Chapter 173
“Grady, where’s that chick you’re talking about? Mark’s eyes darted around realess with arigation
He only saw Eric as a pawn. Family? That was analog to Mito–te a word people used.
If Eric could drag Yolanda over, Mark would get what he wanted. And if anything blew up. Eric would be the one dealing with Charles’s fury, not him. With Joelle bark, Charles was hung up on his old flame angways he probably couldn’t care less what happened to his wife
Mark swallowed hard, feeling heat flare in his cheu–the desire was borning him up.
He was dead set on finding out where Yolanda had been showing up lately. He was going to nail that tease no
matter what.
Yolanda was nothing but trouble–she’d known how to get under his skin since they were kick. No wonder she’d been stuck in his mind all these years.
Mark couldn’t hide his excitement as he hurried outside.
“Let me ask around, I’ll figure it out soon enough,” he said
Eric was pretty hyped himself. He couldn’t wait to see if she was really as gorgeous as everyone said.
As Mark climbed into his car, he whipped out his phone and shot Yolanda another sleazy text.
He’d never backed off from her all these years–every time he fired off one of those messages, it was as if he’d already had her in his bed, leaving him smug and totally satisfied.
Meanwhile, Yolanda swapped into a whole new getup–a hat pulled low, a mask covering her face, and clothes that screamed sporty but flew totally under the radar. Whenever she passed herself off as lan’s manager, her look would shift; she kept things youthful and stayed covered from head to toe so nobody would ever recognize her.
Once she stepped into his room, Yolanda finally peeled off her hat and mask, then gently checked his forehead for any leftover fever.
Thankfully, his fever had broken.
Her gaze dropped, and that’s when she spotted several purplish bruises on him. Her brows knitted. “Ian, are you seeing someone?”
The bruises weren’t very clear, mostly hidden under his clothes.
Ian, always pale, blinked, his lashes trembling at her words. “What?”
Yolanda sat on the edge of the bed and hooked a finger under his collar. The black shirt she’d sent over earlier looked sleek and felt expensive to the touch.
She gently pulled the fabric aside, spotting bruises scattering from his chest all the way down to his waist.
11:17 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 173
“If you’re not dating someone, then who gave you these marks?” she asked, brows furrowed.
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Ian’s whole body quivered with irritation. “Seriously, Yolanda–you’re a married woman. Do the love bites in your house look like this? Guess Charles doesn’t have a gentle bone in his body.”
Yolanda’s face went bright red, totally flustered.
Ian yanked his hand out of hers, snapping, “Dating someone? Get real. These are just bruises from falling during filming.”
Yolanda froze for a second, then hurriedly started unbuttoning his shirt, popping one button after another. The bruises across his waist and stomach were nasty–just seeing them made her wince. ‘Dang, that looks painful, she thought.
She was just about to say something when Ian suddenly shoved her away and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Yolanda’s face drained of color as panic hit. She snatched up some tissues and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Did you really get banged up this bad from filming?”
Ian’s lashes fluttered, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about me,” he said.
Yolanda was just about to call Simone, but Ian caught her hand. “Ms. Grant,” he said, his grip gentle yet firm.
There was a serious look in his eyes as he pressed her hand softly to his cheek. “I promise, I’m okay. I just want to give everything I’ve got in every scene. My role in this drama is a street punk who gets beaten up a lot early on. To keep it real, I actually let them hit me for real. I want to do justice to the character.”
Yolanda’s heart twisted with sympathy. She leaned in, so close she could almost feel his breath, and blew a gentle breath over his bruises.
Ian felt goosebumps prickle all over, his muscles going instantly taut. But just then, the hospital room door was thrown open.
May stepped inside.
Quick as lightning, Ian grabbed the blanket and covered Yolanda’s upper body, hiding her beneath it.
May instantly slapped her hand over her eyes. “Oh my god, seriously? Get a room!”
A mischievous glint flashed in Ian’s eyes as he slowly pressed Yolanda’s head down.
With that gentle push, her lips landed right on his bare waist.
May barged in, face twisted with annoyance. “Hey! This is my hospital room. Who are you people? Get out,
now!”
Charles shot her a sideways glance, sounding totally chill. “Mom, you walked into the wrong room.”
May finally checked the room number, instantly realizing she’d mixed it up.
11:17 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 173
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Yolanda froze up the second she heard May and Charles’s voices—her back stiffened and chills shot down her spine, goosebumps popping up everywhere.
But fan wouldn’t let go, his hand kept her head right where it was, leaving her lips pressed helplessly against his bare skin. She had no choice but to feel his body heat radiating off him, every breath he took making his muscles shift under her mouth–and with that, her face just kept getting hotter, burning up with embarrassment and something she couldn’t even name.
May might have barged into the wrong room, but you’d never see her admit to a single mistake. Instead, she gave Yolanda and Ian this knowing, judgmental look–like she was savoring the moment to throw some shade.
“Messing around with a man in a hospital room–what respectable family raises a girl like that, huh? Charles, let’s leave,” she sniffed, brushing past without even missing a beat.
Ian leaned back, his tone frosty. “My girlfriend’s just fine.”
May just rolled her eyes, turned around, and walked out, not bothering with another word.
Charles had a hunch about Ian from the very first time they crossed paths at the mahjong table–he just couldn’t stand the guy, and it was pure male intuition.
His gaze landed on the woman half–hidden under the blanket. She was visibly anxious, her whole body stiff with tension.
Charles stood at the doorway, gave a polite nod, and said, “Sorry to bother you.”
With that, he personally closed the door behind him.
Ian stayed quiet until he was sure they were gone, then he finally spoke up, his voice rough. “You can come out now.”
Yolanda pulled back a corner of the blanket, her chin resting on his bare abs as she gazed up at him. “What were you even rambling about just now?”
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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.
