The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 234

At exactly nine o'clock, Evelyn pushed open the glass doors of the inpatient building.

She wore a light blue blouse under her crisp white coat, her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. The exhaustion of a sleepless night lingered on her face. She had been stuck in the lab until the early hours of the morning and was up by six to make oatmeal for her grandfather.

"Morning, Dr. Sullivan!" The moment Lauren saw her, she scooped up the flowers and rushed over, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Evelyn paused, her gaze dropping to the bouquet of dark purple roses. A barely perceptible frown touched her brow, but her expression quickly smoothed back into its usual gentle demeanor.

A few morning shift nurses purposefully slowed their pace, pretending to organize charts while blatantly eavesdropping. The front desk had become the epicenter of the morning's drama, with everyone's eyes darting between Evelyn and the extravagant arrangement.

"Dr. Sullivan, these are for you." Lauren handed the flowers over, a tentative, expectant smile on her face. "Mr. Thorne had them delivered."

Evelyn looked at the unabashed curiosity shining in Lauren's eyes, then noticed the dozens of side-glances zeroing in on her. She let out a soft sigh. A helpless but polite smile graced her lips as she reached out to accept the bouquet.

It was surprisingly heavy and immaculately wrapped. She spotted the cream-colored card tucked between the petals but made no move to pull it out.

"Thank you," she said softly. Her voice held the slight rasp of morning fatigue, yet it remained perfectly warm.

She didn't ask who sent them, didn't read the card, and offered zero dramatic reactions. She acted as if she had just been handed a routine Amazon package, albeit with slightly more grace.

All the dramatic commentary Lauren had prepared instantly died on her tongue. She could only watch as Evelyn cradled the flowers, gave her a polite nod, and turned toward the elevators.

The elevator doors slid shut, leaving Evelyn alone in the quiet car. She looked down at the dark purple blooms resting against her arm, their velvety texture catching the overhead light. Slipping the card from the arrangement, she read the single, bold line written across it:

[With you, everything is romance. My affection isn't just for this moment; it's for eternity.]

The handwriting was sharp and assertive. No generic greetings, no signature.

Evelyn stared at the words for two full seconds before sliding the card back into the flowers.

The elevator chimed. She stepped out into the corridor, where passing nurses cheerfully greeted her. "Morning, Dr. Sullivan! Wow, gorgeous flowers!"

Evelyn nodded, offering them a polite smile, but completely bypassed the subject of the roses.

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By eight-ten, Evelyn had placed the bouquet on the cabinet in the corner of her office. The deep, moody purple was a stark contrast to the sterile white walls, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with yesterday's identical arrangement.

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At ten-thirty that morning, at the headquarters of Thorne Enterprises.

The virtual meeting had just concluded. Sebastian pulled off his earpiece and pinched the bridge of his nose. The screen displayed the European executive team—the conference had dragged on for two brutal hours.

Lance walked in hugging his laptop, looking noticeably anxious.

"Boss," he began cautiously, "the flowers were delivered."

Sebastian looked up. He didn't say a word, but his dark gaze clearly demanded: And?

"The receptionist handed them to her," Lance continued quickly. "She said Dr. Sullivan accepted them, just said 'thank you,' and was... perfectly pleasant about it."

Silence stretched for a few seconds before Sebastian lightly tapped his fingers against the mahogany desk. "Did she take them into her office?"

"She did! The receptionist saw it with her own eyes!" Lance rushed to add. "She even said Dr. Sullivan put them right next to yesterday's bouquet."