Raelynn clenched her jaw, keeping her silence.
Forrest walked over to Sebastian, his gaze intense. "The Second Branch has been pulling strings in the shadows for years. Did you crush them today because they got tangled up with Seraphina, or have you been planning this purge all along and just used her as an excuse? Either way, I'm not going to press the issue."
He knew his prized grandson all too well. Sebastian was a masterful, terrifying strategist. He was the kind of man who would set a fire without a second thought, completely indifferent to who was inside. That level of ruthlessness was precisely what a dominant patriarch needed to survive. He wasn't surprised by anything Sebastian did anymore.
Forrest patted Sebastian's shoulder. "Tristan is back now. He'll be joining headquarters to assist you. Figure out how to use him."
Sebastian nodded casually. "I'll arrange it according to corporate protocol."
Without another word, Forrest turned and left the hall. He had dropped the issue of punishing Raelynn entirely. The Croix family was stuck between a rock and a hard place; pressing the issue would only hurt them.
Tristan immediately rushed forward, gently helping Raelynn up from the floor. He frowned, his eyes full of worry. "It's over now. Are you okay?"
Before Raelynn could answer, Matilda's face darkened. "Tristan! Your brother and sister-in-law need to talk. Stop interfering. Walk me back to my room, I'm feeling dizzy."
Tristan sighed, looking back helplessly. "Grandma, why are you so worked up?"
He turned to Raelynn one last time. "Call me if you need anything."
He shot Sebastian a highly conflicted look. There was nothing more he could say. The rift between the former couple was a gaping chasm now, especially with the revelation of the child. Love or no love, it was a massive betrayal.
Matilda dragged Tristan away, leaving the main hall dead quiet.
When they finally arrived at the house, it felt like she had stepped into another lifetime. The house looked exactly the same, yet it felt entirely alien to her now.
Sebastian glanced back. Raelynn was staring at the front door, lost in thought.
He raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Lived here for seven years and you forgot how to use the front door?"
Raelynn snapped out of her daze, her brow furrowing in annoyance. His words were laced with blatant sarcasm, even if his tone was infuriatingly casual.
She wasn't about to let him win. "Since the 'hostess' of the house was replaced, why would I need to remember?"

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!...