The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 262

When the door to room 1217 opened, Christian's hand was still hovering in the air.

It wasn't Evelyn who stepped out, but a young nurse. She froze the moment she saw the man standing in the hallway, instantly recognizing his face—he was a staple in financial news, entertainment tabloids, Lyra Langford's fiancé, and the CEO of Lancaster Group.

He was also Dr. Sullivan's ex-husband.

The nurse quickly plastered on a flawless, professional smile, polite and completely unreadable. "Mr. Lancaster, are you looking for Dr. Sullivan?"

Miles instantly stepped forward. "Yes, is she in?"

The nurse's gaze flicked between the two men, her polite smile never wavering. "Dr. Sullivan isn't here today."

"Is she checking on Arthur Sullivan? Or in surgery?" Miles pressed.

"Neither." The nurse shook her head, her tone perfectly even. "Dr. Sullivan took an emergency case a few days ago. She isn't taking consultations at St. Jude's right now."

Standing off to the side, Christian finally spoke up. "Where did she go?"

His voice wasn't loud. In fact, it was unnervingly calm. But Miles could hear the terrifying undertow swirling just beneath the surface.

The nurse kept smiling, though the warmth didn't reach her eyes. "I'm really not sure about that. Us regular nurses wouldn't dare pry into Dr. Sullivan's private schedule."

With that, she slipped past them, her footsteps brisk as the hem of her white coat fluttered slightly in her wake.

Christian stood motionless, watching her disappear around the corner of the corridor.

The hallway fell into a dead silence.

The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, and the distant squeak of a medical cart echoed down the wing. The sterile smell of antiseptic hung heavy in the air, mixing with the suffocating, oppressive stillness unique to hospitals.

Christian didn't move an inch.

Standing behind him, Miles could feel the familiar, terrifying drop in atmospheric pressure slowly building. He ducked his head, desperately trying to make himself as small as possible.

Then, Christian slowly turned around.

He didn't yell, nor did he raise his voice. He simply looked at Miles, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

"She isn't even at this hospital, and you didn't know?"

A cold sweat immediately broke out across Miles's back.

"Mr. Lancaster, I..." His throat went completely dry. "I assumed that since your wedding with Ms. Langford was approaching, all our resources should be focused on those arrangements... I stopped tracking Dr. Sullivan's movements..."

He couldn't finish his sentence.

Christian continued to stare at him, his gaze utterly placid. But that kind of calm was far more terrifying than any outward explosion of rage.

"Whether or not I focus on her," Christian said, enunciating every single word, "when did you get the authority to decide that for me?"

Christian turned around.

Two people were hurrying down the hallway toward him.

Leading the way was Stephen Sullivan. He was in his early sixties, with graying hair, wearing a slightly worn navy-blue jacket. A strained, anxious smile was plastered across his face, looking exactly as desperate and ingratiating as he had during every single one of their encounters over the past three years.

Following closely behind him was a middle-aged woman draped in flashy jewelry. The overpowering stench of her perfume preceded her down the hall. It was Stephen's wife, Evelyn's stepmother.

The crease between Christian's eyebrows deepened.

Stephen came to a halt in front of him, still trying to catch his breath. He rubbed his hands together nervously, his eyes darting around, completely unable to meet Christian's imposing gaze.

"Christian," he began, forcing an unnatural warmth into his tone. "Are you... are you here to see Evelyn?"

Christian didn't offer a reply.

He simply stood there, towering over his former father-in-law, his eyes as cold and indifferent as if he were staring at a complete stranger.

Stephen squirmed under the crushing weight of that stare, but he didn't back down. He rubbed his hands together even harder and pushed on.

"Well... Christian, I actually had something I wanted to ask you about."

He paused, finally forcing himself to look up. "About that partnership... Lancaster Group and my company signed a three-year supply contract. Why... why hasn't it been renewed this year?"