Raelynn snapped back to reality.
She realized Sierra thought she was genuinely hurt by Seraphina's venomous remarks.
She offered a casual shrug. "No, she was telling the truth. But honestly, I got over it a long time ago. Words like that don't faze me anymore."
When you stopped caring about the person, their actions stopped hurting you.
Sierra studied her face, seemingly trying to figure out if she was just putting on a brave front, before flashing a bright smile. "That's great! You're a lot stronger than I thought, Professor Ortiz."
Raelynn raised an eyebrow but didn't bother explaining.
No one just naturally brushed off that kind of pain from the start. But when you went through enough of it, the tears eventually ran dry, and you simply forced yourself to toughen up.
She checked her watch and decided to call her grandfather's nurse.
-
On the top floor, in the executive office.
This area used to be strictly controlled by the Vance family. And since Sebastian hadn't bothered to revoke their access after taking over the shop, they breezed right in.
Blanche let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank God we got here early. If we had waited any longer, Mr. Croix might have remembered to lock us out, and we'd be screwed."
She typed the code into the keypad.
It hadn't changed.
They hadn't updated a single security measure in years.
Seraphina, still reeling from the Keystone disaster, snapped impatiently. "Hurry up. Someone could walk in any second."
Blanche practically sprinted to the computer.
Having managed the shop for a few months back in the day, she knew the system inside and out.
Silas had used this office to run his underground operations, logging into encrypted websites and using specialized contact codes. She was here to make sure none of that history was still lingering on the hard drive.
She typed in the old URL, accessed the site, and ran a search for the specific contact code.
Nothing. The system treated her login like a first-time visit. They really had scrubbed everything spotless back then.
Blanche finally exhaled.
That woman was her worst enemy now.
And if she was going down, she was going to drag as many people with her as possible!
Sierra stared at her in shock. "That's impossible!"
Then, she shot back indignantly. "We already have a new lead on my sister anyway. Grandma and I found the real amulet here today."
Sierra's brain clicked, and her eyes suddenly lit up as she muttered to herself, "Professor Ortiz..."
"It has to be Professor Ortiz!"
Seraphina's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
The real amulet...? It surfaced again?
She and Blanche had stolen the only one from this very shop. How could another one magically appear? And Raelynn...
Could she actually be the missing Yves heiress?

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!...