The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 29

At 8:00 PM, inside the Langford Villa.

The car pulled into the driveway, and Lydia hopped out first, marching straight toward the front door without looking back. Lyra followed slowly, carrying a fast-asleep Leo, walking closely behind their parents as they entered the living room.

The villa was well-decorated, but compared to the historic grandeur of the Lancaster Estate, it felt undeniably new and lacked any real pedigree. A few expensive art pieces were scattered around the room—flashy purchases Victor had made after his business finally took off.

"Nanny," Martha called out to the housekeeper. "Warm up a glass of milk for Leo so it's ready when he wakes up."

"Right away, ma'am," the housekeeper replied, hurrying off to the kitchen.

Lydia was already sprawled across the leather sofa, her legs crossed carelessly as she scrolled through her phone. She didn't even bother looking up when her sister walked in with the baby.

"Lyra, hand Leo over to me," Martha said, reaching for the child. "You've had an exhausting day."

"It's okay, Mom. I'll carry him upstairs to bed," Lyra whispered softly. "If he wakes up and doesn't see me, he'll start crying."

Mother and daughter carried the boy upstairs and settled him into the nursery. The Langfords had specifically renovated this room for their grandson, sparing no expense. The space was practically overflowing with expensive toys.

Once the boy was deeply asleep, the two women tiptoed back out into the hall.

"Ma'am, the milk is ready," the housekeeper whispered from the top of the stairs.

"Just leave it on the counter for now. We'll grab it when he wakes up," Martha said, waving her off.

Back down in the living room, Victor was meticulously brewing a pot of premium loose-leaf tea. The fragrant steam curled elegantly into the air.

Lydia was still glued to her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen, a vicious smirk occasionally flashing across her lips.

"Lydia," Victor scolded, his brow furrowing. "Put the phone away. We're having a family discussion."

Lydia reluctantly dropped the phone onto her lap, though her eyes kept darting back to the screen. "What's there to discuss? We all saw exactly what happened today. Penelope made it perfectly clear she wants Lyra back in the family."

"Watch your tone," Martha snapped at her youngest before turning back to Lyra. "Lyra, how do you think Penelope's attitude was today?"

"Guilty?" Lydia raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with open sarcasm. "I think it's a lot more than that. Today, Penelope was screaming about how Evelyn has no manners, and Christian actually defended her. If he didn't have feelings for her, who would believe that?"

"Lydia!" Victor bellowed, his face turning red. "Is that any way to speak to your sister?"

"I'm just stating the facts," Lydia muttered, though she lowered her voice slightly. "Dad, I just think Lyra is playing an insanely dangerous game. She ran off abroad for three years, left her man alone, and let him marry someone else. Now she struts back into town assuming she can just wedge herself back in after they've built a whole life together? Good luck with that."

"You have no idea what you're talking about!" Martha shrieked, losing her temper. "Lyra had no choice but to leave! If she had stayed, she would have been nothing but a laughingstock while he married Evelyn! But now she's back with his son, and she's taking her rightful place!"

"Rightful place?" Lydia laughed, a sharp, incredibly ugly sound. "Mom, you're delusional. Legally, Evelyn is Mrs. Lancaster right now. What does that make Lyra? An ex-girlfriend? Parading around with a kid of completely unknown—"

"Lydia!" Lyra's voice finally snapped like a whip, her eyes turning as cold as ice. "Leo is your nephew. If you spew one more word of garbage about him, I will not hold back."

Lydia flinched violently at the sheer malice in her sister's stare. She had only seen Lyra look like that once before—back in Paris, when a French dancer had stolen Lyra's solo spot. After that look, that dancer... had completely vanished from the stage.

But Lydia recovered quickly, giving a flippant shrug. "I'm just trying to warn you. Lyra, don't forget the kind of family you're dealing with. The Lancasters are obsessed with pure bloodlines. What if... I'm just saying what if... Christian demands a DNA test?"