"Raelynn, you're awake?"
Raelynn didn't get an answer from Sebastian.
The door was pushed open.
Seeing that Raelynn was fine, Julian let out a sigh of relief. He walked to the bed and leaned over. "Feeling better? Should I call the doctor to check on you again?"
Raelynn saw the anxiety in Julian's eyes.
With a heavy heart, she shook her head.
Julian's tense nerves relaxed slightly.
Likely because he had just learned what their mother had gone through, he was now terrified of anything happening to Raelynn. The slightest issue would make him panic.
Immediately after.
Julian shot an unyielding glance at Sebastian. "I'll take good care of my sister from here on out. We won't trouble you anymore, Mr. Croix. After all, you two have nothing to do with each other now."
Sebastian knew exactly what kind of temper Julian had.
He stood up with an aloof expression. "I'll leave you two to talk."
He had no intention of arguing or overstaying his welcome.
Picking up his laptop, he cast a side glance at Raelynn before walking out of the room.
With all the painful history completely dragged into the light, this brother and sister definitely had a lot to discuss.
After the door closed.
Julian sat by the bed, keeping his head down as he started peeling an orange.
"Sometimes I hate myself. I was too young to change anything back then. I let you and Mom endure so much suffering."
Julian's voice was hoarse.
His hands trembled slightly as he peeled the fruit.
Ultimately, the truth was just too brutal.
He couldn't digest it all at once.
Nor could he ignore the endless, heavy grief that followed it.
Raelynn swallowed hard. "We can only be thankful that it didn't stay buried in the dust forever. The truth finally saw the light of day."
If things hadn't blown up like this.
She had blamed Julian before.
She might seem easygoing, but she could hold a grudge.
But at the end of the day, it's instinct to side with your friends over strangers.
Plus, knowing the truth about her mother Lydia's death had filled her with a sense of melancholy and softness. After all, they were blood siblings born to the same mother. She suffered, and he suffered. She lost, and he lost.
Pain wasn't a competition.
Julian looked up at her, his voice hoarse. "I know I messed up. I was prejudiced against you. Your marriage to Sebastian was completely forced. Everyone in our circle thought you trapped him using dirty tricks."
That was why Sebastian's closest friends had a natural disdain for Raelynn.
Back then, they had all been on The Cruise Ship Incident.
They were supposed to be sending Tristan Croix off before he went abroad to study.
But then...
Raelynn and Sebastian's accidental one-night stand happened.
The rumors naturally reached everyone's ears.

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!...