From His Invisible Wife to the World's Icon novel Chapter 97

"But you have to trust me, Freddie would never betray you."

"Once you two finally have a baby, it will bridge the gap. He'll come home more, and things will go back to the way they were."

Lydia used to believe exactly that.

She used to think a child would give them a shared future, that it would fix whatever was broken between them.

But now...

She stared at Mildred and quietly took the thermos. "I know."

After seeing Mildred out, Gable picked up the thermos, intending to pour the medicine into a bowl for her, even setting out some candied fruit to wash away the bitter taste.

Always so attentive.

Lydia caught Gable's wrist. "I'll take it to work and drink it there."

Once she was alone, Lydia drove straight to the hospital.

She wanted to believe Mildred was innocent. She wanted to believe Frederick had no motive. But she couldn't take that risk anymore.

She found Silas Bennett. "Silas, I need you to run a full toxicology screen on this."

"You think someone poisoned it?"

Lydia gave a tight nod. "Maybe."

"How soon can I get the results?"

"I'll put a rush on it. Thirty minutes."

"Thank you."

Lydia stood in the hospital's central corridor, her nerves frayed. Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted through the hall. She looked up and saw Frederick escorting Sierra, with Diana Thornton walking beside them.

Sierra beamed. "Freddie, in sixteen days, I'm going to be a mother! I can't wait!"

Frederick's back was turned to Lydia, so she couldn't see his face, but his voice was impossibly gentle. "You're going to be a wonderful mother."

The words hit Lydia like a physical blow.

He used to say that to her.

"Freddie, when the time comes, can I stay at Tidal Crest Manor to recover? You know my parents travel constantly. They won't be able to take care of me." Sierra's voice was sickeningly sweet, dripping with manufactured vulnerability.

The man seemed entirely moved. "You can stay wherever you want."

"But what about Lydia?" Sierra asked, her eyes darting over Frederick's shoulder to lock onto Lydia for a split second before darting away.

Her tone was perfectly crafted hesitation.

Right then, Lydia's phone buzzed in her purse.

She pulled it out and pressed it to her ear.

"Lydia, the results are back. The poison is in the medicine."

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