She tactfully gave the father and daughter their space.
After a few minutes, Lily trotted over to her, looking incredibly serious. It was obvious the little girl had something on her mind.
"What are you thinking about, sweetie?" Raelynn probed gently.
Lily remained a vault, completely immune to her mother's sweetness. "It's a secret."
Raelynn sighed.
Begrudgingly, she took Lily's hand to guide her toward her friends.
On the way, she overheard a conversation nearby.
It was Julian and his sister, Sierra.
Julian was looking at Sierra with a distinct lack of warmth. "Why are you here?"
Sierra, clearly intimidated by her brother, nervously twisted the hem of her dress. "Professor Ortiz invited me. I'm her student."
Julian frowned at the explanation.
Seeking to defend herself, Sierra added, "Professor Ortiz is really nice to me. We get along great, so..."
Julian didn't care about her excuses.
He was about to snap at her.
When Quentin called.
"I'll be there with Sylvia in about half an hour," Quentin announced. "She wasn't feeling well, so I took her to the hospital first. We'll head over together."
Julian's face darkened.
Bringing Sylvia? Knowing they suspected Raelynn was the true heiress, he was still parading Sylvia around?
Julian wanted to scream.
His expression turned so thunderous that Sierra shrank back in terror.
The only thing that diffused Julian's rage was the sight of Raelynn and Lily walking past. The storm clouds in his eyes vanished instantly. "Raelynn. Lily."
Lily remembered him.
He was the man who had bought her a mountain of toys.
"Hi, Mister."
Hearing her call him that twisted a knife in Julian's gut. Knowing there was a very real chance this woman was his sister and this little girl was his niece, he was desperate to hear her call him "Uncle."
Before Julian could say anything.
Sierra's eyes lit up at the sight of Lily. She eagerly stepped forward, reaching out to pinch the little girl's chubby cheeks.
But the gesture triggered an explosive reaction from Julian.
Leo had raised his hand to say hello.
Raelynn had completely ignored him.
He rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Then he suddenly called out, "Mr. Hudson."
Sebastian looked up.
Ian was approaching from behind, clearly intending to catch up with Raelynn and Lily. He stopped as he passed them, his eyes locking directly onto Sebastian's face.
The two men stared at each other, the calm surface hiding a lethal undercurrent.
"Mr. Croix," Ian greeted smoothly. "Thank you for coming."
"Of course," Sebastian replied with a curt nod.
Ian's gaze deepened.
There was a highly calculating edge to the way he studied Sebastian.
Because...
The brooch he had picked up off the floor wasn't the one he gave Raelynn. It had been swapped.

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!...