The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 477

They got into the car, slamming the doors shut. Leon slumped against the seat, pinching the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed. Chloe sat rigidly beside him, too terrified to breathe. The sedan merged into traffic, the glow of passing streetlamps washing over them in rhythmic flashes. Leon opened his eyes, staring blankly out the window, his mind completely consumed by the image of that woman's back. The white dress, the loose hair, sitting there with absolute stillness. He hadn't seen her face, but he had noticed the way her fingers gripped the water glass, knuckles white with tension. She had been terrified. What was she so afraid of? His brow slowly furrowed.

Back in the restaurant, peace was restored. The Duke took a sip of his wine, set the glass down, and turned his attention back to Lydia. His gaze was noticeably softer now. "Did that startle you?"

Lydia looked up, a faint, genuine flush coloring her cheeks. She shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No."

The Duke studied her, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Ignore what that woman said."

Lydia lowered her eyes, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the table. After a few seconds of silence, she looked up at him. Her clear eyes held a mixture of hesitation and lingering anxiety.

"Do you... have many wives?"

The Duke's fingers stalled on the stem of his glass. He looked at her, and his expression shifted. It wasn't anger, nor was it coldness. It was an unreadable emotion, as if she had accidentally struck a hidden nerve, or perhaps unearthed a buried memory. Lydia's heart raced; she knew she had crossed a line by asking, but she couldn't take it back.

The Duke remained silent for so long that Lydia assumed he was going to ignore the question entirely. Finally, he spoke, his voice incredibly low. "No."

Lydia blinked in surprise. "But earlier—"

"She was speaking nonsense," the Duke interrupted smoothly. "Not everything people say is worth listening to."

Lydia bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

The Duke kept his eyes on her for a few more seconds before setting his glass down. When he spoke again, his usual composure was perfectly restored. "It's fine."

He paused, seamlessly changing the subject. "There's something I need to tell you. I've secured an internship for you at The Charles Group. You'll be in the Energy Department, under Mr. Arthur Taylor's team. You start on Monday."

Lydia sat there, stunned. The Charles Group. Evelyn's company. She opened her mouth, her voice wavering. "Am I... really capable of doing this?"

The Duke arched an eyebrow. "Capable of what?"

"It's such a massive corporation," Lydia said, a trace of panic in her voice. "I'm afraid I'll mess it up. Half the students at my business school would kill for an internship there; the spots are fiercely competitive. If I just walk in without earning it, won't people—"

"They won't," the Duke cut her off.

Lydia bit her lower lip. "Will I have to... give something in return?" she asked in a tiny voice, terrified of the answer.