From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 174

Her hands shot up to press against his chest.

Time seemed to stop.

His deep, dark eyes were a swirling vortex, staring straight into hers as if trying to peer into the very depths of her soul.

Her heart hammered erratically, her delicate fingertips sliding off his shirt.

Soft and damp, his lips covered hers with a fierce, overwhelming possessiveness.

He was such a distant, untouchable man.

Yet here he was, kissing her with searing heat.

As the oxygen was stolen from her lungs, her mind went blank. Every rational thought was wiped away, leaving nothing but a soft, trembling thrill.

It was a passionate French kiss, the kind reserved only for deeply devoted lovers.

And, entirely out of her own control, she surrendered to his rhythm, falling completely under his spell.

The black Rolls-Royce, pushed to its absolute limits, had long since left the black van in the dust.

Frederick arrived at the address Lydia had sent, but there was no sign of her.

"Search the area immediately."

Caleb and the bodyguards fanned out.

This neighborhood was notoriously dangerous; muggings and murders in broad daylight were entirely commonplace.

At that thought, Frederick's brows knitted tightly. He pulled out his phone to call Lydia.

Just then, a woman covered in bruises walked up to him.

"Mr. Foster, I'm so sorry."

"Your wife, she..."

Frederick's gaze turned lethal. "You saw my wife?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Foster."

"My brothers didn't know the whole story. They grabbed your wife earlier to warn her about what you did," Melissa rushed to explain as the man's eyes grew murderous. "But she got away safely."

Frederick's eyes remained dark and cold, his thoughts entirely scrambled.

"Mr. Foster, I think she misunderstood."

"I'll come back with you and explain it to her," Melissa offered. "I'll tell her the whole thing was fake..."

"No need," the man said icily.

His phone rang.

He answered it. "Speak."

"Boss, Ms. Sterling is on her way back to the villa," Griffin reported.

Frederick pocketed his phone, giving Melissa a sharp look. "Keep your family on a tight leash."

His voice held a distinct edge of warning.

"Don't worry, Mr. Foster," Melissa said.

Frederick got back into the Rolls-Royce and sped toward the villa.

As the Rolls-Royce passed a black van parked at the entrance of the estate, Frederick caught a glimpse of Wesley West standing outside the vehicle.

He had heard the news from back home.

Grandma Eleanor had passed away, and the CEO of the Ford Group had brought her ashes to the States.

He hadn't expected him to be in Manhattan, too.

Frederick looked away and instructed Caleb, "Pull Griffin off the detail. Put someone else on her."

Griffin used to be his most trusted bodyguard.

He had never failed a mission.

But lately, Lydia kept running into trouble right under his nose.

Hearing Caleb's confirmation, his expression relaxed slightly as he walked into the villa.

Inside the black van.

She bit down hard on her lip to keep from making a sound.

Her lips still carried the faint, lingering scent of him.

In that moment, a bitter sourness overwhelmed her heart.

Why was she the one always being treated like a charity case?

She forced a stubborn tone. "Don't worry about it, Mr. Ford."

"It was just an accidental kiss."

"You're a great kisser, and I enjoyed it. We're even." She tossed the words out casually and leaned forward to leave.

Suddenly, a strong grip clamped around her ankle.

"Ah—"

She tumbled backward from the sharp pain, glaring at him angrily. "Xavier!"

As if triggered, his grip on her ankle tightened even more.

She raised a hand and pushed at him. "Let me go."

But he wouldn't.

Tears of pain blurred her vision, the sound of his palms firmly kneading the skin of her ankle filling the quiet cabin.

She desperately wanted to see his face clearly, but her eyes were too watery.

When the cool back of his hand brushed against her ankle, she snapped out of it and shoved him.

This time, he leaned back.

She pushed him away, yanked the door open, and limped quickly into the gated community.

As her pace slowed, the sharp pain in her ankle faded into a dull ache.

Lydia walked into the villa, instantly meeting Frederick's patrolling gaze.

Like a predator surveying his territory, his eyes swept over her from head to toe.