Sebastian Croix stood with one hand in his pocket, his posture completely nonchalant.
Ian Hudson's lips twitched slightly. "You planned this well."
Sebastian didn't deny it.
He didn't acknowledge it, either.
Raelynn Ortiz had already walked over to Chloe Hudson. She stared heartbrokenly at the lingering handprint on Chloe's cheek. "I'm so sorry. I dragged you into this. After all, the Hudson family is your family, too."
Chloe pushed a strand of hair back and scoffed. "I'm your best friend. If I don't help you, who will? It's not like I don't know right from wrong. Even if it's my own family, I can't just stand by and let them do whatever they want."
Last night, she really had been caught by her father.
They had a massive fight over it.
She had argued vehemently for Raelynn, and her father had slapped her so hard her eardrum nearly burst. He had locked her in her room, forbidding her from ruining the Hudson family's plans. In that moment, she wasn't even surprised. Growing up, she had always been the unwanted daughter, never the son.
She could be treated like garbage.
But Raelynn couldn't.
She was going to help Raelynn protect everything.
She smashed the window and escaped.
The Hudson family could punish her however they wanted; it wasn't like they could actually kill her.
She didn't care.
Raelynn fought back the urge to cry and reached out to hug Chloe tightly.
Seeing the two friends holding each other, Derek Davenport silently took a step back to give them some space.
Raelynn still had things to figure out.
After exchanging a few words with Chloe, she knew she had to go find Dr. Evelyn Hayes.
As soon as Raelynn left.
Howard and Cordelia Hudson stormed over, their faces livid. Furious, Howard instinctively raised his hand again.
Derek quickly pulled Chloe behind him, his smile fading. "Mr. Hudson, with so many people watching, I'd advise you to watch your actions."
Howard's expression shifted drastically.
Of course he was furious.
His own daughter had humiliated the Hudson family, and he would inevitably be held accountable!
Sebastian loved Raelynn. But why he wasn't fighting to win her back—that was the part she couldn't figure out.
But regardless...
Zella gritted her teeth.
Any chance between her and Sebastian was dead.
It wasn't that she wasn't good enough; it was just that this man had terrible taste!
"I advise you to hide behind Derek for now. The Hudson family is going to need a scapegoat to vent their anger on," Zella warned Chloe with a glance, before spinning on her heels and stalking off, her face dark.
Chloe thought that made sense.
She needed to lay low.
She immediately hugged Derek's arm, still in the mood to joke around. "Take me in, and I'm all yours."
Derek raised an eyebrow, gently brushing his thumb over the red mark on her cheek. He wrapped an arm around her, guiding her away from the crowd. "You were already mine to begin with."
Arriving at the Yves Garden Estate.
Raelynn had spent the entire car ride repeatedly reviewing the documents. They were incredibly complex, all bearing the signatures of Julian and Sebastian.

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!...