Raelynn Ortiz was startled.
She turned her head and met Cordelia Hudson's eyes at the door.
Cordelia was holding an insulated lunch box, obviously bringing a late-night snack for Ian Hudson.
But she had just happened to hear them talking about marriage.
A smile blossomed on her face. She quickly walked over, pleasantly surprised. "Have you two really decided?"
Raelynn suddenly felt guilty and instinctively looked at Ian.
If this was just between her and Ian, she wouldn't have to deal with anyone's expectations.
But now that Cordelia had heard, the nature of it changed completely.
Their marriage wasn't born out of true love, yet it required someone else to treat it with genuine emotion.
"I knew it. You two look so perfect together. Ian, I can promise you, he looks stiff and unromantic, throwing all his energy into his work, but that just shows he isn't willing to waste time managing any relationships outside of a one-on-one commitment. He'll be very loyal."
Cordelia didn't skimp on praising her son.
Raelynn almost caught the underlying meaning.
Cordelia probably knew about her situation.
Her last marriage had ended in a mess.
Cordelia was trying to give her peace of mind.
But in reality, she didn't care about that. Reaching this agreement with Ian was mutually beneficial. If Ian found a woman he truly liked, she would never stand in his way.
But now that Cordelia knew...
It seemed harder to manage.
After all, she hadn't planned on having a wedding, nor had she intended to publicly announce a fake marriage solely for custody.
"I heard you talking about a wedding. How about this? Leave the wedding planning to me. Marriage is a big deal, and I don't want Raelynn to feel wronged."
Cordelia was in high spirits and almost immediately finalized it.
Cordelia raised an eyebrow at Ian. "Leave the wedding to me. It will be grand. The preparation period will be a bit long. Customizing the dress, planning the event, designing the rings—none of it is quick. But I'll figure out a way to compress it all into three months. If you don't mind, you can get your marriage certificate first."
Raelynn still felt as if she were in a fog.
It felt like fate and choices were pushing them down another path.
Hearing Cordelia, she knew it was destined to be impossible to keep this completely quiet.
It was unexpected.
She didn't want the Hudson Family to go all out for a marriage based on selfish motives.
But Cordelia didn't seem to care. "It's just a wedding. No need to feel any psychological burden. This is mutual. As long as it can be solved with money, it's not a problem, and you don't need to take it to heart."
It wasn't until she went downstairs with Ian that Raelynn snapped back to reality.
She didn't regret any of her decisions.
For Lily, she was willing to risk everything. Especially through the fake divorce certificate incident, she had completely seen through what kind of family The Croix Family was.

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!...