The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 451

Watching her pace aggressively, Evelyn couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, calm down. Don't be so mad."

"How can I not be mad?" Madeline stopped and glared at her. "What the hell is his problem? When you got divorced, he made everything a complete nightmare. Now you're finally living your life, and here he comes trying to ruin it again. Stalking you, investigating me, trying to buy me off with a penthouse and a fake job." She took a deep breath. "If I actually took his deal, what kind of monster would I be?"

Evelyn pulled her back down into the chair. "You didn't take it."

"Of course I didn't." Madeline sat back down, took a massive gulp of milk, and set the glass aside. "I'm just furious. What gives him the right?"

Evelyn didn't answer, just kept looking at her with a soft gaze.

Madeline's anger slowly deflated, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Evelyn, are you really pregnant?"

Evelyn's hand rested gently against her stomach. "Yes. Almost three months."

Madeline stared at Evelyn's stomach for a long, long time. When she finally looked up, her eyes were brimming with tears. "Is it Sebastian's?"

Evelyn nodded.

A tear slipped down Madeline's cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand, only for another to fall. "Do you... do you actually love him?"

Evelyn stayed silent for a long time. The sunlight hit her face, illuminating a profoundly soft expression, as if she were recalling something deeply distant and precious. "He wakes up at five in the morning every single day to cook, just to bring the food to the estate. Whenever I wake up, the meal is always warm." Her voice was feather-light. "His back is completely covered in scars. He's been beaten with iron pipes, grazed by bullets, and battered by Albert. But every single morning, he is in that kitchen right on time."

Listening to her, Madeline's tears began to fall even faster.

Evelyn looked at her and chuckled softly. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm just happy for you." Madeline wiped furiously at her face. "I really am. Having someone treat you that well... it just makes me so happy."

Evelyn didn't say anything, simply reaching out to pat her hand.

Madeline sniffled and was about to say something else when footsteps crunched along the garden path. She looked up.

Sebastian stood there. He wore a dark blue button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and held an insulated food container in one hand. There were still faint bruises fading on his face, and a fresh scab lined his ear, but his eyes were bright. Seeing Madeline, he paused for a second before nodding. "Ms. Thorne."