The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 74

Evelyn's gaze swept smoothly over the names and numbers on the screen once more, her fingertips hovering above them without the slightest urge to click. To her, these voices—whether filled with concern or interrogation—felt like noise from a distant, chaotic world. They had nothing to do with her, and she didn't need to entertain them.

Without a shred of hesitation, she selected all and decisively hit delete.

Every red notification bubble and unread message vanished instantly. The screen returned to a pristine black.

The world seemed to fall into a peaceful silence right along with it.

She needed to call Madeline.

However, just as she opened her contacts and her finger hovered over Madeline's name, the screen violently lit up again, accompanied by an obnoxious ringtone. It was Christian once more.

Evelyn stared at the bouncing name, her eyes entirely devoid of emotion. She didn't answer, nor did she block him immediately like before. She merely watched in silence, letting the phone ring through the hollow room a dozen times until it automatically disconnected and faded into silence.

It was a silent declaration: none of his emotions—whether fury or concern—meant a damn thing to her anymore.

Once the ringing stopped, she reopened her contacts and dialed Madeline.

"Beep... Beep..."

The phone only rang twice before it was quickly answered. Madeline's voice came through—cool and laced with the lethargy of having just woken up, yet sharp and coherent. "Evelyn? At this hour?" The background was dead silent. She was clearly caught off guard by the early call, but her tone rapidly shifted to high alert. "What happened?"

Hearing her best friend's familiar voice, the tightly strung tension in Evelyn's spine loosened by a millimeter, and the icy armor in her eyes thawed into the faintest hint of warmth. "Maddy," her voice was huskier than usual, dripping with obvious exhaustion. "I'm fine. There was an incident, but... it's been handled."

"An incident?" Madeline's tone instantly plummeted, all traces of sleep vanishing. "What kind of incident? Where are you? Are you safe?" The rapid-fire questions exposed the sharp instincts of a lawyer and the unfiltered worry of a best friend.

"I'm at The Pinnacle Hotel, in a penthouse suite." Evelyn didn't hide the truth, keeping her tone flat. "I need you to come pick me up. Also... could you bring me a change of clothes? Everything, from the inside out." She paused, dropping her voice even lower. "And... a morning-after pill."

A heavy silence fell over the line. Even a woman as unflappable as Madeline felt her breath hitch at those last few words. Knowing Evelyn's character and situation, the need for that pill meant last night's 'incident' was nothing short of catastrophic.

Madeline stood outside, clad in a sharply tailored dark-gray pantsuit, her long hair slicked back immaculately, and her makeup flawless. She held a minimalist paper bag in her hand. Her gaze, like a high-precision scanner, instantly swept over Evelyn from head to toe—taking in the pale complexion, the slightly swollen eyelids, the instinctively pulled-up collar, and the exhausted aura masking her forced composure.

Madeline didn't ask a single question. She merely slipped into the room, locked the door behind her, and handed over the bag. "Change first. The pill is inside." Her voice was steady, harboring an undeniable layer of concern.

Evelyn took the bag, feeling the soft, premium fabrics inside. She retreated to the bedroom and quickly changed. From the lingerie to the coat, Madeline's taste was as impeccable as always—sleek, comfortable, high-quality, and fitting like a glove.

By the time she emerged, Madeline had boiled water, poured a glass, and placed it on the coffee table. She was seated in the armchair opposite it, her hands folded over her knees in a classic lawyer's listening posture, though a deep-seated worry lingered in her eyes.

"Sit down and take the pill," Madeline gestured to the glass of water with a slight tilt of her chin.

Evelyn obediently sat, tore open the foil packet, and took the tiny white pill with a sip of warm water. Her movements were crisp and entirely devoid of hesitation or shame, as if she were simply taking a daily vitamin.

Watching her finish the routine, Madeline finally spoke, her voice low and grave. "Now, tell me what happened. Start from the banquet last night, and don't skip a single detail. I am your lawyer, and I am your friend."