"Didn't the Hudsons act like monsters first? Was Raelynn supposed to just grit her teeth and take it?" Chloe couldn't hold back anymore. Even if Cordelia was her aunt and a powerful figure in the family, she had to stand up for her friend.
Raelynn laughed in sheer disbelief.
"The Hudsons shamelessly tried to sell my child, and I was supposed to just accept it like a good little victim. Just because you allowed a simple registration, Lily and I were expected to act like your loyal servants without a single complaint. Otherwise, we're ungrateful. You really know how to spin a narrative, Mrs. Hudson."
"Shouldn't you at least answer to the family?" Cordelia pressed.
Raelynn's expression turned icy, abandoning all pleasantries. "I don't know what set you off today, but that's no excuse to act like a lunatic with me. You constantly throw my supposed debt to Ian and the Hudsons in my face. Whenever you want something, you immediately guilt-trip me by bringing up the time Ian jumped off a cliff to save me. I backed down multiple times because of that. But your greed knows no bounds. Mrs. Hudson, doing business isn't the same as daylight robbery. Have you completely lost your sense of shame?"
Her words were razor-sharp.
She left absolutely no room for misinterpretation.
The crowd was stunned. No one expected Raelynn to dress down the formidable Cordelia Hudson like that.
Sebastian, catching onto a crucial detail, slowly lifted his gaze and stared coolly at Cordelia's pale face.
Cordelia knew Raelynn had a fiery spirit, but she never imagined she would publicly tear a respected elder to shreds.
Raelynn watched Cordelia's shifting expression and articulated every word clearly. "I considered the help Ian gave me, which is why I didn't pursue charges when your family tried to traffic my daughter like a bunch of common criminals. Do you really think I would have let that slide otherwise? Don't forget, Lily is a Yves. We won't allow the Hudsons to bully us!"
If she hadn't felt indebted for her life, the horrific act of trying to sell Lily would have brought the full wrath of the Yves family crashing down on them. They wouldn't have just moved on; they would have destroyed the Hudsons.
Yet, the Hudson family clearly believed she had no right to hold a grudge.
They took everything from her and still acted like she owed them.
It was absurd.
"You..." Cordelia's face drained of color.
Raelynn froze. In the next second, he stepped up to her side. His tall, imposing frame radiated an undeniable dominance. His dark, brooding eyes narrowed under furrowed brows, looking more unfathomable than ever.
His jaw was clenched tight as he stared Cordelia down. "Since when was Ian the one who jumped off a cliff to save Raelynn?"
Cordelia looked like she was going to be sick.
Raelynn whipped her head around to look at him.
"It wasn't Ian?"
That single act of heroism had kept her feeling endlessly indebted, forcing her to yield whenever Cordelia casually brought it up at the perfect moment.
But right now, Cordelia's panicked, evasive gaze confirmed everything Sebastian just said.

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!...