Chapter 44
The hospital picked up the call respectfully. “Mr. Sinclair.”
Tm Mrs. Sinclair. How’s the surgery scheduled?” Yolanda asked.
“Mrs. Sinclair, we’ve already spoken to the specialists, and the surgery is set to begin in two weeks, the doctor replied.
Yolanda lowered her lashes and spoke softly, “Tve found a new donor. Since the surgery won’t happen for another two weeks, there’s no need to cut in line for someone else’s kidney.”
“A new donor?” the doctor echoed,
“Alright, please handle the arrangements and have the donor information transferred. If anything comes up. my husband will contact you directly, Yolanda said.
The doctor, Hugh Thornton, didn’t think twice. After all, it was Charles’s number, and he was way too cautious to let anyone else touch his phone.
So Hugh thought the woman had to be Mrs. Sinclair. “Rest assured, Mrs. Sinclair. I’ll arrange for the donor to be transferred right away.”
After hanging up, Yolanda looked down at the phone, opened every single app, and set it to drain the battery as fast as possible.
At four in the morning, Charles heard a noise by the balcony door. He sat up, reaching for his phone on the pillow, but it was dead.
He walked over to the balcony and had just opened the door when he heard Yolanda’s voice. “But you were the one who left. Charles isn’t the type to take back what he’s let go. He won’t come looking for you.”
As she spoke, she caught sight of Charles standing on the balcony out of the corner of her eye. Her heart skipped a beat. “Honey… The panic on her face didn’t seem fake.
Charles threw on a coat. The early spring nights were still chilly, and the wind was fierce. His face was hidden in the shadows as he said, “Give me the phone.”
He clearly knew who had called. Yolanda took a step back, her expression calm. “It was just a wrong
number.
Charles strode over and snatched the phone from her hand, but the screen showed the call had already ended. “Yolanda,” he said. He almost never called her by name, which meant he was really pissed.
He gave a short laugh, scrolled through her phone, and found a news headline. [International superstar Joelle had gone missing after falling off a cliff during filming.]
His face went cold, and his eyes were icy and bottomless.
Yolanda’s heart skipped a beat, and she pressed her lips together.
7:46 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 44
He gave her a deep, lingering look before turning and striding away.
Yolanda quickly followed after him. “Charles…”
55 vouchate
But he was already changing, tossing her phone onto the bed. He opened the bedroom door and told Jack. “Get me on the earliest flight to Marland, now”
The sound of footsteps faded as they left one after the other.
Yolanda took a deep breath and called William’s doctor, Tommy Reese. “The donor kidney is being transferred now. I’ve already got Sinclair Group on board. Let’s get the surgery done as soon as possible.”
Tommy glanced at the clock; it was only six in the morning, “Alright, Ms. Grant. I’ll perform the kidney transplant tomorrow.”
Yolanda’s palms were slick with cold sweat as she hung up, her heart chilled to the core.
By the time it was fully light out, Tommy called. The surgery is set for nine tomorrow morning.
“Can we do it any sooner?” Yolanda pressed, not wanting to leave anything to chance.
Tommy hesitated, and then said, “Tonight.”
“Can you really do it?” she asked urgently.
“Yes. I’ll get the patient prepped right away.”
Yolanda let out a sigh of relief. Things on Charles’s end should be delayed until tonight. After all, he was still on the plane.
She rushed to the hospital. When William heard the donor kidney had finally arrived, he could hardly believe it. He clasped Yolanda’s hand tightly, his voice shaking with excitement. “I thought we’d never find one?”
“William, just focus on the operation. Everything else is taken care of,” Yolanda reassured him softly.
William’s lips curled into a grateful smile as he patted her hand. “Yolanda, meeting you is the best luck I’ve ever had.”
The surgery started exactly at six that evening, right on the dot.
At ten that night, Tommy came out of the operating room and pulled off his mask. “The surgery was a success. But I have to ask you. How did you get Sinclair Group to let go of that kidney?”
Yolanda didn’t say a word. She just headed straight for William’s room. He was still out cold, and wouldn’t be waking up until morning.
By the time Yolanda made it back to Moonbay Estate, her nerves had been stretched to the limit, and now she was just dead tired.
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Chapter 44
Her phone buzzed with another call from her friend abroad. “Yolanda, I’ve managed to hold out until now Joelle’s a huge name overseas. Both her company and the press have people searching everywhere?
Yolanda collapsed onto the couch, too tired to move. “It’s done here. Thanks.”
Her friend sounded relieved. “If I weren’t Joelle’s agent, there’s no way I could’ve pulled this off.”
Yolanda gave a tired smile, rubbing her temples. “Whatever’s between us, let’s keep it that way. No one else can ever find out.”
“Don’t worry. By the way, your husband came over, but he didn’t meet anyone. He just called in a team of experts to search the place, and then stayed in his car the whole time and never got out.”
Yolanda didn’t say a word. Who would’ve thought Charles would get cold feet about coming back?” she sneered, finding it almost funny. She then said, “Thanks. Just make sure you don’t slip up.”
Charles wouldn’t be back for at least two more days, and Yolanda needed to make sure she was completely out of this mess before then. She went straight to Sinclair Group’s hospital and found Hugh, the same doctor she’d talked to on the phone earlier.
Hugh held a lot of sway at the hospital, but Yolanda knew exactly where his Achilles heel was. Otherwise, she never would’ve dared to set this whole thing in motion.
She arranged to meet Hugh out in the suburbs, and then slid a photo across the weathered tabletop right in front of him.
Hugh’s face turned icy, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. “Who the hell are you? If you don’t start talking. I’m calling the cops.”
“Dr. Thornton, I’m Charles’s wife. I called you last night. You should remember my voice,” Yolanda said, her tone steady and in control.
The photo was of Hugh’s daughter. She was just as talented in medicine as he was. If nothing messed things up, her future was set.
Hugh took a deep breath, still in his lab coat. “Mrs. Sinclair, what do you want? Why did you ask me out here?”
“The whole kidney donor thing–I did it behind Charles’s back. He’s out of the country for now, but in two days he’ll know everything. I need you to take the blame. Say you took six million dollars in dirty money and secretly released the kidney.”
Hugh’s face flushed with anger. He’d built a solid career at Sinclair Group’s hospital. No way he’d go behind. Charles’s back like that, especially since Charles trusted him more than anyone.
7:46 Thu Sep 11 …
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.
