Yolanda drove straight back to Moonbay Estate and waited for Charles until he finally came home late at night.
He looked a bit tired, unbuttoning his shirt as he glanced at her by the door. “You’re still up?”
Yolanda closed the door and lowered her gaze, stepping forward to help him with his tie.
Charles was used to her taking care of him, so he let her continue and asked in a calm voice, “You’re worried about William, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “The hospital’s been looking for a kidney donor, but I don’t know if they’ve found one yet.”
Charles rubbed his forehead. “There’s no rushing something like this.
Yolanda watched as Charles pulled out a robe from the closet and walked straight into the bathroom, leaving his phone lying on the bed.
She’d been married to him for two years, always quiet and proper, never did anything out of the ordinary. So he never had any reason to doubt her.
The Grant family was like shackles to her, and her love for Charles was an even tighter shackle. They all thought she’d always be the docile, obedient doll. She lowered her gaze, staring at his phone.
When Charles came out and saw her still waiting, he raised an eyebrow and let out a soft chuckle. “Looks like you’re in the mood tonight,” he teased.
Yolanda walked over to the sofa, picked up the suit he’d tossed on the floor, playing the perfect wife. “Charles, if something happens to William, I’ll be really upset.”
Charles paused, fingers still in his hair, and then carelessly pulled out a cigarette. “Honey, if anything does happen to William, I promise you, Sinclair Group will take care of the orphanage. Would that make you feel better?”
Yolanda’s heart sank. There was no point arguing with Charles about the kidney anymore; he’d already decided what he wanted to do.
Charles was cold and distant, and right now, he was only willing to take over the orphanage because of a sliver of guilt in his heart. He’d known from the start that the kidney he snatched was supposed to be for William.
She lowered her eyes and managed a small smile. “That puts my mind at ease. I’ll go get some rest now.”
Charles leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Still holding a grudge? Not even going to sleep with your husband tonight?”
“No, I’ve been having nightmares lately. I don’t want to keep you up,” she said, and then walked out.
The moment the door shut, all the warmth vanished from Charles’s eyes. His phone rang again; it was from the hospital. He lit his cigarette and asked, “Does she know about this?”
OFE
7:46 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 43
“I haven’t had the chance to tell Ms. Grant yet, came the reply.
“That’s fine,” Charles said coolly
“Mr. Sinclair, the surgery is scheduled for two weeks from now. Is that alright?”
“As soon as possible,” he said, standing on the balcony and flicking ash from his cigarette, a faint smirk on his lips. Get the top specialists.”
“You can count on us, Mr. Sinclair.”
Back in her bedroom, Yolanda just couldn’t fall asleep. The kidney had already been snatched away by Charles’s side. If William missed this chance, he’d have to wait. He didn’t have that kind of time. I have to do something, she thought anxiously.
Early the next morning, Yolanda found out Sinclair Group’s surgery was scheduled in two weeks. She had to find a way for William to get that kidney before then.
Charles was taking this matter seriously. Unless something truly urgent forced him out of Beloris, he wasn’t going anywhere.
Yolanda kept drawing on her tablet over and over until she finally settled on a workable plan.
She contacted a friend abroad who worked in showbiz. When her friend heard the plan, she couldn’t help but say, “This is pretty risky.”
Yolanda took a deep breath, her eyes firm. I’m leaving things over there to you.”
“Alright, hope you can really pull this off, her friend replied.
A week later, Yolanda showed up at the edge of Charles’s bed, hugging her pillow. She took a sip from her glass of milk, and then placed the mostly full glass on the nightstand.
Charles watched as she slipped under the covers, his hand slipping around her waist in a teasing way. “Why the sudden visit tonight?”
She didn’t say a word, just curled up on her side of the bed.
Charles drained the rest of her milk and lay down beside her. “Get some sleep. I’m tired too tonight.”
In the middle of the night, Yolanda slowly sat up, carefully picked up his phone, and placed a call.
7:46 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 44
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.
