CHAPTER 391. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Sacrificing the QueenChiara knew this. She had always known that once she took the first step, the chain of events would be irreversible.“So, what’s your deal?”The prosecutor handed the documents to her lawyers, who began reviewing them.“I can guarantee you complete anonymity,” he said. “We won’t involve the media; no one will know anything about what happens. You’ll also be comfortable, cared for, with all the attention you need and as much freedom as we can give you.”Chiara smiled sadly.“I’ll be a VIP prisoner?”“Yes, something like that,” the prosecutor said kindly. “Believe me, I’m very sorry you’re going through this, and I will personally ensure that all the conditions are met to the letter.”Chiara took a deep breath and asked for a moment with her lawyers.“If we go to trial, it will probably take longer than this to get a verdict, and we don’t know if it will be favorable,” they told her, but she had already made her decision.By the

CHAPTER 392. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. “Pregnant.”Chiara felt something tear inside her chest as she watched Jhon cry in front of her.“You can’t say that to me... I never wanted... you...” Jhon clenched his fists in frustration, tears welling up in his eyes as he tried to get closer to her. “You are the most important person in my life, Chiara, the only one...”“Well, you forgot that at the most crucial moment, Jhon,” she murmured. “And now it's too late.”“I really thought it would hurt you!” he exclaimed desperately, and Chiara wrapped him in an embrace, one devoid of affection, just close enough to whisper in his ear: “If you really believed that, you would have killed him sooner.” She let him go abruptly and knocked on the door for someone to open it. “Agent Hopkins is leaving now.”Jhon shook his head violently and tried to approach her again, but there was no way to fix it. The court officers escorted him out, leaving him lingering in the hallways, hoping for a miracle, wishing

CHAPTER 393. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Childhood MemoriesChiara fell silent, her eyes widening as he shook her hand with a gentle greeting.“Hanover...?” It wasn’t a common surname, and she knew a Hanover. “By any chance, do you know... Oskar, Oskar Hanover?”Oskar Hanover had been one of Asterion Bank’s most important regional managers for many years, and her father had held him in high regard.“Yes, Oskar is my father,” Viktor smiled. “We crossed paths a few times in the halls of Asterion when we were kids, but well... you were always with your twin sister, and I was a bespectacled little nerd.”Chiara smiled nostalgically and nodded, remembering those beautiful moments from her childhood.“Please don’t be so formal with me. I literally couldn’t be in a worse position for you to maintain such courtesies,” she murmured.In response, Viktor pulled out a chair, inviting her to sit, and instead of going behind his desk, he sat across from her with a familiar gesture.“Alright, then, no fo

CHAPTER 394. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. An Easy ChoiceJhon arrived at his apartment, tired and angry after a whole day of threatening, pleading, and eventually forcing his way into Noémi’s office. “You have to tell me where she is!” It had been a week, and what Jhon felt went beyond mere desperation. “Get out of here, Jhon.” “I need to see her, Noémi! I have to get her out of there! Please help me see her, help me find her!” “You just don’t get it, do you, Jhon?” his ex-sister-in-law retorted. “Chiara doesn’t want to see you! You were the person she trusted the most in the world, and because of you, our family is on the verge of bankruptcy. We’re going to lose my father’s life’s work, and she’s in prison. Because of you! If you can’t see everything you’ve caused, then you’re even worse than I thought. Please leave. I won’t tell you where my sister is unless she asks me to herself.”Jhon left with his heart pounding wildly. He felt confused and lost. He could use other methods, could

CHAPTER 395. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. I’m going to find you“Well... when you sacrifice your wife and child, call me, and we’ll talk.”The news that Jhon Hopkins was leaving the CIA spread like wildfire. Within minutes, there was an uproar outside his office, and his closest team confronted him about abandoning them. But Jhon knew he no longer fit in a place like that. He had sworn to protect his country, and in that, he had not held back. But he hadn’t sworn to condemn innocent people for his or his superiors’ benefit. He gathered what little he had in the office and said goodbye to those who had truly served alongside him with integrity. He left to empty his apartment in London, but not half an hour had passed when there was a knock on his door. Jhon saw Billy, Speedy, two other tech specialists, four highly trained field agents, and a professional interrogator. “Guys? What are you doing here?” he asked, puzzled. Each of the men carried a black suitcase, which they set down around t

CHAPTER 396. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. RejectionChiara sat on the bed with a sigh, trying to focus her vision. She had barely slept the night before and felt utterly exhausted. The first trimester of her pregnancy was hitting her hard, and even though her room was cozy and didn't resemble a prison cell at all, it didn’t take away the pain of everything that had led her there.She made herself some tea and sat by the window, watching the weather turn colder outside. “Are you feeling unwell? Do you want me to call the nurse?” Viktor asked as he approached, but Chiara wiped her tears before turning toward him. She didn’t like showing her vulnerability, not even in front of a friend like Viktor. He had been the one helping her through the last few days, making everything somewhat bearable, but that didn’t mean she could easily trust anyone again like she had trusted Jhon. “It’s nothing, just the usual dizziness from the pregnancy,” she muttered. “Thanks for your concern.” “It’s nothing,

CHAPTER 397. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. I’ve got a job for you.“The man responsible for her being here says that?” Viktor growled. “I’m also trying to get her out.” “Then you clearly haven’t listened to her. You don’t even respect her.” “Excuse me?” “If you respected Chiara’s reasons for being here, she wouldn’t have gone to prison in the first place!” Viktor hissed, stepping up to Jhon. “But let’s be honest, you don’t care about anyone’s opinion, not even hers. So I don’t care what you know about me or what you want. I’m not letting you see Chiara because she doesn’t want to see you.” “I’m the father of her child!” “Congratulations on your sperm donation! But the best thing a man can do for his child is love their mother, and you didn’t do that,” Viktor stated coldly. “The moment Chiara tells me she wants to see you, I’ll personally send for you. But until then, get out of my damn prison before I accuse you of the first thing that comes to mind.” Jhon was about to respond when a g

CHAPTER 398. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. A Personal HellChiara was exhausted. She sat on her bed, head in her hands, feeling the pregnancy like a heavy weight on her tired body. The baby left her drained and without energy; yet, even though it seemed like her strength faded more each day, it was also her biggest reason to be happy.It had been a week since Jhon had visited the prison, and just knowing he had been there caused her to become unbalanced. "I don’t understand what more he wants..." she murmured to herself. "Why can’t he leave me alone?"She didn’t want to see him—not just because of what had happened between them, but because she didn’t want to keep falling into that vicious cycle of incomplete apologies that no longer meant anything.She hadn’t slept well in recent days, and her stomach was upset. She had been vomiting regularly and felt a strange pressure in her chest. She couldn’t help it—she had to vomit in the kitchen sink because she didn’t make it to the bathroom in tim

CHAPTER 399. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Something written in my book"It's completely insane, boss! Don’t even think about it!" Billy exclaimed as he watched Jhon prepare.Jhon took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling while adjusting his harnesses. "It's either this or I'll write on the front wall: 'READ MY LETTERS, FOR GOD'S SAKE!'" Jhon retorted. "Besides, it’s just a minimum-security prison, we've been in worse places." "I know," Billy muttered, having assisted him on far more dangerous missions. "But… well… why not give her more time? It’s obvious your wife is hurt, and not without reason! Maybe she just needs to be alone for a while!" Jhon shook his head insistently. "I can't give her time, kid. My son is on the way, and if I don’t fix this soon, he'll be born with another father or, worse, without one at all. And I would deserve it for not trying harder."Realizing they couldn’t change his mind, his friends and subordinates focused on supporting him however they could. By mi

CHAPTER 400. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. PremonitionsChiara nodded as she said goodbye and went to bed wrapped in a blanket. She didn’t sleep any better or worse than any other night, since between the pregnancy and bad dreams, she wasn’t resting much. But the next day, she couldn’t stop thinking about it."Chiara? Chiara!" Viktor snapped, seeing that she was spaced out. "Are you alright, Braids? You seem distracted." She took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, it’s just that… Look, this might sound crazy, but could you check the prison cameras? I mean… make sure no one’s entered my room when I’m not here or… when I’m asleep?"Viktor's face darkened. "Of course, but why? Did you see someone?" "No, no, it's not that, it's just a feeling… but don’t mind me, I’ve got hormones all over the place and I’m feeling unwell, that’s probably it," she murmured. "I *do* mind," he replied. "Here’s what we’ll do: while you go to your doctor’s appointment, I’ll check all the security footage. I promise