her and Ian, and they hadn't discussed it since.
But if rumors had reached the Yves family's ears, it wouldn't be good for anyone.
It would make things awkward all around.
After mulling it over, Raelynn briefly explained the situation to Chloe, emphasizing that Ian had only been trying to help her out of a tight spot.
Chloe was dead silent for a long moment before finally asking, "My brother... is that nice?"
Since when?
Helping her out?
By proposing?
"Yeah," Raelynn muttered awkwardly. "It was just a joke. Neither of us brought it up again. You can't take it seriously."
A wide grin spread across Chloe's face. "Why don't you just seriously consider it? My brother never wanted to marry the Yves girl anyway. He's been stuck in this weird limbo for years. Plus, you two already have a bond of love—our little Lily. If that isn't destiny, what is?"
Raelynn completely ignored Chloe's blatant matchmaking. "Is that what I asked you?"
Raelynn was the one who had been hurt, yet Seraphina walked away with a stellar reputation and everything she wanted?
"He's got his own legs. I don't control him." Raelynn rubbed the back of her neck, having made peace with it long ago.
He hadn't returned to their shared home. She had assumed he was still recovering, not that she had bothered to contact him. They were no longer in a relationship that required maintaining that fake level of care.
"It just makes me so mad. Doesn't he know Silas Vance abandoned you? Seraphina and Blanche bullied you relentlessly. With all that bad blood with the Vance family, he doesn't give a damn about your feelings or your well-being..."
Chloe's voice trailed off. She knew she was just venting her frustrations aloud.
Ripping off the band-aid of the truth was always a brutal experience.
Raelynn knew Chloe's temper and just offered a nonchalant smile. "I don't care anymore, I really don't."
That finally put Chloe at ease.
They ended the call.

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!...