From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 58

Frederick frowned deeply.

Even if she had married him with impure motives, she had always strived to be a docile, accommodating wife. Lately, she was doing nothing but causing endless scenes.

His thoughts flickered to Harrison Zane, and a sudden, suffocating irritation bloomed in his chest. "If I don't dictate your life, who will? Someone else?"

She didn't utter a single word in response.

To think she had once loved him with all her heart. The realization made her feel profoundly sorry for herself.

"If you don't want to go to the hospital, suit yourself."

Having lost all patience for this argument, he turned and guided Sierra out the door.

Sierra clung to his arm, whimpering pitifully. "Frederick, my face hurts so much..."

"Instead of focusing on proper matters, you resort to playing with knives?" he reprimanded her.

But what good was a scolding?

"I'll never do it again. Please don't be mad at me. Please don't ignore me," she pleaded.

"I was just playing a prank on Lydia. I didn't think she would take it seriously and try to wrestle it away from me. It's her fault my face got slashed."

"She might be hurt, but I'm in far worse shape! I've learned my lesson, so please don't be angry anymore."

"If there is a next time, I'll ship you straight off to Africa," Frederick warned coldly.

Hearing that empty threat fall from his lips, Lydia felt utterly numb.

He wouldn't.

No matter how many evil deeds Sierra committed, he would only ever protect her.

"I wouldn't dare," Sierra replied with a coy sweetness.

Lydia averted her gaze.

Soon after, Penelope received a call from Sebastian Vane, formally issuing a gag order and forbidding the release of the tapes. Left with no hard evidence, the police had no grounds to open a case and had no choice but to leave.

"I am so incredibly sorry, Mrs. Foster," Penelope apologized profusely, trying to comfort her.

Lydia knew it wasn't the therapist's fault. As a medical professional caught in a legal chokehold by billionaires, her hands were tied.

In three days, their marriage would be officially dissolved!

He would no longer be able to use the title of 'husband' as a shield to harbor those who sought to destroy her.

"It's fine. Could you prescribe me some sleeping pills?"

"I can, but relying on medication is harmful in the long run. Please use them sparingly."

"I will. Don't worry."

She left the clinic and retreated into the safety of her car.

The fiery hues of dusk faded, swallowed by the suffocating darkness of night.

It wasn't until her phone started ringing that she realized she had been sitting in the pitch-black driver's seat for hours.

"Lydia, are you stopping by the hospital tonight?" Harrison Zane's gentle voice came through the speaker.

She couldn't possibly go see her mother like this.

If her mother knew she had been subjected to such severe abuse and injustice, it would break her heart. If she marched over to the Sutton residence to demand answers from Sierra, her fragile heart would never survive the stress. After a beat of silence, she replied, "Harrison, I won't be coming in tonight."

The moment she spoke, she realized how hoarse and choked up she sounded.

"Lydia, what's wrong? Have you been crying?" Harrison caught it instantly. "What happened?"

"Your hand! Your face! What on earth happened?" he demanded, fraught with panic.

Once she explained the sheer madness of the afternoon, pure outrage flared in Harrison's eyes. "Frederick is an absolute bastard!"

"The divorce will be finalized very soon, and it will all be in the past," she said softly, almost comforting him. "Harrison, would you mind coming with me to get these wounds cleaned and re-bandaged?"

"Of course. And we need to have a top plastic surgeon look at that cut on your cheek. We can't risk it leaving a scar."

She offered a small smile, but Harrison paused. She guessed her face must look a horrific, tear-stained mess.

"I'm going to run to the restroom and wash my face."

"Go ahead," Harrison said gently. "I'll head to the ER and get you checked in."

"Thanks."

Being cared for always felt like a lifeline.

Lydia walked into the women's restroom only to find that the water supply had been shut off for maintenance. The inpatient building was dead silent at this hour, and the ground-floor restrooms were virtually deserted. Figuring it wouldn't hurt, she ducked into the men's room next door.

The second she stepped inside, a stall door swung open, and a tall, imposing man walked out.

Locking eyes with his dark, deadpan stare, Lydia immediately spun around to flee. But his voice pinned her in place.

"Ms. Sterling?"

His tone was terrifyingly chilly.

"Mr. Ford. What a coincidence." She turned back around, flashing a strained smile.

Xavier's face was cast in gloomy shadows, a scoff lingering on his lips. "A coincidence?"

"I just needed to wash my face. The women's room next door is out of water, so I came in here. I am not stalking you. Do you believe me?"