The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 461

Chapter 461 Strategic Dawn

“Quinn, tonight we owe everything to you,” Everett breathed, astonishment and pride. mingling in his eyes; he had never expected his niece to hand him such a stunning gift. “Had you not been here, Fane Group would have suffered losses beyond imagining.”

“Uncle Everett, get some rest,” Quinn replied, her voice low but steady. “Rowan and I will dig until we know exactly who thought they could strike the Fane family like this.”

“Good,” Everett said with a nod.

Inwardly, he reaffirmed his decision: one day, the entire Fane enterprise would pass to these two siblings, and tonight’s ordeal was the perfect proving ground.

Rowan stepped closer to his sister. “Enough for tonight,” he murmured. “Stay here and rest.”

Quinn glanced at the wall clock and realized it was already past midnight.

For several relentless hours, she had been locked in that digital duel.

She swept a quick look around the study; Julius was nowhere to be seen.

Julius must have returned to the hotel already.

“By the way, how did the recognition banquet downstairs end?” Quinn asked, a thread of worry in her tone. “The guests were left on their own while we were fighting off that attack.”

“I took care of it,” Rowan said. “While you were holding the firewall, I went down and told them you were exhausted and had turned in. The banquet has already dispersed.”

Quinn dipped her head in relief. “That’s good.”

She had drilled down with ferocious focus only moments ago. The instant her shoulders uncoiled, true fatigue seeped in like water through cracked stone, and her breath escaped in a soft sigh she hadn’t meant to give.

She and Rowan had just stepped across the study’s threshold when her foot froze mid–stride. On the second–floor landing, a tall silhouette leaned against the paneled wall, illuminated by a thin spill of lamplight, as though he belonged to the quiet darkness and was content to become part of it until someone called him back.

He looked capable of waiting for her forever.

Quinn stared at Julius, her eyes wide, her heartbeat loud enough that it seemed to echo in the

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woodwork. Has he been standing here all along, just for me? Hours have passed.

Julius lifted his eyes, narrow and gleaming, as if cut from obsidian. A faint curve tugged at his lips–subtle, almost shy. He moved toward her, each step unhurried, deliberate, as though crossing that small distance were a sacred ritual.

“Everything’s settled, isn’t it? Then shall we head back now?” Julius asked, his voice low and steady, like velvet over steel.

“It’s already late, and Quinn is exhausted,” Rowan said. “She’s staying here to rest. Mr. Whitethorn, you might as well return to the hotel on your own for the night.”

“Rowan, I’ll go with Julius,” Quinn blurted, urgency brightening her voice.

“But you-” Rowan began, worry etched across his brow.

“A few extra minutes in the car won’t undo my rest,” she countered. “The hotel we’re staying at is close–ten minutes at most.”

Seeing her resolve, Rowan offered Julius a measured nod. “She’s worn out. Make sure she gets proper rest tonight.”

“I will,” Julius promised. Without another word, he swept Quinn into his arms, cradling her as though she weighed nothing more than a sigh.

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Quinn let out a startled gasp. “I can walk, Julius! Put me down–now!”

“You’re tired,” he murmured. “If I carry you to the car, you can save a little strength and steal a little sleep.”

Quinn had no answer; honestly, how much energy could this possibly save? Yet she did not struggle, a faint heat blooming across her cheeks.

The banquet had ended. Most of the Fanes had gone back, so at least she didn’t have to endure a corridor of curious stares while nestled in his arms.

Inside the car at last, Quinn turned to him. “While I was in the study, were you outside the whole time?”

“Yes,” he replied, the single syllable soft yet absolute.

“You could’ve gone back first,” she said, calculating. “You were on your feet more than three hours.”

“But I wanted to wait for you.”

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“And if I’d been trapped until dawn?” The attack ended fast. If there were stronger hackers involved, it might’ve lasted until dawn.

“I’d have waited still,” he answered, voice pitched low enough to brush her skin like midnight

velvet.

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