From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 182

In that instant, it felt like something had slammed hard into her ribs.

A sharp ache blossomed in her chest.

Her face paled, and her hands trembled slightly as she clutched the phone. She forced a smile up at Xavier. "I'll definitely look into this."

Before he could react, she grabbed the door handle, desperate to escape.

The moment she pulled the door open...

A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

The force yanked her backward, away from the door, and she tumbled onto the single sofa. She looked up in shock, meeting Xavier's dark, displeased gaze.

"I..."

Assuming he was going to force her to contact Axiom right then and there, she scrambled for an excuse to refuse.

"Take off the robe."

It took a second for his low command to register.

His hand slipped away from her waist.

Lydia quickly sat up, her slender fingers gripping the collar of the black cloak. She glanced over at Xavier, who had taken a seat on the adjacent sofa.

Her mind flashed back to the hospital, when reporters had swarmed Grandma Eleanor's room. He had prepared a simple wedding dress and a white veil mask for her.

It was as if he had known the paparazzi would be there and planned accordingly.

Just now, this black cloak was the only reason no one had recognized her.

Its entire existence seemed designed as a disguise.

A strange realization began to dawn on her.

Recent events flashed through her mind like a movie reel.

It felt like an invisible hand was pulling the strings, pushing her closer to him.

Her job, her mother's doctor, the fake engagement, standing in the spotlight wearing his ring...

She suddenly let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Gable had prepared the cloak, not him.

She really was overthinking things.

Lydia slipped off the black garment. As she turned to leave, she caught Xavier's intense stare.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"If you can't find anything, I'll take over the investigation," he stated flatly.

Lydia nodded.

There was no way she was giving Axiom's information to anyone. He couldn't possibly be an accomplice to the hit-and-run.

He had once told her his identity was classified. Revealing it to anyone would put his life in danger.

Lydia stood up and walked out.

At the end of the long corridor was the bustling gala. Frederick was mingling with the crowd, Sierra on his arm. When he spotted Lydia, he stopped, dropped Sierra's arm, and made a beeline for her.

The man she feared was dead was actually alive.

Or maybe her other suspicion had been right all along: she had just been brutally ghosted.

He had vanished for two whole years.

No, they had never even made it official. How could it be a breakup?

"What's wrong?"

Frederick's voice broke through her thoughts.

Lydia locked her phone and wiped the tear from her eye. Looking up at him, she said, "Nothing."

Back then, she had suffered immense physical and psychological trauma.

Frederick had been the one by her side.

In those days, the blurry boy from her memories had finally become real again.

He gently took her hand. She didn't pull away, letting him guide her arm through his.

She would play her part for the next ten days.

She would consider it a thank you for everything he had done in the past.

It was late by the time they returned to the mansion.

That night, sleep evaded her. She just lay there, staring at the chat window.