The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 171

“Shut up!”

Sebastian Thorne snapped his eyes open, his predatory gaze slicing toward Lance Sterling. The lingering hostility and visceral irritation in his eyes instantly silenced Lance, forcing him to swallow the rest of his question.

“Right now,” Sebastian enunciated every word, his voice a hoarse, icy rasp that sounded like it was ground out between his teeth, “I don’t want to hear the name ‘Sullivan’ from anyone. Do you understand?”

A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on Lance’s back. He immediately lowered his head. “Yes, Mr. Thorne.” He was horrified; his boss’s reaction proved this was far more than a simple conflict.

Sebastian turned away abruptly, his long legs eating up the distance as he strode toward the private elevator at the end of the hall. His steps were heavy and fast, as if trying to crush his misplaced fury into the floorboards. Lance hurried after him, keeping a respectful distance, barely daring to breathe.

After a few paces, Sebastian suddenly stopped. Without turning around, he muttered, his voice laced with uncontainable resentment and a clenched-jaw bitterness. It sounded half like a self-deprecating murmur, half like a vent directed at Lance.

“Heartless woman... cold-blooded... a heart of stone...”

Lance was speechless.

He was now absolutely certain this argument hadn't been about a business dispute or security protocol. It sounded exactly like... relationship drama?

Sebastian seemed to realize his slip. He abruptly cut off whatever uncharacteristic words were about to follow. He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice had marginally regained its usual hard edge, though the underlying frustration was still glaringly obvious.

“Take me to the bar. The strongest liquor you have. Now.”

Lance’s heart skipped a beat. “Right away, sir,” he replied instantly. He knew the safe house had a hidden whiskey and cigar lounge reserved for elite guests—it was the perfect place right now. As he quickly murmured into his earpiece to make the arrangements, he scrambled to keep up with Sebastian’s increasingly urgent pace. A wave of unprecedented dread washed over Lance. Seeing his boss like this... it felt like the calm before a catastrophic storm.

(Room 301)

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