Sebastian seemed to have caught her parting comment about "public indecency." As she brushed past him, his eyes darkened, his gaze tracking her every move.
Seraphina looked visibly annoyed.
How dare Raelynn lump her and Sebastian in with whatever she had going on with Ian Hudson?
Ian was obviously just using Raelynn for fun, yet Raelynn was acting like she was some grand prize.
As if Ian actually cared about her.
"Julian, let's head inside," Seraphina said, easily slipping back into her warm, elegant smile.
Julian snapped out of his daze.
He shot Seraphina an unreadable look before giving a noncommittal hum.
Seraphina refused to let Raelynn ruin her mood. She had noticed the temporary pass swinging around Raelynn's neck and dismissed her as a fringe nobody. She wasn't worth the energy.
Her real goal today
was to impress the mentors.
She had formally submitted her PhD application and the interviews were fast approaching.
While she was dead set on securing Dr. Moreno as her advisor, she needed to expand her network in this elite circle. Having Sebastian by her side meant she had the golden ticket to casually converse with several top-tier professors at once.
With her project in ruins, she was still dealing with the legal and financial fallout.
She absolutely could not afford any mistakes with her PhD application.
"Raelynn must be here representing Preston Moreno today," Julian mused thoughtfully as they walked.
Perhaps Preston was tied up and sent Raelynn in his place?
Seraphina immediately pictured the cheap temporary badge around Raelynn's neck and let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Probably. She certainly looked thrilled just to be allowed in the building."
Wearing a temporary visitor badge like it was an Olympic medal.
In Seraphina's eyes, Raelynn was acting exactly like those desperate academic frauds—faking prestige, snapping a few photos to post online, and pretending she belonged in a room full of geniuses.
Sebastian showed zero interest in the topic. He couldn't care less why Raelynn was there.
Julian, however, didn't bite at Seraphina's thinly veiled insult. He looked directly at Sebastian instead.
All of it was thanks to Sebastian.
Raelynn quietly looked away. The sight didn't even sting anymore.
Seraphina spotted Raelynn shrinking into a corner seat. She raised an eyebrow, smirking to herself. She figured Raelynn was finally realizing how profoundly out of her depth she was.
But Seraphina had a secondary objective today, beyond just networking.
Looking at Professor Polk, Seraphina asked sweetly, "I heard Kingsford Medical University recently appointed a highly exceptional associate professor? Are they here today?"
Sebastian glanced over at the mention of it.
Professor Polk nodded with a smile. "Yes, she is."
As he spoke,
he turned and scanned the massive room.
Finally, his eyes locked onto Raelynn sitting quietly in the back corner. His smile widened. "Isn't that her right 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!...