The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 268

The Bayview Retreat, sixth-floor corridor.

Evelyn held her ringing phone as she stepped out of the suite. She glanced at the screen—an unknown number. Without hesitating, she pressed answer.

"Hello?" she answered in perfectly fluent English, her tone carrying a practiced, polite distance.

A burst of enthusiastic English came pouring through the receiver. "Iris! I finally got a hold of you! I thought you'd ditched this number again!"

The corner of Evelyn's mouth curved upward. "Emily. What's the emergency?"

"A massive one, obviously!" Emily's voice practically vibrated with excitement. "The committee for the International Jewelry Design Competition wants you as a guest presenter this year. Next Friday, in Paris. A few of your biggest fans are on the winner's list, and the board is begging you to hand out their awards."

Evelyn leaned against the window sill in the hallway, her eyes resting on the golden oak tree outside. The afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting a warm, dappled light across her face.

"Next Friday..." she repeated softly, mentally calculating the timeline.

Isabella was recovering remarkably well. She would be transferred to a regular room in three or four days, which meant Evelyn could head back to New York. Her grandfather was also scheduled for discharge soon. The timing worked perfectly.

"Exactly, next Friday," Emily rushed on. "The ceremony kicks off at seven in the evening. All you have to do is present the final award—Best Emerging Designer. What do you say? Are you in?"

Evelyn fell silent for a few seconds.

She remembered her very first time attending this competition. She had been a total unknown, a broke design student sitting in the audience, watching the elite presenters on stage. She had promised herself back then: One day, I'm going to stand exactly where they are.

And she had done it. Not only had she stood on that stage, but she had become a legendary figure in the industry—someone others could only look up to.

"Alright," she finally said. "I'll do it."

"Yes!" Emily cheered loudly. "I'm putting your name down right now! By the way, where are you hiding these days? Still jet-setting across the globe?"

Evelyn gave a soft laugh. "I'm back in the States handling some personal business. I'll make it to Paris by next Friday."

"Perfect, see you then!" Emily paused as if remembering something. "Oh, and there are quite a few incredible Asian designers nominated this year. You should definitely keep an eye out. Maybe you'll finally take on a protégé."

Evelyn hummed in acknowledgment, chatted for another minute, and ended the call.

She stood by the window, staring at the darkened screen of her phone, and let out a long breath.

Iris.

She had used that alias for years, taking herself from a completely overlooked novice to an absolute titan in the international jewelry world.

After returning to the States and getting married, she had practically buried the identity. Over her three-year marriage, she had barely taken a single commission. She honestly hadn't expected the committee to still remember her.

Outside the glass, another gust of wind sent a shower of golden leaves drifting toward the ground.

Evelyn slipped her phone back into her pocket and headed for the elevators.

She had a specialized consultation that afternoon for a complex case transferred from out of state. It was time to get back to work.

—

Meanwhile, in downtown San Francisco, on the top floor of Thorne Enterprises.

The boardroom doors were tightly shut, the silhouettes of the executives pacing inside barely visible through the frosted glass. Lance Sterling sat at his desk just outside, casting anxious glances toward the doors.

The meeting had been going on for an eternity.

Lance snapped to attention. "Isabella is recovering beautifully. Dr. Sullivan mentioned during her morning rounds that she can be moved to a regular room in a few days."

"And lunch? What did she eat? Were there any complaints?" Sebastian asked.

"We had the meals sent over from The Gilded Orchid, and she ate alongside Dr. Sullivan," Lance reported, hesitating for a fraction of a second. "Dr. Sullivan's appetite seemed poor. She barely touched any of the food, except for the wildly tart pickled vegetable medley. She finished the entire plate. Other than that, no issues."

Sebastian nodded slowly, dismissing the thought.

He stood up and grabbed his tailored suit jacket from the back of his chair.

"Get the car ready."

"Right now?" Lance checked the darkened sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Where are we heading?"

"The Westside Sanatorium," Sebastian said, slipping his arms into the jacket. "To see my father."

Lance blinked in surprise, then hurried after his boss. As they walked to the elevators, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he had forgotten to mention something important, but his mind drew a blank.

Whatever it was, it couldn't be that critical.

—

New York, the Lancaster Estate.

The laughter in the grand living room was finally dying down as the maids brought out trays of fresh fruit. Christian sat on the plush sofa while his cousin, Piper Brooks, leaned excitedly against the armrest, chattering away about Paris.

"Christian, you have no idea how prestigious this competition is!" Piper's eyes were practically sparkling. "It's hosted by the International Jewelry Design Association! Emerging designers from over thirty countries submitted portfolios. Just getting a nomination is insane! The committee specifically noted on my invitation that I'm the only Asian-American designer to make the final cut!"