Sebastian was looking up at the sky, his hand outstretched to catch the falling snow. His eyes were clear and unreadable. What he was thinking was anyone's guess.
Julian walked over.
He lit a cigarette in the smoking area.
"Let's talk."
Sebastian turned his head slightly. "About what?"
Looking at that perpetually calm, unbothered face, Julian felt an inexplicable surge of annoyance. He smirked. "Should I ask if the notoriously ruthless Mr. Croix is playing philanthropist now? Bending over backwards to help people who have nothing to do with you."
At this point, he wasn't going to be fooled by Sebastian anymore.
Looking back at everything recently... from handing over Longstride Technologies to Raelynn on a silver platter, to transferring massive shares of Croix Holdings to her during the divorce.
Even a man madly in love wouldn't necessarily go to such extremes.
Then there was Lily's registration.
If Sebastian hadn't wanted it because he had never spent time with his daughter, that could have made sense.
But he hadn't just 'not wanted it'.
He overreached, antagonizing the Hudson family, taking a massive risk to steal the child back from them, orchestrating everything flawlessly while dealing a huge reputational and financial blow to the Hudsons.
And now.
Digging up the true colors of Sylvia and Sierra.
Item by item.
This was far beyond simple coincidence... or guilt.
In fact, Julian felt this was only the part he knew about. What else had the man done without saying a word?
Sebastian gave Julian a mild glance. "Think whatever you want."
The mastermind was none other than his own grandmother, Matilda Croix.
Despised by his own father, set up and drugged by his grandmother to have that accidental night with Raelynn, and further orchestrated so that an entire crowd witnessed the aftermath.
It pushed Raelynn's reputation to the brink.
Then they publicly claimed the two were already in a normal relationship and had secretly gotten their marriage license.
It left him and Raelynn with absolutely zero way out.
If he had refused to marry her.
Raelynn would have been utterly destroyed. She would have been shamed at school, and the Croix family would have made sure her life was ruined afterward.
More importantly.
Even if he refused, his grandmother would have kept fueling the scandal. She would have broadcasted his one-night stand with Raelynn to the world, ensuring that any prominent families considering him for a marriage alliance would back out in disgust.

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!...