The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 430

A hotel in Paris.

Serena Sterling sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, her phone screen glaring brightly in the dark room, displaying Leo Vance's contact. She checked the time—10:00 PM. She hit dial. Then dialed again. Every hollow ring felt like a physical blow to her chest, heavy and suffocating.

Voicemail. She hung up and frantically dialed Quinn's number. Voicemail again.

She stared at the 'Call Failed' notification on her screen, her fingers digging painfully into the plastic casing. The events of the afternoon kept looping in her head like a broken reel.

The brilliant afternoon sun had poured through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows, so blindingly bright it made her eyes water.

Piper Brooks had been lounging in her chair, idly sipping a glass of juice. The sunlight bathed her face, illuminating her luminous, almost translucent skin. Dressed in a pastel pink hoodie with her hair tied in a casual ponytail, she had looked exactly like a naive high school girl.

"The juice here is fresh-squeezed, it's amazing." Serena could still hear her own voice, sickly sweet and perfectly natural.

Piper had just nodded, taking another sip.

Leo, sitting right beside Piper, had been working overtime to keep the conversation going. "What do you do for fun?" "Where are your favorite spots?" "Where are you heading after Paris?"

Piper had offered half-hearted, dismissive replies, her gaze wandering out the window, completely bored.

Quinn had sat across the table, scrolling on his phone but occasionally darting predatory glances at Piper. Serena knew that look all too well. It was a wolf eyeing a lamb. A predator locking onto its prey.

She had watched Piper lift the glass to her lips again. The bright orange liquid sloshed against the crystal rim as she swallowed, her throat bobbing slightly.

Serena's hands had been perfectly steady. She had picked up her own glass and taken a casual sip.