Sebastian stared into her reddened eyes, her trembling lips, and that fierce, uncompromising gaze that bristled with thorns, daring him to push her further.
They stood in absolute silence, locked in a tense standoff for what felt like an eternity.
Finally.
Sebastian slowly raised his hand. His movements were incredibly gentle, yet swift, as he wiped away a trace of moisture from the corner of her eye.
Yet his expression remained entirely unreadable.
"Get some rest," he said quietly.
Then, Sebastian turned and walked away.
Raelynn stood frozen, half-convinced that the phantom touch of him wiping away her tear was nothing more than a cruel hallucination.
Her face an emotionless mask, she walked back into the hospital room to check on her grandfather one last time.
Then, she left.
She would rather die than help Seraphina.
As for Sebastian, he hadn't even tried to threaten or bribe her tonight. He had simply asked and walked away.
She didn't care what was going through his head.
As far as Seraphina's crisis was concerned.
She was getting exactly what she deserved.
-
The next day.
Raelynn headed to Longstride Technologies first to ensure operations were running smoothly.
Sebastian hadn't sent anyone to forcibly extract the files.
She gave Mr. Tanner strict instructions to report any anomalies to her immediately.
Once she arrived at NexusMind Technologies.
Raelynn spent the morning in The R&D Department, confirming the supply chain details for their upstream components.
She worked straight through until noon.
When Chloe arrived to take her out to lunch.
Just as they stepped into the office.
The Assistant hurried over to hand Raelynn a package.
"This courier delivery just arrived for you."
Chloe leaned in. "What is it? Documents? It's so thin."
What gave them the right to use the Winslow family's heritage to wash that homewrecker clean?
And having the invitation delivered to her right now.
It was a blatant provocation!
A sickening display of absolute dominance!
No wonder Sebastian hadn't forced her hand last night. They already had a Plan B ready to go.
With this charity event, they would silence the accusations of using foreign scapegoats and completely crush the boycott against Seraphina's project.
"This is unbelievably shameless! And Sebastian is the one headlining it! He knows damn well that antique shop belongs to the Winslows! He knows it's the most important thing in the world to you! And he's letting that mistress use it as a doormat to wipe herself clean?!" Chloe screamed, her face flushed with absolute fury.
Raelynn's grip on the invitation tightened until her knuckles turned white.
She understood exactly why Sebastian's name was printed on the card.
Because he was the ultimate golden ticket.
With him headlining the event, the high society elites who couldn't care less about antiques would trip over themselves to attend, just for the chance to rub shoulders with him. They would pack the venue, elevating the event's prestige to astronomical heights.
And with that kind of exposure.
Seraphina's manufactured "good name" would be broadcast to the entire world.
Raelynn took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm going over there."

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!...