The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 83

The Langford villa was nestled in an exclusive, tranquil neighborhood on the west side of the city. The afternoon sun was beautiful, but it couldn't pierce the creeping shadows in certain people's hearts.

A black sedan pulled into the driveway, and Lyra stepped out. Her usual gentle smile was long gone, replaced by a faint exhaustion and lingering unease clouding her brow. Following the events at the Lancaster birthday banquet, things had spiraled completely out of her control. Evelyn had vanished under mysterious circumstances, Caleb had gone MIA, the Lancaster family remained eerily silent, and Lawrence's attitude toward her seemed colder than ever. All of it left her with a creeping sense of dread.

Especially Lydia's impulsive stunt. Lyra hadn't entirely approved, but she had tacitly permitted that tainted glass of water to be handed over. She had assumed it would simply cause Evelyn to make a fool of herself at the party, crush her arrogance, and ideally make Christian utterly disgusted with her. But now, it seemed things weren't that simple. Caleb was a reckless playboy, and God only knew where Lydia had sourced those potent tabs... If this blew up, would it drag her down too?

Although she inwardly cursed her sister for being so rash, they were blood. If one fell, they both did. She needed to ask Lydia what exactly happened and see if there was a mess to clean up. At the very least, she needed to know what the hell happened to Caleb and where he went.

"Ms. Lyra, you're back?" The butler greeted her from the side hall, his face wearing its usual respectful expression. "Mr. Langford is at the office, and Mrs. Langford is out for afternoon tea with some friends. She hasn't returned yet."

Lyra nodded absently, her eyes darting toward the staircase. "Where is Lydia? Is she home?"

"Yes, Ms. Lydia is in her room," the butler offered eagerly. "The kitchen just baked some fresh scones. Would you like a plate first?"

"No, thanks." Lyra waved him off; she wasn't in the mood. She turned and ascended the thickly carpeted stairs, her pace slightly faster than usual as she made a beeline for Lydia's bedroom on the second floor.

Lydia's room was at the end of the hall, the door shut tight. Lyra reached out to knock but paused when she heard laughter and chatter from inside. Lydia wasn't alone.

"You couldn't reach him?" Chloe's voice pitched higher. "Could something... bad have happened? Lydia, you better not have stirred up major trouble!"

"What could possibly happen!" Lydia's voice turned sharp, as if she were trying to convince herself. "A guy like Caleb probably scored and then dragged her off somewhere to have fun. Or maybe he chickened out, got scared we'd be mad at him, and bailed! As for Evelyn..." Her tone shifted back to pure disdain. "What can she do? A woman with no family backing who's about to get kicked to the curb. Even if she got taken advantage of, would she dare make a scene? How could she hold anyone accountable? Christian's entirely focused on Lyra right now. Who's going to care about her?"

Outside the door, Lyra's heart sank. Caleb was missing? Did he run off, or... did something else happen? And where exactly did Evelyn go? If things had gone seriously wrong and the police got involved... She didn't dare finish the thought. That idiot! Leaving such a sloppy trail!

Inside the room, Chloe seemed convinced by Lydia's logic—or perhaps she just didn't care. Changing the subject, she asked teasingly, "By the way, Lydia, why did you go through all that trouble to help your sister deal with Evelyn? Don't you... kind of have a thing for Christian too?"