Aunt Brenda was the first to spot her.
She immediately called out in a mocking tone, "Well, look who it is! It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Beside her, Jeanette turned around, casting a lukewarm, calculating gaze over Raelynn. She hadn't expected Raelynn to rise to such prominence, now Kingsford University's most sought-after Associate Professor. The news had sent shockwaves through their social circles for weeks.
Everyone had been asking about her.
And by extension, the Croix family was back in the spotlight.
People even praised Jeanette for being so lucky to have such an accomplished daughter-in-law.
Raelynn wasn't exactly surprised to see the two of them.
Elaine's tea party was designed for the wives of elite families, so it made perfect sense for Jeanette and Brenda to be on the guest list.
Firing off a quick text to Elaine to let her know she was walking in.
Raelynn breezed right past them without a backward glance.
She had absolutely no intention of engaging with either woman.
However.
Her blatant, disrespectful disregard caused Jeanette to scowl.
Brenda was equally furious, stepping directly into Raelynn's path to block her. "Well, aren't you something special now, Raelynn? You run into your mother-in-law and your aunt, and you don't even have the decency to say hello? Does Kingsford University know how you treat your elders?"
Raelynn met her gaze dead-on. "You couldn't even keep your own son out of prison, yet you have the nerve to lecture me?"
Brenda gasped, her finger trembling as she pointed at Raelynn. "You..."
"Raelynn, is that any way to speak to your family?" Jeanette marched over, her voice dripping with disapproval. "Do you even know the meaning of the word respect?"
Raelynn pocketed her phone, offering a faint, mocking smile. "If you're so desperate for respect, go find your future nephew's wife. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to wait on you hand and foot. After all, considering you're actually Sebastian's dear aunt, you've certainly worked hard to earn that kind of treatment."
She kept her tone light and pleasant.
But every word felt like a poisoned dart that made Jeanette's face twist in fury.
Nephew's wife and Sebastian's dear aunt were thinly veiled reminders of her scandalous past, sleeping with her brother-in-law and becoming a stepmother to her own nephew.
Raelynn was publicly humiliating her.
She led Raelynn to her seat.
The venue was packed with guests.
Every woman in attendance dripped with wealth and elegance, chatting and laughing in a display of practiced affability.
Raelynn found a random table and sat down.
Before she could even take a sip of her tea.
A few others joined her table.
Turning her head, she realized Jeanette and Brenda had intentionally chosen to sit right beside her. Raelynn stared at them in silence, feeling a pang of regret.
She should have been far more vicious at the door.
Did these two women have absolutely no shame?
Still, given their status in the Croix family, several guests immediately rushed over to offer sycophantic greetings.

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!...