Sebastian stood tall and imposing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the office.
It was a gloomy day, the sky outside a heavy, oppressive gray. Hearing the door open, he turned slightly, his predatory gaze landing on Raelynn.
Seraphina was seated in the chair next to him, gazing up at him with a delicate, affectionate smile as she spoke.
That chair, however, belonged to Raelynn.
Leo Flynn had also tagged along for the spectacle. Upon seeing Raelynn, a glint of mockery flashed in his eyes.
Raelynn could tell at a glance that they were up to no good.
Mr. Tanner stood off to the side, his expression incredibly tense. Seeing Raelynn arrive, he stepped forward with visible reluctance. "Ms. Ortiz, perhaps you should speak with Mr. Croix?"
Raelynn shot a cool glance at the chair Seraphina was currently occupying. "What's going on?"
With one hand slipped into his pocket, Sebastian didn't rush to speak. He seemed utterly indifferent to her arrival.
Seraphina crossed her legs gracefully and offered a triumphant smirk. "We called you here to inform you of something. My entire R&D team and I have decided to leave Longstride. We're taking our product and starting our own firm."
Her tone was a blatant demand, not a request.
She spoke as if Longstride was a revolving door she could just waltz in and out of at will.
Raelynn hadn't actually expected something quite this absurd. It was laughable.
What did Seraphina think Longstride was?
Taking an entire R&D team and the intellectual property with them?
Did she think corporate law was just a polite suggestion? She wanted to leech off all of Longstride's premium resources, then just dump the company to set up her own shop?
"Do you need a reminder?" Raelynn asked smoothly. "You cannot take the product with you. I'm willing to negotiate the team's departure, but as long as this project was developed under Longstride, it belongs to Longstride. It is not your personal property, Ms. Vance."
Raelynn was genuinely astounded by the sheer audacity.
Raelynn shot a mocking glance at Sebastian.
So, he was here to back up his precious sweetheart.
He couldn't stand the thought of Raelynn taking the initiative to fire Seraphina, so he stepped in at this exact moment to turn the tables.
Leo clapped his hands with a lazy smirk. "People with actual talent sure know how to speak with confidence. Raelynn, just let Sera go. Don't ruin her career. If you let her leave cleanly, we might even praise your grace."
He paused, feigning realization. "Wait, you're not trying to keep Sera here just so Seb will visit Longstride, are you? Trying to use her as an excuse to see him?"
At his insinuation,
Seraphina let out a silent scoff.
If that were true, Raelynn was truly pathetic.
Even Sebastian slowly shifted his gaze toward Raelynn.

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!...