The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 313

Piper's eyes were glued to him. "Sebastian is ridiculously handsome..."

Christian said nothing.

Piper was already dragging him toward the stairs. "Come on, let's go say hi!"

Christian scowled deeply, forced to follow her.

They reached the second floor and approached Sebastian.

Piper let go of Christian, smoothed down her dress, and plastered on her sweetest smile.

"Hi there," she purred, her voice dripping with sugar. "I'm Piper Brooks. I'm one of the nominated designers. Would you mind if I introduced myself?"

Sebastian looked up and gave her a single glance.

Then he looked right back down at his phone.

Piper's smile froze.

Biting her lip, she stubbornly took a step closer. "Hey handsome, how about swapping numbers?"

Sebastian looked up again, this time actually meeting her eyes.

"You're a nominee?" he asked.

Piper nodded eagerly. "Yes! Nominated for Best New Designer of the Year!"

Sebastian gave a flat, "Oh."

Then he went back to his phone.

Piper's face flushed hot red.

She shot a pleading look over her shoulder at Christian.

Christian stepped up beside Piper and leveled a glare at Sebastian.

"Mr. Thorne," he started, his voice a low rumble. "Could you try showing a little grace to a lady?"

Sebastian raised his head to look at him.

The two men locked eyes, a palpable tension snapping in the air between them.

A few seconds of heavy silence dragged on.

Then Sebastian spoke, his tone utterly devoid of emotion.

"Other women don't exist in my world. Why do I need to show grace?"

Christian's scowl deepened.

Piper stood off to the side, her face flashing from red to pale.

She had never been so thoroughly dismissed by a man in her entire life.

"You..." She pointed at him, too furious to form a sentence.

Sebastian completely ignored her.

He kept his eyes on the crowd below, clearly waiting for someone.

---

A soft chime echoed through the venue.

The main lights abruptly dimmed.

A spotlight snapped onto the stage as the host walked out.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the International Jewelry Design Competition!"

Thunderous applause erupted through the hall.

Sebastian finally tore his eyes from his phone and looked at the stage.

Christian escorted Piper back to the first floor, finding a spot to watch.

Madeline Thorne had somehow elbowed her way to the front. She stood in the crowd, staring up at the stage, her eyes shining like stars.

This was unbelievable.

The scale, the glamour—people she had only ever seen in magazines were now standing right in front of her.

She sneakily pulled out her phone to take a picture, but then quickly shoved it away, worried she'd embarrass herself.

The host kept speaking, but she tuned out the words.

She was only wondering—

Where was Evelyn?

Why wasn't she here yet?

---

The host began announcing the judging panel.

"The head of this year's judging panel, Art Director of Cartier, Mr. Pierre Dupont!"

Applause.

"Panel member, Global Creative Director of Bulgari, Ms. Lucia Moretti!"

Applause.

"Panel member, Honorary Chair of the International Jewelry Design Association, Ms. Margaret Chandler!"

Christian's eyes went wide.

That silhouette, those contours, the way she walked—

He knew it all too well.

He knew it in his bones.

He swallowed hard, his hands slowly balling into fists.

---

Piper stood next to him, her mouth hanging open.

"Iris..." she muttered. "That's Iris..."

Margaret stood beside her, her gaze filled with pure adoration.

"Exactly," she breathed. "That is Iris."

---

Madeline stood in the crowd, staring at the painfully familiar figure on stage, her eyes wide as saucers.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

After a long moment, she finally choked out a single word.

"Holy shit..."

People around her shot her strange looks.

She quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, but the utter shock in her eyes was impossible to hide.

---

On stage, Iris took the microphone.

Standing in the spotlight, she scanned the room, her gaze settling in one particular direction.

The VIP section on the second floor.

She couldn't see his face.

But she knew he was watching her.

A very faint smile played on her lips.

Then she spoke, her voice carrying through the speakers and echoing across the entire venue.

"Thank you."