The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 285

"Yes, my team worked late, so we stopped by for a quick bite," Julian said, his gaze shifting to Evelyn. "Dr. Sullivan, I hope I'm not interrupting?"

"Of course not," Evelyn nodded.

Julian smiled. His eyes lingered on her face for just a fraction of a second too long before darting away.

"Well, I'll leave you to your meal then," he raised his glass slightly. "A toast to running into old friends."

The three of them clinked their glasses in a polite toast before Julian turned and left.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Madeline stared at the closed door, utterly enchanted. "Evelyn, he is such a gentleman! He actually went out of his way to come say hi!"

Evelyn looked at her starry-eyed friend and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"He's gone, Maddy. You can stop drooling now."

Madeline flushed a deep scarlet, violently averting her gaze and jabbing her fork into her salad to pretend she was eating.

Evelyn studied her for a moment before asking bluntly, "Maddy, are you in love with him?"

Madeline's fork froze mid-air.

"N-No!" she stammered in panic. "I just think he's really impressive! It's just professional admiration! Really!"

Evelyn just smiled knowingly, staying quiet.

She thought back to the way Julian had walked in just moments ago—leading his legal team, striding with absolute confidence, radiating success. It was a calculated, undeniably attractive aura.

Especially to a sweet, sheltered girl like Madeline.

Evelyn knew Madeline's family history well. Her parents were incredibly traditional, favoring her younger brother and spoiling him rotten, forcing Madeline to claw her way up through sheer grit. She had joined her current law firm right out of college, starting at the very bottom as a paralegal and grinding for years to finally pass the bar and make associate. She had never been out of the country, had never attended elite high-society functions, and her dating pool consisted entirely of overworked colleagues and stressed-out clients.

A man like Julian was blinding to someone in her position.

Looking at her best friend's flustered, defensive face, an idea sparked in Evelyn's mind.

"Maddy," she began slowly. "Are you free this Friday?"

Madeline blinked. "Friday? I should be. Why, what's up?"

"Ask for time off," Evelyn stated coolly. "I'm taking you to Paris."

Madeline's jaw practically hit the table. "Paris?!"

"Yes," Evelyn nodded. "The International Jewelry Design Competition awards ceremony is next Friday. I have to go anyway, so you're coming with me."

Madeline sat there, stunned into absolute silence.

"B-But I don't know the first thing about any of that..." she finally stuttered out. "I don't know anything about high-end jewelry design..."

An instant reply popped up: [Understood.]

Madeline leaned over, peering at the screen curiously. "Who is X?"

Evelyn locked her phone with a cryptic smile. "Someone who gets things done."

Madeline blinked, deciding not to pry further.

They went back to their meal.

Outside, the city night grew darker and more vibrant.

As she ate, Madeline began to babble excitedly. "Paris... I've never been. I heard the pastries there are life-changing! And the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower..."

Evelyn listened to her chatter, a soft, genuine smile gracing her lips.

She thought back to the way Julian had looked at her earlier—polite, restrained, but laced with a subtle, probing calculation.

She despised men who looked at women like that.

There was far too much opportunistic greed hiding behind his charm.

She wanted Madeline to meet someone infinitely better.

A man who would look at her, and only her, with absolute devotion.