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Ian picked up the fruit knife from the table and tossed it over. The man caught it in one smooth move, his face suddenly turning serious.
“Alright, alright, I screwed up,” he said, raising his hands. “I dug up everything you asked for last night. The Crimson Gallery is swimming in cash–ten factions, rivals and allies all at once, none willing to back down. But you just shattered their delicate balance and forced them to surrender every resource they had. Give it a year, and you’ll have enough wealth to rival countries. By then, you’ll be more than ready to take on Charles.”
The way money moves through the Crimson Gallery is downright terrifying. No wonder it’s the prize every powerful family is desperate to get their hands on.
Ian’s gaze drifted to the medicinal wine sitting nearby. The man’s voice broke the silence. “So, what’s your plan once this is all over?”
“What do you mean?” Ian asked, his tone casual.
“Yolanda, come on, don’t kid yourself. I thought romance wasn’t your thing? What, one kiss and suddenly you’re catching feelings?”
Ian’s eyes flicked to the man, then away again. “I’m telling you, leave her alone.”
The guy seemed genuinely surprised, zoned out for a few seconds before a crooked smile crept onto his face.
“Just wait till she sees the real you–let’s see if she still wants to play sugar mama then.”
He got up and brushed nonexistent dust off his pants. “Still, she doesn’t hesitate to spoil you.”
“If you’re so envious, why not go find yourself a sugar mama?” Ian retorted.
“Man, you’ve changed,” the guy teased, shooting Ian a knowing look.
That line dropped, and the vibe in the room instantly got awkward.
He glanced around, raising an eyebrow. “Yolanda’s got the whole package–face, body, the works. Honestly, anyone would fall for her. So, did you guys hook up yet?”
Ian took the bottle of medicinal wine from the table, ignoring him as he calmly dabbed it onto his skin.
“What, still haven’t gone all the way? Wait, are you actually still a virgin?” the guy goaded.
Ian didn’t acknowledge him.
“What is it, Ian? You scared?” the guy teased.
“Are you done yet? If you’re really that bored, why don’t you go overseas and stay there for a while? Just get out of my hair,” Ian retorted.
The guy threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I’m just kidding. I know you’re totally
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hooked on her right now. I won’t touch her, alright?”
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Ian gripped the bottle of medicinal wine, silent for a moment before adding, “Don’t even think about looking.
at her.”
“So, you’re really okay with that? For someone as possessive as you, doesn’t it bother you that she’s already. hooked up with Charles?” the guy asked, clearly entertained.
“Hey, I’m the other woman. A little competition doesn’t scare me. And honestly, why should she be losing out just because she slept with some guy? Let’s be real, Charles isn’t exactly bad–looking,” Ian replied, sounding totally unbothered.
The guy opened his mouth, totally speechless.
He paced the room, searching for a retort, but came up blank.
‘Shit. Who even thinks like that?‘ he thought.
‘The guy’s got a whole new way of looking at things–twisted, but kinda genius, he muttered to himself.
Ian set the bottle back on the coffee table, his tone turning icy. “Anything else?”
The guy let out two dry laughs, thinking, ‘He acts like a total simp for Yolanda, but with everyone else, he’s cold as a block of ice.‘
He couldn’t take it anymore and stomped out, tossing back, “Next time you show up at the Crimson Gallery, make sure you wear a mask. Trust me–keeping your identity hidden is key. Those ten guys are loyal for now, but you never know who might get bought off and sell you out.”
“I know,” Ian replied, his voice calm and steady.
*****
Meanwhile, Yolanda walked into Starlight’s office and saw the renovation was still in full swing.
She’d paid the workers way more than the going rate, and they’d been busting their asses all night.
Even Mary’s office next door was already looking pretty good. At this rate, they’d probably have everything done by the afternoon.
She was pretty pleased with the progress. Just as she turned around, she spotted Leon.
Leon looked like a mess–his clothes were all wrinkled, and he’d lost that smug, superior attitude from yesterday.
“Yolanda, who the hell are you?” he asked, his voice low and tense.
He’d spent the whole night camped out downstairs at Sinclair Group, desperate to catch a glimpse of Edward.
Finally, he’d managed to flag down Edward’s car, but all he got was a cold warning to watch his back.
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Even someone as clueless as Leon could figure it out–Yolanda had some serious connections,
Leon couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Who the hell is she, really?‘
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Yolanda shot him a frown. “Didn’t you already take the compensation? You’re not with Starlight anymore, remember?”
Leon was shaking all over, furious to the core. He’d never suffered such a crushing defeat–and worst of all, it was at the hands of the woman he’d always looked down on.
Suddenly, he whipped a knife out from behind his back, snarling, “I’m gonna fucking kill you! Do you even know how much I’ve bled for Starlight?!”
Then he charged at her, knife flashing dangerously.
Yolanda was suddenly pulled back by a strong force, and in the next instant, someone with long legs landed a sharp kick right to Leon’s chest.
Leon was knocked backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he hit the floor.
Yolanda quickly came to her senses and immediately dialed the police.
She glanced at the guy who’d just protected her—the assistant she’d randomly picked yesterday, Walter Hudson, rocking that goofy haircut and thick glasses so thick you couldn’t even tell what he really looked like.
“Thanks,” she said, her voice steady.
Then she strode over to Leon, who was still sprawled out on the floor. “All that talk about loyalty to Starlight, but your books are filthy, Leon. I was ready to let you walk with your compensation if you kept quiet and stayed gone. But you just had to come for me. Fine, have it your way. The cops are about to get a brand new round of evidence–get ready to cough up every cent you stole, and I won’t hesitate to really kick you when you’re down.”
Leon’s pupils contracted sharply before he let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I don’t believe you could actually pull this off.”
He was sure most of the evidence had already been destroyed. ‘Yolanda’s nothing. There’s no way she could ever dig up anything on me,‘ he thought.
Yolanda just raised an eyebrow in response.
When the cops dragged Leon out, he was still ranting and raving like a madman.
“Yolanda, you can’t get rid of me! I’ll be back real soon, and I’ll show you where you belong! Women like you are only good for popping out kids!” he spat.
“Yolanda, you piece of-”
Before he could finish, Yolanda drove her foot into his gut, shutting him up instantly.
The two cops definitely didn’t see that coming. Yolanda looked all sweet and innocent–nobody would’ve
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Chapter 138
guessed she’d just nail someone with a kick out of nowhere.
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Leon’s face went ghostly white as he doubled over, collapsing to his knees and clutching his stomach. “Officers, you saw that, right? She attacked me! Hurry up and arrest her!”
Yolanda flashed a casual smile, turning to everyone nearby. “Did anyone here see me lay a hand on him?”
Most of the onlookers were talents who’d been bullied by Leon for years. Some even had tears in their eyes- watching him finally eat dirt felt unbelievably satisfying.
“No way, Ms. Grant was just serving some real justice! Guys like Leon deserve to rot!” someone shouted, voice full of righteous anger.
“We didn’t see a thing,” another chimed in, shaking their head.
“Officers, we’ll testify–nothing at all happened here,” someone else said firmly, making it clear they all had Yolanda’s back.
The frustration and anger were painted on everyone’s faces. Even if the cops were clueless, it was obvious Leon had been a scumbag for years.
Leon was so furious he looked like he might actually vomit blood. “You… you…”
Everyone remembered how he’d strutted up and down this hallway yesterday, thinking he was untouchable, hurling insults at anyone who crossed his path.
He’d stomped all over people’s dignity, and now it was finally his turn to face the music.
Out of nowhere, a young woman darted from the crowd and landed two brutal slaps right across Leon’s face.
Yelling at him, she spat, “Screw you, Leon! You dirty bastard–serves you right for ending up like this! Hope you die a miserable death!”
That set the whole crowd ablaze. Within seconds, a dozen people rushed in, practically tearing Leon’s clothes off as they grabbed at him from every side.
The cops, caught right in the middle of the chaos, ended up getting smacked a couple times themselves before scrambling to haul Leon out of there, just barely escaping before the whole mob could really lose 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.
