From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 91

Once the installation team left the villa, Lydia Sterling's hired crew arrived.

"Make them discreet. Put one in every room except the study, especially my master bedroom," Lydia instructed the security technician.

"Ms. Sterling, what are you doing?" Gable asked, taken aback.

"Shh. It's a secret."

Gable mimed zipping her lips and nodded.

Lydia held up her phone. "So I just download this app to see the feed, right?"

The technician nodded. "Yes, Ms. Sterling. Once I'm done, I'll send you the login details. You'll be able to view the live feed directly."

Feeling secure, she headed to the research institute for work. The moment her assistant, Phoebe Hunt, mentioned that Harrison Zane was urgently looking for her, Lydia hurried toward his office—only to crash right into a man walking the other way.

Since she was attending Quinn Jewelry's exhibition that afternoon, she had dressed up in a sleeveless haute couture gown and three-inch heels. The stumble sent her pitching forward, but the man caught her arm, steadying her.

"Xav—" she began, looking up.

She froze. It was Xavier Ford.

The memory of their encounter at the psychological clinic last night flooded her mind. As she instinctively stepped back, he released her arm. Before she could even finish saying his name, he brushed past her with a glacial expression.

Wesley West trailed behind him with a box of documents, offering a polite nod.

Lydia glanced at Xavier's retreating back, the lingering warmth of his touch fading. She turned and stepped into Harrison's office.

Harrison had just spoken to Julian Zane and learned about the assault case. He was furious that Frederick Foster was still protecting Sierra Sutton despite knowing how vicious she was. "Lydia, how's the divorce coming along? You need to make a clean break before you go abroad. I heard The Foster Group is planning to expand into semiconductors. Frederick has dominated the business world for years, and he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. If he finds out you're a prodigy in this field, he might refuse to let you go."

Do whatever it takes?

Harrison was usually so refined and reserved; he never gossiped behind people's backs. For him to give such a harsh assessment spoke volumes about Frederick's character.

Lydia placed a calming hand on Joanna's arm and shoved her champagne glass into Chase's hands. "What's mine stays mine."

She marched straight into the crowd. Spotting Sierra fluttering about in her evening gown like a social butterfly, wearing the stunning champagne-colored necklace, Lydia walked right up to her and ripped it off her neck.

"Lydia! What are you doing?!" Sierra shrieked, her face turning pale. She tugged at Frederick's sleeve, casting him a pitiful look.

"Give it back to her," Frederick warned, his voice laced with ice.

"This is marital property. Without my consent, you can't give it to her," Lydia shot back, refusing to back down.

"She's your sister," Frederick frowned, clearly displeased.

"So what?" Lydia turned on her heel, clutching the necklace.

Just as she walked away, Frederick's freezing voice cut through the air behind her. "Wrap up everything Ms. Sutton just touched."