Seeing that Charles showed no reaction, Yolanda lowered her head. “Or we could just head to the neighboring city. I checked with Jack about your travel plans, and I saw that you’ve got a business trip coming up there. There’s this famous temple fair happening right now, and I’m really interested in it.”
She knew for sure Charles wouldn’t want to go abroad with her, so she pivoted tactically.
Charles just grunted, swiping his phone. “We’ll leave soon.”
He really did have a meeting scheduled in the neighboring city, a collaboration with the Andrade family–and Vivian would be there too.
As Yolanda got into the car with him, she got a text message from Ian.
[“I’m heading out tonight too. I’ll be filming in the neighboring city, and Ms. Sinclair will be there.”]
‘Well, isn’t that perfect timing, Yolanda thought.
Yolanda texted back, “Don’t tell me it’s the Starlight Hotel.”
Ian replied, [“You got it. Am I interrupting you and your husband?“]
Yolanda couldn’t help but smile. When she looked up, she noticed Charles watching her.
Her smile faded a bit, and she turned to look out the window.
If she tried to explain who she was texting now, it would just make her look guilty, so she stayed quiet.
Charles kept his cool, eyes still on his laptop as he spoke gently. “You’ve been pretty glued to your phone lately, haven’t you?”
Yolanda replied smoothly, “Just work stuff.”
She let out a tired yawn, faint dark circles under her eyes. “I haven’t started at Starlight Entertainment yet, so I’m just trying to get a sense of how things work over there.”
Charles scooped her into his arms and teasingly pinched her waist. “Look at you, all serious about this.”
‘Seriously? He always acts like everything I do is just some little game,‘ Yolanda grumbled to herself. ‘And the worst part is… he’s not wrong.’
She lowered her head and closed her eyes. “Not like you, always busy running the world.”
Four hours later, the car pulled up to the city’s best hotel. But when Yolanda saw who was waiting outside, her mood soured–it was Vivian.
Vivian probably hadn’t expected Yolanda to come along. She tucked her hair behind her ear and started toward Charles’s car, but when she saw Yolanda get out with him, she stopped short, her eyes flashing with hostility.
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Charles had never brought Yolanda on a business trip before.
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Vivian quickly put on a smile and walked up to Charles. “Well, Mr. Sinclair, bringing your wife along this time? That’s pretty rare.”
Charles’s lips curled into a faint smile as he looked her over and then glanced away. “All healed up?”
“All recovered, thanks for your concern. The meeting room’s set up–let’s go,” Vivian said.
Yolanda deliberately fell a step behind, watching Vivian stand close to Charles, talking to him with her head tipped up, her eyes full of obvious longing she couldn’t hide.
‘No way Charles missed that, Yolanda thought. ‘He’s such a smooth operator when it comes to women–he’s seen that look a thousand times.‘
But when Vivian called, he always came running.
Still, when it came to all his lovers, he treated them better than he ever treated me, his own wife.
As the group crowded into the elevator, along with a few executives from both sides, it quickly got cramped.
Vivian squeezed in next to Charles, glancing at Yolanda, who was still outside.
“No room left. Mrs. Sinclair, why don’t you wait for the next one?” Vivian said.
Yolanda just smiled. “Sure.”
As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, Vivian let out a mocking laugh. “Such a goody two–shoes, huh? Mr. Sinclair, did you bring her along just for a little entertainment when you’re tired?”
Charles’s expression clouded over, his gaze turning icy.
Vivian instantly realized she’d gone too far and rushed to apologize, her tone a little nervous. “Hey, come on, don’t take it so seriously. I was just joking, okay?”
Everyone headed off to their own rooms. There were two conference rooms on this floor for everyone to use -the meeting would be starting soon.
Naturally, Charles and Yolanda were sharing a room. Jack dropped off their luggage and heard Charles say, “When Yolanda comes in, make sure she gets a room key.”
“Understood, Mr. Sinclair,” Jack said.
Charles changed into a new suit and made his way toward the conference room.
But as he passed Vivian’s room, she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. Rising up on her toes, she gave him a quick, heated kiss. “You really are so cold–hearted! I was stuck in the hospital forever, and not once did
you come see me.”
Charles slipped a hand around her waist and gave it a teasing pinch. “Hey, you’re still alive, aren’t you? You’ve definitely gotten skinnier.”
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Vivian tried to go in for another kiss, but Charles stepped back and gently pushed her away, checked his watch, and said coolly, “Meeting time.”
Vivian’s face fell, but she knew better than to overstep. Charles hated drama from his lovers–everything had to go according to his rules and timing.
She’d known Charles for years and understood exactly how he operated.
She flipped her hair and said, “Alright, I know how much this project means to you. Let’s go.”
Charles opened the door and saw Simone Sinclair standing outside. He stopped in his tracks. “Aunt Simone.”
With so many people from both Simone’s side and Charles’s, the whole floor felt like their territory. She hadn’t expected to bump into Charles here.
“Charles, are you here on business?” Simone asked.
She looked Vivian up and down, not hiding her annoyance. “Whose room is this, anyway?”
Charles noticed a faint lipstick stain on his lips and brushed it off with barely a care. “Vivian’s room,” he said. “I’ve got a meeting now–let’s meet up downstairs for dinner later?”
Simone wanted to say something, but with Vivian standing right there, she thought better of it. ‘No point causing a scene when both families are watching,’ she mused to herself.
She flashed a polite, but clearly strained, smile. “Of course. I’ll bring along the main actors from the new project—if that’s alright with you?”
“That’s fine,” Charles said.
As soon as Charles and Vivian left, Simone ran a hand through her hair in exasperation. ‘He’s being so reckless, getting mixed up with a girl from the Andrade family. What is he even thinking?‘
Simone never liked Vivian. At the core of it, she thought Vivian’s methods were just too morally dubious.
And with Grady and Cedric behind her–both of them more ruthless than the last–Vivian was trouble, plain and simple.
Simone lit up a cigarette, feeling restless and annoyed. As she walked down the hallway, she came face to face with Yolanda stepping out of the elevator.
Simone was visibly startled, “Yolanda? You’re here too?”
Yolanda called out sweetly, “Aunt Simone.”
Simone was so shocked she nearly choked on her cigarette. She grabbed her phone and fired off a text to Charles on the spot.
[You brought Yolanda with you on this trip, then came strolling out of a room with Vivian? Do you really think Yolanda’s that oblivious? Charles, I’m telling you–you’re playing with fire here. Don’t let this kind of thing blow up out in the open. Yolanda’s a good kid. Even if you don’t care about her, don’t treat her like this!]
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She’d said the same things to him before, but Charles always just brushed her off, never giving a real reply.
Sometimes it drove her crazy. ‘Why did the Sinclair family make Charles so handsome but give him a heart that just can’t settle down?‘ she grumbled to herself.
Yolanda wasn’t clueless; she could pretty much guess what had happened, but she just flashed a carefree smile and said, “Aunt Simone, Charles brought me over for a ten–day getaway. I heard there’s this temple fair happening, so that’s really what I’m here for–I couldn’t pass that up.”
Simone gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. “Well, when you’ve got some free time, go check on Ian. Honestly, you should hire a few more people for your studio. Ian’s always stuck there by himself–it breaks my heart to see him like that.”
“Yeah, but let’s keep that between us,” Yolanda replied.
AD
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.
