The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 261

Christian opened his eyes.

For a split second, he had no idea where he was. The ceiling didn't belong to a hotel, and the air carried an unfamiliar yet inexplicably intimate scent.

Then the memories of last night rushed back.

He sat up, taking in the sterile room, the rumpled covers pooled around his waist, and the shallow indentation left on the pillow beside him.

It had been a very, very long time since he had slept that deeply.

He reached for his phone on the nightstand and tapped the screen.

9:47 AM.

Missed calls: 17.

Unread messages: 23.

The earliest text was from his assistant, Miles, at 8:15 AM:

[Mr. Lancaster, are you at the office yet? The meeting is about to start.]

8:30 AM:

[Mr. Lancaster, Director Vance is asking when you'll arrive.]

8:47 AM:

[Mr. Lancaster, are you stuck in traffic? Do you need me to send a car?]

9:02 AM:

[Mr. Lancaster, did something happen? Should I call the police?]

9:22 AM:

[Mr. Lancaster, if you don't reply, I'm seriously calling 911.]

Reading the frantic string of messages, the corner of Christian's mouth curved upward in a faint smile he didn't even realize he was making.

He never let himself be late for work. For eight years, he had arrived at the office at eight o'clock sharp every single morning, rain or shine. Once, with a fever burning at 102 degrees, he had propped his eyes open just to finish a morning briefing.

Today, he had overslept.

In his ex-wife's bed.

Christian dialed Miles's number.

It was picked up on the first ring. "Mr. Lancaster! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine." Christian's voice was a bit rough, and he cleared his throat. "I was dealing with something at Emerald Bay last night and fell asleep."

The heavy sigh of relief on the other end was palpable. "Thank God... I thought something terrible had happened to you."

Christian got up and walked over to the window, pulling the curtains back. The morning sun was brilliant, the maple leaves swaying gently in the breeze.

"Come pick me up at Emerald Bay," he said. "Now."

"Right away! I'll be there in twenty minutes." Miles hesitated for a second. "But your ten-thirty meeting with Director Vance..."

"Push it to the afternoon," Christian ordered. "Sometime after two."

There was two seconds of dead silence on the line.

Miles had worked for him for eight years and knew his boss's work ethic better than anyone—never late, never rescheduled, never let personal matters interfere with business.

But today, Christian Lancaster was postponing a crucial board meeting simply because he had 'fallen asleep.'

"Understood, Mr. Lancaster," Miles replied without questioning it further. "I'll make the arrangements immediately."

After hanging up, Christian stood by the window for a long while.

Finally, he turned around and took one last look at the room.

The bed was mostly made, the duvet folded neatly, the pillows arranged side by side against the headboard. He had tried to put everything back exactly as he found it, but somehow, something felt irreversibly altered.

Or perhaps, it was he who had changed.

Christian stepped out of the bedroom and gently clicked the door shut.

---

Twenty minutes later, Miles pulled up to the gates of Emerald Bay.

When Christian slid into the back seat, Miles noticed that his boss's eyes were slightly puffy, but his overall demeanor seemed incredibly refreshed—gone was the usual high-strung intensity, replaced by a rare, relaxed ease.

Christian stepped out and walked down the quiet corridor. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, and a nurse occasionally walked past pushing a medical cart.

He stopped in front of room 1217.

The nameplate on the door read: 'Evelyn Sullivan - Attending Physician'.

Christian stood there. He raised his hand to knock, then lowered it.

A sliver of light seeped out from under the door, and he could hear the faint sound of papers rustling inside.

She was right in there.

He took a deep breath, raising his hand once more—

Suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed from the end of the hall.

"Mr. Lancaster!"

Miles jogged over, looking tense, and lowered his voice. "Ms. Langford just called. She said she's running errands near the office and wanted to know if you're available. She wants to come see you."

Christian's hand froze in mid-air.

He fell completely silent for two seconds.

Then, slowly, he let his arm drop to his side.

"Tell her I'm in a meeting." His voice returned to its usual icy calm. "Another time."

Miles nodded and looked down at his phone to send the text.

Christian remained rooted to the spot, staring at the tightly shut door and the name 'Evelyn Sullivan' engraved on the plaque.

He didn't knock.

He just stood there like a statue.

Inside, the rustling of paper stopped.

Christian's spine stiffened.

The next second, the door clicked open.