From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 82

Daniel Quinn stood by the window, phone to his ear, his tone grave. "Are you absolutely certain you want to do this?"

Hearing the door open, he turned and gave the person on the line a cold sign-off. "I hope you don't regret it."

He hung up and walked toward her.

Seeing the heavy look in his eyes, Lydia belatedly realized she hadn't knocked.

"I'm sorry, Daniel."

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Given Frederick's resources, she knew he would track her down effortlessly. She hurried up to Daniel, desperation coloring her voice. "I just want to get the divorce finalized as quickly as possible."

Daniel stared at her in silence for a fleeting moment before his gaze shifted. He walked behind his desk, opened a cabinet, and revealed a heavy safe.

Watching his long fingers punch in the code, Lydia lowered her head, her hands twisting nervously as her ragged breathing filled the quiet room.

A few seconds later, Daniel walked back to her.

She looked up, a bright, hopeful smile freezing on her face as her beautiful eyes widened in confusion. She reached out to take the red USB drive resting on his pristine palm. "What... what is this?"

She had asked for her divorce papers.

This clearly wasn't that.

"Lydia, the divorce hit a snag. The paperwork can't be processed right now," Daniel said, keeping his voice low as if afraid of startling her. "This is the evidence I had a cybersecurity expert pull from The Dark Web. It's the chat logs and transaction records proving Sierra hired those men to assault you."

Lydia's soaring hopes crashed into an icy abyss. A suffocating wave of despair washed over her, making it hard to breathe. The evidence in her palm felt like branding iron, scorching her soul with an unbearable ache. All color drained from her lips as they parted in disbelief. "What went wrong?"

"Do you need me to sign something else?"

She stared at Daniel, desperate for a solution, but he only shook his head. "Just wait a little longer. The divorce will definitely go through."

She lowered her eyes, her long lashes hiding the absolute devastation in her gaze.

She had been one step away from cutting all ties with Frederick!

Before she could get the words out, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the hallway.

A familiar, oppressive presence closed in. She didn't turn around, simply tightening her grip on the USB drive.

Her heart was dead, her spirit utterly desolate, yet she was still trapped by his side. Every breath felt like a slow, agonizing torture.

"Mr. Foster?" Daniel greeted first.

Frederick walked up beside her, his scrutinizing gaze prickling her skin like a thousand invisible needles.

"Mr. Quinn, you've been getting quite close to my wife lately," his cold voice murmured near her ear.

She held firm to her belief that Daniel would never betray her.

"It's regarding her testifying in court for the assault case," Daniel replied smoothly.

Frederick's aura darkened instantly. After a heavy two-second pause, he said, "There's no need to trouble yourself, Mr. Quinn. I'll have Sebastian take over."