Sebastian watched as Ian naturally reached out and took Raelynn's bag from her hands.
That kind of effortless intimacy was woven into the smallest, everyday details of their dynamic.
Sebastian's expression remained terrifyingly apathetic, bordering on absolute indifference.
"Yeah."
After offering the single syllable of acknowledgment, Sebastian turned around without a single ripple of emotion and got back into his car.
Raelynn had no intention of lingering to watch him drive off, let alone invite him inside.
She turned to Ian and murmured, "Let's head in."
Ian nodded.
Through his rearview mirror, Sebastian watched the heavy front door swing shut once again.
His face was a mask of stone, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
He cranked the steering wheel, driving off in the opposite direction until the house faded from sight.
As soon as Raelynn walked inside, Professor Alistair Finch marched over, rattling a few mints in his palm. He was grumbling under his breath about his wife forbidding him from smoking. When he spotted Raelynn, he opened his mouth to ask, "Why are you here at this hour?"
But then he caught the subtle, heavy exhaustion weighing down her features.
Alistair instantly changed his tune. "What's wrong?"
Ian hung up Raelynn's bag on the rack before answering smoothly, "Mr. Croix dropped her off."
Alistair scoffed loudly. "What is he doing here? Trying to score points?"
Hearing the protective anger in her mentor's voice snapped Raelynn back to reality. She quickly explained, "It's not what you think. Today was just a special situation, and we happened to be going the same way."
She couldn't deny that the day's revelations had hit her like a freight train.
She desperately needed time to process everything.
Once the police traced the clues and contact logs back to Blanche, the woman would be looking at serious prison time.
For years, Raelynn had tried to convince herself that the car crash was just a tragic accident—a cruel twist of fate that no one could have prevented. She had forced herself to accept the reality, knowing that drowning in endless agony wouldn't change the past.
But now, it had been definitively proven.
It was an intentional, malicious act.
Every ounce of suffering her family had endured was man-made.
She dashed straight over to Raelynn, threw her arms around her mother's waist, and beamed. "Can I invite my friends from The Elite Kindergarten?"
Ian chuckled softly. "Of course you can."
"Thanks, Daddy!"
Seeing Lily so excited, her cheeks flushed with joy, made Raelynn's heavy mood lift significantly.
As for Blanche and Seraphina...
She would pursue their destruction to the bitter end. But today, everyone was in high spirits, and it was hardly the time to drag the mood down with such heavy, depressing matters.
Halfway through dinner.
Ian scooped a serving of soup into Raelynn's bowl.
Raelynn absentmindedly murmured, "Thanks."
Lily had already finished her food. Seeing that the little girl was about to head to the bathroom to wash her hands, Ian stood up. "Come on, Lily. I'll go with you."
Lily nodded eagerly.
Raelynn paid them no mind and continued eating.

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!...