The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 108

Inside The Whispering Pines Suite, the atmosphere was lively.

The crystal chandelier bathed the room in a warm golden hue, and the rich scent of vintage wine filled the air. Christian Lancaster sat at the head of the table, smoothly negotiating business terms with Mr. Klaus Hilti in flawless English. A confident, steady smile graced his lips, and his eyes were sharp and intensely focused as he occasionally raised his glass.

Only Lyra, seated quietly by his side, knew that he had already consumed more than half of the spiked water.

Her heart hammered frantically against her ribs, but she kept a picture-perfect, adoring smile plastered on her face. Beneath the table, her fingers curled tightly, her nails biting into her skin, grounding her racing mind with the sharp sting of pain.

"Mr. Lancaster, your grasp of the market trends is truly remarkable," Hilti raised his glass, his dark brown eyes full of genuine admiration. "Compared to the other American firms we've met with, your team's expertise is entirely unmatched."

Christian gave a slight nod, raising his glass in return. "You're too kind, Mr. Hilti. Your company's legacy in precision medical technology is exactly why we're so eager to partner with you." His voice remained powerful and steady, though the frequency with which he reached for his water glass had subtly increased.

Lyra's gaze flicked briefly toward his glass before darting away. She picked up the serving utensils and placed a piece of pan-seared sea bass onto Hilti's plate, her voice soft and inviting. "Please try the sea bass, Mr. Hilti. It was flown in fresh today. It's incredibly tender."

"Thank you, Ms. Langford," Hilti accepted with a smile, turning his attention to her. "You seem to have quite the eye for fine dining."

She swallowed the toxic emotions bubbling in her chest and seamlessly slipped back into the role of the beautiful, attentive partner. She poured tea, gracefully added charming anecdotes about local culture, and steered the conversation toward lighter topics. All the while, her ears functioned like a hyper-sensitive radar, tracking every minute shift in Christian's voice. Was he speaking slower? Were his words starting to slur?

Time slipped away amidst the clinking of glasses and the harmonious chatter. Lyra felt like a violin string being cranked tighter and tighter. She could see the microscopic changes in Christian's demeanor: he casually loosened his tie a fraction of an inch, his breathing grew marginally heavier, and a rapid, almost invisible haze of confusion occasionally washed over his eyes, as if he had to fight to maintain his legendary focus.

These subtle tells were like needles pricking at her strained nerves. The Azure Tab was working its magic.

She had to act totally natural. So, she smiled even brighter. When Hilti told a joke about Swiss watches, she covered her mouth with a delicate laugh, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Christian, playing the part of a woman sharing a joyful moment with her lover.