The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 6

He raised his eyes to glare at Evelyn, his gaze turning icy. "This is Lyra's home too. She can stay as long as she wants."

"Home?" Evelyn repeated the word softly, the curve of her lips deepening. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Lancaster. Lyra can stay as long as she likes. After all..."

She paused, letting her gaze sweep over the little boy before settling back onto Lyra's face. Every word she spoke was crystal clear.

"After all, the child is already this big. He needs a father to look after him."

The implication was heavy with meaning.

Lyra's face drained of all color.

Christian shot up from his chair, the legs scraping harshly against the hardwood floor. "Evelyn, that is enough."

"Enough of what?" Evelyn looked up at him, her bloodshot eyes strikingly clear. "Did I say something wrong? Does her child not need a father? Or perhaps..."

She intentionally dragged out her words. "This child already has a father?"

"You—" Christian's face darkened with rage.

"Christian." Lyra grabbed his arm, her voice thick with tears. "Stop fighting... It's all my fault. I never should have come back..."

As she spoke, tears genuinely began to fall, dropping heavily onto the tablecloth.

Seeing his mother cry, the little boy burst into tears as well. "Don't cry, Mommy... Don't cry..."

The scene descended into utter chaos.

Evelyn watched it all unfold, suddenly finding the entire spectacle incredibly dull. She picked up her coffee cup and turned to head toward the living room.

"Stop right there," Christian's voice commanded from behind her.

Evelyn paused, not looking back.

"Apologize to Lyra," he demanded. His tone left absolutely no room for negotiation.

Evelyn turned around, studying him in silence for a long time.

Then, she smiled. "Sure."

She walked up to Lyra, gave a polite nod, and spoke with flawless, unassailable sincerity. "Lyra, I apologize. I shouldn't have been so direct. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Lyra froze, clearly shocked that Evelyn had actually apologized.

"However," Evelyn straightened up, her gaze calmly fixed on her. "Everything I said was a fact. If you found it uncomfortable, it's probably because... the truth is rarely pleasant to hear."

Without waiting to see anyone's reaction, she carried her coffee cup over to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.

Outside, the rose garden basked in the radiant sunlight.

She stood there, her back straight and proud, like a solitary, unyielding reed.

Back in the dining room, Christian stared at her silhouette, a sudden surge of inexplicable irritation rising in his chest. He felt that Evelyn was different today, though he couldn't exactly put his finger on why.

"Christian..." Lyra tugged at his sleeve, her voice choked. "Maybe I really should leave..."

"No need." Christian pulled his gaze away, his tone softening. "Just stay for now. We will deal with everything else later."

He sat back down and resumed feeding the child, but his movements were visibly distracted.

In the kitchen, the maids exchanged quiet glances.

"The poor Mrs. Lancaster..." Mrs. Higgins whispered. "Her eyes are completely swollen from crying."

"I know, right? For the past three years, everyone has seen how devoted she is to Mr. Lancaster. She wakes up at five every morning to make his oatmeal, and since he has a bad stomach, she constantly cooks special meals to soothe it..."

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