It wasn't until later that he understood.
It was a profound, unspoken agony.
Later on.
His mother had an accident, driving her car straight into a lake.
His sister went missing.
His family was shattered.
Then, a young college girl who frequented their home, visited his mother, and played with him, conveniently showed up and asked, "Let me be your new mommy, okay?"
The truth hit him like a freight train.
His mother had suffered a double betrayal.
Her husband's infidelity and her friend's thievery.
He was never one to meddle in others' business, nor did he care about their private lives. Back when it came to Sebastian and Seraphina, all he knew was that Sebastian's marriage to Raelynn was a forced mistake devoid of love.
Sebastian had been coerced.
As Sebastian's friend, his prejudice against Raelynn led him to tacitly accept Seraphina's arrival as "true love."
But once that illusion and filter were stripped away.
Seraphina's actions were downright shameful.
And this shameful woman was now his sister.
She had done the very thing he despised most. His mother had lost her life over this exact kind of betrayal. If his sister turned out to be someone like Sylvia Dalton, he absolutely couldn't accept it.
These extreme conflicting emotions had been torturing him immensely lately.
Sebastian saw right through Julian's inner turmoil. He set down his teacup, his tone flat. "She and I have known each other for so long. I'm a married man, yet she hovered around me, and you always got along with her perfectly. I thought you had long forgotten about what happened to your mother."
Those words hit Julian like a physical blow.
He couldn't help but think this was karma coming back to bite him.
If he hadn't stood by and watched Seraphina intrude on Sebastian's marriage, maybe...
"Draw my blood first."
Quentin Yves's voice put an end to their conversation.
They turned to look.
The medical staff had already set everything up.
The equipment was top-tier, and their sterilization procedures were meticulous.
Seraphina didn't show an ounce of hesitation, guilt, or fear. Instead, she stood up gracefully and smiled with a nod. "Of course."
That absolute confidence.
Was palpable to everyone in the room.
Julian furrowed his brows.
Sebastian said nothing, lowering his gaze to trace the rim of his cold teacup.
The staff drew Seraphina's blood and collected her sample.
Dr. Evelyn Hayes asked, "How soon will the results be ready?"
The head of the agency smiled. "I will notify you in forty-eight hours."
Dr. Evelyn Hayes felt at ease.
Watching the scene unfold.
Sebastian stood up.
Just as he was about to leave.
His phone suddenly rang in his pocket, drawing everyone's attention.

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!...