Chapter 167
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By the time Charles was four, the whispers had faded into nothing. He had no memory of the chaos that had once surrounded his family. Life had settled into a peaceful rhythm.
His parents‘ relationship seemed solid, and the outside world had no idea about the drama that had once unfolded behind closed doors.
Dylan had that corporate–perfect look that made him seem untouchable. If you didn’t look beneath that flawless façade, you’d never guess what was really going on in his head.
As Charles settled back into the car, he couldn’t help thinking–‘Guess that emotional detachment runs in the family.‘
As Charles leaned back, he heard Yolanda mumble by his side, “We should really drop by more often. This place is pretty far from downtown.”
Charles felt comforted. He scooped her into his arms and gently brushed the tip of her nose.
“My little straight–laced one, don’t you ever hold a grudge?” Charles teased.
It had been ages since she’d heard him call her that–ever since they’d gotten married, Charles hadn’t used that nickname.
“But she’s your sister,” Yolanda said, snuggling closer.
She nestled into his arms, looking sleepy and spent.
After all those rounds of passion last night, and rushing off to Starlight Entertainment first thing this morning, she was completely wiped out.
Charles leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss onto her hair.
For once, the car felt cozy and peaceful–until Charles’s phone started ringing, breaking the mood.
Yolanda’s eyelashes fluttered. ‘Looks like Joelle is about to stir things up, she thought.
Charles glanced at his phone. Sure enough, it was Joelle calling. He answered.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Joelle sounded scared, her face drained of color under her mask and hat. “Charles, remember that obsessive fan I told you about? He followed me all the way back here. I’m heading to my hotel right now, but I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s trailing me.”
Joelle Monroe was the kind of international A–lister who drew crowds no matter where she went. Barely back for a day, and her fan count had already soared past twenty million.
Superstar stalkers and over–the–top fans? Yeah, those could get straight–up scary.
11:15 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 167
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Charles frowned, his hand subconsciously tightening around Yolanda’s waist. “Send me your location”
“O–Okay.” Joelle stammered, quickly sending over her address.
She shakily dropped him her location.
By now, Charles’s car had entered the city–it wasn’t far from Moonbay Estate now.
“Yolanda, you should head back. Someone I know ran into some trouble, so I need to go check it out,” he said.
Yolanda nodded obediently and got out of the car. “Be careful, okay?”
Charles glanced at her calm face and knew for certain she had no idea Joelle was back.
If she did, there’s no way she’d be this calm.
Back when Charles would stand her up to meet Joelle, Yolanda always ended up hiding somewhere to cry her heart out, alone and unnoticed.
After the car drove off, Yolanda quietly grabbed a cab, heading to Ian’s place–she just needed somewhere familiar to wait out the night.
‘Looks like Charles won’t be coming home tonight.‘ Yolanda thought to herself, a wave of loneliness washing over her.
After a quick shower, she flopped onto the bed in the master bedroom, scrolling through her phone to catch up on the latest trending topics.
Sophie was really pushing herself—she’d been livestreaming non–stop for nine hours since noon. The controversy about the CEO of Starlight Entertainment mistreating talent was getting hotter by the minute, but so far, none of Sophie’s photos had leaked. Meanwhile, furious netizens had already surrounded the Starlight building, yelling for Yolanda to show herself.
When Mary Hall got the news, she instantly called Sophie, sounding almost frantic.
“Are you crazy? Everything Ms. Grant’s ever done was for her talent, and now you just betray her like this? Sophie, I used to think you were just clueless–but at least you were sweet. Never thought you could be this toxic!” Mary snapped, voice full of disappointment and rage.
Sophie always saw Mary as her big sister, someone to complain and cry to in the office. Mary had always been a good listener. She never thought Mary would call her out like this, even accuse her of being cruel.
‘It must be something Yolanda said. No way Mary would flip on me this fast otherwise, Sophie thought miserably.
“Ms. Hall, she had it coming! She dumped over ten million in loans on nobodies like me–does she want my life ruined? She basically wants me destroyed! She doesn’t even care if I live or die!” Sophie shot back, fired
- up.
Mary was genuinely worried about Yolanda and decided there was no point in arguing with Sophie any longer, so she shot Yolanda a message instead.
11:16 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 167
[Ms. Grant, I’ll step out and help clear things up for you.]
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Not that it would change much, but at least she could draw some of the heat away from Yolanda.
Yolanda shot back almost instantly.
[Don’t. Just leave it alone.]
Mary never questioned Yolanda–if she said to stay out of it, then Mary was sure it was the smart play.
Meanwhile, the online storm was only getting worse.
As Yolanda refreshed her Twitter feed, sure enough, Joelle Monroe’s post popped right up.
Joelle had shared a shot from a luxurious hotel suite–the huge windows caught the reflection of two figures.
One was clearly her, and the other, even though you couldn’t really see his face, was unmistakably Charles.
Anyone familiar with him could tell right away who it was.
And Joelle’s caption? Definitely attention–grabbing.
[After everything, it’s still you who cares about me the most.]
Yolanda found it pretty funny but resisted hitting like–since they shared a bunch of mutual friends, no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
Below the post, a bunch of familiar names started popping up.
[Is that Yolanda who’s trending on Twitter the same person?]
[Congrats on coming back, Joelle! Looks like someone’s finally getting kicked to the curb.]
[Joelle, you’re getting more stunning by the day. You two look perfect together.]
Most people in the industry still had no clue Yolanda was now running Starlight Entertainment. Everyone figured she was still just a stay–at–home wife, so at first, no one thought it was her–they just figured it was someone with the same name.
Netizens were trying to dig up photos of her, but so far, nothing had come up.
Yolanda had full faith in Sinclair Group’s PR team. After all, she was Mrs. Sinclair. If her photos started spreading everywhere, it would be a disaster for the company. So the PR team was keeping a tight lid on her images, and if anyone tried to leak them, they’d get Twitter to take them down immediately.
That’s also why Yolanda wasn’t in any hurry to file for divorce–Charles was a solid tree to lean on, and she
liked the shade.
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.
