Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Charles lounged casually on the bed, his slender, graceful fingers reaching for a cigarette. Remembering something, he changed his mind and put it back.
Yolanda lay back, clearly still unsettled by what had just happened. “Did you catch them?” Yolanda asked.
“Yeah. Wanna come take a look?” Charles replied.
“Sure,” Yolanda said.
Charles expected her to refuse, but to his surprise, Yolanda sat up. ‘Guess I got her all wrong, he thought.
Charles had houses everywhere–no matter which city you named, he probably owned a place there. Right now, that bunch of guys was kneeling in his local villa, looking totally pathetic.
Their hands were tied behind their backs and their legs were bound like prisoners. Surrounded by Charles’s black–clad bodyguards, they instantly realized they’d seriously messed with someone way out of their league.
The guy with the crew cut stuck out his neck, his voice shaky. “We swear we had no idea who that woman was! Somebody just threw cash at us! If we’d known she was untouchable, we wouldn’t have laid a finger on her- no matter how gutsy we thought we were.”
They were all a mess, battered and bruised, faces swollen and bloodied—a clear sign they’d gotten the beating of their lives.
Charles walked in slowly and settled into a nearby chair, his every move full of unforced grace and calm assurance that came naturally to him.
The crew cut guy’s eyes contracted in fright when he saw Charles, and his whole body started trembling.
Charles found the sight amusing, propping his chin up with one hand. “Who sent you?” he asked.
The crew cut guy’s face turned ghostly white, a cold chill crawling up his spine until his scalp prickled.
Even though Charles hadn’t uttered a single threat, the guy felt as if a blade was quietly suspended right above his head.
His lips quivered and he started bowing his head frantically. “It was Cedric! We were just following orders and taking money, that’s all! Please, don’t hold it against us!”
Charles looked completely indifferent, lowering his gaze.
He and Cedric definitely had bad blood, but Cedric wouldn’t go out of his way to make trouble for him like
this.
‘Was this aimed at Yolanda?‘ Charles wondered.
Yolanda had never really crossed the Andrade family. That slap she’d given Vivian was ages ago—no way Cedric would suddenly come after her now, and travel all the way here just for that.
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So, when it comes down to it, this was aimed at him all along.
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Charles’s face grew cold. He took the dagger Jack handed over and traced the blade with his thumb, his movements slow and deliberate. His words came out quiet but carried a deadly chill. “Make sure they’re barely breathing. Then toss them out.”
The crew cut guy banged his head on the floor even harder, scrambling to beg for mercy–until Charles added, “Or would you rather leave here in one piece?”
The guy stiffened, instantly too terrified to bow again. Not a word more–they were hauled out in total silence.
Yolanda was just a spectator in all this–she only needed to look a bit scared now and then, clutching her sleeve and keeping quiet in the background.
Charles stuck around with her, brushed a tender kiss on her forehead, and whispered for her to get some sleep. ‘All this chaos… She needs to rest,‘ he thought.
Once she was settled, Charles headed out to strategize with Jack, already planning his next move.
Someone like Charles would never tolerate this kind of challenge to his authority–he made sure everyone knew where the line was.
While Yolanda was lying in bed, her phone buzzed with a message from Ian.
[“Such a loving couple, huh.“]
Just four words, but the jealous undertone was so obvious, it almost made her laugh out loud.
Yolanda just snorted at his jealousy and didn’t even bother to reply.
After two days of resting her injured arm at the villa, Yolanda heard raised voices coming from downstairs—it was Vivian Andrade causing a stir.
“Charles, are you really going to pull this at the eleventh hour? We’ve always treated this project as a partnership–our families working together. And now you’re ditching me to sign a government contract behind my back? Is that how little you trust me now?” Vivian snapped,
Charles had a choice on this deal: either sign straight with the government or go through the Andrade family as a middleman,
The profits were basically the same, though going with the government meant payment would be held up for a few construction phases.
He’d just dropped the Andrade family right at the finish line, choosing the government instead–and Vivian stormed in to demand answers.
Charles sat on the sofa, contract held firmly in both hands. He raised an eyebrow, the smile in his eyes barely noticeable. “As long as there’s no signature, Vivian, you have no say in what I do.”
Vivian’s face went from pale to flushed, her eyes instantly red. “I dragged so many of the Andrade Group’s
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execs here, made such a scene—and now you turn around and sign with someone else? How do you expect me to face them?”
“Vivian, I’m a businessman. Your reputation isn’t even on my radar,” Charles replied coolly.
Vivian started shaking all over, her nails digging deep into her palms. She’d actually fallen for his bedtime sweet nothings, thought he might care for her a little. Turns out, he was cold as ice.
She bit her lip so hard she tasted iron.
“Do we really have to turn this into a mess? You break the contract now, and there’ll be no coming back from this between us and the Andrade Group,” Vivian said.
“So?” Charles replied.
Charles couldn’t care less about losing the Andrade Group.
Vivian almost laughed–it just hit her how ridiculous it was, all that running around she did to get that shipping line set up for him. What a joke.
“Is this about Yolanda? Did that woman say something to you?” Vivian shot back, her tone sharp and accusing.
Yolanda, listening from upstairs, just shook her head. ‘This’ll only make Charles think even less of her,’ she thought dryly.
Sure enough, Charles’s face grew tense. “What does she have to do with any of this?”
“If she wasn’t clinging to the Mrs. Sinclair spot, you’d never treat me like this! Charles, after all these years- don’t tell me you never cared about me!” Vivian insisted.
With that, she slid straight onto his lap, trying to steal a kiss.
At that exact moment, Yolanda came downstairs–and when she saw what was happening, all the color drained from her face.
“You…” Yolanda’s voice shook, unable to finish her sentence.
Charles immediately pushed Vivian away, his eyes going completely cold.
Vivian’s humiliation was almost palpable, but she forced out a mocking laugh. “Oh, cut the act, Yolanda! Don’t pretend you didn’t know about Charles and me. I’ve been to your wedding suite with him plenty of times- we’ve hooked up there more than you think. Haven’t I told you all this before?”
Yolanda’s face went completely pale, and she looked like she might collapse.
She turned to Charles, her eyes started to redden, threatening to spill tears.
Yolanda choked, her voice trembling. “Is what she’s saying true?”
Charles’s features turned steely, and a dangerous glint flashed in his pitch–black eyes. His voice was cold as steel as he told the nearby Jasper, “Throw her out.”
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Vivian had never been humiliated like this–she was completely shattered.
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“Charles! I’m the CEO of the Andrade Group–are you seriously going to treat me like this?” Vivian called out indignantly.
But Jasper had already thrown her out.
Vivian had never been so humiliated in her entire life, and her eyes blazed with humiliation and hatred for Yolanda.
Yolanda stood there, head down, silent.
Charles softened his voice and reached out for her, but she jerked away hard. “Don’t touch me!”
A sly, irresistible smile spread across Charles’s face as he yanked her straight into his arms, holding her with commanding force. “You actually buy into her crap? Hm? Is your trust in your husband that shaky?”
Yolanda found herself genuinely impressed by how this man could keep his cool no matter what drama was thrown at him.
‘If I didn’t already know the truth… Maybe I’d actually start thinking I’d wrongly accused him,‘ Yolanda mused, a tinge of doubt flickering in her heart.
She tried to wriggle free, but he just tightened his grip around her waist. “Quit squirming. Your arm’s still injured,” Charles said, concern laced with authority.
Her eyes reddened even more, lips pressed together, looking as if she’d been seriously wronged.
Her looks were all soft grace and quiet fragility–beautiful in a way that made people want to protect her the second they saw her.
Charles brushed a gentle kiss against her cheek. “She’s just making stuff up. She couldn’t win me over, so now she’s trying to come between us.”
Yolanda’s voice shook as she stared at him, hurt flashing in her eyes. “Did you two just kiss?”
“No,” Charles said calmly.
He grabbed her fingers and pressed them to his collarbone, a teasing glint in his eye. “Wanna double check?”
Yolanda’s hand tightened as she drew a shaky breath. “I believe you,” she murmured.
Charles’s gaze grew gentle, and he quietly wrapped her in his arms, letting out a soft, weary sigh.
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Chapter 117
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.
