The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 457

Once Mrs. Vance finally left, Serena shut her door and slumped against it, trembling uncontrollably. She genuinely had no idea where Leo or Quinn were, or if they were even alive. The regret was eating her alive.

The news spread with terrifying speed. Leo's parents immediately contacted Serena's father, accusing her of losing their heir. Charles Sterling dragged her back to the family estate, demanding answers in front of everyone. Serena stood in the center of the lavish living room. Charles sat heavily on the sofa, while Eleanor Sterling sat elegantly beside him, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. Serena's biological mother cowered in a dark corner, refusing to even make eye contact with her daughter.

"Where is Leo?" Charles's voice was dark with fury.

Serena kept her eyes on the floor. "I don't know. He told me to come back first—"

Before she could finish the sentence, Charles shot up and delivered a vicious slap across her face. "You don't know? You traveled across the world with him and you don't know?" The impact was brutal. Serena's head snapped to the side, the skin of her lip splitting against her teeth. She tasted copper—salty and warm. Slowly, she turned her head back to look at him. Her eyes were swimming with pain, hatred, and a crushing sense of betrayal.

Eleanor chimed in, her voice light and musical, dripping with faux concern. "Charles, don't get so worked up. Serena has always been a handful. I told you her dating Leo Vance was a disaster waiting to happen. Did you listen? No, and look where we are." Charles's face darkened even further. Eleanor smoothly continued, "The Vances made it perfectly clear. If their son is in trouble, they will rain hell down on us. If they declare war, how exactly are we supposed to survive it?" She turned her gaze to Serena, her eyes filled with unapologetic disgust. "Serena, you should have just kept your head down and been grateful for what you were given as an illegitimate daughter. But no, you had to stir up drama. Now look at you, bringing ruin to this entire family."