The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 496

A phone buzzed. Sebastian picked it up. It was a message from Julian St. Claire.

[Christian Lancaster has started digging into me. The firm's taxes, my past cases—he's looking into all of it. He moves fast. Expected nothing less from Young Master Lancaster.]

Sebastian stared at the text, his brow furrowing slightly. He set his chopsticks down and typed: [Do you need help?]

It took a few seconds for a reply. Julian's response carried a slow, unbothered composure, much like the way he brewed tea.

[No. If I didn't have the adaptability to handle this much, there'd be no point in talking about revenge.]

Sebastian read the line, falling silent for a moment. He pictured Julian sitting in his tearoom, his movements methodical and calm, as if crafting a piece of art. Men like him didn't panic, and even if they did, they would never show it.

[Let me know if you need anything,] Sebastian added. [I'm not just being polite.]

This time, Julian replied faster. [Alright.]

Just one word. Sebastian set his phone aside and took a sip from his water glass. Evelyn gave him a questioning look.

"What is it?"

"Christian is investigating Julian," Sebastian said, setting the glass down. "He's auditing his law firm, digging into his cases, and looking into his taxes."

Evelyn's brow twitched. "He certainly moves fast."

Sebastian nodded. "Julian says he doesn't need help."

Evelyn was quiet for a few seconds. "He's right. If he can't survive this hurdle, there's no point in discussing what comes next."

Sebastian looked at her. "You certainly have faith in him."

Evelyn took a sip from her soup bowl and set it down. "It's not about having faith in him. It's about trusting his competence. A man with no background and no powerful backers doesn't build a law firm to this scale in London on luck alone."

Sebastian didn't argue. He knew she was right. Julian St. Claire was much deeper than he had initially assumed. Not the kind of deep that was intentionally hidden, but the kind where he was standing right in front of you, yet you could never predict his next move.

London, Julian St. Claire's Law Firm.