The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 258

The sixth floor of the sanatorium, Evelyn's office.

The door was slightly ajar, a sliver of warm, yellow light spilling into the hallway. Sebastian stood outside, gripping the exquisite rosewood container in his hands like it was a fragile piece of porcelain.

He took a deep breath.

Then another.

Standing three paces away, Lance watched his boss prepare himself as if he were walking into a warzone. He couldn't resist a quiet remark, "Mr. Thorne, if you keep breathing like that, you're going to suck all the oxygen out of the hallway."

Sebastian shot him a glacial glare over his shoulder.

Lance snapped his mouth shut and mimed zipping his lips.

Turning back to the door, Sebastian raised a hand and knocked gently three times.

"Come in."

Evelyn's voice drifted out—warm, perfectly even.

Sebastian pushed the door open.

Evelyn was seated behind her desk, studying a computer screen, a half-drunk cup of cold tea resting nearby. She had changed into fresh surgical scrubs, her hair still tied in that crisp ponytail. Though faint dark circles shadowed her eyes, her gaze remained sharp and clear.

Seeing Sebastian walk in, she paused for a fraction of a second before setting her mouse aside.

"Mr. Thorne," she said, standing up. "Are you here to check on Mrs. Thorne? She's stable today. The results from her afternoon tests all came back very positive—"

"No," Sebastian cut her off.

Evelyn blinked in surprise.

Sebastian stepped forward, placing the container on her desk. He moved with extreme care, as if setting down priceless cargo.

"I came to see you," he said.

The office plunged into total silence for a few seconds.

Evelyn looked at the stunning rosewood box, then back at Sebastian, confusion pooling in her eyes.

"Mr. Thorne, what is this..."

"Dinner," Sebastian said. "From The Gilded Orchid. You've been exhausting yourself taking care of my mother these past few days."

He kept it incredibly brief, his tone so stiff it sounded like he was delivering a corporate report.

Evelyn stayed silent for a moment. Just as she opened her mouth to reply, Sebastian immediately spoke over her.

"Also, about what happened this afternoon. I heard. My aunt... Victoria. I know what she said to you."

His voice dropped, carrying a barely perceptible trace of tight tension. "I'm sorry."

Evelyn just looked at him, not saying a word.

Meeting her gaze, Sebastian spoke with burning sincerity. "You don't need to pay any attention to the garbage she spouted. Aside from carrying the Thorne name, she has absolutely nothing to do with me or my mother."

He paused before adding, "The Thorne family dynamic is... complicated. Some people share our blood, but... that's all it is. Just blood."

Evelyn lowered her eyes, her fingers lightly grazing the edge of the container.

"Mr. Thorne," she began, her voice retaining its gentle composure. "You don't need to apologize. I've already handled the situation from this afternoon."

"I know," Sebastian said. "Dr. Warren gave me the full report. You said you'd call the cops and have her spend some time behind bars."

His lips twitched, seemingly fighting back a smile. "Brilliantly handled."

Evelyn glanced up at him, caught off guard.

Locking eyes with her, Sebastian immediately squashed the ghost of a smile. He stood rooted to the spot, clearly holding back something massive but having absolutely no idea where to start.

The office was consumed by silence once again.

Then, Sebastian spoke. His voice was faint, but the sheer force behind every single word was undeniable.

"She told you that you weren't good enough for me."

Sebastian froze in his tracks, his entire back going rigid.

He didn't turn around.

The office was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, Evelyn's voice broke the silence, as smooth and gentle as ever, giving nothing away.

"The dinner... thank you."

Sebastian remained glued to the spot, his back facing her.

He never turned around, but from Lance's vantage point out in the hall, he could clearly see the tips of his boss's ears flush a violent shade of red.

"...You're welcome," Sebastian grumbled, his voice muffled.

Then, he practically sprinted out of the office.

The door clicked shut gently behind him.

Lance hurried to keep up, whispering furiously as they walked, "Mr. Thorne, why the hell did you just run? It's not like Dr. Sullivan was going to eat you."

Sebastian ignored him, speed-walking down the hall.

Lance refused to give up. "And what was that line at the end? 'As long as you don't reject me'—that was a full-on confession, right? You dropped that bomb and just bolted! You didn't even give her a chance to respond!"

Sebastian finally slowed down.

He stood in the middle of the corridor, staring out the window at the deepening night, wrapped in total silence.

Then, he finally said, "I was terrified she'd reject me again."

It was a whisper so frail that Lance genuinely thought he had hallucinated it.

He snapped his head toward his boss. Sebastian's face was cast in shadow, utterly unreadable.