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She spoke in a calm tone, leaning back, “In their circle, anyone can treat me like this.”
Megan felt a chill all over, sat by the bed, held her hand, voice trembling with tears, “Yolanda……”
Yolanda wanted to smile, but the pain around her mouth and face made her frown slightly, “But I won’t let them bully me forever.”
Megan poured her some water.
But her mouth hurt too much to drink, and her eyes were swollen so badly they were just narrow slits.
Normally, if she wasn’t going back to Moonbay Estate, she should have called Charles to check in, so she wouldn’t get dragged into those degrading tests again tomorrow.
But she was in too much pain and curled up asleep on the hospital bed.
In the middle of the night, pain woke her, and she forced herself to turn over.
Megan stayed by her side, holding her hand, “Yolanda, if it hurts, just cry it out, it will make you feel better.”
In the darkness, Yolanda’s eyes shone brightly, sparkling like gems.
She said, “I won’t be so obedient anymore.”
She didn’t shed a single tear from beginning to end.
It was as if something incredibly dark was tempting her to fall deeper and deeper into a bottomless abyss.
She thought Charles would call her the next morning, but when she called back Moonbay Estate, she learned that Charles had left early that morning because of the sea route and wouldn’t return for half a month.
Yolanda sighed in relief and spent a week resting at the hospital, repeatedly reviewing Vivian’s files.
As a woman, Vivian’s private life was rather open; whenever a male celebrity caught her eye, she would keep him around for a while.
She was truly infatuated with Charles but never dared to let him see it.
As soon as Yolanda put down the tablet in her hand, she saw lan carrying a thermos box coming to visit her.
He was so tall that standing by her hospital bed put pressure on her.
Her face had already stopped swelling, but she still needed about ten more days to heal.
She put down the tablet, her expression calm. “Are you done filming?”
“Yeah.”
10:40 Fri, Sep 12
Chapter 59
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He opened the nearby insulated container, grabbed a spoon, scooped some out, blew on it, and held it to her lips.
Yolanda felt like he had a lot to say but didn’t utter a word.
She ate half a small bowl, then closed her eyes to rest.
Ian stood up and adjusted the height of her headboard. His eyes landed on the tablet, which displayed some plans she had listed.
Yolanda felt his breath come very close and couldn’t help but open her eyes.
He was indeed looking at her, both hands placed on either side of her, seriously watching her.
Just as Yolanda was about to speak, he kissed her.
His kiss was urgent and passionate, leaving her nowhere to escape.
Megan just pushed the door open and, seeing the scene, was so shocked that the flowers in her hand fell to the ground.
The noise made Yolanda shove the person away and slap Ian across the face.
Ian said nothing. He met her fiery, angry eyes and leaned in to peck her lips twice.
“I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
Yolanda’s eyelashes trembled with anger.
Ian stood up and walked past Megan.
Megan took ten seconds to recover, then picked up the flowers from the ground. “I never realized before, this guy’s got quite a wild side.”
Yolanda was already feeling unwell, and now she felt even worse.
Megan felt her legs going weak. She had worked with Ian for two years and always thought he was quiet and reserved–never expected he’d dare to do something like this.
Forcefully kissing her boss.
No wonder before when Yolanda didn’t come to the studio, he asked several times. Later, after figuring some things out, he stopped asking.
Megan took a sip of water to calm her racing heart. “So what you’re saying is…”
Yolanda wiped the corner of her mouth. Right now, she was only focused on how to get back at Vivian; she wasn’t thinking about anything else.
“It’s nothing.”
10:40 Fri, Sep 12
Chapter 59
76
55 vouchers
Megan nodded, then asked, “Do you remember when you brought lan back? Back then, he seemed to have just been expelled from school, and no one would take him in, so he started fighting in underground boxing matches. When you brought him back, he was covered in wounds, his face so swollen you couldn’t even recognize him.”
Yolanda was stunned. “That was him?”
That night, Ian’s face was so badly swollen that his features were unrecognizable. She saw a group of people beating him up and learned he owed money–about $10,000. That wasn’t much to her, so she paid on the spot, took him to Megan, and told her to let Ian leave once he recovered.
After that, she never looked back or even recognized that the nearly beaten–to–death guy was the same Ian.
Later, Megan signed Ian, and after Yolanda got married, she never came to visit again.
Megan took another sip of water and couldn’t help but advise, “If you didn’t mean anything by it, you should have made that clear earlier. That kid was beaten so badly that night. I heard he borrowed high–interest loans just to pay for his mom’s medical treatment. I don’t know who he offended, but no companies‘ dared to hire him. It didn’t seem like it was his fault he got expelled either. Everything just went wrong. Later, I checked out the underground boxing scene. Apparently, he fought like a maniac there–reckless, like a mad dog–and barely spoke, as if he’d never seen money before. Even so, when he came to this studio, he gave me most of his earnings, keeping very little for himself, all for his mom’s treatment. Yolanda, you should’ve been upfront sooner. He’s never been in a relationship, and if you both get too deep, there’s no way out. I could tell early on that he had feelings for you.”
Maybe it was because she was saved by her, the fledgling felt relieved.
Yolanda didn’t say anything; thinking about what she did that day, she wished she could slap herself.
Now it’s too late for Megan to say anything. Whatever she should or shouldn’t have done, she has already done it.
曲
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.
