The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 33

But it was too late.

Lyra spotted them first. Her eyes lit up before shifting into a perfectly calculated look of surprise—a surprise laced with a hint of panic, a touch of guilt, and a nearly imperceptible trace of triumph.

"Ms. Sullivan?" she called out softly, her voice sweet. "What a coincidence, running into you here."

Penelope and Christian turned around simultaneously.

Seeing Evelyn, the smile on Penelope's face vanished instantly, replaced by unfiltered displeasure. Christian's expression was far more complicated—a mix of shock, awkwardness, and a flicker of something Evelyn couldn't decipher. He instinctively tried to pull his arm away from Lyra's grasp, but she acted completely oblivious, holding onto him even tighter.

"Penelope. Christian." Evelyn greeted them coolly, her tone flat and emotionless.

Penelope scoffed, looking Evelyn up and down. "You still remember I'm your mother-in-law? You refused to come back to the estate for dinner, but you magically have time to go shopping with your friend."

Her words were biting and loud enough to draw stares from the surrounding shoppers.

Madeline couldn't hold back. She let out a cold laugh. "Mrs. Lancaster, that's rich coming from you. Isn't your son busy escorting his mistress and child around the mall? What, it's one rule for him and another for her?"

"Who are you calling a mistress!" Penelope snapped, her voice spiking in volume.

"If the shoe fits," Madeline shot back without missing a beat, tapping her cane on the ground. "Parading your son's lover and illegitimate child around in broad daylight... Mrs. Lancaster, your nerve is thicker than the bulletproof glass in this mall."

Onlookers were already whispering, their eyes darting back and forth between the group:

"Are they from the Lancaster family? Is that Christian Lancaster from the Lancaster Group?"

"And that's Lyra Langford, right? The one all over the business and entertainment news lately..."

"Is that his actual wife too? Oh my god, what a trainwreck..."

"Keep your voice down, you don't want to mess with the Lancasters..."

"What's there to be afraid of? Look at the wife, she's actually gorgeous. How did she let the other woman steal her spot?"

"You clearly don't get it. Men always prefer the thrill of a fling..."

Hearing the gossip, Penelope's face contorted in anger. She took a step forward, clutching the toddler, and glared at Evelyn. "Evelyn, look at the kind of trash you associate with! Absolutely no class! Lyra is Leo's mother, and she is recognized by the Lancaster family! As for you, you've been married for three years and haven't produced an heir. Who else is to blame?"

The words were like a blade aimed straight at Evelyn's most vulnerable scar.

Madeline exploded. She stepped in front of Evelyn, her voice dripping with ice. "Mrs. Lancaster, that is hilarious. If there are no kids, shouldn't you be looking at your son? Why are you blaming Evelyn instead of asking him what his problem is?"

Penelope looked as if she'd just heard the most ridiculous joke. "My son has a problem? Lyra has already given our family a healthy grandson, how could he possibly have a problem? It's obviously her own pathetic fault!"

"And how do you know Evelyn and your son have ever even slept together?" Madeline blurted out.

The moment the words left her mouth, a heavy silence fell over the crowd.

Even the whispering ceased.

Seeing the cameras, Lyra blanched and shrank behind Christian, her voice trembling with tears. "Christian, I didn't... I'm not a home-wrecker... Leo is your son, you know he is..."

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she spoke, looking utterly heartbroken and painfully fragile.

Penelope's heart broke for her grandson. She hastily comforted the child in her arms while glaring viciously at the onlookers. "Stop taking pictures! Put those away! Security! Where is the security!"

Christian took a deep breath and finally spoke. "Mom, that's enough. We're leaving."

"Leaving?" Penelope stared at her son in disbelief. "Christian, tell me, is what Madeline said true? Have you and Evelyn really not... not slept together in three years?"

Christian's silence was the only answer she needed.

Penelope seemed to age a decade in an instant. She looked at Evelyn with wildly conflicting emotions—shock, fury, and a faint, indescribable pang of guilt.

Lyra cried even harder, tugging at Christian's arm. "Christian, let's go. I don't want to make things harder for Ms. Sullivan, and I don't want people pointing fingers at Leo..."

Sensing his mother's distress, little Leo began wailing loudly.

In an instant, the child's cries, Lyra's sobbing, the crowd's gossiping, and the camera shutters clicking... spiraled into absolute chaos.

Penelope frantically tried to soothe her grandson. "Don't cry, Leo, Grandma's here, it's okay. Those awful people just scared our precious boy..."

She whipped around to glare at Evelyn, her tone turning vicious once more. "Look what you've done! You've terrified a perfectly good child! You and this friend of yours just can't stand seeing the Lancaster family happy!"