Chapter 104
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Chapter 104
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After handling William’s discharge from the hospital, Yolanda personally drove him back to the orphanage.
As she was about to leave, William held her hand tight and said, “Yolanda, is everything okay between you and Charles? You two hardly spend any time together these days. If anything’s making you unhappy, just let me know. If it gets too much, we can call it quits–it’s perfectly fine to live on your own. Don’t feel like you have to stay with a man just for the sake of it.”
Yolanda’s eyes grew red on the spot. Living in this circle, she’d felt all too clearly the malice toward women- especially since she was a Grant.
William had devoted most of his life to the orphanage and never really understood how women thought. Back when Athena was still around, she’d be the one Yolanda confided in.
Athena had plenty of her own ideas.
Back then, Yolanda was always chasing after Charles, never trying to hide the way she looked at him–so obviously in love. Athena would hold her hand and say seriously, “That boy doesn’t seem the type to settle down with anyone. Yolanda, you have to look out for yourself. Love isn’t always enough. If something ever feels wrong, it’s best to get out while you still can.”
The elders always had razor–sharp insight into people–a talent that meant Yolanda and Charles’s fate was sealed long before they even realized it.
But at the time, Yolanda didn’t buy it. She thought that marrying Charles would mean he’d be hers, but he kept chasing women outside their marriage, one after another. He wouldn’t even let her nurse her heartbreak -just ruthlessly tore away fifteen years of love without a second thought.
All those years of Athena’s guidance, and she’d let her down in the end.
Yolanda dropped her lashes, schooling her face into a perfect, unbreakable smile–no cracks, no hint of pain. “Don’t worry, William. The minute everything’s settled, I’ll file for divorce,” she promised, resolute on the inside though calm on the surface.
If she tried to break free now, the Grant family would never let her go. The pressure from them was suffocating.
Renee and the Andrade manor would be just as ruthless. For now, being Charles’s wife was the only shield she had–no matter how flimsy, it was all that stood between her and a storm.
As she was about to leave, Yolanda noticed Joey peeking out timidly from behind a tree. He called out in a small, shy voice, “Aunt Yolanda, thank you for bringing Grandpa William back.”
A smile tugged at Yolanda’s lips, her heart nearly melting from the sweetness.
“No need to thank me, Joey. You must’ve really missed Grandpa William, right? Come on, go join everyone inside,” she replied warmly.
Just as she was about to get in the car, she spotted a vehicle in the distance suddenly floor it–like a maniac- and come barreling straight for her.
Chapter 104
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The car must’ve lost control, because it crushed half her front bumper, then veered off crazily in Joey’s
direction.
The edge of the car slammed into her thigh, blood blossoming instantly–but Yolanda didn’t have a second to care. Her eyes darted to where Joey was standing.
The car crashed straight into the orphanage wall.
Yolanda went paper–white and hurried over, only to see Renee clamber out of the car, barely keeping her footing.
Her face was twisted in a harsh snarl, eyes flashing with a toxic hatred.
Renee spat, “Yolanda, if it hadn’t been for you, I never would’ve lost a finger! Now everyone’s going to mock me–all because of you. I swear, I won’t ever forgive you for this!”
Renee was clearly losing it.
Yolanda rushed over to Joey, who’d just been knocked aside by the crash, scooped him up, and hurried him into the car. Her hands were shaking badly as she tried to start the engine.
Renee, still decked out in her high–end dress, scrambled onto the hood, blocking Yolanda from leaving. She shrieked, “If that kid dies, so what? I wish it had been you instead!”
“Yolanda, why did you have to marry into our family? You made my brother sick of me, made me a cripple! I swear, I really hate you!”
She still obsessed over the finger she’d lost because of Yolanda, desperate to ruin anyone connected with her.
Yolanda cradled Joey in her arms and slammed a hand down on the horn, her voice shaking: “Renee, move it! Let me get Joey to the hospital, now!”
Renee arched an eyebrow, all smug and defiant. “Go ahead, hit me if you dare! I’d love to see if the Sinclairs or Grants let you walk out of that mess alive.”
Renee only got cockier, like she basically owned the world–she’d never had to eat defeat twice from anyone. And now this humiliation was coming from some girl who used to moon over her brother? ‘No way am I swallowing this. Not ever,’ she seethed to herself.
Yolanda threw the car in reverse, then slammed forward, sideswiping Renee with a brutal crunch before tearing out of there.
Renee’s leg broke with a sickening snap, but she stayed on her feet, standing there and screaming curses at Yolanda.
Yolanda’s mind was eerily calm as she rushed into the hospital with Joey in her arms.
But Joey never even made it into the emergency room. The nurse took one look, barely hesitated, and shook
her head.
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Chapter 104
“There’s nothing we can do. Start making arrangements for him,” she said, voice flat.
Yolanda just froze, mind completely blank, unable to say a word.
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She sank into a chair, her clothes stained with blood, while her phone just kept ringing and ringing.
Yolanda stayed there until nightfall, totally lost, not sure what to do with herself. Her phone was blowing up, practically ready to shut off from all the calls.
She blinked away the sting in her eyes and picked up when William finally called.
His voice trembled on the other end. “How’s Joey?”
Yolanda tried to speak, but her throat was so tight, she couldn’t get a word out.
William was silent for a long time on the other end–finally, his voice came through, soft and shaky: “I know, Yolanda. I know.”
Yolanda shut her eyes and let herself slump back into the chair. The blood on her hands was dry now, leaving only the sharp, coppery tang clinging to her skin.
Joey’s body was taken to the morgue, and as Yolanda walked out of the hospital, she spotted Charles and May stepping out of a luxury car.
May was trembling with rage, her hand raised toward Yolanda’s face, ready to slap her.
Yolanda, who would never have defended herself before, grabbed May’s wrist before she could strike.
May’s chest heaved with anger. “You’ve got some nerve, breaking Renee’s leg! You and Charles are getting a divorce–right now!”
Yolanda’s eyes lingered on Charles, exhaustion and determination mingling in her gaze.
Charles stepped forward, gently placing his hands on May’s shoulders. “Mom, let’s go check on Renee first,” he said, trying to calm her down.
May glared at Yolanda like she was her worst enemy.
“Wife, go home,” Charles said, his voice cold as ice.
He still used the word “wife,” but there was zero warmth in his tone.
Yolanda could tell he was truly angry now.
Back at Moonbay Estate, Yolanda took a shower, but when everything went quiet, she couldn’t sleep. She lay there, nerves still raw, haunted as if the blood refused to wash off her skin.
She scrubbed herself three separate times, but the sticky, metallic stench of blood just wouldn’t let go.
The scrape on her thigh burned fiercer with the hot water, the pain sharp, like acid biting into her skin.
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Chapter 104
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Her mind was numb, struggling to accept how Joey’s body had slowly grown cold in her arms.
She lost track of time, only to notice someone quietly standing at the doorway.
Charles turned on the bedroom light and slowly sat down at the edge of the bed.
He reached over, letting his fingertips brush her cheek–‘She must’ve cried herself raw, he thought, feeling at stab of sympathy. Then, softly, he asked, “Have you been crying?”
Yolanda stayed quiet, listening as he said, “The Sinclair family gave the orphanage 600 thousand. That kid had no parents, so I tried to convince William to handle things privately.”
There was a mark on his face, like he’d been hit–probably from his meeting with William, which clearly hadn’t gone well.
William had always been good to every kid at the orphanage. If it weren’t for him and Athena’s protection, none of those children would’ve grown up safe.
During the holidays, he’d always bring presents, and everyone would get together to make dumplings.
Charles had even come with Yolanda once, back when Joey gave him a handmade puzzle as a gift.
But Charles probably never gave it a second thought–he couldn’t even remember Joey if you asked him. That kid was just background noise to him.
After all, even playing the loving couple with her was nothing but a performance. Everything between them was strictly for show.
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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.
