Yolanda was dropped off at Moonbay Estate. As soon as she got out of the car, she rubbed her head. “Honey, I’m going to rest first.”
Charles stayed in the car. He had plans to meet with Quinn and the others tonight. He reached out and ruffled her hair. “Okay.”
She stood by the car door, holding his hand. “I need to handle the share transfer from Ken and Wayne slowly. Honey, are you really not mad that I took the shares?”
“Let me kiss you a few more times, and I won’t be mad,” he said.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, as if she were shy. She closed the car door. “I’m going inside.”
The way she moved was so full of life, it could steal anyone’s attention.
Charles couldn’t help but find her adorable, a faint smile flickering across his lips. Just then, his phone rang- Sophie’s name lit up on the screen.
Ever since Joelle came back to Beloris, Charles hadn’t contacted Sophie at all.
Sophie was feeling nervous, but she just couldn’t bring herself to disturb him.
“Charles, you haven’t come to see me in ages,” Sophie said softly.
Charles frowned, only now remembering he still had this side relationship. ‘Guess it’s time to put an end to this,’ he thought.
“Head over to Muse Club, Sophie. I need to talk to you,” Charles said.
Sophie’s eyes sparkled. She dolled herself up in a hurry and headed straight over.
Charles used to always bring her along to the club, and his friends would be hanging out in the VIP room. ‘If he’s inviting me again tonight, maybe he really does like me, at least a little?‘ she wondered to herself.
Her heart was pounding like crazy–right up until she ran into Joelle at the entrance.
To be fair, Joelle really was a knockout. Sophie was cute and sweet–a classic girl–next–door–but faced with Joelle, Charles’s real dream girl, she couldn’t help feeling out of her league.
Joelle knew Charles had someone else on the side. He’d never been one for commitment, and that was exactly what made her hesitate back then.
She refused to be just another girl in his collection, begging for scraps of affection like some lovesick fool. She wanted the top spot–nothing less.
If Charles couldn’t give her that, then she wanted no part of him.
But she never thought he’d be so ruthless–he turned around and married Yolanda like it was nothing.
10:30 Fri Oct 17
Chapter 187
While she was abroad, Joelle finally figured things out. She realized she’d been too fixated before–it was pointless to expect a guy like Charles to be loyal If she could keep him hooked, always thinking about her. that was victory enough So she kept him hanging, always playing it cool whenever he flew out to see her- pretending it was no big deal.
Now, when she saw Sophie, Joelle was distant and icy.
Sophie felt awkward and self–conscious–a far cry from the cockiness she’d had in front of Yolanda.
After all, everyone who knew Charles knew he was head over heels for Joelle.
Sophie hurried towards the VIP room, while Joelle stayed right where she was. Her agent said quietly, “Mr. Sinclair’s here tonight. He invited Sophie, but not you. Joelle, what do you make of this?”
Joelle tossed her hair with a scoff. “She’s nothing but a fancy escort. If I stoop to compete with her, it would only lower my worth. Plus, I’m the Queen of the Screen–everyone in Beloris is crazy about me, and Charles knows it. Who cares about Sophie? Girls like her, always clinging to men to get ahead–everyone in this scene knows what she is. People just see her as something to play with.”
The agent breathed a sigh of relief. “Glad you’ve got your head on right, Joelle.”
A spark lit up in Joelle’s eyes, and her lips curled into a sly smile. “If I hadn’t sorted this out after all these years in the game, I’d have wasted my time here. Sophie and Yolanda? They’re not even on my radar. My goal is Charles–I want him to go wild for me, forget everyone else, and turn his whole world upside down just for me. When I’ve got him wrapped around my finger, even if I don’t want to be Mrs. Sinclair, he’ll be begging to hand it all over. In this kind of fight, it’s the man’s stance that decides everything.”
The agent’s eyes glowed with respect, exhaling with relief. “Joelle, the first time I met you overseas, I knew you were different. You always prove me right.”
Joelle let out a cold laugh and turned away from the VIP room. No point wasting her time there.
Sophie pushed open the VIP room door and saw Charles. Instantly, the awkwardness she’d felt faded away. She hurried over and, just like always, nestled herself comfortably on his lap.
But this time, Charles subtly leaned away.
Quinn, sitting beside them, was surprised and about to speak when Charles cut in. “Sophie, you’ve been with me for more than two years now. I had Jack put together a list of properties–pick two that you like.”
Sophie’s face turned ghostly white–she just stared at him, her whole world seeming to collapse.
His voice was still soft, almost tender, but every word cut like ice. “I don’t have the time to deal with you anymore.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks in big drops, her shoulders trembling with each sob. “Charles, are you really going to treat me like this? I thought I’d done everything you wanted. I love you…. as long as you visit me, even just once a month, I’ll be happy. Please, don’t throw me away.”
She clung to his arm, desperation flooding her eyes.
10:30 Fri, Oct 17
Chapter 187
But Charles didn’t budge. He calmly pulled his arm back. “Go find Jack.”
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Suddenly, Sophie dropped to her knees, making Quinn instinctively shuffle away to the side. “Sophie, come on you don’t have to do this. Charles has had women coming and going forever–you’ve stuck around way longer than most. Plus, he’s giving you two houses. It’s not like he’s treating you unfairly, is it?”
Charles, please don’t leave me,” Sophie sobbed, her voice cracking. “Is it something I did wrong? I’ll change, I really will. I won’t be jealous of you and Joelle anymore. Whenever I see her, I’ll keep my distance–really, I promise
Loving Charles is all about swallowing your pride–it’s just that sad.
Sophie used to have it all–Charles would drop everything just to be there for her.
He would sit with her watching fireworks, go to interviews by her side, even travel with her for work.
But when the affection faded, it was like his heart turned to stone.
“Charles…” Sophie choked out, voice trembling with hurt.
“Come on, Sophie. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Charles said, sounding tired.
With a glass of wine in one hand, Charles calmly grabbed a tissue and dabbed away her tears—his tone gentle, but distant. “Clean yourself up and go talk to Jack.”
Sophie collapsed backward, as if the world had just caved in on her. Her knees throbbed from kneeling so long, but she forced herself upright, tears still streaming down her cheeks. As she clawed for the door, she tripped and nearly sprawled across the floor, leaving her looking utterly broken and pitiful.
Quinn watched the whole thing with a slow shake of his head. “Man, you really are something else. Just wait— if someday the tables turn and you’re the one kneeling, begging somebody not to walk away like Sophie is right now, that’ll be a show worth seeing.”
“No woman alive could ever make me get on my knees,” Charles retorted coolly. “That’s way beneath me.”
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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.
