The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 569

Christian remained silent for a few seconds.

"You haven't reached out to me either, have you?"

Lyra instantly grew agitated, leaning forward and pressing her hands flat against the table.

"That's because I was terrified!"

Her voice spiked in volume, drawing a startled glance from a couple at the next table. She didn't care.

"I was terrified to face you! I lied to you, and I was too afraid to see you! I was terrified you would scream at me, call me disgusting, or—or tell me you never wanted to see me again!"

Her tears were flowing freely now, ruining her makeup.

Christian just watched her.

Her face was a mess of tears—her eyes bloodshot, her nose red, her lips trembling. Her voice shook, her entire body shook.

A voice in the back of his mind whispered: She's acting.

Lyra waited for an agonizingly long time, but he didn't say a word.

Her fingers slowly curled inward, her manicured nails digging into her palms.

"Christian..." her voice dropped to a pathetic whisper. "Please, just say something. You're scaring me."

Christian took a deep breath.

"Whether or not the engagement happens," he finally spoke, his voice dangerously low, "depends entirely on whether you start telling the truth."

Lyra froze.

Then, a spark of genuine light flared in her eyes.

It wasn't a calculated act. It was the frantic, desperate relief of a drowning woman finally seeing the shore. She sat up straight, tears still clinging to her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth were already pulling upward.

"Really? You're still willing to consider it?"

"I said, it depends on whether you tell me the truth."

"I will!" Lyra nodded feverishly. "I'll tell you everything! Christian, I swear on my life, no more lies. I won't lie to you ever again—"

"Fine."

Christian cut her off.

He leaned back and leveled a penetrating glare at her.

"Your deal with Evelyn Sullivan. Tell me about it."

Lyra's eager smile faltered.

Of course. It all came back to this.

"She... she's going to arrange the surgery for the baby."

"Just for that?"

"I had to give her some files."

"What files?"

Lyra bit her lip hard.

"Information about The Encrypted Channel."

"What channel?"

"An... organization. They infiltrate various industries and gather intelligence. The people backing it have extreme levels of authority."

Christian's brow furrowed.

"You're part of it too?"

Lyra lowered her head. "...Yes."

"Was approaching me part of your mission?"