If she wanted to keep Leo firmly in her corner, she had to play the victim and show a little vulnerability.
Leo seemed to catch the quiet desperation in her voice and offered a sympathetic word. "Don't worry. It'll get sorted out. You've still got Seb, right?"
His mention of Sebastian made Seraphina's chest loosen slightly, only to instantly tighten again.
After all, Sebastian still hadn't called her.
But she rationalized it quickly—he was either buried in a meeting and hadn't seen the news, or some emergency had tied him up. The moment he stepped in, the chaos would disappear.
She forced a sweet smile into her voice. "You're right."
After hanging up, Seraphina turned back to Silas and Blanche.
"We'll just wait and see. The university and Raelynn don't have hard proof, so they can't touch me. We'll issue a statement saying the audio was maliciously edited to kill the momentum."
As long as there was no smoking gun, there was room to maneuver.
Taking a temporary hit to their reputation was fine.
If anything, it would only make Sebastian feel more protective of her.
It wasn't the end of the world.
***
Raelynn tossed and turned all night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she was pulled back to that year. She heard her mother promising to pick her up from school, promising they were going to start a brand new life.
And then...
She never showed up.
When Raelynn finally made it to the hospital, she had to watch her mother, covered in blood, clinging to her last breath.
Ever since she was dumped in the countryside after that, the nightmares had been relentless.
Years later, when she met Sebastian, she had spent an entire night keeping watch over him while he was severely injured. She had another nightmare then. That was the one and only time he lay on that rigid cot in the attic and held her hand.
It was the only night she had slept peacefully.
Then came their marriage.
To be fair, for the first two months, he actually came home.
They had even fallen asleep holding each other.
From that point on, the chronic nightmares vanished. The violent terrors finally faded away.
But...
Things were entirely different now.
Her identity as Faye, the secret about Lily...
She wasn't about to give him an opening. She turned on her heel and started walking.
But Sebastian had already anticipated her move. The second she turned, he pushed off the car and strode toward her. "Why are you running from me?"
Raelynn's feet rooted to the pavement.
She knew exactly why he was at Kingsford University today.
He was here to clean up Seraphina and the Vance family's colossal mess.
It had absolutely nothing to do with her.
But then...
"Lily Hudson," Sebastian said, stepping right beside her. He lowered his gaze, his dark eyes analyzing every millimeter of her expression as he casually dropped the name.
It hit Raelynn like a physical strike, making her entire body go rigid.
He kept his eyes locked on her. "It's a beautiful name."
Raelynn pressed her lips together and turned to face him. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Sebastian's eyes were pitch-black voids. Without a single warning, he delivered the killing blow. "Is Lily really Ian Hudson's daughter?"

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!...