Chapter 135
Yolanda was taken aback, but she had to admit it was the truth.
For people who’ve made it, no matter if they’re men or women–once they tie the knot, their side piece is best off being discreet and compliant.
Charles could get away with pampering Sophie only because she knew how to behave–way more than Vivian ever did.
Yolanda pinched lan’s chin between her fingers and gave it a gentle shake.
He was ridiculously handsome and still so young. When his face was blank, he radiated a fierce, almost dangerous vibe.
‘Does Ian count as the man I keep on the side?‘ Yolanda thought.
‘I really don’t want to admit it,’ she sighed inwardly.
Ian caught the flicker of emotion in her eyes and leaned in closer. “I can tell. Someone’s thinking about kicking me to the curb.”
He brushed her hand aside, shut his eyes, and in one swift move yanked open his black shirt, showing off those ripped abs and the striking V–line on his waist.
“Ms. Grant,” he said with a smirk, “with a body like this, don’t you think you’d regret not taking a bite?”
Right then, his phone buzzed. Yolanda’s eyes automatically flicked over, catching a message flashing on the
screen.
[So? Did your seduction work yet?]
Ian wasted no time, locking his phone in a flash.
Yolanda’s fingers brushed against the chain around his neck, the soft clinking sound almost musical.
“Ian,” she said, her tone shifting to businesslike, “I’ll talk to Aunt Simone. She’s really impressed with you. She’ll take you out to meet some directors. Don’t turn her down, okay?”
Just like that, she switched gears, diving straight into work.
Ian just gave a soft grunt, then, without warning, knelt down in front of her, hoisting her leg up onto his shoulder like she was his queen.
Yolanda, heels still on, kicked him square in the chest. “I’m taking you home. Don’t forget, you’re slammed with filming these days.”
Ian caught hold of her ankle and sank his teeth in, not gentle at all—a little red mark blossomed on her skin, proof of his teasing bite.
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Chapter 135
“Whatever you say, boss,” he replied, flashing her a wicked smile.
Yolanda, looking sharp in her business attire, went up to drive.
After dropping lan off at his villa, she headed back to Moonbay Estate, only to walk in right as Charles was coming through the door too.
She bent over to swap her shoes, her curves shown off just right from the back.
Charles leaned forward, his gaze settling on her fair ankle. “Did something happen to your leg?”
“Huh?” Yolanda blinked, momentarily confused.
He knelt down, still dressed in his suit, and traced his finger over the faint red mark on her ankle. That’s when she finally understood.
“Did you bump into something here?” he asked, his voice gentle.
It wasn’t Charles’s fault he didn’t figure it out right away. Who leaves bite marks like that on someone’s ankle, anyway?
Yolanda stiffened for a second, then quickly played it off. “Yeah, I probably nicked it with my high heels.”
Charles finished slipping on his shoes and handed his suit jacket to the servant nearby. “Be more careful next time. Let’s eat.”
He’d been getting home pretty early these days.
It had been a long time since Yolanda had sat down for a peaceful dinner with him at Moonbay Estate.
She ignored him, grabbed her tablet, and started looking through Starlight’s files again.
Charles saw how absorbed she was and finally broke the silence, “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah,” she replied, barely looking up.
“Is Leon Cole still making things difficult for you?” he pressed.
“Nope,” she answered, her tone casual.
She kept eating, replying absently, not really paying attention to the man across from her.
Charles thought back to the last two years since they got married–every time he came home, Yolanda would light up, that sparkle in her eyes obvious as ever.
He loosened his tie a little, suddenly feeling stifled.
“You seriously have to check your tablet while eating? Who’s the real workaholic here?” he grumbled.
Yolanda blinked in surprise. She remembered how, back when she tried to share little moments from her day with him at dinner, Charles would just brush her off, sometimes even coldly asking, “Isn’t there anything
Chapter 135
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important you ought to be doing?”
That stung more than she cared to admit. For her, making sure the home ran smoothly had always meant the world.
But to Charles, even the help could handle that kind of stuff.
So, in his eyes, all her efforts amounted to nothing at all.
Since I still need you, Charles, she held back and offered him a gentle smile. “It’s because you put me in this position–I don’t want to let you down. Jack said Leon Cole’s got Uncle Edward behind him, and honestly, I’m worried about giving you a hard time too. I just… I don’t want to be that woman who sits at home waiting for you anymore. You never really liked that side of me, did you?”
Charles went quiet. Lately, Yolanda’s words could really get to him, stirring up feelings he didn’t even realize he had.
‘Maybe I’ve misjudged her,‘ he thought. ‘It was my coldness that hurt her, and now she wants Starlight because she’s eager to accomplish something and prove herself to me!’
He picked up his glass and those words flashed through his mind.
‘Damn, she really loves me,‘ he thought to himself.
He snickered, thinking how adorably clueless she could be. “If you really wanna win me over, maybe try leveling up your game in bed instead.”
Crude words, but the man’s not wrong.
“Are you done eating?” he asked.
She nodded, and he instantly pulled her to her feet, swept her up in his arms, and carried her upstairs like she was the only thing that mattered.
He set her down on the master bed, his hand pressing lightly against her neck in a possessive hold while the other expertly undid the buttons of his shirt.
Charles leaned in with that wicked glint in his eyes. “So, did you pick up the trick I showed you last time?”
‘What trick?‘ Yolanda wondered, a hint of uncertainty flickering in her gaze.
Her eyes were clouded with confusion as she looked up at him.
Charles gripped her chin, tilting it up as his fingers traced her lips, lingering for a teasing moment.
Suddenly, Yolanda remembered. ‘Oh, that one,‘ she thought with a little smile.
“Didn’t get around to it,” she shrugged. “Aunt Simone just called, and I still need to learn a couple more tricks about showbiz from her. Gotta rush!”
Charles’s face turned stormy–he was so mad he actually laughed. “Go ahead, say that one more time.”
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Chapter 135
Right on cue, Yolanda’s phone rang. Sure enough, it was Aunt Simone calling.
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She shot Charles a mischievous grin, hit accept, and said, “Aunt Simone, I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Charles took a deep breath, and the next moment, Yolanda hooked her arm around his.
“Honey, I really just don’t want to make you lose face. I’m going to be super busy for a while, so can you be a little understanding?” she said, her voice soft and pleading.
With that, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and got up to leave.
Downstairs, she turned to Jack. “Did you bring the gift?”
Jack respectfully handed her a box holding the emerald bracelet. Yolanda had messaged him earlier that afternoon to track it down–it was worth seven figures, no less.
Yolanda stashed the box away. “Thanks for handling this, Jack.”
She grabbed the box and headed out to her car.
Jack headed upstairs. He had business to go over with Charles tonight, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Charles was in a rotten mood.
Charles was sitting in his study, looking gloomy and cold.
Jack swallowed nervously. “Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Grant asked me to pick out an emerald bracelet for her. I think it’s meant to be a gift.”
Charles had no doubt it was meant for Aunt Simone.
When it came to picking out gifts, Yolanda always nailed it. Women raised by the Grant family just knew how to win over every single in–law.
But lately, she hadn’t been putting that same energy into him.
He was already wearing the watch she’d gotten him for his birthday. The strap actually didn’t fit his wrist, so he’d even gone through the trouble of having it replaced.
And about those cufflinks she showed him in a picture yesterday–she never actually handed them over, did she?
‘Did she really just take a picture and leave it at that?‘ he wondered.
Just as Charles was about to furrow his brows, Jack produced a gift box. “Mrs. Grant asked me to hand these cufflinks over to you.”
Charles shot them a glance–sure enough, it was the same pair from yesterday. He felt a bit relieved.
“Mm.”
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.
