The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 348

The Paris night was brilliantly illuminated by city lights.

A sleek black Maybach cruised steadily down a tree-lined avenue on the outskirts of the city, keeping a strict distance behind the vintage black car ahead.

In the backseat, Sebastian sat with his spine completely rigid.

It wasn't just good posture; it was the kind of agonizing stiffness demanded during military drills. His shoulders were locked, his chin slightly tucked, and his hands rested squarely on his knees, turning him into a living statue.

If one looked closely, they would notice his fingers trembling ever so slightly.

It wasn't a violent shake, but a microscopic, almost imperceptible tremor. Like the lingering vibration of a plucked guitar string, or the frantic shiver of leaves right before a storm.

His thumb subconsciously rubbed against the knuckle of his index finger. Once, twice, three times. Then his index finger rubbed against his middle finger, and his middle finger against his ring finger.

It was his nervous tell.

Right now, a brutal war was raging inside his head.

What was he supposed to do?

What the hell was he supposed to do?

Charles had told him to follow. Said he wanted to evaluate him.

Evaluate what? How? For how long?

He recalled the look of utter disdain on Charles's face when Mr. Montebello offered his grandsons as suitors.

'You think they're worthy of my granddaughter?'

The phrase had stabbed directly into his ego.

Was he worthy?

In terms of wealth, Charles was in the top three of the Forbes list, commanding a fortune that could rival nations. The assets of Thorne Enterprises probably looked like pocket change to him.

In terms of reputation, Sebastian was a rising star, undeniably powerful in the US corporate world. But compared to Dr. Rose? She was a global medical legend who saved heads of state. And Iris? A mythological figure in jewelry design whose mere sketches were priceless.

And him?

CEO of Thorne Enterprises, pulling in billions in revenue and billions of dollars in net profit last year.

Sounds impressive, right?

But standing before that legendary old man, surrounded by European royalty and old money, he was absolutely nothing.

Sebastian's fingers resumed their frantic rhythm.

Thumb to index finger, index to middle, middle to ring.

He cringed as he remembered his own desperate pitch in the grand hall—'give up all my assets', 'kids take her last name', 'walk away with nothing if I cheat'.

Looking back, those promises must have sounded to Charles like a little boy telling a billionaire, 'I'll give you all my allowance.'

Who cared about his 'little bit of money'?

Sebastian's mouth twitched.

He was spiraling back into self-doubt.

What did he actually have to offer?

Wealth? Completely eclipsed.

Fame? Not even close.

Talent? She held two world-class titles, and he... he just knew how to run a business.

Looks? Well... he was decent looking. But did a man like Charles care about a pretty face?

His fingers moved even faster.

He suddenly realized he truly had nothing to offer.

Nothing but a heart completely devoted to her.

Sebastian stared at him, letting the silence hang for a heavy second.

Then he spoke, his voice completely devoid of inflection:

"Grandfather and granddaughter."

Lance blinked.

"Oh, grandfather and granddaughter..."

He nodded slowly, turning his eyes back to the road.

And then—

He violently jerked the steering wheel!

The Maybach swerved into a terrifying S-curve across the road!

"WHAT?!"

Lance's voice cracked by three octaves. "Grandfather and granddaughter?! Charles is Dr. Sullivan's grandfather?!"

He stared wildly into the rearview mirror, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

"Boss, you have to be kidding me! Charles de Rothschild? The top-three-on-Forbes Charles? He's her grandfather?"

Sebastian just gave him a dead, icy stare.

A stare that clearly translated to: 'Do I look like I'm joking?'

Lance's mouth fell open wide enough to catch a baseball.

"Oh my god..." he whispered in horror. "Dr. Sullivan is Charles's granddaughter? Then that means... no, wait, she's already a billionaire! Charles doesn't have any other heirs; she's going to inherit everything! She's literally the newest addition to the Forbes list!"

He was getting more hysterical by the second, completely forgetting he was supposed to be driving.

"Who on earth is worthy of a woman like that? Princes and Dukes from all over the world are going to be lining up! The Montebello heirs? Forget it, every single aristocratic family in Europe is going to be begging for an introduction!"