The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 188

At the Lancaster Group headquarters, on the 68th-floor executive level.

The moment Lyra stepped out of the elevator, she could feel that the atmosphere was completely off.

In the past, whenever she came to the Lancaster building, the receptionists and passing employees would greet her warmly, their eyes filled with a mix of awe and envy for the CEO's "confidante." But today, all those looks had completely changed.

Employees rushing by paused slightly upon seeing her, their gazes darting over her face before quickly looking down and speeding up their pace. A group of female staff gathered near the pantry had been whispering among themselves, but the second she appeared, they clamped their mouths shut. Yet, their eyes roamed over her with blatant scrutiny and... naked mockery.

The hushed whispers felt like tiny needles stabbing her from every direction:

"That's her... she looked so innocent..."

"You really can't judge a book by its cover. She played the field so hard abroad..."

"And she had the nerve to bring a kid back to trap the Boss, she really plotted that well..."

"The Boss has it so rough, first kept in the dark by Dr. Sullivan, and now this one..."

Lyra straightened her spine, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Today, she had specifically chosen a conservative, light-gray knit set and kept her makeup incredibly subtle. She carried a thermos—the perfect image of a gentle, devoted partner.

Yet, those stares felt like knives slicing right through her.

Outside the CEO's office in the secretary area, Preston saw her approach. His expression was complicated, but he still stood up. "Ms. Langford, the Boss is waiting for you."

"Thank you." Lyra's voice was soft as she pushed open the heavy, solid wood doors.

Inside the office, Christian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to the door. Even after hearing her enter, he didn't turn around.

"The photos... are real." Her voice broke into a trembling sob. "But things aren't what you think!"

"Then what are they?" Christian sat down in the single armchair, leaning forward slightly as his eyes locked onto hers. "Lyra, tell me. Why would an innocent girl studying ballet abroad show up at these kinds of events? Why would you be tangled up with someone like James?"

"Because of my family!" Lyra suddenly raised her voice, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls. "Because my dad's company was on the verge of bankruptcy!"

Christian's brow furrowed slightly.

"Three years ago, right after you got married." Lyra covered her face, her shoulders shaking violently. "My dad called me and told me the company's cash flow had completely dried up, and if they couldn't secure an investment, the Langford family was finished... I was abroad, and I was already... I was already pregnant with Leo."

She lifted her head, her swollen, red eyes filled with absolute despair. "Do you have any idea how completely broken I was when I got that call? You were enjoying your new marriage back home, and I was alone in a foreign country, pregnant with a child, while my family was falling apart... What was I supposed to do? Did I dare come looking for you? You were already married!"

Christian's lips pressed into a tight, thin line.