Chapter 174
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Yolanda was still tucked under the blankets, worried that Charles might suddenly pop back in for another ambush.
Ian couldn’t help himself; seeing her flushed checks, he reached out and pinched her face. “Can’t I even let my mind wander?”
Yolanda went quiet, then leaned down and kissed the bruised skin in front of her. “Stop being silly. Once your fever’s gone, we can go home. Staying here just feels weird.”
He hummed in agreement, leaned back, and closed his eyes.
Yolanda threw off the covers, quickly locked the door, and started gathering up all of Ian’s things, stuffing them into a nearby tote.
Once everything was packed, she put on her hat and mask. By then, it was already 6:30 in the evening.
Her phone buzzed on the pillow, but she didn’t hear it–she was in the bathroom, gathering up toiletries like face wash.
Ian picked up the phone and saw a message from an unknown number.
[Been wanting you for years, you little bitch. Remember Uncle Mark?] –
Ian’s eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing beneath his lashes.
When Yolanda came out of the bathroom and saw him holding her phone, she sounded a little annoyed. “Why are you messing with my phone again?” Yolanda said.
She reached for it, but Ian dodged easily. “Who’s Mark Long?” he asked.
Yolanda’s expression changed instantly. “Some creepy old guy. Back when I first got taken in by the Grant Family, he and my dad were good friends. He always tried to get close to me for some shady reason, and I hated it so much I’d hide in my older brother’s room. Haven’t seen him in forever, but he just keeps finding new numbers to send me gross messages.”
“I see,” Ian said.
He still didn’t give the phone back. Instead, he asked, “Yolanda, what’s your phone unlock code?”
Yolanda frowned, seeing how unfazed he looked.
“Don’t you think this is kinda over the line?” she protested.
“Over the line? Sure, it’s my bad–I’m always here making you feel good, never asking you to define us, and still have to watch you cozying up with your husband every single day, choking back the jealousy like it’s all my fault. Now I just wanna check your phone. Or–are you hiding someone else from me?” Ian shot back.
Yolanda was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
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Chapter 174
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Ian instantly flopped onto the bed, turning away from her. “I’m not leaving–I’ll just rot here. Just leave me
alone.”
Yolanda took a deep breath; she’d never seen lan throw such a fit before.
“The password is my birthday,” she said.
Ian didn’t hesitate at all. He sat up, typed in her birthday, and unlocked the phone.
Yolanda’s eyelashes fluttered. ‘He really remembers my birthday that clearly?‘ she thought to herself, a little surprised.
Ian replied to the message, sending over the location of a remote hotel.
[Uncle Mark, come here.]
After sending it, he deleted both messages so she wouldn’t have to see that disgusting crap.
Yolanda watched as Ian skillfully browsed through her photo gallery and Twitter. Her heart gave a nervous jolt.
She’d posted several sweet wife–life updates on Twitter lately, but guilty as she felt, she’d made sure Ian couldn’t see them.
Sure enough, Ian noticed her activity and quickly switched to his own Twitter. When he looked at Yolanda’s profile, he realized those posts weren’t visible to him at all.
Just as Ian was about to lose his cool, Yolanda cupped his face and kissed him hard.
He froze up, almost dropping the phone.
Yolanda kissed him hard, her tongue curling around his, eyes growing darker by the second. He forgot all about the phone, pressed his hand against the back of her head, deepening the kiss.
They kissed for several long minutes, and by the time they finally broke apart, the phone was already in Yolanda’s hand.
“Charles’s first love just came back to town. Those posts? Totally on purpose–just trying to provoke her. If she doesn’t take the bait, Charles keeps coming home and I have to deal with all his drama. It’s tiring,” Yolanda sighed.
Ian wiped his lips with his thumb, undisguised possessiveness flashing in his eyes, though he didn’t seem to notice it. His mood instantly improved. “Really?”
Yolanda nodded, setting the bags she’d packed down. “Alright, let’s head home. I ordered some food–it should get to our place in a couple hours.”
Ian cast his eyes down. “You go first. I just remembered I gotta go see a friend about something, so I’ll pass on
dinner.”
“What could be so urgent that you can’t even eat before you go?” Yolanda asked.
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Chapter 174
“Yolanda, I’ll come back tonight and eat you up,” Ian teased, flashing a wicked grin.
Annoyed, Yolanda spun on her heel and stalked off. “You’re getting more shameless every day.”
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She tugged her mask higher, opened the door, and walked out–only to bump right into May and Charles waiting outside.
May was getting discharged too, and when she spotted Yolanda, she instantly pegged her as the girl who’d been up to no good with some guy in the room earlier. She let out a chilly snort. “Who even knows where you came from. Shameless! If your mom saw you fooling around with a man in a hospital room, she’d probably come back from the dead just to yell at you.”
Yolanda went rigid, cold sweat trickling down her back. She stumbled a step backward and bowed her head, wishing she could just disappear.
With her totally different outfit and that hat and mask hiding her face, nobody would believe she was the same well–behaved Yolanda from before. Not even Charles picked up on it.
Charles simply patted May’s shoulder. “Mom, that’s not our concern.”
Charles didn’t care about anyone else’s business. He picked up the pile of expensive gift boxes people had brought for May and walked straight towards the elevator.
May snorted. “I just can’t stand women who sink so low–it makes me sick.”
She went into the elevator with Charles.
Yolanda lingered in the hallway, staying outside.
The moment the elevator doors slid shut, Yolanda hugged her arms, goosebumps prickling all over from sheer fright. Her heart thudded so wildly it felt like it was lodged right in her throat.
She drew in a shaky breath–her lungs felt like they were burning, and her scalp prickled so bad it was like all her nerves were on edge.
At that moment, the elevator stopped and a socialite who often gossiped with May stepped in. Her eyes lit up when she spotted May.
“May, look at you! Fancy running into you here!” the lady said.
May grinned, “Mrs. Lawson, what a coincidence! You still not feeling well?”
Mrs. Lawson fiddled with her ears, showing off her brand–new white jade earrings–she looked every inch the wealthy socialite. “I’m here to look after my mother–in–law. She won’t stay in the room anymore; says the young couple next door are way too into each other. Honestly, they don’t even bother to sneak around–just flaunting it for everyone to see! Nobody can get any shut–eye with all that going on.”
The two ladies just ate up all that gossip. May scrunched her nose in disdain–after all, this was a luxury hospital run by the Sinclair family, and only the rich came here. “Seriously, whose kids are pulling these wild stunts?”
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Mrs. Lawson gave a sly laugh. “I didn’t bother looking into it. Honestly, I thought my mother–in–law was making a fuss, but I totally heard it too. They didn’t even bother shutting the door–all cracked open for the whole hallway to hear! The nurses were mortified and tried to tell them off, but the couple just called us a bunch of old relics. Young people these days really don’t care who’s watching.”
May nodded in agreement. “Same here–the neighbors in my ward? Couple of youngsters. The girl was… well, let’s just say she was taking real good care of him. I was dying of embarrassment just seeing it. Girls now don’t have an ounce of self–respect. They chase thrills while they’re young, and then, when they get older, can’t even find anyone to actually care about them.”
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.
