Chapter 45
“No way,” Hugh refused directly.
Yolanda tapped the photo with her finger. “Dr. Thornton, your daughter is gifted in medicine. If her father gets exposed for a major medical scandal, she’ll be blacklisted from the field for sure.
“Dr. Thornton, do you remember those women you drugged and forced to get abortions?”
Sweat was pouring down Hugh’s face. “Mrs. Sinclair, you and Mr. Sinclair are family. You know I only did those things because someone told me to. Sinclair Group will have my back.”
The hospital owned by Sinclair Group was the go–to place for wealthy wives. If a mistress got pregnant and tried to use the child to climb her way up, they’d drag her here and force an abortion to get rid of the bastard.
The staff there kept their mouths shut, and those rich wives all had dirt on each other, holding leverage in their little circle.
Hugh had done this countless times, but he never expected Charles’s wife to threaten him with it. “Mrs. Sinclair, aren’t you afraid Mr. Sinclair will be pissed?”
Yolanda continued, “Dr. Thornton, six million dollars is more than enough for you to retire. I promise you, if anything ever happens to your daughter, I’ll pull every string I have for her.
“You know how dirty these circles are. She’s gorgeous, and there are plenty of people out there with their eyes. on her.
“You take the blame this once, and you get six million and a safety net for your daughter. Sounds fair, doesn’t it? At worst, Charles will have you roughed up and shipped overseas. He’s not going to kill you. It’s your call, Dr. Thornton.”
Hugh’s hand tightened at his side. He knew better than to mess with Mrs. Sinclair.
Even if Hugh ratted Yolanda out to Charles, those two were thick as thieves. Yolanda would barely get scratched, but Hugh was just some outsider. If Yolanda bounced back, she’d come for him and his daughter, and that would be hell for them.
Yolanda was gutsy enough to pull all this off behind Charles’s back. She’d thought of everything, even the six million. If Charles decided to follow the money trail, Hugh would be the first one he’d find.
His face went pale, and his shoulders slumped.
Yolanda stood up and slipped on her mask and hat. “Dr. Thornton, the six million will hit your account soon.
“When Charles comes asking. I’ll say you were the one who contacted me. You need to swear you had no idea. who I was. You were just in it for the cash. Understand?”
Hugh sat there, unmoving, memories of injecting those women with anesthesia flashing through his mind- their tearful begging, their desperate pleas.
At first, it gnawed at his conscience, but after a while, he just got numb to it. The less guilt he felt, the fatter his
7:40 Inu, Sep
Chapter 451
wallet got. Maybe this was payback finally catching up to him.
Two days later, Charles’s plane landed. He was planning to head straight to the hospital to check on the higher–up and see how the surgery prep was going.
But before he could, the hospital called. They told him Hugh had taken a bribe and handed off the kidney to someone else.
Charles stopped in his tracks. Hugh had worked at the hospital for twenty years and he wasn’t exactly strapped for cash. ‘How could this even happen?‘ he thought. He hung up and turned to Jack. “Check Hugh’s bank records.”
Less than te
ten minutes later, Jack sent Charles a file. “Mr. Sinclair, the money came from your card.”
Charles’s face darkened. He immediately thought of the card he’d given Yolanda, which had exactly six million dollars on it.
He leaned back, his voice icy. “Take me to Moonbay Estate.” He’d thought she’d always play by the rules, but she’d gone behind his back and pulled this little stunt.
The car pulled up to Moonbay Estate. As Charles was changing his shoes in the entryway, he saw Yolanda coming down the stairs. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted him. “Honey, you’re back!”
Seeing her dressed in something soft and relaxed, Charles kept his face cold as he asked, “Where are you going?
“William’s surgery was a success. I paid six million for the kidney. Honestly, I’ve thought I was getting scammed, but it turned out to be legit.”
She glanced at his face. “You’ve got some serious dark circles. Did you even get any sleep while you were away?”
Charles lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes–full of worry for him, and that secret, deep affection she always tried to hide.
Charles thought, ‘Yolanda grew up under such strict rules. She’s actually pretty sensitive and fragile. She’d never have the guts to go behind my back like this.
‘Maybe it was really a coincidence.
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “That six million–it was from me.”
“Yeah, I honestly thought the money was gone for good, but I never expected…. Her face softened with warmth. “I never thought that guy would actually manage to get a kidney.”
Out of her sight, a chilling glint flashed in Charles’s eyes. He let go of her waist, yanked off his tie, and turned to Jack. Tell the hospital to fire Hugh. Break his leg and ship him out of the country.”
“Yes, sir, Jack replied.
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Chapter 45
Yolanda noticed his dark expression and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on?”
Charles reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “Nothing. Aren’t you heading to see William?”
She nodded, grabbed her bag, and slipped on her shoes at the door. Just as she was about to leave, she finally asked, “Did you go abroad to see her?”
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, but he managed a smile. “It was just a work trip. That’s all
Yolanda let out a breath, her lips curving into a relieved smile. “Okay, I’m heading to the hospital now.”
As she slid into the car, her back was drenched in cold sweat. She nevermagined she could pull off a performance like this, acting her way through it all.
Trying to fake it in front of someone like Charles was nerve–wracking as hell. His eyes felt like they could see straight through anyone, and when he gave people that half–smile, it made them want to beg for mercy,
He just had that natural aristocratic vibe, and his gaze was sharp enough to slice right through a soul.
Yolanda steadied her pounding heart, her eyes hardening with resolve. The Grant family thought she was all sweetness and obedience, and Charles figured she was just stiff and boring. But none of them knew that deep down, she was crazy to the core.
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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.
