Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Yolanda wandered casually through the luxury mall, browsing without a goal until her eyes landed on a pair of silver–blue stud earrings. They were perfect for Ian–just the right mix of cool elegance and understated edge. Ian always looked reserved and a bit frosty, but he had those eyes that, when he played the innocent, could melt anyone’s heart or switch on the sad puppy look in an instant. These earrings matched him to a tee.
They cost over a hundred grand, but Yolanda didn’t bat an eye. It was Charles’s money, after all.
Next, she treated herself to a pair of emerald stud earrings, a little over eighty grand. The emeralds were flawless, surrounded by a halo of diamonds that sparkled like stars. They screamed luxury.
She put them on right then and there, snapped a close–up of her ear, and posted it on Twitter with a caption: [Spending someone else’s money? No regrets.]
Vivian had just gotten chewed out by Charles, and now, seeing Yolanda showing off like she owned the place, it was more than she could take. The whole thing felt like a taunt, and her irritation hit its peak.
She stormed across the mall floor, barely giving Yolanda time to react, and slapped her hard across the face.
Yolanda’s hand flew to her cheek, her lips tightening into a thin line as she held back any words.
Vivian sneered, her eyes burning red with jealousy as she stared at Yolanda’s new earrings. “Who the hell do you think you are? Showing off on Twitter just to get under my skin? Trying to rub it in, huh? You don’t even deserve to wear something like that!”
Before Yolanda could move, Vivian reached out and yanked one of the earrings straight out. Blood welled from Yolanda’s earlobe, running down her neck—it was enough to make anyone flinch.
Yolanda’s face turned ghostly pale as she felt all eyes on her. She ducked her head, her eyes rimmed red with unshed tears, and, keeping her gaze down, hurried to her car.
Once inside the car, she didn’t try to stop the bleeding. She just sat there, staring blankly into space, letting the silence and numbness wash over her.
Vivian, clutching the bloodstained earring in her hand, finally felt her anger and jealousy subside a little.
When Yolanda got home, Charles was already there. These days, he’d been coming back home right around six, punctual as always.
She silently changed her shoes by the door, not making a sound.
Charles had seen her Twitter posts and knew she’d been in a pretty good mood today. The corners of his mouth quirked up. “Come here, let your husband check out what you bought.”
Yolanda stiffened, standing frozen in the entryway. She kept her head down and made to head upstairs.
Charles’s brow furrowed, wondering if she was throwing a fit again.
“Yolanda,” he called out.
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Chapter 118
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He’d been bending over backwards to keep her happy these days–she really ought to appreciate it by now.
Yolanda didn’t even bother to answer, just headed straight upstairs without a word.
The smile vanished from Charles’s face, replaced by a colder, darker look. He was done playing nice.
Just then, Sophie called. His bad mood hadn’t faded, so he just went over to see her.
After he was done with Sophie, irritation was all over his face. He stepped out onto the hotel balcony and stared at the city lights.
Sophie had been extra obedient lately, barely daring to act cute or say much. Whenever she was with him, she was super cautious, afraid she’d set him off.
Now, seeing him stand there in silence, she wondered if she’d screwed something up.
“Charles, are you upset?” she asked softly, hesitation in her voice.
Charles leaned against the balcony railing, the night breeze tossing his hair around. His lips were a touch red, and those long, elegant fingers kept casually turning a lighter, but he didn’t say a word.
Sophie was jittery, heart pounding–part of her was addicted to his wild, seductive side, the other half just anxious about how unpredictable he seemed tonight.
Charles looked down, flicked his lighter, lighting a cigarette. “Afraid of me?” he asked, voice low.
Sophie’s eyes instantly brimmed with tears. God knew how hard she’d been trying not to step out of line lately, always careful, worried she’d do something wrong.
She sniffled. “You being upset… it’s honestly scary,” she said, voice barely above a whisper.
He let out a low chuckle, his hair getting even messier in the wind. “Is that so? Maybe I haven’t spoiled you enough yet.”
Charles was always generous with women, but his affection was a switch–he could flip it off without a second thought.
He could lift you to the skies one moment, then throw you to the ground the next.
Being loved by Charles was never real–it was all just smoke and mirrors.
Sophie nervously fidgeted with her shirt, guessing Charles was probably annoyed with that nagging wife of his again. She tried to win him over, voice extra sweet: “Is it that woman at home stirring up trouble for you? Charles, you shouldn’t have to put up with this.”
Charles held his cigarette between his fingers, letting out a low chuckle. “Anything else?”
Sophie tried desperately to think of something more to soothe him, but she just couldn’t get a read on his mood tonight.
Being with Charles was like serving an unpredictable king–you never knew when he’d grace you with favor
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Chapter 118
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She swallowed nervously, about to say something more, when his phone suddenly rang.
Charles picked up. It was Jack.
“CEO, Mrs. Sinclair is trending on Twitter,” Jack said.
Charles frowned, thinking he must’ve misheard.
Yolanda trending?
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He hung up and opened Twitter. The video was grainy, but there was no mistaking it—it was Yolanda.
The other person caught in the video was Vivian. Right now, the clip was buried at the bottom of the trending page, but if it gained traction, it could quickly end up front and center–for everyone in their social circle to
see.
Vivian’s slap, and the way she ripped Yolanda’s earring out, were clear as day in the footage.
Yolanda was covering her face, her expression hidden, but her palm was unmistakably streaked with blood.
Charles rarely lost his temper, but his eyes now were icy cold, a chill glint flashing through the darkness.
He headed straight back to his room, grabbed his coat, and left. On the way out, he called Jack back. “Get that trending post off Twitter,” he ordered.
No way he’d let the whole world laugh at Yolanda.
Charles rushed back to Moonbay Estate. He walked into the master bedroom, but it was empty.
Without missing a beat, he turned and headed to the room at the end of the hallway. The lights were off, and Yolanda was already asleep.
Charles walked over to the bed and noticed five obvious red handprints bright on her cheek.
The blood on her ear had dried, but it still looked pretty gruesome.
He hauled her upright, voice edged with fury. “You let someone bully you this bad and come home without a word? Don’t you know how to stand up for yourself? You just stay quiet and let it happen? Yolanda, are you fucking mute?”
Yolanda’s eyes fluttered open, still dazed. She pressed her lips together, turning her face away from him.
She blinked, her long lashes trembling, while tears glistened and threatened to fall.
Her beauty had always been striking, but usually, she was stoic to the point of numbness. Now, with her eyes red from crying and her lip bitten back against tears, she looked every inch the siren–irresistible and heartbreakingly beautiful.
Charles wasn’t even sure why he was so pissed. He gripped her shoulders, sighed deep and heavy, then barked
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at the housekeeper to fetch some antiseptic.
Her ear was throbbing, and just his slightest touch made her shrink away fast, as if she might fold in on herself at any moment.
The Grant Family definitely made the right call adopting Yolanda–when she cried, even the toughest heart would go soft.
Charles cleaned up her ear, then had someone bring over a hard–boiled egg to gently roll across her cheek to help with the swelling.
“What’s the matter, Yolanda? You forget how to talk? Or did a cat really steal your tongue?” he snapped.
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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.
