From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 13

"You're saying I can't get a divorce?" Lydia's eyes clouded over as she listened to Joanna.

"Lydia, my friend couldn't help, but don't worry, I've handed it over to my brother," Joanna continued. "He said as long as the paperwork is complete, it'll only take seven days."

She hadn't expected Xavier Ford to reject the request outright without a second glance.

He was a man of immense privilege, his nature proud, aloof, and detached.

Because of her sister, he had always shown her a sliver of patience.

She had actually thought she was somewhat special to him.

Only for him to shatter that illusion with a single sentence: "Don't waste time on me."

Had she overestimated that tiny bit of patience after all?

But since there were no other women around him, she still had a chance.

Hearing the rest of Joanna's words, Lydia's tense nerves finally relaxed. A sharp throb flared from the cut on her wrist. "Thank you, Joanna. Thank your brother for me, too."

"Lydia, did something happen?"

"You don't sound too good."

"It's nothing." Lydia didn't want Joanna to worry. As long as she got the divorce and cut them out of her life, she would slowly start to feel better. "Can you make it to the charity auction tomorrow?"

"I have a jewelry expo out of town, so I probably won't be able to make it," Joanna said regretfully.

Joanna's older sister had married out of state, and Daniel Quinn was a top-tier lawyer, leaving Joanna as the only one left to inherit the family business.

Joanna was swamped, yet she still ran around trying to help her. Lydia was incredibly grateful. "When you get back from your trip, I'll treat you and Daniel to dinner. Take care of yourself."

She hung up the phone, only then noticing that blood was seeping through the bandage on her wrist. She went back into the boutique and had the manager bandage it up again using a first-aid kit.

She quickly picked out a dress with Alice and they went their separate ways.

Meanwhile, at a high-end Western restaurant.

Caleb leaned in to report to Frederick. "Mr. Foster, the photos from the reporters have been wiped clean. They didn't capture anything."

Frederick's expression was indifferent. "Hmm."

Sitting across from him, Sierra paused her knife and fork, quickly digging back into her steak to hide her panic. "Frederick, I'm going to the restroom."

Getting his nod, she got up and headed out.

In the restroom, she frantically dialed a number. "I'm transferring the rest of the money now! If you leak a single word, I'll make sure you never step foot in Averton again."

The reporters wailed on the other end. "Ms. Sutton, even if you paid us to go back, we wouldn't dare. Mr. Foster's men said they'd beat us every time they see us!"

"Don't ever contact us for this kind of thing again."

"If this is what Mr. Foster looks like when he doesn't care about his wife, we're practically dead men walking."

"Shut up!"

Sierra hung up the phone and looked at herself in the mirror, her gaze dark and obsessive.

How could Frederick possibly care about Lydia?

Running them out of town was for her own reputation, not for Lydia's.

There were still 28 days left!

It was too long!

She couldn't wait any longer!

She had wanted to publish naked photos of her to humiliate her so Frederick would have the perfect excuse to kick her out immediately.

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