Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10 A Passing Encounter

Finished

“That was amazing, Boss!” Tess cheered, still giddy from the earlier drama. She’d been furious about the 100–tile “compensation” insult–and now she finally felt vindicated.

“How’s the cemetery lawsuit going?” Stella asked.

Tess sobered up immediately. “They’re on the verge of bankruptcy. They’re suing Derek too.”

“Good. Prepare our lawsuit against him as well,” Stella said.

“He’s in for a world of trouble.” Tess laughed.

“I’ll head out now, Boss.”

“Go ahead.”

“Wait–I’m ready!” Tess leaned in, whispering. “I’ve got the sack ready to beat Derek and get a blood sample for the DNA test.” She grinned cheekily and added, “Off I go!” before striding off.

Stella nodded, planning to rebury her mother’s ashes properly.

–

At Cross Group, Elias stared coldly at his desk, his handsome face unreadable. When he glanced up, Gideon flinched–he knew he was in trouble.

“Mr. Cross, I failed you,” Gideon said, head bowed, braced for punishment.

Elias knew the odds were stacked against them: Gideon hadn’t even seen the girl’s face, and there were no security cameras in the woods. Finding her felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. A strange emptiness settled in his chest.

“Mr. Cross, should we keep looking?” Gideon asked hesitantly.

“Keep going until we find her,” Elias ordered firmly.

Gideon was stunned.

Mr. Cross has always been completely uninterested in women. Why is he so fixated on this one girl?

“Yes, sir.” He placed a folder on the desk. “All afternoon appointments are canceled.”

“Good.”

Once Gideon left, Elias closed his eyes, rubbing his tired temples. The memory of the mysterious girl lingered in his mind–her brief presence had left an indelible mark. He took a deep breath, determined to finish work quickly so he could visit his mother’s grave that afternoon.

It was her death anniversary.

An hour later, Elias left Cross Group.

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7:10 pm P PPP.

Chapter 10 A Passing Encounter

Finished

Orchid Isle Cemetery in Azure Peak City was the most exclusive burial ground in the city–reserved for the ultra–wealthy and elite. Stella had purchased a plot here to lay her mother to rest.

“Mom, I’m all grown up now. I have the power to stand up to Derek. Don’t worry. I’ll uncover the truth about what happened back then,” she whispered, placing flowers on the grave.

Her mother’s life had been a puzzle. Stella thought of how her mother had always worn long sleeves and pants, hiding her body–and her heart ached. Had her mother been suffering in silence while Stella played innocently outside?

The horrific wounds Stella had seen on her mother’s body had been buried with her memories… until now. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became. Even if the truth was painful, she was determined to find it.

“Mom, no one will disturb you here. Rest in peace,” she said softly before turning to leave.

As she stepped outside, rain began to fall. She raised her hand to shield her head, hurrying toward her car.

Elias, holding an umbrella in one hand and a bouquet of lilies in the other, was walking toward his mother’s grave. The patter of rain mixed with the sound of footsteps, and a faint scent of gardenias drifted through the air–familiar and comforting.

Suddenly, a figure rushed past him. Elias froze for a second. The gardenia scent grew stronger, then faded away. His eyes widened, and he spun around–catching a glimpse of a woman running in the rain. Her back matched the silhouette he’d seen in the woods! Joy surged through him, and he opened his mouth to call out–only to hesitate for a split second.

“Wait!” he shouted, chasing after her.

The rain poured harder, drowning out his voice.

“Wait a minute!”

She ran; he followed. His black umbrella fell to the ground as he clutched the lilies, sprinting through the downpour–his heart racing with excitement, hope, and urgency. But his body, still weak from his injuries, couldn’t keep up with his usual speed.

Stella reached her car, grabbing tissues to dry her face and hair before turning on the heater. The rain lashed against the windows. Glancing in the rearview mirror, which was blurred by raindrops, she spotted a man in a suit, holding flowers, running toward her car. She wiped the mirror clear and prepared to start the engine.

Elias climbed into his Rolls–Royce, unwilling to risk chasing her recklessly in the rain.

At a red light, their cars stopped side by side. Elias rolled down his window, ignoring the rain soaking his shirt. “Hey!” he called, wiping water from his face with his sleeve.

Stella, sipping a drink and focusing on the road, didn’t hear him. She drove forward at the green light, turning left. Elias followed closely, memorizing her license plate number. His photographic memory made it easy.

Stella’s car pulled into Imperial Crest Towers. Elias smiled as he read the complex’s name, relief and joy

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7:10 pm P P pp.

Chapter 10 A Passing Encounter

washing over him. He dialed Gideon immediately.

Finished

“Mr. Cross?” Gideon answered, surprised. He’d been about to call to warn Elias about the heavy rain.

“Check the owner of license plate AZP 99911,” Elias ordered, his voice urgent.

“Right away, sir.”

Elias stared at the apartment complex, his eyes glowing with anticipation.

“Mr. Cross, are you still at the cemetery in this rain?” Gideon asked worriedly.

“Tell Leo to come to my house,” Elias said.

“Understood.” Gideon’s heart sank. Elias‘ injuries hadn’t fully healed, and now he’d been caught in the rain. Disaster was imminent.

At Cloudreach Manor, Elias was burning with a high fever, but his usually icy face was split into a grin as he stared at the ceiling.

“Elias, are you delirious?” Leo exclaimed, shocked by his friend’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“Fix me up quickly,” Elias said, wincing from a headache–but the memory of seeing her made it all worth it.

“You’re still injured! You’ve been working like a dog, and now you’re running in the rain? Are you trying to kill yourself?” Leo snapped, annoyed with his stubborn patient.

Elias ignored him.

“What on earth got into you? Running around in a downpour like a madman?” Leo pressed, curious. This was the most irrational he’d ever seen his friend.

“You’re a doctor, not a gossipy old lady,” Elias retorted, rolling his eyes.

“You’re a glutton for punishment,” Leo muttered.

“How long until the fever breaks?”

“Are you planning to go back to work?” Leo groaned. “Elias, you’re going to work yourself to death before you outwork everyone else.”

Just then, Gideon arrived. Elias sat up abruptly, his voice tight with anticipation. “Did you find out?”

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