The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 329

But she had never, in her wildest, most unhinged fantasies, actually believed it would happen.

"Come on," Evelyn tugged at her hand gently. "I'll take you over so you can get his number."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Madeline violently dug her heels into the marble, pulling back with the strength of a terrified hostage. "Evie, are you out of your mind?! How am I supposed to talk to him? What do I even say?! I don't speak a word of French!"

"He speaks perfect English," Evelyn replied without missing a beat. "His mother is American, and he spent years living in the States when he was younger."

Madeline froze completely.

"How... how do you know that?"

Evelyn flashed a casual, devastating smile. "He's a buddy of mine."

Madeline: "..."

Madeline: "............"

Madeline: "Evie, exactly how many insanely powerful people do you know?!"

Evelyn didn't bother answering; she just firmly dragged her friend forward into the glittering crowd.

——

Back near the entrance, the Duchess turned to Lyra and Christian.

"Ms. Langford, Mr. Lancaster," she offered a perfectly polite smile. "Come with me. I'll introduce you to a few key players."

Lyra instantly flashed her most aggressively charming, flawless smile. "Thank you so much, Your Grace."

The Duchess took a few elegant steps forward before pausing and glancing back over her shoulder toward where Evelyn was heading.

"We don't need to worry about Iris," she noted with a deeply fond, admiring laugh. "She knows practically everyone in this room far better than I do. She hardly needs my introductions."

The radiant smile on Lyra's face instantly calcified into a rigid mask.

Better than the Duchess?

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Christian's dark, heavy gaze also remained locked onto Evelyn.

She had already reached Arnaud. She was laughing freely, saying something that made the impossibly wealthy heir's eyes completely light up. He threw his arms wide open, diving in for a massive, dramatic hug, which she dodged with a brilliant, effortless laugh.

Within seconds, a cluster of the most terrifyingly powerful men and women in Europe naturally gravitated toward her, completely surrounding her. Every single one of them wore expressions of genuine, unmasked delight.

Standing in the absolute dead center of the world's most elite inner circle, Evelyn looked entirely at peace, completely unbothered, and totally in her element.

Christian's gloved right hand slowly, agonizingly curled into a brutal fist.

Exactly how many secrets was this woman hiding from him?

Standing right beside him, Lyra's perfectly manicured fingers dug viciously into her own palms.

The Duchess's earlier words echoed violently in her skull—"Iris is the woman who saved my sister's life."

A savior.

Louis flashed his trademark blinding grin, leaning in to press a loud, affectionate kiss to her cheek.

"Grandmother, I'm going to find Evelyn," he declared happily. "That's where the actual fun is."

Without waiting for a response, he spun on his designer heels and practically sprinted across the marble floor, bee-lining straight for Evelyn's growing entourage.

Watching him practically bounce away, Lady Elara shook her head with a deeply amused sigh.

"That boy..."

Catherine offered a warm, fond smile, steadying her grip on the matriarch's arm. "Let him be, Mother. As long as he's happy."

Lady Elara let out a final, soft sigh, turning her gaze toward where the Duchess had disappeared into the crowd.

"Come," she commanded softly. "Let us go greet our old friends."

The two powerful women slowly drifted into the glittering fray.

——

Arnaud was thoroughly enjoying his conversation with Evelyn when a sudden, violently chaotic blur practically tackled them.

"Evelyn!"

Louis aggressively launched himself forward, wrapping both arms firmly around Evelyn's arm like a desperate koala.

Yanked off balance by the sudden ambush, Evelyn stumbled slightly, letting out a deeply helpless, utterly fond laugh.