The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 357

Lydia sat frozen against the leather seat.

Her mind was consumed by an endless reel of horrific memories—

That man's ice-cold fingers.

His twisted, psychotic fetishes.

The agonizing torment of those dark nights.

The brutal 'skills' she was beaten into learning.

The suffocating humiliation she desperately wanted to erase but could never forget.

He was molding her into a high-end escort.

No, far worse than an escort.

Escorts had a choice.

She didn't.

She wanted to run.

But there was nowhere to hide.

She had tried once.

The result was being dragged back and locked in a pitch-black basement for three days and three nights.

No water, no food, just suffocating darkness.

Since that day, she hadn't dared to rebel.

Lydia snapped her eyes open, staring intensely at the rapid blur of the night sky outside the window.

Her gaze went completely hollow.

As empty and dead as two bottomless pits.

Then, she whispered a promise to herself.

Just hold on a little longer.

Endure it.

One day, she would claw her way to the absolute peak.

When that day came, no one would ever be able to tell her no again.

No one.

Her hands slowly balled into fists.

She clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white, a suffocating wave of despair washing over her.

But she didn't feel the pain.

—

Meanwhile, outside a private hospital in downtown Paris.

Lance mentally memorized every single one before carefully helping Sebastian out of the hospital.

—

Back in the car, Lance took the wheel, his mouth running a mile a minute.

"Look at you, Boss. You're completely wrecked," he said, his voice dripping with sympathy. "That Albert guy is an absolute psycho. He practically ruined your face. If the missus sees this, she'll be heartbroken."

Sebastian leaned his head back against the seat, keeping his good eye closed, and said nothing.

Lance wasn't deterred. "And what about the old man? If your grandfather finds out someone beat you like this, he'd have a stroke! He'd fly an entire tactical team to France to hunt this Albert guy down..."

"Shut up," Sebastian finally groaned.

Lance paused for exactly one second, then immediately doubled down.

"Boss, don't get mad at me. I'm just looking out for you! You've got cracked ribs, a busted eye, and a split lip. What if there's permanent nerve damage? You still need to get married! If your face is ruined, who's going to..."

"I said, shut up."

Lance snapped his mouth shut.

But the silence only lasted three seconds.

"Boss," he started again, his tone cautious. "Are you seriously going back there in a week?"

Sebastian didn't answer.

Lance panicked. "You're already half-dead! How are you supposed to fight in a week? If you step back in that ring, your body is going to shut down!"