Boss, Your Wife Signed the Divorce Agreement Before the Wedding novel Chapter 323

Preston shrugged. "Chloe Hudson actually told me today that she ran into them while out shooting a documentary. Sebastian Croix was there too. Looked like they were having a celebratory dinner. I'm guessing the initial phases of the project are already greenlit. She must be pretty confident if they're popping champagne this early."

Raelynn found it slightly unexpected.

But on second thought, the team was based at Longstride Technologies, and Longstride had Sebastian's backing. Money made the world go round.

Sebastian could secure the best of everything for her.

Naturally, they wouldn't face any bureaucratic red tape, making their turnaround time much faster than most companies.

She looked down, texting Lily about her day, completely uninterested in keeping the conversation on Sebastian. "Good for her, then."

Preston studied Raelynn's remarkably calm face.

He let out a silent sigh.

She had decided to leave him, decided to let go, and claimed not to care. But was it really possible to feel absolutely nothing in such a short amount of time?

Watching her own husband pour his money, resources, and love into elevating another woman.

Seven years. How many seven-year stretches did a person get in one lifetime?

She was just swallowing the bitterness and forcing herself to move forward.

The truth was, Raelynn really didn't want to know how Sebastian was paving the way for Seraphina this time.

It was obvious his involvement was what gave Seraphina so much leverage.

Thankfully, their projects were completely unrelated. They wouldn't cross paths, so she wouldn't have to look at them.

A little later, Raelynn received a call from Matilda Croix.

"Raelynn, the 19th is The Croix Anniversary Gala, which happens to fall on the same day as Sebastian's birthday. Adjust your schedule. I expect you to keep the day entirely open."

Though the tone sounded grandmotherly, Raelynn felt a bone-deep chill.

She used to think too highly of the Croix family. Only now did their demands make her skin crawl.

As for Sebastian's birthday.

She knew.

In the past, she had meticulously planned for it every single year. If he was out of the country, she would take time off and fly halfway across the globe just to celebrate with him. Even when he was cold and distant, she used to cherish every second. A simple dinner together was enough to make her happy before she'd take a red-eye flight back, exhausting herself to the bone.

Now.

Never again.

She was going to learn to love herself more.

"I might be busy."

The impending pressure meant she needed to come up with several backup plans.

Worst case scenario, she would just drag Sebastian back to file the papers a second time.

The Croix Anniversary Gala was a breathtakingly extravagant affair.

Factoring in that it was also Sebastian's birthday, Raelynn could already picture the absurd level of opulence.

When the day arrived, a driver was parked outside her marital home bright and early, waiting to pick her up.

She had no choice but to make an appearance.

At least it would be crowded. She could just blend into the background and coast through it.

Having very little jewelry of her own, she pinned on The Sapphire Butterfly Brooch that Ian Hudson had given her.

She arrived at the venue.

But before she could even step inside.

She got an iMessage from Preston.

Preston: *Raelynn, we have a problem.*