The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 17

11:00 AM, inside the study of The Lancaster Estate.

Sunlight sliced through the blinds, casting long, thin shadows across the mahogany desk. Evelyn sat behind the desk, her fountain pen hovering over the paper, refusing to drop for a long time.

Her phone vibrated on the table.

It was not a call, but an encrypted text. The sender was marked simply as "X," and the message was written in concise English:

"The storm is here. Do you need us to step in and purge the media?"

Just as Evelyn was about to reply, her other phone started buzzing like crazy.

The screen flooded with unread messages from Madeline:

"Evelyn! Did you see the news?!"

"Do not go outside! Absolutely do not leave the house!"

"The estate gates are swarmed with Lyra's fans holding signs calling you a homewrecker!"

"Pick up! Pick up the damn phone!"

Evelyn tapped open the news notification, instantly assaulted by blinding headlines:

"The Ballet Goddess Returns With Child: Lancaster CEO Caught in Infidelity Scandal!"

"Evelyn Sullivan Stole Her Man: A Three-Year Marriage Built on Lies!"

"Two-Year-Old Illegitimate Son Exposed: How Will The Lancasters Handle This?"

She quickly scanned them, and just as she was about to check her encrypted phone, Madeline's call broke through.

"Evelyn! You finally picked up!" Madeline's voice was frantic, sounding as if she was on fire. "Where are you right now? Are you at home?"

"In the study."

The call disconnected.

Evelyn set the phone down and looked back at her encrypted device.

She typed her reply:

"No need."

She hit send, then immediately deleted the log.

Rising from her chair, she walked over to the window and gently pulled apart the slats of the blinds.

Outside the main gates below, a massive crowd of people was indeed surging against the barriers, hoisting signs and chanting aggressively. The security guards were struggling to maintain order, but the mob was highly volatile.

She released the blinds and walked back to the desk.

Opening her laptop, she connected to a heavily encrypted network and logged into a specialized interface known to only a rare few.