Sebastian didn't stick around.
He stood up, gave his farewells to Evelyn and the others, and walked out of the room with Seraphina following closely behind.
The entire time, he never made eye contact with Raelynn again.
After the dinner ended.
Since Ian hadn't driven himself, he got into Raelynn's car.
As he started the engine, he said, "I'll go with you to Seaport City."
Raelynn knew the Hudson family's main base of operations was located there as well.
Cordelia and Ian simply bounced between the two cities for corporate matters.
The Hudson family was obviously already on the Yves' guest list anyway.
"Lily wants to go back too. Should we bring her with us?" Ian suggested.
Raelynn wasn't as fearful anymore. Since it was already public knowledge that she was Lily's mother, there was no need to deliberately keep her distance. She agreed.
Ian turned his head.
And saw the gentle smile forming on Raelynn's lips at the suggestion.
A quiet, satisfied smirk touched his own lips.
-
After leaving the restaurant.
An emergency popped up at Croix Holdings, so Sebastian headed straight back to the office.
Seraphina watched him drive off before finally getting into the car with Blanche.
Once the doors were shut, she let out a massive, heavy breath.
It would be a lie to say she hadn't been terrified during that dinner.
But Sebastian had been right. Since she was the Yves heiress, she needed to cut ties with the Hudson family immediately. That way, once the Yves family confirmed her identity, they wouldn't force her to break things off with Sebastian instead.
She only had eyes for him now.
Even Ian Hudson was nothing compared to Sebastian Croix.
Blanche sneered. "With everything that's happened to you recently, if we didn't play this card, you'd never be able to crawl your way back up. It's just a title anyway. The Yves family needs closure, so what's the big deal if you reap a few benefits from it?"
"But there's still a massive element of uncertainty!"
Seraphina couldn't completely shake her fear.
She originally thought that the real heiress was either dead or lost to the wind, meaning she would never pose a threat to her.
But now.
The real heiress was standing right in front of them...
"Exactly." Blanche grabbed Seraphina's shoulders, narrowing her eyes at her. "Which is why we can't rely on just one card. We have to secure both ends."
She spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. "How far have things progressed between you and Mr. Croix?"
Seraphina looked at her, frowning.
Blanche continued laying out her master plan. "If you want an ironclad guarantee, you need to lock Mr. Croix down while fighting for the Yves heiress position. When we go to Seaport City, you need to make sure you and Mr. Croix..."
"...consummate the relationship and make it official."

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!...