Sebastian suddenly shifted his gaze to Dr. Hayes.
The next second, her words rang out clearly.
Dr. Hayes spoke with absolute finality. "Once I wrap up my business today, I will arrange a suitable time to meet formally with the Hudson family and officially annul the engagement."
Julian's face drained of color. "Grandma?"
Ian's eyes flickered.
Even Seraphina was struck dumb, entirely unable to comprehend how this had backfired so spectacularly.
Did this mean... she was actually giving Ian her blessing?
She wasn't going to crush Raelynn? She was actually giving a woman like her the chance to marry into the Hudson family?
Wouldn't that just give Raelynn more power to flaunt in their faces?
Dr. Hayes held up a hand, silencing the room. "Enough. I will give my granddaughter everything she desires, but I will not allow her to suffer. I refuse to trap her in a forced, loveless marriage."
She swayed slightly on her feet but refused to let anyone help her.
Dropping the final verdict, she walked out the door. Fierce and decisive.
A small crowd of gossip-hungry guests still lingered near the entrance, trying to peek inside.
Raelynn didn't care about the onlookers, but she was undeniably shaken by what had just happened.
Even though the Yves family's daughter had been missing for years, her family still provided her with unshakeable backing and protection. A powerful, loving family was something Raelynn had never experienced. If she had, she wouldn't have spent years being manipulated by the Croix family and Matilda Croix.
Seraphina's expression darkened. This was completely opposite to what she had planned!
Chairwoman Hayes had been far too merciful to Raelynn!
The second Dr. Hayes left the room, Julian's face twisted in fury. He lunged forward, grabbing Ian by the collar. "You did this on purpose, didn't you? You deliberately set this up today to use Raelynn as your excuse to break the contract!"
Ian looked down at him. "Are you trying to force my hand, Julian?"
Julian's expression turned murderous as he pulled his arm back to throw a punch.
Ian looked up, locking eyes with Sebastian.
Sebastian briefly glanced at the hand Ian had wrapped around Raelynn. His chiseled face remained completely stoic, utterly devoid of warmth or humanity. "Keep it clean. We have an audience."
His chilling tone acted like a bucket of ice water, snapping Julian back to reality.
He turned his head.
And saw the shadows of the lingering crowd near the doorway.
It hit him instantly—he had been half a second away from blurting out Raelynn and Sebastian's secret marriage in front of everyone.
Raelynn's racing heart slowly settled back into a steady, deadened rhythm as she understood exactly what Sebastian was doing.
He hadn't stepped in because he cared if she fell. He intervened to stop Julian from accidentally exposing their relationship, thereby protecting Seraphina's public image and reputation.
He wasn't protecting his wife. He was protecting his shiny, official girlfriend.

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!...