From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 95

"Xavier, I came to see Grandma Eleanor."

"She's asleep."

His voice was a low, dismissive rumble as he tossed the dossier onto the coffee table.

It was the list of elite heiresses. Joanna knew her profile was on the very first page.

His impenetrable, distant attitude gnawed at her.

Earlier, outside the jewelry exhibition, she had seen Xavier pull Lydia back from traffic, wrapping his arms around her.

Lydia had fought him, prying his fingers off her waist. They had argued, looking for all the world like they despised each other. His gaze had been freezing, yet he still waded into oncoming traffic to retrieve Lydia's phone.

It was the first time Joanna had ever seen Xavier hold a woman, the first time she'd seen him do a favor for one.

He was the man Joanna would give anything for, yet Lydia treated him like an inconvenience.

Swallowing the bitter jealousy, Joanna took a step closer. "Then I'll wait until she wakes up."

He raised his eyes, his gaze cool, calculating, and heavily scrutinizing.

A flicker of panic ran through her, but being the sole focus of his attention also sent a thrill straight to her heart.

"Ms. Quinn, did I not make myself clear the other day?"

He was mercilessly cold.

Joanna's heart sank. "I know there's no one you want to marry, but Grandma Eleanor is dying. You need a wife."

"I don't want your heart, and I don't want your body."

"I just want to marry you. I promise I won't be a burden," she said softly, her chest aching. She had loved him silently for five years. Now that she finally had an opening, she would grab it at any cost.

When Xavier offered no reaction—merely leaning back against the sofa, his gaze growing even colder—she pressed her hand over her heart. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Whenever you find someone you actually love, I'll sign the divorce papers. I'll cooperate completely."

Lydia's face flashed in her mind.

But Lydia was married. Even if she divorced Frederick, the Ford dynasty would never allow their heir to marry a divorcée. Besides, Xavier's actions toward Lydia might have crossed some lines, but that didn't mean it was love.

Joanna was convinced that if she could just marry him and stay by his side every day, he would eventually see her worth. She would melt his frozen heart.

Silence swallowed the room.

He just stared at her, utterly mute.

...

But Joanna was right. Tangling with him was a terrible idea. She forced a smile. "Thanks for the heads-up, Joanna."

"I really should keep my distance."

Night fell. Back at the lab, Lydia finished her scheduled tasks for the day and pulled up the hidden camera feed. The screen showed Frederick and Sierra looking entirely too comfortable.

Sierra accidentally knocked over a framed wedding photo of Frederick and Lydia, shattering the glass. Frederick didn't even flinch; he just smiled and affectionately patted Sierra's head.

Later, Sierra stepped out of the guest bathroom in a sheer, clinging white slip dress, soaking wet. Frederick immediately scooped her up into his arms, his large hand resting entirely too intimately on her ankle as he gently scolded her for not wearing slippers.

He carried her into the guest bedroom.

He set her on the bed, then went to inspect the pipe she had complained about.

Suddenly, the pipe burst, drenching Frederick from head to toe.

His soaked white dress shirt clung to his heavily muscled torso.

Sierra practically bounced over to him, giggling playfully as she pressed against his chest.

Their eyes locked. The sexual tension radiating through the screen was suffocating.

Sierra looped her arms around Frederick's neck, went up on her tiptoes, and kissed him.