From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 24

“He and Sierra are already planning to have a child. Do you still expect me to just swallow my pride and endure this?” She locked eyes with her mother, and a crack finally appeared on Madeline's pale face.

Yet, she remained stubborn.

“Charles Foster will never recognize an illegitimate child.”

“He betrayed me. He never even loved me.”

“This isn't the marriage I wanted. I've made my decision, and I won't change my mind.”

Madeline trembled with anger. “If you refuse to listen to me, don't ever call me your mother again.”

Seeing her mother's deathly pale complexion, Lydia panicked and softened her tone. “Mom, we live in a society governed by laws. I don't believe they can just do whatever they want. Besides, I am fully capable of protecting myself and you.”

But her mother refused to listen.

Julian pushed the door open and walked in. “Lydia, you've been up all night and you're exhausted. Go home and get some rest. I'll take care of your mom.”

She had no choice but to nod and leave.

Madeline watched her daughter's lonely silhouette, a sharp ache settling in her chest.

“Being with me has caused you so much grief,” Julian said, his voice laced with sorrow.

She pulled her gaze away and took Julian's hand. “Julian, I don't feel aggrieved at all. Meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. But Lydia is the wife of the Foster family's head. If Frederick refuses to nod, even if she manages to divorce him, what man in Averton would ever dare to marry her?”

“But we can't just let Lydia keep suffering in a loveless marriage,” Julian disagreed with her approach.

At his words, her eyes filled with sorrow. She knew better than anyone how a loveless marriage could grind a person down until they were unrecognizable. Her voice choked up slightly. “Lydia broke her own wings to marry Frederick. Until she becomes strong again, I will absolutely not let her make a rash decision to divorce him.”

“Harrison just told me that Lydia has agreed to join his research institute. She'll be heading to Silicon Valley in a while to participate in R&D,” Julian said, understanding her maternal worries. “Don't worry too much. She will definitely stand on her own two feet again.”

...

Lydia never expected her mother to oppose the divorce. Feeling disheartened, she walked down the hospital corridor. She lifted her gaze and spotted Xavier standing not too far away.

Wesley, standing beside him, noticed her. “Ms. Sterling, has your mother woken up?”

She walked over. “Yes, she's awake.”

She looked up at the man beside her, standing as tall and unyielding as a pine tree, and spoke softly. “Thank you, Mr. Ford.”

The man's tone was flat. “Mhm.”

She knew a simple thank you wasn't enough to repay him for saving her mother's life. She wanted to ask what he wanted her to do in return, but he was already turning away to discuss something else with Wesley.

She felt anxious, but since he didn't bring it up, she couldn't force the issue. It wasn't like he was going to ask her to do something illegal, right?

Turning around, she immediately bumped into her exhausted best friend.

Joanna Quinn was surprised. That man's back looked an awful lot like Xavier Ford's.

But why would Xavier be here, and how could he possibly know Lydia?

She hurried over. “Lydia, I heard your mom's condition worsened. How is she?”

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