The mere possibility left Raelynn sick with anxiety.
Lily was so young. If she found out her father had been cheating on her mother while they were married, it would completely shatter her innocent worldview.
She didn't want to ruin Lily's perfect, innocent bubble.
Chloe lowered her voice. "With a photo like this going public right now, how are you supposed to cut ties with Sebastian? Before, your marriage was an open secret only among the elite. Now the whole world knows he's married."
Raelynn dragged a hand through her hair, glaring at the news article in sheer frustration.
Anything involving Sebastian naturally generated an insane amount of traffic.
She scrolled down to the top comments.
- [The CEO is married?! And after all these years, he still looks so protective and deeply in love. So sweet!]
- [Even the kiss isn't entirely primal. You can tell he really cherishes his wife.]
- [Too bad they didn't catch Mrs. Croix's face, but this photo is straight-up wallpaper material.]
- [Wait, what about the woman he was rumored to be with? Did I imagine that? She kept dropping hints she was the real deal...]
Raelynn stared at the comment mentioning Seraphina.
Seraphina had already faced some backlash in their social circles for being the "other woman."
Now, the scandal was out for the whole world to see.
Raelynn didn't care what kind of heat Seraphina was taking.
She had her own mess to deal with, starting with this damn photo.
Sebastian had staged it to mislead the media, diverting their attention away from Theon Tanner to protect the Croix family's reputation.
"I even stalked Seraphina's socials just now. Her fans are actually hounding her, asking if she's the one in the photo and demanding to know her real relationship with Sebastian. She's playing dead right now. I bet she's losing her mind," Chloe said, sounding quite pleased.
People who obsessed over their public image hated this kind of chaos more than anything.
One wrong move, and her entire public persona would go up in flames.
Seraphina had built herself up so high; the fall was going to be spectacular.
Working in the industry, Chloe knew exactly how this game was played.
Raelynn pinched the bridge of her nose. "I need to talk to Sebastian first."
She had to make him kill the story.
Raelynn checked the time. She had only unpacked a fraction of the boxes she'd moved in last night.
She didn't feel any particular surge of emotion.
She was already well-acquainted with Sebastian's ruthlessness. One more slap in the face hardly mattered.
She didn't force the issue.
She didn't call Mary to open the gate, either.
Turning around, she got back in her car, leaving the place she had lived in for seven years—a place that was never truly her home.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Sebastian's number.
It rang for a long time.
Raelynn waited patiently.
He finally picked up.
He didn't say a word.
The silence was so profound it felt like the line was dead.
Raelynn ignored it and dove right in. "Can we talk?"

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!...