Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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$795 vouchers
Charles didn’t see anything wrong with it. Instead of letting go, he held Yolanda even tighter.
Xavier didn’t think much of it either. After all, they were married.
But Leo was fuming. He stormed into the elevator and pressed every button without saying a word.
Xavier’s face darkened when he saw all the buttons lit up below the tenth floor. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Mind your own business. Can’t I have a shaky hand?” Leo shot back.
“Seriously? Your hand shakes that bad?” Xavier snapped.
With those two messing around, Charles had to stop mid–kiss, rubbing his temples in exasperation.
Xavier turned back with an apologetic look. “Sorry about that.”
Charles couldn’t help but chuckle. “What, Leo–heading off to a matchmaking session or something?”
Leo kept sneaking side glances at Yolanda, only to jerk his gaze away every time. He’d steal another peek, then act like nothing happened–nobody caught onto it, not even Yolanda herself.
She stood quietly in the corner, looking all gentle and innocent, like the perfect good girl.
Leo felt kind of stifled inside, though he couldn’t quite put a finger on it. “Yeah, I have no clue what’s up with my mom lately.”
Leo and Yolanda were the same age, and he was the youngest guy in the group–technically, there was no need for him to rush into anything.
But families are just like that: once the eldest gets hitched, everyone starts fussing over the next in line. Worse yet, Leo’s spent the past few years wasting his days glued to his gaming console or tearing up the racetrack- he doesn’t have any girls around, heck, the only females near him are mosquitoes. No wonder the Lawson family is panicking now.
The elevator stopped on every single floor–it took forever.
When it finally stopped at the last floor, Joelle Monroe was waiting outside.
Her face lit up when she spotted Charles, but as soon as she noticed Yolanda beside him, all that joy vanished in a blink. “Charles, you’re here too.”
Her manager–the one standing behind her–called out anxiously, “Joelle, don’t just stand there! Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Joelle’s face looked kind of pale, but she just shook her head. “It’s nothing, don’t freak out over it.”
“You’re bleeding–how is that not a big deal?” her manager blurted out in panic.
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Sivouchers
Before anyone could react, the manager hurriedly shoved her into the elevator, making sure Joelle ended up right next to Charles.
The doors slid shut, and awkward silence instantly filled the space.
Yolanda instinctively stepped back, catching the smell of blood. She glanced up and saw it was Joelle’s wrist- blood was still leaking from the wound.
Getting hurt there was no joke; if an artery got nicked, it could be seriously life–threatening.
Joelle kept her head down, silent, and the rest of them didn’t say a word either.
When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, the manager was nearly in tears. “What do we do now? Looks like the paparazzi slashed our tires. I’ll call a cab–Joelle, hang tight!”
Joelle stood there, not saying a word.
Yolanda could feel Charles’s grip on her waist tighten.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer. “How did you get hurt?”
Joelle shook her head, looking even more washed out. “I’m fine, really. I’ll just wait for my manager to call a cab.”
Charles’s face clouded over. He let go of Yolanda’s waist, stepped forward and took Joelle gently by the arm. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Joelle glanced at Yolanda, worry written all over her face. “But what about Yolanda? Weren’t you two together?”
Charles hesitated for a second. “Yolanda…”
Xavier chimed in right away, “I’ll take your wife back. Somebody’s life could be on the line–just get her to the hospital, fast.”
Xavier knew there’d been drama between Charles and Joelle, but now wasn’t the time to get into that. Joelle’s hand looked seriously messed up–and she was a star, after all.
Charles let out a visible sigh of relief. “Yolanda, you head back first. I’ll be home in two hours.”
What he meant was crystal clear–there was no way anything sketchy was going to go down between him and Joelle.
Yolanda nodded, worry written all over her face. “Quick, go.”
Charles felt something twist in his gut–Yolanda agreed way too fast. Just when he was about to say something, she turned away, her eyes already tinged red.
His mood instantly eased. “Don’t worry, I’ll be home tonight just for you.”
“Yeah,” she murmured.
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Chapter 177
Once they were gone, Xavier turned to Yolanda. “Let’s go.”
42 B
As soon as he finished speaking, Leo, who’d been lingering nearby, offhandedly asked, “Aren’t you supposed to have that overseas meeting tonight? Moonbay Estate’s pretty out of the way for you.”
Xavier froze for a moment–that was true. But how did Leo know about his schedule? Wasn’t he always the last to care about stuff like this?
Leo stuffed his hands in his pockets, wearing that classic annoyed look like taking Yolanda home was some kind of favor. “I’ll take her back. These days, I’ve been staying near Moonbay Estate anyway.
Xavier nodded, but couldn’t resist barking, “And quit acting like the whole world owes you cash! Leo, I just bailed you out last time–if you stir up trouble again, I’ll knock your head off, got it?”
Leo kept his mouth shut, struggling to hide how flustered he felt–his cheeks were burning up.
Once Xavier left, Leo finally walked over to Yolanda.
With the lobby cameras watching, Leo avoided her gaze, grumbling, “Ugh, such a hassle. Let’s go.”
Yolanda gave a cold snort and brushed right past him. “Thanks, but I can get home on my own. I drove here myself.”
She strode straight to her car, about to get in, when Leo suddenly snatched her wrist.
His eyes were burning red with frustration as he dragged her off to the side.
He pulled her into the hotel courtyard–pitch–black and empty, since it was late and everyone was holed up in their rooms.
Yolanda couldn’t break free and snapped, yelling angrily, “What the hell is wrong with you? If Charles pissed ‘you off, don’t come dumping your crazy on me!”
Before she could finish, Leo shoved her hard against the wall behind them.
He crashed into her, kissing her fiercely–refusing to let go, his tongue boldly pushing deeper.
Yolanda’s fists landed on his shoulders, punching him again and again, but he wouldn’t stop.
Leo kept his lips locked on her, even giving her a nasty bite on the lip. She winced and immediately kicked at him.
‘Am I just someone’s backup or what? If he’s so desperate for Joelle, why doesn’t he go chase her? It’s not like Joelle even wants him–so why am I getting dragged into all of this?‘ Yolanda fumed, feeling her patience
snap.
‘I don’t need to be stuck in the middle of their mess,‘ she thought, sick of being caught between these people.
She dabbed at her lips, scowling when she realized there was blood–so much for not getting hurt in their stupid games.
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Right as she was about to go off on him, Leo spat out in frustration, “What, isn’t this what you want? If you like! being kissed so much, I can do it too!”
AD
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.
