If Sylvia started poking holes in their story, she would become a massive liability.
"We have to find a way to neutralize her influence in this family," Blanche muttered, her eyes narrowing venomously.
Seraphina thought it over for a long moment.
It seemed she needed to pay this Sylvia Dalton a little visit.
-
The Yves estate was buzzing with life.
Raelynn wandered through the manicured gardens, her phone vibrating with a text from Ian: 'Lily's with me. Where are you?'
She quickly texted him for his exact location.
Slipping her phone back into her purse, she headed in his direction.
Following the winding stone paths, she approached a beautifully carved wooden pavilion. Up ahead, she spotted Sylvia Dalton quietly directing a group of frantic maids.
Sylvia radiated a quiet, unpretentious grace, even stepping in to help arrange the centerpieces herself.
"Chairwoman Hayes prefers subtle arrangements. Please swap out these vibrant blooms for something a little more understated. We don't want the flowers overpowering the room. Thank you for your hard work," Sylvia said, her voice warm and melodious.
She worked alongside the staff, handling the minor details with effortless elegance.
Raelynn observed the maids closely.
They all seemed to genuinely adore Sylvia, smiling warmly whenever she spoke to them.
It left her.
Staring at Sylvia with an inexplicable sense of cognitive dissonance.
According to Chloe Hudson's gossip, Lydia had literally funded Sylvia's entire life. She had given her an education, provided her with resources, and practically served as her savior.
And yet...
She had supposedly stolen Lydia's husband, shattered their family, and driven Lydia to severe depression. How could anyone reconcile that level of betrayal with the gentle woman standing right in front of her?
Raelynn frowned in quiet contemplation.
Lost in her thoughts.
"Ms. Ortiz?"
Sylvia had approached her, a kind, gentle concern in her eyes. "Chairwoman Hayes is greeting guests in the east courtyard right now. Would you like me to walk you over?"
She clearly assumed Raelynn was lost.
She pursed her lips in irritation.
Without hesitating, she marched straight over.
"Ms. Vance," Sylvia greeted her the moment she noticed her approach.
Raelynn turned around.
Seraphina closed the distance between them. Gone was the humble, sweet facade she usually wore. Her eyes were sharp, her posture radiating pure hostility. Completely ignoring Raelynn, she glared down at Sylvia. "I think you're going to have to change the way you address me very soon."
Sylvia blinked in surprise, but quickly recovered with a polite nod. "You're absolutely right."
But Seraphina absolutely despised Sylvia's serene compliance. It made Sylvia look like a saint and framed Seraphina as an unhinged bully.
Her tone hardened. "I know everything about what goes on in this family. My mother filled me in on all the dirty little details of your past."
Sylvia's expression finally faltered, though she remained silent.
Standing off to the side, Raelynn could practically smell the gunpowder in the air.
From her perspective, this was an entirely one-sided slaughter. Sylvia was taking the verbal abuse with saint-like patience, refusing to rise to Seraphina's blatant bait.
"The past may be the past, but it doesn't mean your sins are erased. I firmly believe some debts require a lifetime to pay off. The person you ruined is gone, which leaves me as your only surviving victim," Seraphina hissed, her voice laced with venom.

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!...