The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 207

Julian studied her calm face, his eyes betraying complex emotions.

After a long while, he sighed. "Alright. To each their own."

He leaned back in his chair, picked up his cold tea, and downed it in one gulp.

Watching the fleeting look of regret and ruthlessness cross his face, Evelyn grew even more certain—the Lancaster family was hiding plenty of dark secrets. And she didn't want to touch any of them.

The suite fell silent again.

Evelyn suddenly spoke up. "Mr. St. Claire, a question."

"Go ahead."

"Madeline..." Evelyn looked at him. "You know she has feelings for you, right?"

Julian's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second.

Evelyn continued, "She's still foolishly convinced you're just her wonderful senior, eagerly playing matchmaker for you. Mr. St. Claire, I assume you have no time for romance right now?"

Julian remained silent for a few seconds before suddenly letting out a slightly roguish smile. "Not necessarily. Maddy is quite adorable."

"Julian." It was the first time Evelyn had used his first name, her voice turning ice-cold. "I have zero interest in your revenge plans, and I won't interfere. But if you hurt Madeline—"

She paused, enunciating every word clearly. "I suppose you wouldn't want your path to revenge to be rocky either."

She spoke with a calm gaze, but Julian saw an undeniable absolute resolve within that calmness.

Their eyes locked.

The air seemed to freeze.

The roguish smile slowly vanished from Julian's face. He sat up straight, his expression turning serious. "Rest assured, Ms. Sullivan. I won't hurt Maddy. She... truly is a good girl."

Evelyn looked at him, knowing he might not mean it. Julian was too calculating; her warning likely carried little actual weight.

But at least she had made her stance clear.

Just at that delicate moment of confrontation—

The door to the suite burst open.

It opened with such force that it slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

Both of them whipped their heads around.

Sebastian Thorne stood in the doorway.

He wore a black trench coat, looking as though he had rushed straight from a journey, his hair slightly disheveled by the wind. His face was devoid of expression, but his eyes were as cold as ice, glaring straight at Julian.

Then, his gaze shifted to Evelyn.

Finally, they landed on the open brooch box on the table.

"Am I," Sebastian began, his voice terrifyingly calm, "interrupting?"

"That is none of your concern." Sebastian didn't even glance at him, looking down at Evelyn instead. "Let's go. The car is downstairs."

Evelyn stayed silent for two seconds before standing up.

She looked at Julian. "Mr. St. Claire, let's wrap this up for today. I'll accept the gift. Thank you."

She snapped the velvet box shut and picked it up.

Julian nodded. "As long as you like it, Ms. Sullivan. Then we can... talk again another day."

"That won't be necessary." Sebastian spoke before Evelyn could, his eyes glacial. "If Mr. St. Claire wants to collaborate, you can contact the Thorne Group directly. Dr. Sullivan is very busy these days; she doesn't have time for irrelevant people."

Irrelevant people.

He didn't bother hiding the insult.

Julian's smile finally cracked, though he quickly recovered it. "You must be joking, Mr. Thorne."

Sebastian ignored him, wrapping an arm around Evelyn's shoulders. "Let's go."

The two walked toward the door.

Just as they were about to exit, Evelyn suddenly stopped and looked back at Julian. "Mr. St. Claire, I hope you truly keep what I said in mind."

Julian's gaze narrowed before he nodded. "Of course."