Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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The atmosphere at the table was surprisingly warm and friendly. A few people were great at keeping the conversation flowing, asking Joelle about her experiences abroad, how long she planned to stay this time, and, of course, the topic everyone was dying to know about–her love life.
Joelle instinctively glanced at Charles, but he was unusually quiet tonight.
One of the women at the table picked up on Charles’s aloofness and let out a sarcastic laugh. “We’re asking about your love life, Joelle–why are you looking at Mr. Sinclair? He’s already married, after all.”
The moment those words were spoken, the mood at the table shifted, becoming tense and awkward.
Panic flickered in Joelle’s eyes. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
The woman rolled her eyes, folding her arms. “I heard you’ve got a boyfriend overseas–he even chased you all the way back here, didn’t he? But you didn’t bring him tonight. What, planning to dump him and pick someone new off the guest list?”
Joelle barely hid her disgust. The woman who mouthed off wasn’t even some high–society queen–she was just arm candy for one of Joelle’s admirers.
Seriously, jealousy really does make people say the craziest stuff.
As expected, the man sitting next to her smacked her across the face. “Beat it. No one wants to hear your nonsense here.”
The woman burst into tears, covering her face as she ran out of the room.
Joelle’s eyes grew red as she sighed. “I swear, it’s not like that. That guy isn’t my boyfriend–he’s just some crazy superfan who keeps following me around.”
She rubbed her temples, a trace of frustration appearing on her face. “Anyway, thanks for coming tonight, everyone.”
She looked a little tired and reached for the glass beside her, but as she did, her wrist was exposed–showing faint purple marks from being tightly gripped.
Quentin was the first to notice; his face went cold, like a block of ice.
“Joelle, your hand…” Quentin said, voice tight with concern.
Joelle hurriedly covered her wrist, giving a strained little smile. “It happened when I was too deep into a movie role–I got so lost in the character I couldn’t pull myself out. That’s all…”
Oscar let out a sigh. “You mean The Ashes, right? The one that got you Best Actress. Honestly, you inhabited that role so well that when I saw you last year, I thought you might still be living it. Glad to see you’re doing much better now.”
Joelle nodded, lowering her eyelashes. “I really appreciate your advice back then, Mr. Rowe. It helped me a lot.”
11:39 Sun, Oct 5
Chapter 162
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As soon as the topic settled, people at the table started showering Joelle with praise again.
Leo couldn’t be bothered with all that gossip, so he got up and headed for the bathroom. As he stepped inside, he bumped into lan.
Leo lifted his chin just a touch as he made his way to the sink beside Ian, then turned on the water.
Neither of them said a word. The silence hung heavy until Ian’s phone buzzed–it was Yolanda calling.
Ian answered, “Hey, Ms. Grant. Yeah, I’m done here. I’ll be right down.”
Leo’s hand jerked, his lips pressed tight. He looked seriously uncomfortable, like he just wanted to get out of there.
Ian took a few steps, then paused as he heard the uneasy footsteps behind him. He turned around and gave Leo a look.
“What do you want?” Ian said.
Leo just scoffed and walked straight past him.
Ian let out a quiet chuckle.
Maybe Yolanda’s laugh earlier had rubbed him the wrong way, because Leo immediately bristled. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” Ian replied with a shrug.
Leo was fuming.
Ian headed to the parking lot and got into Yolanda’s car.
Yolanda was scrolling through her phone, checking some documents. She’d already totally scrapped the idea of working with Quentin–he was Joelle’s ultimate simp, hopelessly devoted to her. Seriously, every time he went abroad in the past few years, it was just to chase after her.
Yolanda wasn’t the type to second–guess herself. She glanced up as Ian slid into the passenger seat, a small smile tugging at her lips. “So, where do you want to go?”
Ian just snorted and stared out the window, not saying a word.
Yolanda frowned and leaned in closer. “What’s wrong? Didn’t the meeting with the director go well?”
Ian yanked her over, settling her onto his lap. “The meeting with the director went smoothly. It was running into that backup guy, jumping around all over the place, that didn’t go so well.”
‘Backup guy?‘ Yolanda wondered, trying to wrap her head around what Ian meant.
‘Wait… backup guy? Who’s backup guy is he talking about?‘ she thought, totally lost.
Ian grabbed a disinfectant wipe from the side and started wiping his fingers, one by one.
11:39 Sun, Oct 5
Chapter 162
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Yolanda sat on his lap, just staring at him in confusion, wondering what he was about to do. Suddenly, he reached over and grabbed her chin, prying her mouth open with his fingertips.
She could only keep her mouth open, unable to say a word, glaring at Ian with wide eyes.
Ian gripped her tongue firmly between his fingers, giving Yolanda a possessive look. “Didn’t I tell you–you belong to me and me alone?”
Yolanda couldn’t reply; with her tongue trapped, she just froze and didn’t dare to even flinch.
She let out a couple of muffled protests, urgently signaling for him to let her go.
He did release her–but the very next second, his lips descended on hers in a fierce, demanding kiss.
After making out for what seemed like ages, Ian finally let her go. He held Yolanda tight, staring out the window. “I don’t want to be mad at you.”
Yolanda tried everything to figure out why he was upset, but Leo didn’t even cross her mind.
I mean, Leo meant absolutely nothing to Ian–definitely not someone worth getting jealous about.
Yolanda reached out and turned his face to look at her. ‘Damn, he really is good–looking–even up close, he’s just crazy gorgeous,’ she thought.
‘Everything about Ian is a mess of contradictions, Yolanda mused.
‘He’s still kind of inexperienced, but somehow so domineering–and then there’s that brooding, possessive vibe that never really goes away!‘
‘Put all those together, and seriously, who could resist softening up to him?‘
“Backup guy? What are you even on about?” Yolanda shot back.
“So, have you ever actually thought about divorcing your husband?” Ian pressed.
Yolanda’s smile faded instantly and she started to slide back over to the driver’s seat.
Ian dropped his lashes, shielding whatever was in his eyes. “Fine, I’ll stop asking, alright?”
He pulled her close, tucking his head down against her neck. “Honestly, you’re one of a kind–won’t give me a proper label and still have other guys dangling around you. What do you expect me to do? Of course I’m getting worked up…”
“I’m not stringing anyone along–I seriously don’t know who you mean. If you’re talking about that lunatic Leo, you’re really reaching. I don’t even count him as an actual person. God knows what he’s flipping out about,” Yolanda retorted.
“Oh?” Ian shot back, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.
“Ian, divorce isn’t something I can handle right now. Just… can we wait a little longer?” Yolanda muttered.
11:39 Sun, Oct 5
Chapter 162
Ian’s voice instantly lightened up. “Alright, I’ll wait. Wanna come back to my place tonight?”
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Yolanda figured she had been neglecting him lately, so she drove to his place. She was pretty sure Charles wouldn’t be home tonight–after all, his first love had just come back to the country.
Just to be safe, Yolanda texted Sophie the hotel where Charles and Joelle were meeting.
Yolanda had just washed her hair and finished her shower. When she came out, lan was already waiting with a hair dryer in hand. “Yolanda, let me dry your hair for you,” he offered.
Yolanda couldn’t help but feel a wave of warmth in her chest. She sat down on the carpet, turning her back to him, feeling a little soft inside.
Ian clearly wasn’t used to fussing over someone like this–his hands were awkward at first, fumbling through her hair, but as the minutes passed, he grew gentler and more confident with every motion.
Yolanda was still in her robe, and with Ian gently blow drying her hair, the soothing warmth soon lulled her to sleep. She just curled up nearby and dozed off.
Ian carefully lifted her onto the bed, then retreated to the bathroom for an exceptionally thorough wash–he was so meticulous it was like he was going to disinfect every tooth, one by one.
Yolanda shifted groggily in her sleep, trembling a little, and Ian’s hands gripped her thigh just enough that she almost woke up feeling the imprint of his fingers.
When you’re dying of thirst and suddenly find an oasis, you can’t help but want to drink every last drop- devouring it all until there’s nothing left.
She felt utterly helpless, squirming under his touch like she was trying to escape, only for him to pin her down even tighter.
As her eyes fluttered open, Ian leaned in, his thumb softly brushing away the tears at the edge of her
eyes.
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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.
