The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 19

"Madeline," Evelyn said softly. "I think a car is following us."

Madeline shot a glance in the rearview mirror, the blood draining from her face. "Since when?"

"I am not sure." Evelyn paused. "Can you lose them?"

"I will try." Madeline tightened her grip on the wheel, violently accelerating and cutting across lanes to dive into a side street.

The black Mercedes swerved and chased right after them.

"Damn it," Madeline gritted her teeth. "Hold on tight!"

She took a vicious corner, tearing into another avenue before gunning the engine to blast through a yellow light.

The black Mercedes was momentarily blocked by crossing traffic but quickly caught up again.

"They are right on our tail," Madeline's voice was strained. "Evelyn, who are these guys? Paparazzi? Or Lyra's hired thugs?"

Evelyn stared at the Mercedes in the rearview mirror, her eyes devoid of panic. "I do not know."

Her phone buzzed with an encrypted text: "Take a right at the next two intersections into the alley. Intercept is ready."

Evelyn looked up. "Take a right at the next two intersections. Pull into the alley."

"What?" Madeline was stunned. "That alley is incredibly narrow. If we get boxed in—"

"Trust me," Evelyn commanded in an utterly calm voice. "Turn right."

Madeline shot her a look, gritted her teeth, and violently wrenched the steering wheel at the intersection, diving the car into a suffocatingly narrow alleyway.

The black Mercedes instantly drifted in right behind them.

But just at that moment—

Two heavy motorcycles suddenly roared into view from the far end of the alley, skidding horizontally to completely block the path.

The riders wore dark helmets with tinted visors, obscuring their faces entirely.

Madeline slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt just feet away from the bikes.

"What is going on?!" she gasped in panic.

In the rearview mirror, the black Mercedes was forced to slam on its brakes as well. Two men in black suits stepped out of the vehicle and began stalking toward them.

"Evelyn..." Madeline's voice shook.

Evelyn gripped her phone tightly.

Just as the two men were about to reach the car, the bikers suddenly moved.

They hopped off their bikes, stepping smoothly in front of the two suited men and murmuring something inaudible.

The men in suits instantly turned deathly pale. They exchanged a terrified look, turned on their heels, scrambled back into the Mercedes, and aggressively reversed out of the alley.

Only then did one of the bikers walk over to Evelyn's window and knock on the glass.

Madeline stared at Evelyn in pure terror.

Evelyn rolled down the window.

The biker pulled off his helmet, revealing a young man in his thirties. He had ordinary features but predatory, razor-sharp eyes.

"Ms. Sullivan," he said, handing her a sleek black card. "X asked me to inform you that the tail has been dealt with. You are secure."

The card was completely blank save for a single silver 'X' embossed in the center. No name, no phone number.

She opened her eyes to see a new text message.

It was not encrypted, nor was it from X's operatives.

It was from a completely untraceable, unknown number:

"Ms. Sullivan, if you wish to secure your position as Mrs. Lancaster, we should negotiate. I possess the true identity of the biological father of Lyra's child. Fair price, zero deception."

Evelyn stared blankly at the text, her thumb hovering over the glowing screen.

With a single tap, she deleted it.

Meanwhile, across town at The Lancaster Manor.

Lyra stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the second-floor master suite, swirling a glass of red wine as she scrolled through the explosive comment sections under the breaking news. A deeply satisfied smirk touched her lips.

Everything was proceeding flawlessly.

Her phone vibrated with a call from a scrambled number.

Lyra answered, her tone practically dancing. "Well? Was it a success?"

The other end remained dead silent for a few agonizing seconds before a hushed, strained voice replied, "We failed."

The triumphant smile on Lyra's face shattered instantly. "What did you just say?"

"Our men tracked her halfway before we got intercepted," the private investigator groaned in absolute frustration. "They were waiting for us. They boxed my guys in and forced them to retreat."

"Who intercepted you?!" Lyra shrieked, her voice skyrocketing. "What am I paying you for? You cannot even tail one defenseless woman?!"

"Ms. Langford, the people who stepped in were not ordinary street thugs," the PI's tone turned deadly serious. "When they cut off my team, they flashed... certain credentials. I cannot tell you exactly what they are, but I want to give you a warning—"