The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 513

Time ticked by slowly. The lab was dead silent, save for the low hum of heavy machinery and the occasional rustle of pages as she flipped through her logbook.

Upstairs, in the kitchen.

Sebastian stood at the stove, an apron tied around his waist. A pot of soup was simmering on low heat, filling the room with a rich, savory aroma. He stirred it slowly, replaced the lid, and turned around to find Felton standing in the doorway.

"Mr. Thorne."

Sebastian looked at him. "What is it?"

Felton stepped into the kitchen, coming to a halt beside him. "Miss just asked me to keep a close eye on Madeline's movements."

Sebastian's hand paused mid-air. He looked sharply at the butler. "What exactly did she say?"

"She told me to watch what Madeline does every day, specifically what she's getting involved with at the company, and to report any anomalies." Felton paused for a moment. "Miss must have noticed something off."

Sebastian fell silent for several seconds. He thought about how Madeline had been barging into his study without knocking, how she aggressively pushed to sit in on confidential internal meetings, and the sheer shift in her demeanor since arriving in France. A deep frown slowly carved itself into his features.

"Just keep an eye on her. Let me know the second anything happens."

Felton nodded. "Yes, sir."

He turned and left. Sebastian stood alone in the kitchen, staring at the simmering pot of soup. The rolling boil sent thick clouds of steam into the air, blurring his vision. He thought of the words Evelyn had just spoken—'Not anytime soon.' His fingers curled tightly into a fist before slowly relaxing. He picked up a spoon, scooped a small taste of the broth, and tested it. The seasoning was perfect. He turned off the burner and placed the lid back on.

Down in the underground lab, Evelyn was still hard at work. She rotated in a fresh batch of petri dishes, calibrated the incubator's temperature and CO2 levels, and jotted the new parameters into her log. She sat back down at the microscope, observed the samples for a while longer, and only stood up after confirming the cell division was completely stable. Stripping off her latex gloves, she tossed them into the biohazard bin.

She walked over to the 'window'—which was actually a high-definition monitor embedded into the wall, broadcasting a live feed of the estate grounds above. The garden lights had flickered on, casting a silvery sheen over the dancing fountain water. She watched the feed for a few seconds before turning and exiting the lab.

The staircase felt endlessly long under the harsh, cold lighting. She took it one step at a time, her footsteps echoing sharply in the empty stairwell. She thought back to Felton's probing question—'Do the two of you have any plans to marry?' Her lips curved slightly into an expression that wasn't quite a smile, but something far more complex. Pushing the concealed bookshelf open, she stepped back into her bedroom.

The room was completely silent, the heavy drapes drawn tight, with only the warm, dim glow of a bedside lamp offering light. She shrugged off her lab coat, hung it neatly in the closet, changed into comfortable loungewear, and headed downstairs.

The dining room was brightly lit. Madeline was already seated at the table, glued to her phone, scrolling through something intently. Seeing Evelyn walk in, she finally looked up.