Boss, Your Wife Signed the Divorce Agreement Before the Wedding novel Chapter 583

Raelynn glanced down at the massive, ravenous koi swarming in the pond.

They were already aggressively thrashing against the sodden parchment, shredding the delicate paper into a pulpy mess. Fishing it out now was an exercise in utter futility.

The terrified maid scrambled over the railing and desperately scooped the soggy lump from the water.

Sylvia rushed forward, her trembling hands gently unfurling the ruined masterpiece.

Even though the paper had a protective sealant, the water had completely decimated it. The black ink had violently bled across the page, and the hungry fish had torn massive, irreparable holes right through the center. Restoring it was entirely impossible.

"What are we going to do? This was the one thing the Chairwoman wanted more than anything in the world..." Sylvia sobbed, her face pale with absolute devastation.

Seraphina looked like she was going to throw up.

She shoved Sylvia aside, desperate to assess the damage herself.

But just then.

"What is going on here?"

Dr. Evelyn Hayes had materialized at the end of the walkway.

She was flanked by a massive entourage of elite guests. Raelynn easily spotted Quentin Yves and Sebastian Croix standing tall in the crowd.

The moment Seraphina locked eyes with the terrifying matriarch, she turned deathly pale.

She opened her mouth to defend herself.

But Dr. Hayes's sharp eyes had already locked onto the shredded remains of the parchment. Her elegant features contorted in sheer horror, and she marched forward.

Sylvia suddenly threw herself in front of Seraphina, frantically trying to play the martyr. "This wasn't Ms. Vance's fault! I just wanted to surprise you, but there was a terrible accident. I'm so sorry it's ruined..."

She was blatantly throwing herself on the sword to protect Seraphina.

Raelynn watched the masterful performance unfold.

Having witnessed the entire altercation, she knew perfectly well that Sylvia's desperate defense was just drawing a massive neon target straight onto Seraphina's back.

Dr. Hayes's hands violently shook as she snatched the ruined scroll. It was utterly destroyed.

A sickening sense of doom washed over Seraphina. The sheer reverence in the old woman's eyes meant this was an unforgivable offense. If she tried to lie her way out of it, the matriarch would just interrogate the maids and uncover the truth anyway, making her look even guiltier.

Rapidly calculating the devastating odds.

She gritted her teeth, her voice trembling. "I am so incredibly sorry. It was an accident. I had absolutely no idea this piece meant so much to you..."

The apology fell on deaf ears. Dr. Hayes was practically vibrating with rage.

Years ago, a corrupt servant had exploited the blind spots in their security, stealing several of her late husband's prized works to sell on the black market to capitalize on his soaring fame.

Raelynn felt like she had front-row tickets to a spectacular soap opera.

She was practically holding her breath, waiting to see how the carnage would end.

Standing elegantly at the edge of the crowd, having remained entirely silent until now, Sebastian slowly lifted his gaze. His cold, authoritative voice sliced through the tension. "Is that painting supposed to be an original Edouard Yves?"

The moment he spoke.

A sudden jolt of foreboding hit Raelynn.

She snapped her head toward him.

Dr. Hayes looked over at him as well. "Yes. I've been hunting for it for almost ten years."

Seraphina stared at him like he was a god descending from the heavens. She prayed he was stepping in to clean up her mess, or at least distract the furious matriarch long enough for her to escape the crosshairs.

Sebastian slowly uncrossed his arms and stepped forward, exuding absolute dominance.

He cast a bored, dismissive glance over the ruined shreds of paper before his dark, predatory gaze shifted and locked directly onto Raelynn, who was trying desperately to blend into the scenery. "And where exactly did this piece come from?"

His intense stare made the hairs on the back of Raelynn's neck stand up.

Sylvia blinked in surprise at the sudden interrogation. She hesitated before answering nervously. "From a private collector down in Cloudmont Province..."