Chapter 200
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Chapter 200
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Yolanda was left breathless from the kiss, lightly pounding Charles’s shoulder. “You’re suffocating me,” she complained.
Charles pulled back and hugged her tightly again. “Let’s go home?” he asked.
Yolanda’s mind was spinning. She could tell Charles was in a good mood, which meant the Andrade family probably won the bid for the land tonight—and ended up being the sucker who got played.
Once the truth about the land came out, Cedric would lose any shot at becoming CEO of the Andrade Group, and Quentin would most likely rise to the top.
Yolanda wasn’t thrilled about that, considering Quentin was Joelle’s lapdog.
Out of the corner of her eye, Yolanda caught a glimpse of someone’s shirt darting past the corner. Her heart skipped a beat. ‘Crap, the puppy saw everything,’ she thought.
Sure, Charles was her husband, but Ian had never witnessed them getting so close before.
Yolanda felt a surge of panic and shoved Charles away, faking dizziness.
“Charles, I need to have a word with Megan. Go wait for me in the car,” Yolanda said.
“You’re not drunk, are you?” Charles asked.
“Nope, I’m totally fine. Megan’s just really hyped up tonight. You know how her husband is… I’m honestly happy for her. She got tipsy so fast, I need to go see how she’s holding up,” Yolanda replied.
Charles reached out and gave her cheek a gentle pinch. Her eyes were shimmering with emotion, making it impossible for him to resist her.
“How long do I have to wait? Don’t forget, your husband’s time is worth a fortune,” Charles teased.
“Half an hour tops,” Yolanda replied.
With that, she strode off toward the elevator, disappearing around the corner.
Charles let out a soft laugh. ‘She’s seriously getting more vibrant and full of life every single day,’ he couldn’t help but think.
Yolanda headed straight for the farthest corner, and sure enough, she spotted lan out by the little courtyard.
He was sitting all by himself in a hanging chair, looking so lonely it made her heart ache.
Her chest tightened. She hurried over and called out, “lan.”
Ian answered in a low voice, not turning around. “Mm?”
He kept his eyes fixed on the distant fake rockery, his long legs awkwardly folded up beneath him like he had
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Chapter 200
nowhere else to put them.
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Yolanda hesitated, unsure of what to say. Instead, she reached out and helped fan to his feet, gently guiding him toward the elevator.
When they got upstairs, Yolanda glanced at lan. “How many rooms did you get?”
lan mumbled, turning his head away. “Two.”
“Where’s the other one?” Yolanda asked.
“Ms. Grant, your husband’s still waiting for you, you know,” Ian said quietly.
Before Ian’s words were even cold, Yolanda jerked her hand free. “Whatever, I haven’t slept with him for half a year. Guess I’m actually in the mood tonight.”
Her words had barely landed when Ian seized her wrist. That usual look of gentle hurt was gone-he just stared at her, icy and silent, unreadable.
Yolanda gave him a sly grin, cupping his cheeks. “Hey, it’s just for show-the whole married couple act, you know? If you’re that bothered by it, why don’t you kiss me and take it back?”
Ian didn’t say a word. He just yanked her into the room next door and slammed the door shut behind them.
The room was pitch black. Yolanda found herself pressed up against the floor-to-ceiling window, hands gripping the chilly railing, and in the glass’s reflection, she saw Ian closing in on her.
“Ian…” Yolanda whispered, breathless.
The wild edge in Ian’s eyes disappeared in a flash. He spun her gently to face him, brushed a tender kiss over her lips, then lifted one of her legs and settled it onto the chair beside them.
“Hold on to the railing,” Ian murmured.
“Charles is still downstairs waiting for me, Ian. Seriously-don’t start,” Yolanda whispered, her voice tense.
‘There’s no way I can hide this. My face will totally give me away, and with how sharp Charles is, he’ll see right through me for sure,’ Yolanda fretted.
Ian dropped his head, looking like a puppy who just got scolded-totally defeated.
Then, still silent, he got up and headed straight into the bathroom next door. Soon, the sound of water running echoed from inside.
Yolanda glanced at her phone. Ten minutes had already passed since she came up.
She knocked on the bathroom door. “Ian?”
“What?” Ian’s voice came from inside, still a bit grumpy.
Even though he was still mad, Ian opened the door. His hair was dripping wet, like he’d just stepped out of the
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Chapter 200
shower.
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Yolanda waited outside, her tone gentle but firm. “Once I take over Starlight, I’ll move your contract straight there myself. I’ll make you shine-deal?”
The bathroom floor was a good eight inches higher than the rest, making lan tower over her even more as he stood in the doorway.
“You think I give a damn?” Ian shot back.
I’m the one who cares, Ian. I’m a married woman, and you knew that from the beginning. If it really bothered you, you shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with me at all,” Yolanda said, steady but a little tired.
Jan’s face changed instantly. He bit his lip and fixed her with an icy stare.
Yolanda’s gaze stayed steady and calm. She reached up and touched his cheek. “You’re still young, Ian. You’ve got a future ahead of you most people can only dream of. I know you’re hiding things-there’s more to you than anyone realizes. You’re destined for big things, I told you that right from the start.”
Ian snapped her hand away. “Sure, you’re the one who’s always got it together-guess it’s all my fault, huh? I can’t be as heartless as you. After everything between us, all those kisses, you can just calmly talk business like none of it ever mattered?”
Yolanda had already learned her lesson the hard way with men-there’s no way she’d let herself fall for someone again so quickly.
She took a deep breath, slipped her hand out of his grasp, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“We both need to cool down and take a breather. Things at Starlight have been hectic lately,” Yolanda said.
As Yolanda turned to leave, Ian stared after her, the scowl on his face tinged with a cold, simmering anger.
“Are you going to see Leo?” Ian spat out, his voice icy.
Yolanda furrowed her brows, stunned for a second. ‘Did I just hear that right?’ She didn’t answer immediately.
Ian leaned casually against the doorframe, his whole vibe shifting in an instant. He looked like a flower blooming in the dark-intriguing, seductive, and dangerous all at once.
“So, you running off to see him now? What, did he finally beg to be your puppy or something?” Ian scoffed, his voice cold and mocking.
Yolanda opened the door to the room, pausing just long enough to say, “Calm down.” Her tone was cool and detached.
Saying nothing else, she closed the door behind her.
Ian lowered his gaze, looking defeated, then smashed his fist into the mirror next to him, streaks of blood welling from his knuckles.
His crew tried calling, but he couldn’t be bothered to pick up. Without a word, he turned on the faucet and
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quietly washed the blood from his knuckles away.
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Yolanda was riding the elevator alone when it stopped at a random floor. The doors opened, and Leo stepped
Yolanda felt all her luck plummet-could this night get any worse? She shifted to the side, keeping as much distance as possible.
Leo snorted, clearly unimpressed, and reached out to hit the elevator button.
Yolanda had zero interest in sharing a confined space with him, especially tonight. So before the elevator doors could shut, she just stepped out without a second thought.
Leo caught the doors with one hand, his eyes burning with irritation. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I just don’t want to ride the elevator with you,” Yolanda replied coolly.
Leo snapped, all fur bristling like a cat with its tail stepped on. “What, you still share the same planet with me? Why don’t you just catch the next rocket to Mars!”
Yolanda rolled her eyes, spun around without giving him a second glance, and marched off to find another elevator.
But Leo stormed after her, refusing to let it go.
Yolanda felt the alcohol kicking in, and his footsteps coming up behind her were really starting to get on her nerves. “What exactly do you want from me?” she shot back.
Maybe it was just the booze, but Yolanda felt hot all over. She leaned against the window, letting the cool night breeze tease her hair, hoping it would help clear her mind.
Leo caught the flush on her cheeks and the dazed look in her eyes, but the usual flirty spark was nowhere to be found. Obviously, she and Ian hadn’t even had the chance to get up to anything.
His call couldn’t have come at a better moment. Charles had been extra attentive to Yolanda lately-if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have shown up so fast tonight.
Leo couldn’t even figure out what the hell was going on in his own head. Growing up with the Lawsons, there’s no way he was some idiot.
There was that voice in his head, louder by the second, refusing to let up,
‘Heh, if they’re not giving me a seat at the table, whatever-I’ll just flip the whole damn thing. No one gets a bite then, Leo sneered to himself.
9:07 Wed, Oct 22
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.
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.
