The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 164

The Peak Galleria, Sixth Floor, Le Jardin

The afternoon sun filtered through the massive glass curtain walls, spilling over the crisp white tablecloths and polished silverware. Lyra Langford sat at a prime window booth, a virtually untouched salad sitting in front of her. Dressed in a chic lavender knit set, her hair draped softly over her shoulders, she tried desperately to maintain her usual image of delicate elegance. Yet, the subtle exhaustion and anxiety lingering in her eyes betrayed the immense pressure she was under.

Sitting across from her was her closest confidante in the fashion circle, Vivian Valentine. Vivian was equally put-together, wearing a designer suit from the latest season, her eyes sharp and calculating. Vivian came from a well-off family and ran a boutique PR firm specializing in sweeping scandals under the rug. The two had grown close through various "mutually beneficial" favors.

"I really owe you for this, Viv," Lyra said softly, taking a sip of her expensive sparkling water. Her voice dripped with just the right amount of gratitude. "If you hadn't caught wind of it early and warned me that someone was pitching 'dirt' about my time abroad to those tabloids, I would've been totally blindsided. It cost a fortune to kill the story, but it's better than letting it go public." She lowered her eyes, hiding a flash of dark resentment. The "dirt" was a mix of truth and lies, but it was more than enough to destroy the flawless image she had worked so hard to build.

Vivian cut a small piece of foie gras and popped it into her mouth. She dabbed her lips gracefully with a napkin, her smile laced with a knowing, slightly condescending edge. "Don't be silly, what are friends for? But Lyra, you really need to watch your back. A lot of people are gunning for you right now. Has Christian Lancaster... given you a solid answer yet? I saw Penelope Lancaster confirm the engagement on the news, so why is the man himself completely MIA?"

Lyra's grip on her silver fork tightened slightly, but she casually pushed the lettuce around her plate. "Christian... he's just swamped with company business, and the PR mess has been a lot to handle. He needs to sort that out first. Besides, a man should be the one to initiate these things. What good does it do if I rush him?" She forced a smile, but it looked brittle. Ever since Christian had stormed out of her apartment that morning, he hadn't reached out once. Whenever she went to The Lancaster Estate to visit Leo, she always "coincidentally" missed him. Being left in this passive, agonizing limbo was driving her crazy.

Vivian shot her a glance, scoffing inwardly but maintaining a sympathetic expression. "True, but time changes things. Even though Evelyn is out of the picture, who's to say she won't try to make a comeback? Plus, I heard Lawrence Lancaster isn't exactly thrilled about you..." She let her words trail off, carefully watching Lyra's reaction.

Lyra's face visibly paled, her knuckles turning white as she squeezed the fork. This was her biggest fear. Penelope had claimed that Lawrence agreed to the engagement, but days had passed with zero confirmation. If Lawrence truly wanted it, he could easily force Christian into it—just like he had done with Evelyn.

Just then, the excited chatter of a group of young professionals from the next table carried over, their voices rising with uncontainable enthusiasm.

"Oh my god, did you guys see the news? The live broadcast! The animal migration in East Africa!"

"I saw it! Unbelievable! Even the wildebeest river crossing wasn't as shocking as The Rose Angel's appearance!"

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