The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 402

At the Astor Group headquarters, on the top floor.

The Parisian skyline stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight streaming through the glass and casting bright pools of light over the dark marble floor. A high-level executive meeting had just wrapped up in the boardroom, and the executives were filing out, talking in hushed tones as they left.

The Duke sat at the head of the table, the documents in front of him still open, but his gaze was fixed outside, as if he were looking at something, or perhaps nothing at all.

Pierre closed his laptop and stood up.

"Father, do you need me to attend the video conference with the German branch at three o'clock?"

The Duke snapped out of his reverie and glanced at him.

"No," he said. "Go about your own business."

Pierre nodded and turned to leave.

At the door, he looked back.

His father was still sitting there, motionless.

A faint smile curled the corners of Pierre's mouth before he vanished out the door.

The boardroom grew quiet.

The Duke sat for a while longer before standing up and heading into his private adjoining office.

The door closed.

It shut out every sound from the outside world.

The office was massive, decorated with a minimalist yet luxurious touch. It featured an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, a broad desk, several rows of bookshelves, and a set of leather sofas. An authentic Renoir oil painting hung on the wall.

The Duke walked over to his desk and sat down.

He didn't look at the files on the desk.

He just sat there, silent for a long time.

Then he pulled open a drawer.

In the very back of the drawer lay a dark brown leather photo frame, its edges worn, clearly having been touched countless times.

He gently took the frame out and placed it on the desk.

His fingers traced the edge of the frame, moving with a slow, feather-light touch, as if caressing something precious and fragile.

The photo was of a young Chinese woman.

She wore a pale green dress, standing in front of a sea of flowers. The sunlight spilled over her, and her smile was as gentle as the warm spring sun. Her eyes were perfectly clear, so clear you could see straight into her soul. Her hair cascaded down, a few loose strands caught by the wind and pressed against her cheek.

The most captivating feature, the one that made it impossible to look away, was the tiny beauty mark just below the corner of her eye.

It was small, but it instantly gave her entire face a unique charm.

Innocent, sweet, like a pure, helpless little dove.