Chapter 112
The balcony wasn’t really secluded–sure, there was a door, but it was just closed at the moment.
Hardly anyone ever came out here.
Charles was the kind of man who kept his distance, proud and untouchable. Taking the initiative in bed just wasn’t his style–sharing a kiss was about as much as he’d ever offer a woman. Anything beyond that? Forget it.
He flicked the ash from his cigarette, not even a hint of interest in his eyes tonight.
Vivian looked embarrassed, slowly rising to her feet. “Is it about work? Or is it those uncles of yours…?”
Charles‘ brow furrowed a little, his patience clearly running thin. “Don’t you realize how annoying you are?”
Vivian’s face went pale as a ghost, so humiliated she couldn’t even lift her head. She was older than Charles, and she’d been crushing on him for ages.
But Charles was way too proud; trying to get him to bow his head was harder than climbing Everest.
She’d confessed once before, but he’d shot her down–not because of her, but because her uncle played dirty. Being with her would’ve just stained his reputation.
She bit her lip, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“Charles, you’re scared I’ll ruin your place in the Sinclair family, aren’t you? I’ve been acting like we don’t even know each other for years, just to keep your reputation safe. But now we’ve slept together, and this is how you treat me? I always thought you’d dump Yolanda and get a divorce–she’s not worthy of you.”
Charles hardly ever lost his cool, but now he let out a mocking laugh and crushed his cigarette. “It’s nothing but a fling, Ms. Andrade. I told you already–I’m not getting a divorce. Yolanda is far more suitable to be my wife than you–at least she doesn’t go around trying to stake her claim or start pointless drama.”
Vivian felt as if her whole world was tilting. ‘So he’s blaming me for making it so obvious at the mahjong table tonight, she thought, biting back the humiliation.
He lit up another cigarette, his gaze still gentle on the surface, but his words were ice–cold. “If Yolanda wasn’t so naive, do you really think she wouldn’t have caught on by now?”
Vivian forced a bitter smile and tried to move in for a hug. “It’s on me. I promise I won’t mess up like this next
time.”
Charles could be gentle and charming when he wanted, but when he shut down, it was like dealing with a total stranger.
He took a long drag of his cigarette, blowing out a perfect smoke ring. “From now on, let’s keep it strictly
business.”
It’s not like he was running short on lovers anyway.
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Chapter 112
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A glint of fierceness flashed in Vivian’s eyes. She’d humbled herself this much already, and yet Charles was still treating her like she was nothing. ‘Why is he always this way?‘ Vivian thought bitterly.
After all these years of knowing each other, if Yolanda hadn’t come in and thrown a wrench into everything, she’d have had Charles wrapped around her finger by now.
Vivian was shaking all over from anger, but all she could do was stare helplessly as he walked away.
Vivian kicked the balcony door with all her might, her chest trembling with rage and frustration. She couldn’t wait a second longer–right now, she just wanted to end Yolanda for good. ‘If I could get my hands on her, I’d make sure she never stood in my way again,‘ Vivian thought furiously.
When Charles got back to the room, he saw Yolanda already fast asleep, and his chest tightened again.
He yanked the blanket off her and nudged her roughly. “Wake up.”
Yolanda blinked awake, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at him. “What’s going on?”
Charles jerked her toward him, scrubbing at her lips with his thumb, rough enough that she almost started bleeding.
Yolanda frowned, confused and hurting. One moment she’d been sound asleep, now she was wide awake with her lips smarting from his rough treatment.
Charles locked eyes with her, his gaze blazing. “Do you even know how to use these?”
Yolanda finally got what he meant and lay back down, clutching the blanket protectively around herself. “I don’t know how to do that. Never learned.”
She honestly had never tried anything like that for someone before.
And in the few, pitifully rare times she’d been intimate with Charles, he was always blunt about what he wanted–no beating around the bush, just straight to the point.
Charles stood there for a moment, watching as she turned away–then all that pent–up frustration inside him just faded. He reached out and pulled her close from behind.
“Yolanda, maybe you ought to take a few pointers from other women,” he said with a teasing edge in his voice.
‘Not like you–back then, you’d get all flustered just from a kiss,‘ Charles thought, the memory bringing a faint smile to his lips.
Yolanda kept her eyes shut, wondering if he was actually crazy.
She gave a couple of half–hearted replies, then heard him add, “Let me know when you figure it out.”
She threw out another indifferent “mmhmm,” not taking it seriously at all.
Charles smiled to himself, pulling her into his arms. A sigh escaped him–equal parts helplessness and
affection.
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Chapter 112
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The next morning, Yolanda woke up to find Charles nowhere in sight.
As usual, she checked in with Blake about the latest updates. When she heard that Renee and her companion had already checked into the hotel, her spirits soared.
Yolanda felt absolutely zero guilt about what she was putting Renee through. As far as she was concerned, Renee totally had it coming.
Ian was off shooting his scenes, leaving her alone in the hotel. With nothing better to do, she just headed downstairs, planning to swing by the nearby set.
Whenever she dropped by the set, she always disguised herself–hat, sunglasses, you name it.
Just as she was about to walk into the pop–up makeup station, she caught Raelyn’s voice cutting through the air. “You sure you won’t regret this? Do you even know what getting mixed up with me means?”
Ian stood tall, his long legs lean and powerful, his silhouette clean and sharp–so well–defined it was almost like a blade.
For the shoot, he’d gone all out–bright red hair and three ruby earrings made his whole look bold and flashy.
He looked so good, people would absolutely stop and stare if he walked down the street like this.
He had a can of Coke in his hand, set to be his prop for the upcoming scene.
Raelyn had been messaging him non–stop lately, always trying to get his attention. At first, Ian was nice about it, but now he was really starting to lose patience.
“Raelyn, I’ve already turned you down more than ten times,” Ian said flatly.
Raelyn bit her lip, irritation flickering in her eyes. Sure, she’d been shut down time after time, but deep down, she refused to give up.
“Ian, you broke or what? I checked up on your mom at the hospital–word is, she’s in pretty rough shape.” Raelyn’s tone was sharp, almost taunting, like she was daring him to deny it.
In the next moment, Ian’s whole face twisted into a snarl as he clamped his hand around her throat. His eyes were ice–cold and merciless. “Do you seriously have a death wish?”
Raelyn struggled for breath, chest burning as if he was sucking the very life out of her lungs.
Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, a vicious red mark blooming on her neck right where his fingers
bit in.
Yolanda, her hat and mask pulled low to hide her face, hurried in and grabbed Ian’s arm. “Calm down!”
Ian’s hand loosened immediately. When he saw her, he looked a bit lost for a moment. “Ms. Gilbert.”
He still remembered their deal–on set, he had to stick to calling her Ms. Gilbert.
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Chapter 112
Raelyn staggered backward, fear written all over her face. She rubbed her neck, her fingers shaking uncontrollably.
Her voice quivered as she shot back, “Just you
wait.”
With that, she hurried out of the room.
Yolanda glanced at Ian, his bold red hair making him impossible to miss.
He lowered his gaze, his arms rigid with tension. “Did I get you into trouble?”
His mother was his bottom line–messing with her was unforgivable.
Yolanda gave his hand a reassuring pat, signaling for him to relax.
Ian pressed his lips into a thin line, then guided her hand to his earring. “Pretty cool, huh?”
The sparkle was so intense, it was like his earrings lit up the entire room.
Yolanda gave
his earring a gentle squeeze, and Ian let out a playful hiss. “I’m getting my tongue pierced in a couple days.”
Ħ
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.
