The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 57

The towering Lancaster Group headquarters looked imposing in the early morning light. As Evelyn stepped through the revolving doors, the crisp air conditioning of the grand lobby washed over her. This was her very first time stepping foot in the building. In three years of marriage, Christian had never once brought her to see his corporate empire, and she had never cared enough to ask.

"Ms. Sullivan," the receptionist greeted her, clearly briefed on her arrival. Her tone was deeply respectful, yet laced with undeniable curiosity. "The Chairman is expecting you. Please take the private elevator straight to the sixty-sixth floor."

The elevator shot upward smoothly, the mirrored walls reflecting Evelyn’s composed demeanor. She wore a soft beige dress paired with a cream-colored cardigan, her dark hair pinned up effortlessly with a simple wooden hairpin. She looked the picture of understated elegance, radiating a quiet, unshakeable strength.

With a soft chime, the doors parted. The sixty-sixth floor was a stark contrast to the modern lobby below. Dark mahogany paneled the walls, thick wool carpets swallowed the sound of footsteps, and a faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air. It felt less like a cutthroat corporate floor and more like a gentleman’s private study.

"Ms. Sullivan, please follow me." Lawrence's secretary, a sharp woman in her forties, offered a professional smile, though her eyes discreetly evaluated Evelyn.

As they walked past the open-plan executive suites, Evelyn could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on her—some curious, some scrutinizing, and others openly dismissive.

"So that's Mrs. Lancaster? She looks so meek."

"Meek doesn't keep a billionaire. Lyra Langford already brought a son into the picture."

"Three years and no kid. She was never going to last."

"Why is the Chairman seeing her? Think she's here to beg for her marriage?"

"Begging won't help. When a man moves on, he moves on."

Evelyn let the whispers slide off her back. Her steps remained perfectly measured, her expression unfazed, as if the gossip belonged to a world she had already left behind.

The secretary pushed open a set of heavy double doors. "Chairman, Ms. Sullivan is here."

Lawrence's office was cavernous, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows offering a commanding view of the New York skyline. Behind the massive mahogany desk sat antique display shelves showcasing priceless porcelain, while master-crafted calligraphy adorned the walls. Lawrence was on the phone by the window. Seeing her, he wrapped up the call quickly and hung up.

"Evie, you're here." A warm, genuine smile broke across his face as he walked over. "Have a seat."

"Lawrence," Evelyn greeted him softly, taking a seat on the plush leather sofa in the reception area.

"What’s this? You called me 'Dad' just the other night, and now it's back to Lawrence?" He looked at her with mock sternness.

"We're finalizing the divorce. It wouldn't be appropriate anymore."

Evelyn was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Lawrence, I really don't want the compensation."

"You don't?" Lawrence was taken aback. He had assumed her trip back to the Sullivans had knocked some sense into her. "Evie, don't let pride dictate your future. You earned this."

"It's not pride." Evelyn looked up, her eyes crystal clear. "Marrying Christian was my choice. Divorcing him is also my choice. Since I chose this path, I will bear the consequences myself. I don't need Lancaster money."

Lawrence frowned. "Why are you so impossibly stubborn? You're a young woman walking away from a marriage. You need a safety net..."

"Lawrence," Evelyn interrupted gently but firmly. "I am more than capable of supporting myself. You don't need to worry. Besides, my mother left me an inheritance."

"Being capable is one thing, and having your own money is another. But what I owe you is a completely different matter." Lawrence set his cup down, his expression hardening into pure sincerity. "Evie, I have watched everything you've done for this family over the past three years. When my father fell ill, you stayed by his bedside day and night. When my ulcers flared up, you researched medical diets to nurse me back to health. You managed the entire household without a single complaint. What you gave to the Lancasters cannot be measured in dollars." He paused, his voice thick with emotion. "In my heart, you have always been my own daughter. How can I let you walk out of my life with nothing?"

Evelyn’s throat tightened, a sudden rush of heat rushing to her eyes. After three years of swallowing insults and pretending she was unbreakable, hearing someone finally acknowledge her worth was almost too much to bear.

"Lawrence, I understand your intentions," she said softly. "But I truly cannot accept the money. If you really want to do something for me, there is only one thing I ask."