From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 54

His large hand locked around her slender waist as his towering frame leaned in, trapping her against the frigid glass.

Far below them lay the dizzying abyss of the city streets.

A chill shot up from the soles of her feet, making her legs go weak. She grabbed handfuls of his collar, her voice trembling. "Let go of me."

But he remained completely unmoved, his grip tightening around her delicate fingers. "You set Sierra up just to hand the presidency to an outsider?"

The hand on her lower back pressed harder, as if he were physically venting his rage into her.

She was forced flush against his solid chest. The pure, terrifying chill rolling off him made her feel as though she had been plunged into freezing water, and a deep sense of dread settled in her gut.

He leaned in so close his cool breath brushed against her ear. "Is this how you play the role of Mrs. Foster?"

Her heart gave a violent, painful squeeze.

Cecilia Byron had deliberately provoked her mother into a heart attack, conspired with Zachary Kemp to frame Lydia for a major construction disaster, and bribed Gable to drug her. Sierra had bribed victims to ruin her reputation. Yet, in Frederick's eyes, all of their malicious crimes were brushed off as mere 'misunderstandings.' The moment Lydia gave them a taste of their own medicine just to expose the truth, he decided to punish her.

Knowing full well how terrified she was of heights...

She glared back at him, refusing to show weakness.

They were so incredibly close.

She could see the naked fury in his eyes—fury unleashed upon her all for the sake of another woman. The betrayal sent a suffocating wave of despair through her. She bit down hard on her lower lip, fighting to keep her composure from crumbling.

A misty spring rain pelted the floor-to-ceiling windows. The coldness of the glass seeped through her clothes, freezing her very soul.

Countless memories surged into her mind.

His past tenderness, his eventual neglect, his chilling indifference, his ultimate betrayal... They flashed before her eyes like a cruel film reel.

His presence suddenly closed in.

Their eyelashes brushed. Catching a glimpse of her own vulnerable, pathetic reflection in his dark eyes, Lydia forcefully shoved hard against his shoulders.

But instead of retreating, he surged forward. His firm lips captured hers in a bruising, punishing kiss.

She could feel the rigid, burning tension radiating from his body.

What did he think she was? Just a toy for him to humiliate and vent his frustrations on?

A fierce tide of humiliation rose in her throat. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

*Smack.*

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