The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 461

Sebastian immediately noticed her expression. "Is your back hurting?"

"Just a little," Evelyn replied, releasing his hand and taking a step forward.

Sebastian trailed closely behind her. After two steps, he rested a warm hand lightly against the small of her back. It wasn't a heavy, possessive grip, just a reassuring presence. Evelyn didn't pull away, nor did she comment. They walked up the grand stone steps together, the late afternoon sun stretching their shadows until they blurred into one.

Felton stood by the double doors, offering a crisp bow. "Miss. Mr. Thorne."

Evelyn gave him a brief nod and stepped inside. Sebastian followed, his hand still resting comfortably on her waist. Felton watched them walk down the hall, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips before he turned to instruct the kitchen about dinner.

---

Inside the luxurious study, sunlight poured through the massive French windows, painting the Persian rug in strokes of liquid gold. Evelyn sat on the plush sofa, cradling a mug of hot milk Felton had prepared. Sebastian sat beside her, the screen of his phone glowing with an incoming text from Lance.

[Boss, we confirmed it. Lyra got an ultrasound at the hospital yesterday. The report showed several abnormal markers, and the doctor strongly recommended an amniocentesis.]

Sebastian handed the phone to Evelyn. She scanned the text quickly and handed it back.

"So she was telling the truth," she noted, her voice steady. "The baby does have complications."

Sebastian looked at her. "What's your play?"

Evelyn took a slow sip of her milk. "We wait for her intel. If the files hold up, I'll review her medical scans. If they're fake, we cut our losses."

Sebastian paused. "You really aren't worried she's setting you up?"

Evelyn lowered her mug and met his gaze. "What could she possibly take from me? A few fake spreadsheets? A fabricated dossier? Taking a look at her scans won't kill me. But if she's telling the truth, that syndicate data could blow this entire investigation wide open."

Sebastian stared at her for a long time. Finally, a soft, genuine laugh escaped him. "When did you become so ruthlessly pragmatic?"

Evelyn leaned back into the cushions, her fingers absently tracing her stomach. "I learned from the best."

Sebastian blinked, the tips of his ears immediately flushing red. He quickly averted his eyes, pretending to scroll through his phone. Evelyn caught his flustered reaction and a small smile played on her lips.

Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Lyra. Evelyn opened it to find a dense paragraph:

[Evelyn, I'm compiling the data now. I'll send it as soon as it's ready. Also, I know you are well aware of my arrangement with Leon Astor. You're close with Louis de Bourbon-Montpensier, right? Could you have him throw some chaos Leon's way? I need him distracted so he stops breathing down my neck.]

Evelyn stared at the screen, her eyes narrowing in deep thought. Sebastian leaned over to read it, his expression instantly darkening.