The sharp smack echoed through the room.
Matilda stared at Raelynn in utter shock.
Sebastian looked down at his rapidly reddening arm.
It was clear just how much force Raelynn had put into it.
The faint trace of that sweet perfume in the air was making Raelynn's stomach churn.
She kept her composure perfectly. "I don't know where you've been, but you had some dirt on you. Just brushing it off."
Seraphina was dirty.
And so was he.
Sebastian's deep eyes darkened, but he didn't look angry. He slowly lowered his arm and glanced at Matilda. "Grandma, do you have any ointment?"
Matilda snapped out of her daze. "Mr. Stevens, go get some for Sebastian."
Raelynn turned and started walking out.
She certainly wasn't going to bring up her little negotiation with Matilda tonight.
Even if she couldn't publicly expose Seraphina for playing two men at once, at least the Croix family was the one planting these seeds.
They had better not cry when it was time to harvest the consequences.
Standing on the porch, Raelynn looked down at the bag on her arm.
Inside was the contract demanding she never step foot in the Croix family again after the divorce.
She used to think Matilda genuinely cared for her, but now she understood perfectly. When it came to the family's interests, personal feelings were immediately pushed to the back burner.
She glanced back at the brightly lit mansion.
Raelynn was just trying to figure out the fastest way to make a clean getaway.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Raelynn looked up. Sebastian was already walking toward her. His sheer height was intimidating, especially when he was looking down at someone.
His dark gaze remained cold and unreadable.
Raelynn practically read his mind.
"I didn't come back today for..." you.
Not long ago, she had sworn up and down she would never return for the family gathering.
"Are you done being angry?" he interrupted her train of thought.
Raelynn frowned, noticing the red mark on his arm. The distinct outline of her hand was glaringly obvious.
She had practically wound up like a baseball pitcher to hit him.
She could only imagine how much it stung.
"What do you mean?" she countered.
"The situation online has been handled. Your personal info won't be exposed. Croix Holdings will issue cease-and-desist letters to anyone spreading malicious rumors." Sebastian didn't beat around the bush.
Raelynn stared at him, mockery swimming in her eyes. "Oh, so you handled the PR."
Was he trying to show off what a dependable husband he was?
But Sebastian had known about the crisis from the very beginning.
She had been slandered and viciously attacked, and he didn't care about her feelings at all. He was only focused on keeping her quiet and under control.
"Oh," Raelynn said, a flash of self-deprecation crossing her eyes.
Her voice was deadpan. "Mr. Croix is bending over backward to play knight in shining armor for Seraphina. I should really know my place."
Sebastian was just putting on a show to make sure she didn't reveal that Seraphina was the actual homewrecker.
Did he think he could play her for a fool?
Sebastian finally looked up at her, his thumb gently rubbing against her wristbone. "Raelynn, saying things out of anger doesn't solve anything."
Raelynn smiled, slowly pulling her hand out of his grip inch by inch. "True. I only get rid of the people who cause the problem."
Exactly.
She was getting rid of him.
Solving the problem at its root.
Sebastian clearly had no intention of analyzing the hidden meaning in her words.
He glanced at the way she physically recoiled from his touch.
Just like how she had actively resisted him when they were taking the photo earlier.
"How many years have we been married?" he asked.
Raelynn looked at him, confused.
Sebastian stood up and handed her his jacket to keep out the cold. "Seven years. We've done it all. I'm not that obsessed with your body anymore, so you don't need to overreact."

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!...