Chapter 125
Yolanda answered softly, “Mm.”
Grandma Flora, pleased, reached out and gave Yolanda’s hand a gentle pat..
The room was filled with the soothing aroma of sandalwood. Yolanda, not eager to go downstairs and bother anyone, chose to linger a bit longer. She stayed quietly until Charles came upstairs to call her.
Only then did she respectfully say her goodbyes to Grandma Flora.
Grandma Flora, wearing a jade ring on her hand, motioned for Charles to come closer. “Charles, come here. Grandma wants to have a word with you.”
It was obvious she wanted Yolanda to step out.
Yolanda, catching on quickly, quietly slipped out of the room.
Once Yolanda was out of the room, Grandma Flora took Charles’s hand with a gentle smile. “I won’t be around much longer, and honestly, all I want is to see you have a child before I go. Charles, what are you really thinking? If you don’t care for Yolanda, then just divorce her and marry someone you actually love. Your mother was wrong to keep you away from that girl all those years ago. Who could’ve guessed you’d marry Yolanda just to spite her? You really are stubborn, you know?”
Grandma Flora let out a long sigh, patting the back of his hand twice. “I’ve probably got less than two years left. Your grandpa is always plotting something, and those uncles of yours are no saints either. Even though I hardly leave this room, I know exactly what goes on in the Sinclair family. Your mom simply can’t tolerate anyone, and she’s still harping on about Dylan’s mess after all these years. I worry that all this could end up dragging you and Renee into it too. Charles, please, settle the child thing soon–so I can rest easy when my time comes.”
Grandma Flora had spent the last few years taking care of her health, and Charles was always her favorite.
Charles was handsome and knew exactly how to sweet–talk people–no woman could ever resist a guy like
him.
“Grandma, you’ll be around for a long time, so let’s not talk about this. If you really want a grandchild, I’ll get it done–I’ll pick a woman who can give you one in the next three months, all right?” Charles replied calmly.
With those words, it was obvious Yolanda hadn’t even crossed his mind as a possible mother for his child.
Grandma Flora got the message and sighed, waving her hand. “Whoever you choose is fine–so long as the child is yours.”
When Charles stepped out, he spotted Yolanda quietly waiting for him by the stairs, looking as gentle and obedient as ever.
The Sinclair manor was all traditional décor–elegant and classic everywhere you looked. Yolanda’s own graceful presence made her look like she belonged in a place like this.
He walked over, slipped an arm around her waist, and the two of them made their way downstairs together to
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Chapter 125
say goodbye to his grandfather.
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His grandfather nodded, barely glancing at Yolanda. “Do what you need to do, but don’t give anyone any ammunition against you. By the way, your uncle Grady’s been trying to come back–see if you can find him a position in the company.”
Charles kept up appearances with his two uncles, treating them respectfully on the surface, but he knew they were both schemers, each with their own agenda.
Underneath it all, the Sinclair family was anything but peaceful. With the rift between Charles and his father Dylan, both uncles had been eager for a chance to stir things up.
Charles nodded, his tone calm and steady. “Got it.”
May got up to leave, and when she walked past Yolanda, she gave her a little shove on the shoulder.
Yolanda had to step aside, but she just kept silent, not daring to say a word.
May was the first to get in the car, her emerald ring flashing conspicuously. “Charles, make sure you stay close to Renee. Don’t let some outsider mess things up between you and your real family.”
Of course, everyone knew she was talking about Yolanda.
After May left, Charles took Yolanda to the car and gently ruffled her hair as they got in.
Yolanda barely felt anything about it—May’s words couldn’t touch her anymore: ‘I’m immune to that kind of stuff now,‘ she thought to herself.
After she posted that on Twitter, Vivian kept cussing her out nonstop.
Yolanda put her phone aside, then bent down, pretending to adjust her pant cuff.
Her phone buzzed several more times against the leather seat–Vivian just couldn’t let up.
“Bitch, I’m sending you pics of me in bed with Charles.”
Even with the screen locked, the message flashed right on the display.
Charles caught a clear glimpse of it.
At that moment, Yolanda bent down and reached for her phone, about to unlock the screen.
Before she could do anything, Charles suddenly pulled her into his arms, his fingers softly trailing down her wrist until he got hold of her phone.
“Is Vivian still messing with you?” he asked.
“Nope,” she replied.
Charles let his eyes drop, catching the nervous flutter of her lashes. He wrapped her in a gentle hug, sounding genuinely concerned. “Has Vivian always given you trouble like this?”
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Yolanda blinked in surprise, sneaking a peek at her screen. “Hey, were you spying on my messages?”
Charles found it pretty amusing, let out a light sigh, and planted a playful kiss on her cheek. “Come on, delete her already.”
Yolanda paused for a few seconds, clearly unsure, but finally, with Charles watching, she deleted Vivian right then and there.
She was so docile, she deleted Vivian without even asking if any of it was true.
After all those years of messing around, it was the first time Charles actually felt a real pang of guilt.
He glanced at her profile, a trace of emotion flickering across his eyes, and took her back to Moonbay Estate. But when they arrived, he stayed in the car.
The car disappeared into the night. Charles leaned back, his eyes going frosty. “Minister Howard’s always at the pool, right? If a guy who loves swimming ends up drowning, think anyone would get suspicious?”
Jack kept his hands steady on the wheel, face giving nothing away. “Got it, CEO.”
Charles gazed out the window, the corners of his mouth twitching with a quick, fleeting smile.
*****
After her shower, Yolanda jumped online and dropped a new tweet.
[He made me block someone I couldn’t stand. He was watching the whole time.]
Vivian might be gone from her Twitter now, but Yolanda posted it just to rub it in–she wanted to make sure Vivian got the message.
Then, using her Tessa Gilbert account on WhatsApp, she messaged Sophie.
Sophie was saved on both of her WhatsApp profiles.
Lately, Sophie had been super quiet–most likely afraid that Charles would kick her to the curb. She hadn’t even tried sending those petty photos to poke at Yolanda anymore.
Sophie still didn’t know that Yolanda and Tessa were the same person, so when Tessa’s message popped up, it honestly felt like she’d grabbed onto a lifeline.
Yolanda gave her just one instruction.
[Vivian and Mrs. Sinclair are fighting like crazy right now. Don’t get involved–just keep Charles on your good side for a while. Oh, and screenshot Mrs. Sinclair’s latest tweet and send it to Vivian.]
Sophie had managed to keep Charles by her side for so long, which goes to show she’s actually pretty sharp.
After Tessa helped her hold onto Charles, Sophie pretty much started treating every word from her like gospel.
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[Got it, Tessa. As long as you help me become Mrs. Sinclair, I’ll make sure fan gets a big break. I’ve got several major endorsements pending, need a male face for some of them, so I already recommended lan to the investors—and they gave the green light.]
Sophie was one of the hottest actresses around, backed by Charles himself, and all her endorsements carne. from top brands.
Her willingness to let lan step into the spotlight was a huge chance for him.
Yolanda gladly accepted every offer, no hesitation whatsoever.
[Relax. Mrs. Sinclair and I are friends–so with me acting as your spy, you just have to sit tight and get ready to rise to the top. But listen: you need to delete all our chats, every single one. Don’t leave anyone any proof.]
Sophie did as she was told, deleting every message immediately. She even went through her deleted folder, making sure it was all gone for good.
Yolanda thought for a bit, then sent another tip.
[Remember that sandalwood token Charles gave you? Hand it over to Vivian–seriously, just let her know Mrs. Sinclair would do absolutely anything for it. Trust me, she’ll get the message loud and clear.]
Staring at the message, Sophie finally realized just how scary Tessa’s schemes could get–this woman was downright ruthless.
Now that Vivian and Mrs. Sinclair were going at each other, Vivian would definitely use that sandalwood token to threaten Mrs. Sinclair. No matter which of them crashed and burned, Sophie could sit back and collect the rewards. With those two losing all dignity while she kept up her sweet, harmless front, Charles was sure to side with his little girlfriend during the drama.
For a moment, Sophie’s chest felt tight—she was genuinely thankful she hadn’t tried to mess with Tessa herself.
She sucked in a sharp breath, barely able to steady her trembling fingers from sheer excitement.
[Got it.]
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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.
