At this moment, Ian's eyes were completely clear.
He stared intensely at Raelynn, completely stripping away his usual polite restraint.
Raelynn paused.
She lifted her gaze to meet Ian's deep, probing eyes.
She tightened the cap on the vial and tucked it back into her bag. "Ian, I understand that as a man you have basic needs, especially in the state you were just in. Get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow."
Raelynn treated his confession as residual intoxication.
She refused to entertain the deeper implications.
She straightened up. "Go get some sleep."
Ian understood her boundary. Whatever the reason—perhaps because he had crossed the line tonight—pushing this before she fully accepted him would only cause unnecessary stress for both of them.
He simply nodded.
He didn't press the issue.
"Alright, I'll have the driver take you home."
He knew why she hadn't even stepped foot inside his house. Raelynn seemed easygoing and laid-back on the surface, but she had an ironclad sense of boundaries. She had a bottom line she wouldn't let anyone easily cross.
Raelynn smiled softly. "Thank you."
Ian stepped out of the vehicle.
He watched her car pull away, slowly disappearing into the distance.
He stood there for a long time.
Before sitting down right on the spotless front steps.
He wasn't as honorable as he pretended to be. Whether tonight was driven more by the spiked drink or his own selfish desires, he knew the answer perfectly well.
Raelynn really was different from other women.
Maybe she knew, or maybe she was just playing along to let him save face, ensuring they could still interact normally.
Watching the taillights fade.
He could only shake his head with a helpless smile.
He couldn't rush this.
As long as they got married, everything would be fine.
Their wedding wasn't far off anyway.
The final preparations were massive, but within a month, everything would be set in stone. Plus, he and Raelynn shared a deep bond through Lily.
She had accepted it in front of a crowd; taking it off the moment she got home would look like she was hiding something.
There was no point.
It was better to let everyone see this ring.
Especially the Croix family.
Especially Sebastian.
The ring was a weapon that drew a clear boundary. Everyone just needed to live their own lives now.
After exiting the bathroom, she plugged in her dead phone and went straight to sleep.
The next day.
Raelynn slept late into the morning.
By the time she woke up, Chloe Hudson had already stormed in with Lily. The second she walked through the door, Chloe spotted the incredibly flashy ring.
She rushed over. "Whoa! Damn! The sun is so bright today, I'm practically blinded by that rock."
She nudged Raelynn's shoulder. "You sealed the deal?"
Raelynn pushed the wildly winking Chloe away. "It's a long story."

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!...