From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 112

Staring at the confirmation screen, she managed to soothe the suffocating tightness in her chest.

Just then, Colton stepped out of the restaurant, his tall frame looming beside her. "Chloe, if you don't want me exposing your real identity to Mr. Foster, come back to the institute with me."

Lydia leveled him with an icy glare. "How many millions did The Foster Group shell out to partner with Zener? 1 billion? 1.5 billion?"

"Go ahead and tell him I'm Chloe, the genius who helped you become a top-tier scientist. Let's see if he still thinks he needs Zener after that. I wonder if the board will hold you personally responsible for those staggering financial losses."

Colton froze. Suddenly, he reached a hand toward her face, startling her into taking a step back.

She looked at him defensively. "What are you doing?"

His blue eyes shimmered with intrigue, as if he had discovered a fascinating new specimen. "Two years apart, and you haven't just become stunningly elegant. You've grown fangs, too."

His gaze swirled like a turbulent ocean as he muttered to himself, "You definitely learned a thing or two from your time with Zener and me, didn't you?"

"We're becoming a match made in heaven."

Lydia rolled her eyes. If she had grown a backbone over the last two years, she certainly hadn't learned it from him.

An online ID flashed through her mind, but she quickly shoved the thought away.

"Where are you heading? Need a ride?"

"No thanks." Lydia hailed a cab and headed straight for the hospital.

Xavier visited Grandma Eleanor every evening. She couldn't wait another second; she needed to explain everything to him.

She refused to let him give up on her.

The moment she found out he was scouting Adkins Ashford and Jasper Sinclair to replace her, she had immediately looked them up, digging through their achievements and published papers.

She wasn't an arrogant person, but when it came to semiconductors, both of them combined couldn't hold a candle to her.

No one had more natural talent than she did. Her mentor had always told her that with time and experience, she was destined to become the undisputed leader of the semiconductor industry.

Lydia rushed to the VIP ward.

Wesley blocked her at the door.

"Wesley, I need to see Mr. Ford. I have to talk to him," she said, trying to catch her breath.

"Ms. Sterling, my boss doesn't want to see you," Wesley replied curtly. "You should leave."

"Could you at least let him know I'm here? Maybe he changed his mind and you just don't know it yet?" She wasn't about to back down.

Wesley glanced back at the man sitting gracefully on the sofa, leafing through a file.

He was dressed in a white cashmere sweater and soft white wool trousers, his feet tucked into plush slippers. His dark hair fell loosely across his forehead, and his legs were casually crossed. Bathed in the warm, golden glow of the lamp, he looked disarmingly approachable.

"Grandma, Xavier wouldn't let me in," she said, emboldened by the old lady's affection.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the man slowly lifted his gaze. His eyes, dark as midnight ink, pinned her to the spot. It was a predatory look, as if he might snap her neck in the next second.

A spark of fear ignited in her chest, and she quickly looked away.

"Xavier, why wouldn't you let Lydie come see me?" Eleanor demanded, pulling his attention back.

"It was a misunderstanding," he replied smoothly, his tone instantly softening for his grandmother.

"It's because he wants to fire me, and he was afraid that if I saw you, you'd stand up for me!" she blurted out.

An aura of absolute frost radiated from him, crashing down on her until she instinctively took a terrified step back, feeling like she was staring over the edge of a cliff.

But fear wouldn't stop her.

She wasn't completely sure Eleanor would take her side, but this was her only shot. She had to take the gamble.

Seeing Eleanor getting agitated, Xavier gently pressed his hand over hers to calm her. His voice was completely devoid of emotion when he addressed Lydia. "Did you secure the patent deal?"

Lydia shook her head.

"There is only one condition for you to stay. Announce your identity as Chloe and officially join Director Zane's institute," Xavier stated. He hadn't wavered in the slightest; if anything, he was even more resolute than he had been that afternoon.