The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 256

On the other end of the line, Arthur Thorne's voice was aged but powerful, carrying the unmistakable authority of a man who had reigned at the top for decades, though he couldn't completely hide his exhaustion. "That father of yours caused another massive scandal and put your mother in the hospital... Sebastian, you did the right thing. A bastard like him deserves to be locked up and forced to reflect!"

Sebastian gripped his phone, his fingers tightening. He could hear the rage and bitter disappointment in his grandfather's voice—not directed at him, but at his deeply flawed son.

"Don't be upset, Arthur," Sebastian said, keeping his voice soft. "My mother is out of the woods. The surgery was a complete success. She's resting at the sanatorium right now, and I'm making sure she is fully taken care of."

"I know you will." Arthur's tone softened slightly. "As for your mother... I'll have Thomas send over some premium supplements tomorrow. Tell her on my behalf that the Thorne family has failed her, and I, Arthur Thorne... have failed her."

Sebastian's throat tightened. His grandfather rarely spoke such vulnerable words. This was a man who had navigated the vicious currents of the business world for half a century, single-handedly building Thorne Enterprises from the ground up. He was notoriously iron-fisted and practically never apologized.

"Please don't say that, Arthur," Sebastian replied quietly. "She doesn't blame you."

A heavy silence fell over the line, stretching so long that Sebastian thought the call had dropped.

Finally, Arthur spoke again, his voice dropping low. "Sebastian, regarding your father... what are you planning to do?"

Sebastian's eyes drifted to the window of his office, watching the clouds slowly drifting across the distant skyline. His voice was devastatingly calm, void of a single ripple of emotion. "Let him enjoy his stay at the Westside. The environment there is quite pleasant. Perfect for quiet reflection."

"Quiet reflection..." Arthur repeated the words, his tone heavy with complex implications. "Fine. Keeping him far away from your mother is best for her, and best for him."

The phrasing was subtle, but Sebastian understood completely.

His grandfather knew about Marcus's filthy affairs. Choosing not to expose the ugly truth directly was Arthur's way of giving Sebastian room to handle it, preserving the last shred of dignity the Thorne family possessed.

"Arthur," Sebastian suddenly asked, "have you spoken to Victoria recently?"

Another stretch of silence on the line.

When Arthur finally replied, there was a noticeable chill in his tone. "Victoria came by last week, claiming she wanted to visit me, but she spent the entire time probing about Thorne Enterprises' upcoming projects. That husband of hers... seems to be getting a bit too ambitious lately."

It was time to prune the overgrown vines.

---

Thirty minutes later, The Gilded Orchid.

From the outside, this highly exclusive private restaurant tucked inside a historic townhouse in the heart of the city looked entirely unremarkable. It didn't even have a sign. But stepping through the heavy carved wooden doors revealed an entirely different world—slate brick floors, rich mahogany furniture, priceless calligraphy on the walls, and the faint, intoxicating scent of sandalwood mixed with gourmet cuisine.

Sebastian was a regular and a major shareholder. The manager practically sprinted to the door to greet him, beaming brightly. "Mr. Thorne, your order is ready. Exactly as you instructed, not a trace of onions or beans, and everything is light and delicate."

"Thank you for the effort," Sebastian nodded.

The manager led him to the innermost private suite. Sitting proudly on the table was an exquisite, three-tiered rosewood container intricately carved with blooming lotus patterns.