The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 632

"Because someone sent me a very clear warning," Silas said, dropping his voice to a harsh whisper. "It wasn't a phone call. It wasn't an encrypted email. Someone managed to bypass my security and leave a physical note on my front doorstep."

Penelope's heart skipped a beat.

"What did it say?"

Silas reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a folded piece of printer paper, and smoothed it out on the desk. The edges were slightly crumpled. Penelope reached out and took it. There was only one line of text, printed in standard block lettering, entirely devoid of handwriting.

'Keep digging and you're dead.'

Her hands shook violently. The crisp paper rattled between her fingers like a dry leaf caught in a hurricane. She forced herself to place it back on the desk and took a slow, deep breath.

"Who do you think left it?"

"I have no idea. But if they can find where I live and know exactly what I'm looking into... they aren't ordinary thugs." Silas looked her dead in the eye. "Penelope, whoever is backing your husband is extremely dangerous. I'm pulling out. It's not that I don't want to help you, but I refuse to get killed over this."

Penelope sat in heavy silence.

The small office was terrifyingly quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of the cheap wall clock. She stared at the paper. 'You're dead.' She didn't care if she died. But Silas did. He was just a private investigator trying to make a living. He had a wife and kids. He didn't owe her his life.

"I understand," she finally said, standing up. She snapped the file folder shut and shoved it into her designer bag. "Thank you for everything, Silas."

Silas stood up as well, looking as though he wanted to offer some profound comfort, but ultimately settling for a grim warning. "Just... watch your back."

Penelope nodded curtly and headed for the door.

"Penelope," Silas called out right as her hand hit the brass handle.

She stopped but didn't look back.

"Whatever you uncover from here on out... don't try to fight them alone. You still have your own family's wealth and connections."

Her shoulders hitched slightly, but she offered no reply. She pulled the door open and stepped out.

The hallway felt infinitely long. Several overhead fluorescents were burnt out, leaving her to walk through flickering patches of gloom. Her posture was rigidly perfect, her back impeccably straight, but every step felt like she was wading through quicksand. Her mind raced with a million terrifying thoughts: Christian was a fraud, Julian was the real Lancaster heir, someone had threatened to murder her investigator, and the shadow operating behind Lawrence was terrifyingly powerful.

But none of that mattered.