The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 131

This wasn't a misunderstanding. It was a blatant, calculated frame-up.

Someone had found a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Evelyn, orchestrated this entire act at a specific time and place, and snapped these highly misleading photos. What was the goal? To ruin Evelyn's reputation? To drive a wedge between her and Christian, even though they were already practically over? Or... was it connected to the scandalous news of Christian and Lyra spending the night at the apartment that broke this morning?

A terrifying silhouette formed in Madeline's mind. This was likely a massive conspiracy, and Evelyn was just a pawn being used, or a target meant to be smeared in dirt.

A suffocating wave of panic washed over her like a freezing tide. Where was Evelyn right now? Did she know about these filthy schemes? Christian had clearly bought into the lies. Given his current state of fury and chaos over the scandal, what would he do to Evelyn? And whoever was hiding in the shadows pulling the strings—what was their next move?

She had to contact Evelyn immediately.

Madeline scrambled toward the couch and grabbed her phone. As she unlocked the screen, her fingers trembled uncontrollably from a mix of anger and sheer worry. She quickly scrolled to the pinned name in her contacts—Evelyn Sullivan—and hit the call button.

The steady ringing of the line echoed in her ear, every single tone striking against her frayed nerves.

Then came the cold, automated female voice. "The number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later."

Powered off?

Madeline froze, and then something clicked. She slapped her forehead in frustration. Damn it! How could she have forgotten?

Her memory snapped back to the night before last. Right here in this living room, Evelyn had been curled up on the couch, sipping a cup of warm herbal tea. She had looked at Madeline, who was busy sorting case files, and said, "Maddy, I booked a flight for the day after tomorrow."

"Hmm? Where to? Has Dr. Ashford been pressuring you to go to that exchange program?" Madeline hadn't even looked up, her pen scratching across the documents.

"Not M country," Evelyn replied. Her voice was soft, carrying a long-lost sense of peace that belonged only to her. "Kenya. Dr. Ashford emailed me again. He said that based on their observations, the animal migration at The Mara Plains this year is going to be spectacular. He asked if I was interested in recording it again. I figured... it's been a while. The starry skies over there have a way of making you forget things."

She collapsed back onto the couch, forcing herself to calm down. Her professionalism as a lawyer kicked in, urging her to find logic and solutions beneath the emotional turbulence.

First, she had to establish that the photos were forged—or rather, that the protagonist was not Evelyn. Based on her understanding of her best friend and a detailed examination of the images, she was almost certain of this.

Second, she felt someone was orchestrating a massive setup. She just didn't know who the players were or what their ultimate endgame was.

Regardless, she carefully placed the original photos back into the envelope and locked them in the bottom drawer of her desk. This was 'evidence,' and it had to be protected.

Right now, all she could do was wait. Wait for Evelyn's flight to land. Wait for her to turn her phone on and send a message that she was safe. Only then could she lay everything out, get Evelyn's take, and strategize. Evelyn was far calmer and smarter than she gave herself credit for; perhaps she would have a better plan.

Madeline leaned against the back of the couch, staring at the ceiling with a heavy heart that felt weighed down by a boulder. She silently prayed that Evelyn's African escape wouldn't be tainted by the filthy schemes of this distant city.