Yolanda had no idea she was being live–streamed, so she was completely unaware of Xavier’s frantic reactions on the other side of the screen.
She kicked Leo away and glanced around.
She quickly realized that Andrew must have been the one behind all this.
Andrew always saw himself as Joelle’s loyal knight, and it looked like he’d been fooled by a few of Joelle’s cryptic lines again, showing up to take out anyone who threatened her.
There was no reasoning with a guy like him. Andrew would gladly lay down his life for Joelle, and there was no way Yolanda could talk him out of it.
Right now, staying alive was her only priority.
Yolanda hoisted her leg, still tangled in chains, up onto a chair, both hands straining as she tried to force the shackles apart.
But the chain wrapped around her ankle fit so snug, it might as well have been tailored for her–it was useless, she couldn’t move it one bit.
Her other foot was still on the ground when Leo, looking crushed and miserable, inched toward her. He rubbed his tear–streaked face against her foot, curled up small as if trying to hide from the world, his sobs tracing muddy rivers down his cheeks.
To be honest, after all these years, Yolanda had only ever seen him act like a pompous jerk, always thinking he was above her. This was the first time she’d ever seen Leo so completely and utterly defeated.
Xavier couldn’t stand it anymore. He started relentlessly spamming the live chat.
[“Yolanda, just you wait! How could you treat my brother like that? You’ll regret this, I swear!“]
Quinn watched the scene and finally breathed out in relief–things were finally back on track.
Yolanda was usually the quiet type, but she could always tell when someone didn’t like her. She’d never taken to Leo, so she’d always kept him at arm’s length all these years,
Out of the four, Samuel was easily the calmest of them all.
He had a stack of papers laid out in front of him, while his assistant stood respectfully at his desk, reporting back with meticulous attention to every detail.
“Here’s what we’ve got so far: the Andrade manor managed to snag that piece of land, but apparently there’s some sort of problem with it. No one’s figured out what it is yet. Cedric rushed over to the Andrade manor in the middle of the night, so we should be hearing more about that land any minute now,” the assistant explained.
Samuel’s gaze drifted over to his phone. The assistant, guessing he was checking out some business stats, considerately asked, “CEO, do you want me to bring over a phone stand?”
‘It’s probably a hassle for him to check the screen with the phone just lying there, the assistant thought to
himself.
Samuel pressed the power button and flipped his phone face down, sounding completely unbothered. “Don’t worry about it–just update me on any news about that land. And get someone to track down Andrew’s current whereabouts.”
Right now, Ian had control of the Crimson Gallery. If he wanted to track down Yolanda, he could do it in no time.
And with Xavier looking out for his brother like a hawk, there’s no way this livestream could drag on for much longer.
Samuel leaned back in his chair, thinking, ‘The longer we keep these tangled relationships under wraps, the safer we are. If this mess blows up, the Grant Family’s definitely getting dragged into the chaos.’
Yolanda would be left to face everyone’s blame, and that kind of pressure could grind her to dust.
If those two men ever decide to back her up, she might stand a chance. At the end of the day, though, it all depends on whether she’s got enough charisma to convince them.
Samuel lived by a single rule: never do anything reckless or out of line.
With all that responsibility weighing on him–and the Grant Family still climbing the ranks–there were just too many things outside his control.
He lowered his gaze, and once his assistant had left, quietly picked up his phone to check the livestream again.
Yolanda was still fumbling with the chain on her ankle, while Leo’s cheek rested against the foot she kept on. the floor.
He looked absolutely miserable, face flushed as he croaked, “Come on, just let me have a drink… Why are you being so cold–hearted, Yolanda? Please, I’m begging you…”
“Just one sip. Please… I’m so hot, I feel like I’m gonna burn up.”
His mumbling was so quiet, only Yolanda could actually hear him.
Yolanda just tuned him out, her fingers numb and aching as she tried helplessly to yank the chain open, but it didn’t move a millimeter.
Finally, she just let go and sagged against the chair, hoping someone else would show up and pull her out of
this mess.
Leo, his wrists covered in bloody scratches, slowly pushed himself up from the floor and knelt down beside
her.
Yolanda’s lashes fluttered as she immediately snapped upright, legs stiff with nervousness. ‘It’s not like I told him to kneel, she thought. ‘Seriously, if he remembers this later and totally freaks out about it, please just don’t let him go
Leo, dazed and burning up so badly he could barely make out anything in front of him, lurched forward in confusion.
The chair simply couldn’t take both their weight and collapsed backward.
Yolanda tumbled down with him, seeing stars as her world spun from the impact.
Sometimes, she seriously wondered if Leo was just her personal jinx.
She struggled to get up, saying, “Leo, come on, get a hold of yourself…” ‘Seriously, does he even hear me?‘ Yolanda thought, frustration written all over her face.
But before she could finish, the chair tipped sideways, and the overturned seat ended up blocking the camera by the window. On the live feed, all anyone could see now was Yolanda and Leo lying motionless on the floor, neither of them moving an inch.
Leo was still out of it, restlessly trying to get closer, pawing at the ground like a desperate animal rooting through dirt–the more he struggled, the more flustered and miserable he became.
It hit Yolanda late–she started to realize she wasn’t feeling right either.
The drug in her system was just a tiny bit, but with that delayed onset, the discomfort only got worse as time dragged on.
Yolanda lifted her foot and tried to kick him away.
The chair had flipped over, blocking most of the camera’s view.
The people watching on their screens had no clue what just happened; for all they knew, Yolanda and Leo were just getting into another heated scuffle.
Ian cut the live feed, and as soon as he locked down Yolanda’s location, he slapped on his mask and was out the door.
Only three people were left in the livestream now.
Yolanda’s head felt foggy, like her whole body was crawling with ants. Still, she was sure that Leo was the one with her right now.
She kicked out again, but ended up giving Leo just the chance he’d been waiting for.
‘Gotcha!‘ Leo thought.
Just as Leo buried his face, the livestream camera was blasted apart by a single shot. Right after, a car came roaring in, smashing straight through the old factory door like it was nothing.
The car had no license plates–nobody could even guess who it belonged to.
Leo’s lips had barely brushed hers when suddenly someone seized him by the back of the neck and hurled him aside without a second thought.
Yolanda, her whole body flushed red, was suddenly swept up into a pair of icy arms and carried straight out the door.
The man holding her radiated a chilling aura, gripping her so tightly it felt like he could crush her right then and there.
Yolanda could barely tell who this was–her vision was swimming. All she registered was the cold mask hiding his face and the overwhelming, suffocating presence closing in on her.
“Let me go…” she barely managed to whisper, her voice thin and trembling.
She didn’t even get the words out before he hauled her up and tossed her into the car. The next thing she knew, his lips crashed down onto hers.
Her mind snapped into focus for just a heartbeat, but the feverish heat roaring through her body swept her back into the fog.
Yolanda had no idea where this guy was taking her–all she could feel was like she’d been dragged through a burning desert for ages, about to shrivel up from the heat. Suddenly, she was slammed down onto a bed, snapping her out of the haze.
The room was shrouded in darkness, and the masked man was standing over her, looking down from above with a chilling intensity.
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.
