Charles had a little to drink tonight. He propped his head on one hand and glanced at the hairclip in her hair. It looked nice–surprising, coming from someone as uptight as Samuel.
He reached over, pulled it out, and tossed it into a tight corner of the car, before Yolanda got a chance to stop him. “We’ve got tons of these at home,” he said.
Yolanda stayed quiet, just staring out the window. Charles could shower his other women with cars and houses, but she couldn’t take a gift from another man–all about his stupid pride.
Yolanda wasn’t good at fighting with Charles, and there wasn’t much point.
The car pulled up to Moonbay Estate. Charles watched as she got out and headed upstairs without a word.
He paused, raising an eyebrow. “This little softie has a temper now?‘ he thought, a spark of interest flickering in his eyes as he told Jack, “Go buy a bunch more of those hairclips.”
Jack didn’t ask why. After all, Charles had always done whatever he wanted.
*****
Yolanda went back to the guest room. She sprayed her ankle again with the stuff Ian had given her. Suddenly, she heard footsteps at the door and looked up to find Charles there.
He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes scanning the room–the farthest from the master bedroom, and pretty small.
She grabbed the pajamas nearby, ready to head to the shower. He caught her arm and asked, “Where are you going to do?”
He scooped her up in his arms and headed for the bed, his voice calm and even. “We’ll wash up after.
Yolanda almost scoffed. ‘He was with Sophie this morning, and he still has energy left for this tonight?‘ she thought.
In two years of marriage, Charles rarely touched her. He liked women who were fiery in bed. But Yolanda was stuck in her little box of rules–when things got too intense, she only dared to beg softly, never bold like Sophic.
“I don’t feel good today. I don’t want to, Yolanda mumbled. She burrowed under the covers, her face cold. Once, when Charles came on to her, her eyes would’ve lit up with love. But not
11:35 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 27
anymore.
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Charles sat on the edge of the bed and tilted her chin up. “It’s just a hair clip. Why are you this upset?”
Yolanda dropped her gaze, hesitated, and then looped her arms around his neck. “After this, will you leave again for work?”
Charles raised an eyebrow, feeling an unexpected softness in his chest. “I’ll stay home with you tonight.”
The words barely left his mouth when his phone rang–Sophie was calling.
Yolanda slowly let go, her voice flat. “Must be work. Go answer it.”
Charles stood and grabbed the phone.
Sophie’s sugary voice poured out. “Charles, I sent you some pics. Take a look–you like them?”
Charles glanced down, swiping through the photos. Sophie was posing in provocative shots, wearing that outfit he’d bought her.
A text popped up from Sophie: [I’ll wait two hours, but that’s it. I had a rough scare today and wanna crash early.]
Charles smirked. ‘Sophie’s little games are kind of cute–way better than the boring Yolanda,‘ he thought.
He grabbed his coat and turned to Yolanda. “Heading to an overseas meeting. I had Jack pick up that hair clip for you. Get some rest.”
Yolanda didn’t say a thing. Only after Charles left did she pull out her phone. She had two SIM cards–one she barely used, and Charles didn’t know a thing about it.
She messaged Sean asking for Sophie’s contact info, then sent her a friend request on WhatsApp.
Sophie had just sent Charles those photos, sure he’d swing by that night. Feeling pretty pleased with herself, she saw the friend request pop up. The note read: [Charles’s wife.]
Sophie was momentarily startled, but quickly she collected herself. ‘Charles’s wife has no clout at home. This was the perfect opportunity to push her out,‘ she thought.
She accepted the request and waited for Yolanda to speak first.
But Yolanda simply added Sophie–she could be useful–and then went to take a shower calmly.
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Chapter 27
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Sophie waited until Charles showed up, and still nothing came through on her phone. ‘Looks like this so–called Mrs. Sinclair is a total pushover,’ she thought with a smirk.
As soon as Charles walked in, she jumped into his arms. They didn’t slow down till midnight. Half–asleep, she watched him get dressed. “Charles? You leaving?” she asked.
Charles nodded. “Yeah. Be good. Don’t pull a stunt like this morning again.”
Tears welled in Sophie’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s all Tessa’s fault. Can you handle her for me?”
Charles paused–that name again. He remembered that earlier, Yolanda had mentioned Tessa, wanting to sign her to her studio. He’d agreed without thinking.
He handed Sophie a bank card with three million on it and said, “Tessa’s Yolanda’s now. Leave her alone.”
A flash of anger crossed Sophie’s face–she knew Yolanda was his wife.
But she forced a smile. “Got it. So Tessa really knows Mrs. Sinclair. I thought she was lying about being friends with your wife. Sorry, Charles–I won’t bother her anymore.”
Charles loved how compliant she was outside the bedroom. He pinched her chin and kissed her. “Good girl.”
*****
Middle of the night, Yolanda’s phone buzzed with a message. Sophie’d sent over some intimate shots of her and Charles.
In the photos, Sophie’s neck was covered in hickeys. Her freshly manicured hand rested on Charles’s chest. The whole scene screamed how intense things had gotten between them.
Yolanda checked Sophie’s Twitter. She’d just posted: [He just left. From here, I can see the fireworks–tonight’s were real nice.] There was a blurry picture of a guy’s shadow with it.
Yolanda figured the post was probably only visible to her, meant to provoke her. After thinking it over, she sent Sophie $30 and texted: [Thanks for the gig.1
Sophie thought she’d won this round. But as she saw the $30 transfer and those four words, her blood started to boil.
Fucking bitch! She’s just as irritating as Tessa. I won’t let either of them get off easy,‘ she fumed to herself.
11:35 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 28

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Part 1: The Discovery of BetrayalYolanda Grant’s marriage was built on patience, sacrifice, and quiet endurance — but that illusion shattered in one night. It was late when she arrived at a dark, empty alley after receiving a mysterious message with an address. At first, she thought it was a misunderstanding. After all, her husband Charles Sinclair — a man of wealth, power, and refined taste — would never lower himself to something so vulgar. But when she saw him holding a young woman in his arms, kissing and touching her like a man possessed, every ounce of denial drained from her. Charles, the proud and disciplined businessman, was cheating — and in a filthy alleyway, no less.Part 2: The Scene of HumiliationFrom the safety of her car, Yolanda watched as the scene unfolded. The woman clinging to Charles was frail, trembling, and emotional, like a flower blooming in the mud. The surroundings — the stained floor, damp walls, and suffocating darkness — mocked everything Charles had always claimed to be. This wasn’t just infidelity; it was degradation. Yolanda’s mind swirled with disbelief. Her husband, who obsessed over class and perfection, had become a man of impulse and dirt. She didn’t confront him or make a scene; she didn’t even cry. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, numb, realizing that her marriage was already over in spirit.Part 3: Two Years of DevotionAs she sat there, flashes of the past flooded her mind. Two years of marriage — two years of her trying to please him in every way. She had known from the start that Charles didn’t love her. On their wedding day, he had made it painfully clear that his heart already belonged to another woman. Still, Yolanda married him out of hope, out of love, out of the foolish belief that devotion could melt even the coldest heart. She gave up her career, her ambitions, and her independence, just to prove she was worthy of him. She cared for him like a nurse for her patient — cooking his meals, planning his wardrobe, and tending to every detail of his life. And in return, she got nothing but distance and silence.Part 4: The Breaking PointNow, watching him entwined with another woman, everything she had built inside her — the patience, the sacrifice, the illusion — collapsed. The man she had once called her husband had become unrecognizable. He had torn off his noble mask and revealed himself as nothing more than a beast driven by desire. Yolanda felt like she’d been slapped, her dignity shattered into pieces. But instead of screaming or crying, she felt an eerie calm. Her pain was too deep to express. All she could think was: This marriage must end.Part 5: Charles’s UneaseWhile Yolanda drove home, Charles suddenly sensed that something was wrong. The headlights of a passing car illuminated his face, and a chill ran down his spine. He didn’t know whose car it was, but unease stirred in his chest. The girl in his arms whimpered for his attention, but his mind was already elsewhere. Straightening his clothes, he pulled away coldly. “That’s enough for tonight,” he said flatly. “The company’s got big projects. I can’t afford divorce rumors right now.” His words revealed not love, but calculation — every move guided by image and control. The girl, blinded by her feelings, agreed softly, claiming she would wait. But to Charles, it was just another temporary indulgence.Part 6: The Return HomeWhen Yolanda returned home, the villa felt colder than ever. She had just come out of the shower when Charles entered the bedroom, carrying his jacket. He looked as immaculate as always — tall, handsome, commanding — but tonight, his arrogance seemed cruel. On his pristine white shirt, Yolanda noticed a faint smear of pink lip gloss. She had never worn lip gloss; she hated its stickiness. That small, shiny mark told her everything she needed to know. As she dried her hair, she kept her expression neutral, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing her pain.Part 7: The Cold ConversationCharles glanced at her and asked casually, “When did you get back?”“This afternoon,” she replied.He loosened his tie, unbuttoning his shirt as if nothing had happened. “I was out playing golf tonight,” he added. The lie rolled off his tongue effortlessly. Through the reflection in the window, Yolanda saw the dirt on his back — proof that golf wasn’t the only game he’d been playing. With quiet fury, she shot back, “Then I guess you scored plenty of holes. Congrats.”Her sarcasm caught him off guard. For the first time, he frowned, slightly unsettled. He wasn’t used to this tone from her — the woman who once worshiped him now sounded indifferent, almost mocking.Part 8: His Cruel ArroganceInstead of apologizing, Charles smirked and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Are you mad? I told you when we got married that I didn’t love you. If you’re that unhappy, find someone else to cheat with.” His words cut through her like a blade. It wasn’t just betrayal anymore — it was humiliation. He treated her heartbreak as an inconvenience, as if her pain were irrelevant. Inside, Yolanda’s chest felt like it was being strangled with wire, every breath searing. Yet she stayed silent. Her quietness, once a sign of love, now turned into armor.Part 9: The Memory of InnocenceIn that moment, Yolanda’s mind drifted back to when she first met Charles. She was young, freshly adopted into the Grant family, and he was already the picture of perfection — disciplined, confident, untouchable. Back then, she looked at him with admiration and love. To her, he was everything she aspired to be. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that this same man would someday make her feel worthless. All those years of love, of marriage, of giving — they now felt like a cruel joke.Part 10: A New Beginning Hidden in the Word “Fine”Charles chuckled when she finally said, “Fine.” To him, it was just another empty threat, another outburst that would fade with time. He kissed her cheek, confident that her love would keep her shackled to him forever. What he didn’t realize was that this time, “Fine” wasn’t surrender — it was goodbye. Behind her calm eyes, Yolanda had already made her decision. The love that once bound her had turned to ash, and from that ash, something new was forming — strength.Chapter 1 ends with Yolanda’s quiet determination to take back her life. She won’t cry or beg anymore. This time, she’ll walk away — not as a broken wife, but as a woman reborn through betrayal.