Chapter 127
Charles leaned back in his chair, remembering that the pendant was a family heirloom–he’d heard that straight from Jack.
Yolanda was always so quiet about everything, so adorably meek it just made you want to tease her.
He picked up the documents next to him, his mood unshaken by what had just happened. He just told jack, “Go ahead with Minister Howard.”
Jack lowered his head, respectful as always. “It’s already in motion.”
Charles nodded. “Tomorrow morning, get things ready for Yolanda…”
Well, he’d just handed her that black card, and honestly, nothing else seemed to top that.
‘Fine. If Yolanda really wants me to keep out of Starlight’s affairs, then once she officially joins them, I’ll just ignore what happens over there.‘ Charles thought to himself.
Jack kept politely waiting for further instructions, but Charles stayed silent.
“CEO?” Jack asked.
Charles rubbed his temples with a soft chuckle. “Jack, why does she have to be so sweet and obedient?”
It was clear he was talking about Yolanda.
Jack was even more sure now–Yolanda was slowly but surely making her way into the CEO’s heart.
*****
Yolanda woke up feeling burned out and weak all over, like she barely had any strength left.
She got out of bed, went through her morning routine, and stared at her pale face in the mirror, pressing her lips into a thin line.
At seven sharp, like clockwork, she headed downstairs and found Charles waiting for her.
His gaze lingered on the pendant around her neck before slowly turning away.
“Are you feeling any better?” Charles teased lightly. “Just went along without thinking? Honestly, how can you be so naive?”
Yolanda dropped her gaze, eyes a little misty. “He said he’d burn the pendant and I… I guess I got scared.”
“If it means that much to you, then why did you give it to me in the first place?” Charles continued gently.
Yolanda said nothing, just kept her head down and quietly ate her food.
Charles’s heart melted. He leaned in, kissed her cheek and murmured, “Dummy.”
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Chapter 127
Those four words kept echoing in his mind–she’s totally in love with me.
673
He’d always known about Yolanda’s feelings–fifteen years and counting. But if he was honest, he’d just never cared much before.
Once Yolanda finished eating, she stood up. “I’m heading to Starlight today.”
“Alright, you’re the boss now. I won’t bother about Starlight anymore,” Charles said.
Her eyes sparkled. She grabbed his hand, bubbling with joy. “Thank you, darling.”
She really was just too easy to satisfy.
Charles swept her into his arms, cradled her face, and kissed her.
The servants quietly slipped away, leaving them alone.
His kiss was soft and tender.
For some reason, Yolanda suddenly found herself thinking about that silver pendant Ian wore at his waist the other night. It stung, big time.
‘Man, Ian really knows how to keep things interesting,’ she thought to herself.
Suddenly, she felt a light pinch at her waist. Yolanda blinked, her lashes dipping as she caught Charles’s eyes narrowing in obvious displeasure.
“Spacing out again?” he teased.
“Just thinking about Starlight,” Yolanda replied quickly. “I got tons of advice from Aunt Simone–pretty sure it’ll come in handy.”
Charles’s face turned dark. ‘Seriously, no woman has ever spaced out on me when I make a move, he thought, feeling more than a little peeved.
Suddenly, jealousy jammed up his chest. His hand tightened around her waist, just a bit more possessive. “Next time you zone out on me, I’ll kiss you so much you’ll forget your own name,” he teased.
Yolanda’s face immediately went crimson. She snatched up a slice of bread. “Gotta go!” she mumbled.
Charles smirked as he watched her walk away.
Once Yolanda got in the car, she finished her bread, her face already calm again.
Today was her first day at Starlight. She could finally put the whole Andrade family mess on pause for a while. Vivian had stepped way over the line one too many times, and Charles definitely wasn’t going to let it go.
Charles would never allow anyone to provoke him like that.
The feud between the Andrade and Sinclair families? Yolanda knew she was just a nobody–nothing she could do about any of it. So, for now, she decided to just head over to Starlight and see what was up.
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Chapter 127
*****
P:
198
Zarb vouchers
Meanwhile, over at Starlight Entertainment…
Mary Hall sat in her office, gazing down at a weeping young woman standing before her–the poor girl actually ended up kneeling, tears streaming down her face.
“Ms. Hall, please, I’m desperate here. Woman to woman, can’t you give me a break? I really don’t want to go to that dinner with Mr. Cole tonight,” she pleaded.
Mary Hall kept her hair cropped short, barely longer than most guys‘, giving her a crisp, no–nonsense look that always screamed efficiency.
She was clad in a tailored women’s suit, and at the girl’s desperate words, Mary irritably shoved the documents aside. “Coming to me isn’t going to help you. See these papers? That’s my pay cut notice–they want me gone. I can barely hold my own around here.”
Mary was the only woman among the seven top execs at Starlight, and after thirteen years, she’d been forced to fight for her place every single day.
As a woman in a place like Starlight, you had to put in a hundred times more effort just to survive.
But even after all that effort, the other six execs at Starlight never truly accepted Mary Hall.
The place was split into two inner circles, and they worked together seamlessly to keep her professionally sidelined, making workplace bullying a daily routine.
If she hadn’t been so strong–willed, she would’ve walked out the door a long time ago.
The girl knelt at her side, sobbing so hard she could barely get the words out. “I heard there’s a new CEO coming to Starlight. Maybe they’ll actually be able to change something.”
Mary snorted. “Starlight gets a ‘brand new CEO‘ every damn year, and none of ‘em last more than half a year. If you don’t have real clout backing you up, this place will chew you up and spit you out. The only one who made it past six months? Busted for bribery. Honestly, Starlight’s already rotten to the core. If I weren’t so stubborn about all the time and effort I’ve sunk into this place, I’d have packed up and walked a long time ago.”
At least I’m not stuck like those poor talents who get forced into ten or twenty–year contracts.
The girl’s face went completely pale. In a burst of desperation, she pulled a folding knife from her jacket and pressed it to her throat.
“Guess I’ve only got one way out,” she choked out.
Mary’s eyes went wide, anger and helplessness written all over her face.
It wasn’t that Mary didn’t care about these young kids–she’d tried over and over to help, but it was never enough. Now, she just felt numb inside.
Mary let out a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she slowly lowered herself back into her chair.
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“Alright, just put the knife down, okay? I’ll go talk to Leon Cole and see what I can do, Mary said, her voice
calm but firm.
The girl’s eyes flooded with relief and gratitude. She bowed deeply, nearly dropping to her knees. “Thank you, Ms. Hall. Thank you, truly.”
8
Once everyone else was gone, Mary lit up a cigarette, the bitterness lingering in her mouth–so much like the bitterness she’d swallowed from this place for years.
She stayed in her office for a full ten minutes, just letting the heaviness sit with her, before finally pulling herself together and heading up to Leon Cole’s office on the top floor.
Mary’s office was isolated from the others, kept deliberately out of the loop while the rest of the seven execs occupied a single floor together, like their own private clique.
When Leon Cole saw her walk in, his face lit up with smug satisfaction. “What’s up? Finally ready to quit?”
They’d already cut her pay three times, all part of their plan to push her out.
Mary lifted her chin, her voice steady. “Don’t take that girl to the dinner tonight.”
Leon couldn’t help but scoff, a mocking smile twisting his lips.
“Mary Hall, who do you think you are? Women don’t get a voice in Starlight. If I tell someone to go serve drinks for the VIPs, that’s what they’ll do. And if one day someone actually takes a fancy to you–yeah, even you, you old hag—you’ll just have to play along. Otherwise, be ready for your fourth, fifth, hell, maybe even more pay cuts,” Leon sneered.
Leon’s little gang had three members, and the rival faction was made up of three too–keeping everything in a tense, uneasy balance.
Mary? She was on her own, a lone fighter in a sea of enemies.
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.
