The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 177

Stephen’s mind was entirely consumed by chaos, so he waved his hand dismissively. "Go ahead."

Helena nodded obediently and walked toward the study with the thermos. At the doorway, she paused and cast a glance back at Stephen—a look he couldn't quite decipher at the time.

About twenty minutes later, Helena emerged from the study. The thermos was empty.

"Did he eat it?" Stephen asked.

"Yes, a big bowl of it," Helena replied with a sweet smile. "He even complimented my cooking."

Stephen had zero interest in hearing about it. His mind was still reeling from Arthur's merciless threats. He waved his hand irritably. "Whatever. Let's go home."

They left the estate. Barely ten minutes after their car pulled out of the gates, his phone began to ring frantically. It was the butler. "Sir! It's a disaster! The master collapsed! We've called an ambulance!"

---

The flashback shattered.

Stephen stared into his daughter's freezing eyes, his throat tightening in sheer panic. He remembered the look Helena had given him when she stepped out of that study—in hindsight, it was dripping with calculating triumph.

Just last night at the hospital, Helena had pulled him into the stairwell, her hand gently resting on her flat stomach. "Stephen, I'm pregnant. I'm over three months along. I didn't dare tell you."

Stephen had been stunned. "Pregnant? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I was scared... scared you wouldn't want it," Helena said, her eyes welling with tears. "Stephen, this is your son. Samuel has been a disappointment, and Evelyn wants nothing to do with us. This baby... he might be our last hope."

She leaned into his embrace, her voice trembling. "What happened to your father... it was an accident. But I did it for our family. I heard rumors that the old man was writing his will to leave all his Sullivan Holdings shares and assets to Evelyn. What would happen to us? What about the company? When our son is born, what will he have?"

Stephen had frozen completely. "What... what did you do to my father?"

"Nothing much, just added a little something extra to the chicken soup," Helena’s tone turned frigid. "Don't worry, I got rid of all the evidence. They can't trace it back to me. As long as we swear it was just normal soup, there's no proof."

She looked up, locking eyes with him. "Stephen, you have to choose. Will you choose the old man who has always looked down on you and wants to sever your last lifeline? Or will you choose me, and our unborn son?"

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