The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 134

The top-floor CEO office of the Lancaster Group.

The heavy walnut doors closed silently, shutting out the rest of the world. Christian didn't walk toward his massive, imposing desk; instead, he headed straight for the floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, the harsh afternoon sun illuminated the steel jungle skyline, but to his eyes, it was nothing but a blur of cold light and shadow. He loosened his tie, but the suffocating tightness in his chest didn't fade. If anything, the silence made it sharper.

Two measured knocks sounded before Preston pushed the door open. He walked in holding a tablet, his face even graver than before.

"Mr. Lancaster," Preston's voice broke the silence of the sprawling office.

"What did you find?" Christian didn't turn around. His voice carried a faint trace of exhaustion and high-strung tension.

Preston stepped slightly behind him, swiping open the files on his screen. His pace was steady but heavy. "Regarding The Zenith restaurant, we had a few leads... but they all hit a dead end."

Christian finally turned around, his brow furrowing. "Dead ends?"

"Yes." Preston nodded, his finger sliding across the screen. "First, the internal security footage from the crucial window—eight to eleven last night. All the data for the relevant zones was overwritten and wiped by a highly sophisticated worm virus. The tech team's initial assessment is a remote breach. The execution was entirely professional. The data is virtually unrecoverable."

"The footage is gone?" Christian's eyes turned glacial.

"Second," Preston continued, his tone laced with frustration. "We verified the guest registry and staff logs for that night. Evelyn Sullivan... was indeed at the restaurant. She booked The Jade Pavilion on the second floor. She arrived at seven-thirty and left around ten past nine. Madeline Thorne was with her. The timing... overlaps perfectly with your dinner with Mr. Klaus Hilti."

Christian's heart plummeted. She really was there.

Preston answered cautiously, "On the surface, the anonymous photos directly framed Evelyn, making her look like the target. But combining that with the apartment exposure this morning, and how public opinion has now thrown you and Lyra to the wolves... it seems the target shifted to you. Or rather, it's designed to throw the Lancaster family into chaos."

"Or maybe, both are the targets." Christian's gaze sharpened. "Two birds with one stone. Splash dirty water on Evelyn, while using this scandal between Lyra and me to shatter the Lancaster Group, divert attention, and even... force a specific outcome." He thought of Penelope's aggressive 'engagement' announcement this morning. Was that also a calculated move on their chessboard?

"Keep digging," Christian ordered, rubbing his throbbing temples. "Focus on two things. First, that fake waiter. Find out where he came from and who hired him. Rip that staffing agency apart and see if there was an inside man. Second, investigate Lyra's return to the country, especially the past week. I want every single unusual text, meeting, and financial transaction documented. Do not miss a single detail."

"Yes, Mr. Lancaster," Preston noted.

"And one more thing," Christian paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Set up a meeting for me with Ryker Maxwell. Tell him... I'd like to invite him and his wife, Ms. Maxwell, to a casual dinner to clear up some unnecessary misunderstandings, and offer my apologies."