Although Derek belonged to a branch family, he was incredibly shrewd. Despite his young age, he had firmly established himself at the headquarters and was highly valued, destined for great things.
Meanwhile, Chloe's lack of standing in the Hudson family was becoming common knowledge.
She had never held an official position in her family's company, instead continuing to mess around in the entertainment industry. Naturally, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport had begun voicing their complaints.
"You really don't pull your punches, do you?" Chloe grumbled.
Zella crossed her arms and scoffed. "Facts are facts."
Chloe didn't bother arguing, sliding over to sit on Raelynn's other side. "It's our life. A wedding isn't a big deal. Besides, my parents don't care about me anyway, so throwing money away on a massive party is pointless."
Raelynn patted her hand. "As long as you two are happy, everything else is just background noise."
Thank god Chloe was happy.
She and Derek had been together for six years, always inseparable. They had never even hit a rough patch. To Raelynn, that was what true love was supposed to look like—steady and enduring.
Chloe smiled and nodded in agreement.
Then she shot a suspicious glare at Zella. "Since when are you two so buddy-buddy?"
Even crashing their lunch.
Weren't they supposed to be rivals?
Zella rolled her eyes. "Nothing happened between Sebastian and me. If he has terrible taste and didn't want to marry me, why would I take it out on Raelynn? It's not going to stop me from making a friend."
She had finally figured it out.
Wasting her time on a man like him was useless.
There was no fairytale ending waiting at the finish line.
Besides.
A Davenport didn't need to beg for anyone's attention.
Chloe caught the subtext.
Zella actually liked Raelynn. Despite her arrogant attitude, she genuinely wanted to get closer. Which made Chloe feel like her position as Raelynn's ultimate best friend was under threat.
She offered a forced smile. "You sure love making friends."
"Not particularly. Very few people actually make the cut."
"..." Chloe's sense of crisis deepened.
Meanwhile.
Zella stepped outside before answering Professor Robert's call.
"Happy New Year, sweetheart." Robert was an old family friend and practically treated her like his own daughter.
Zella raised an eyebrow. "What about the time difference, old man? Staying up all night just to call me—can your heart even take it?"
"If I call earlier, you're sleeping in. If I call later, you're going to bed. Should I just sit around and wait for you to remember I exist?" he grumbled playfully.
Zella rubbed her nose guiltily.
It was true; her beauty sleep usually lasted until noon.
"Fine, fine, you're the best," she smiled, her eyes curving.
Robert finally sighed. "I spoke to your parents. I hear you fell head over heels for Eliot, only to get ruthlessly rejected? I was worried you were heartbroken, so I called to cheer you up."
Zella's face flushed hot with annoyance. "I didn't get rejected! He just doesn't know what's good for him!"
Robert sighed again. "Listen to me. Reel your feelings in before you get hurt. You and Eliot are an impossible match. If I had known your parents picked him as your fiancé, I would have put a stop to it immediately."
"Why?" Zella blinked in confusion.

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!...