The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 491

Her phone screen lit up. It was a text from Christian. Just one line.

[I know about Leo.]

Lyra stared at the message, her fingers beginning to tremble. She typed a few words, deleted them, typed some more, and deleted them again. Finally, she just sent: [What do you know?]

Sent. She stared at the screen, waiting one minute, two minutes, five minutes. No reply. She tossed the phone onto the bed, stood up, and walked over to the window. Peeking through a crack in the curtains, she saw the empty street below. The streetlights hadn't flickered on yet, and the sky was a dull, heavy gray. She remembered the first time she brought Leo back to the States. Christian had been standing at the airport exit. When he saw the boy, his eyes had lit up. She had held Leo's hand and told him, 'Say hi to Dad.' The boy had timidly called out 'Dad,' and Christian had scooped him into his arms, a brilliant smile breaking across his face. It was the first time she had ever seen him look so genuinely happy.

And now? He had sent the boy away. He knew. She had no idea how he found out, how much he actually knew, or if he would ever believe a single word she said again. All she knew was that she was out of chips to play.

She stood by the window, watching the suffocating Parisian dusk. Night fell quickly over the city. The streetlights flickered on one by one, casting a sickly yellow glow over the deserted pavement. Her mind was a chaotic mess. She thought back to the text message—'Don't get yourself killed. If you do, even I won't be able to protect you.' Not even he could save her. If he couldn't, then who could? Absolutely no one.

She turned away, walked back to her desk, closed the document, and shut the laptop. The screen went black, plunging the room into further darkness. She didn't turn on the lights, simply sitting there in the shadows. Her phone buzzed again. She grabbed it. Another message from Christian.

[I know the truth about Leo's father.]

This time, it wasn't just "about Leo", but "the truth about his father". Lyra's grip tightened convulsively around her phone. He knew. He actually knew. She didn't know how to respond, didn't know what to say. She typed out a few words, then erased them. Finally, she sent: [What do you want to do?]