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Edward was dressed to the nines, the picture of a corporate elite. He slid a cup of coffee across the table to Yolanda. “Yolanda, you’ve been doing an excellent job running Starlight.”
Yolanda flashed a polite smile. “It’s all thanks to Charles’s guidance.”
Then, she lowered her gaze and obediently took a quiet sip of her coffee.
Edward wasn’t here for pleasantries. He was holding out for the highest offer.
He’d been scheming for ages to take Charles down, but the guy was damn near invincible.
Now, Edward was probing her, trying to suss out a weakness.
If Yolanda was Charles’s Achilles‘ heel, Edward would pounce.
But after a few rounds, Yolanda didn’t let a single detail slip.
Edward’s face grew darker. “You’re barely surviving in the Sinclair family–caught between Renee and May, who both hate you. Why not join forces with me?”
He pulled out a small white bottle from under the table and discreetly slid it toward her.
Edward made it clear: if Yolanda didn’t accept it, she wouldn’t be walking out of here today.
‘He’s trying to pull me right into the Sinclair family’s power struggle,‘ Yolanda thought, her heart sinking.
With Dylan on his way back, Edward was getting visibly restless.
“Slip this into something Charles eats on the regular. Trust me–even if a doctor ran tests, they’d never find a trace. In half a year, I’ll make sure you get out of the country. The Grant family doesn’t care about you, and let’s be real–there’s nothing left for you in Beloris, is there?”
Yolanda took the bottle, her expression still unreadable, refusing to reveal a single thought.
Edward’s brow furrowed. ‘Yolanda really doesn’t look that bright… What was Charles thinking, handing Starlight over to her?‘
“Yolanda, Charles doesn’t care about you at all. If I wanted to, it’d be child’s play to wipe you out. So be smart about this, or keep your head down–at least then we can stay civil in the Sinclair family,” Edward said, his
voice cold.
Yolanda lifted her head, rose gracefully, and kept that polite smile. “Understood, Uncle Edward,” she replied lightly.
Edward pressed his lips together, waiting until she left before letting out a scoff.
‘Just some pitiful wife who got a brief taste of favor before falling back into obscurity,‘ he sneered to himself.
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Yolanda got into her car with the bottle in hand and drove straight back to Moonbay Estate, not bothering to
dwell on it.
She hadn’t expected Edward to set his sights on her so early. She had no desire to get caught up in the Sinclair family’s infighting.
That night, Charles got home around eleven and spotted Yolanda sitting by herself in the living room, quietly watching TV.
He lazily hung his suit jacket on the rack. He’d been run ragged at work these days and honestly couldn’t muster up the energy to mess with her like he used to.
Just as he started up the stairs, Yolanda called out, “Honey.”
He glanced back at her.
She looked extra sweet and obedient, a little out of character, as she gave the bottle a tiny shake. Her voice was tentative. “Uncle Edward gave this to me. He told me to mix it into something you eat pretty often.”
Charles raised a brow and made his way over, taking the bottle from her.
He studied it for a second, then looked back at Yolanda.
Yolanda bit her lip. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I figured I should let you know. Whatever this is, it can’t be anything good.”
Charles flashed a small smile, leaned in closer, and gently caressed her cheek. “Aren’t you scared he’ll come after you?”
“You’ll protect me, won’t you?” Yolanda said softly.
Before Charles could answer, Yolanda quickly blurted, “I just don’t want anything to happen to you, no matter what.”
Charles swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving twice, then suddenly pulled her into a fierce kiss.
His kiss was rough and desperate, a fiery rush that caught her completely off guard.
He’d never let himself go like this with any woman before.
Yolanda was pushed back, helpless under his dominance as he claimed her lips, biting down with possessive intent.
Charles kissed her for three long minutes, his mouth trailing down her neck, branding her skin with dark,
unmistakable marks.
‘Crap, if Ian sees all these hickeys, he’s gonna totally freak out,‘ Yolanda thought, panic creeping in.
Charles gently held her face, lips lingering against hers. “Why are you being so obedient tonight, hmm?”
“Honey, do you think Uncle Edward was really trying to poison you?” Yolanda asked, her voice soft with
Chapter 140
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Her question snapped them out of the dreamy haze that had just filled the room.
Charles caught the worry in her eyes and chuckled quietly, a hint of tired affection in his voice. “This isn’t something for you to stress over. Take care of your little Starlight and let me handle everything else.”
“Just… stay safe for me, okay?” Yolanda whispered.
He lingered on the softness of her hair and the gentle concern in her voice. With a slow, tender touch, Charles lifted her chin with his fingertip and captured her lips in another deep kiss.
“Mmm,” Yolanda murmured against his mouth.
Yolanda squirmed away, turning her head. “I’m tired. I’ve been waiting for you forever.”
“Then go get some sleep,” Charles replied.
He still had work to take care of tonight.
Yolanda quickly pecked his cheek and dashed upstairs.
Charles tightened his grip on the bottle, his eyes turning icy. ‘Edward must be hitting rock bottom if he’s trying to recruit Yolanda now.’
Jack, having been quietly standing by, stepped forward. “Boss, want me to take care of it?”
Charles tossed the bottle aside, his voice cold as steel. “Did you dig up anything on my father’s bastard son? What’s he been doing lately?”
Dylan, who ran the overseas division of Sinclair Group, was always jetting off on business trips, often gone for months at a time.
But now, with the possibility of a bastard son out there, Dylan might’ve found time to secretly meet with him.
“Mr. Sinclair’s been overseas during this whole period. Aside from meeting with clients, he hasn’t gone out. We checked his bank statements–aside from company stuff, there are no suspicious large transactions,” Jack reported.
Charles had been digging into this for over two weeks, and so far, he’d come up empty–handed.
Charles gripped the bottle, his fingertips pale. “Keep looking into it.”
Anyone who tried to threaten his spot was bound to pay the price.
He casually flung the bottle aside, a hint of a mocking smile curling his lips. “Swap it out for vitamins.”
Jack didn’t bat an eye–without hesitation, he went to switch the pills as ordered.
Yolanda was just about to get comfortable for the night when her phone buzzed with a video call from Ian— she was still soaking in the tub.
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Stretching her arm out to grab her phone, she accidentally splashed a few water droplets onto the screen.
The call connected without her realizing it, the bathroom swirling with steam–her pale skin and the fresh hickeys Charles had just marked were half–hidden in the mist.
Ian caught sight of it and narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening.
Yolanda stretched her graceful neck, about to step out of the tub, bubbles sliding down her shoulders–only for lan’s gaze to follow every single drop as it slipped lower.
That’s when she finally clocked that her phone was upright beside her, video call already live.
She froze in place, half–risen and leaning to the side, those fresh marks on her skin all too obvious.
“No wonder you didn’t text me back. Looks like someone already got ‘fed‘ at home,” Ian snarked, voice thick with sarcasm.
Yolanda grabbed the towel and quickly wrapped it around herself.
“Cut it out. I didn’t reply because I was taking a bath,” she retorted, rolling her eyes.
“Oh yeah? So those marks on your neck–guess your mosquitoes at home are mutants, huh?” Ian said, the sarcasm clear in his voice.
‘Knew he was going to make a fuss the moment he saw those marks,‘ Yolanda thought, bracing herself for more teasing.
Standing in front of the mirror, she tossed her phone aside and unwrapped the towel from around her hair. With a shake, her damp strands cascaded down in a thick, glossy mess.
All Ian could see was her shadowy silhouette–but even through the screen, it felt like her soft scent was drifting right toward him.
Yolanda’s real superpower was that she had absolutely no idea just how irresistibly tempting she was.
She had this effortless mix of wifey sweetness and rebellious edge–something between innocence and allure -that made her impossible to look away from.
“Yolanda, I’ve got a day off the day after tomorrow,” Ian said, his tone a lot softer now.
Yolanda rubbed her hair dry, thinking about how he’d taken care of Vivian for her. ‘Guess I owe him something sweet,’ she mused.
“I’ll come keep you company then,” she teased back.
It just so happened to be a weekend, so there was no need to go to work
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
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.
