Chapter 11
Yolanda could feel Sophie’s hateful gaze burning into her back, but she didn’t care.
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When she finally walked outside with Ian, she stopped, turned her head, and gave him a glance.
He looked cool, not disappointed at all, and that somehow made her a little sad.
Her forced dignity collapsed for a moment, but she quickly pulled herself together.
She opened the passenger door and let him get in first.
He said, “Thanks.”
Yolanda stepped on the gas. “Starlight Entertainment just invested in two TV dramas. One’s directed by Sean Anderson, the other by Zack White. Same type of show, except Zack’s show only has the male lead and a supporting role left to cast.
“The supporting role’s tricky–nail it, and you’ll gain fans. The male lead’s already cast, and the role isn’t that strong. The script was basically written to make the male lead shine.
“Ian, I’m not going to let Charles ruin your career.”
Sophie wasn’t the type to let things go, but Yolanda was ready to shield Ian from all the storms. She believed someone with Ian’s talent shouldn’t be wasted like this.
Ian looked at her, then turned his eyes to the window, staring at the scenery outside. “I’m not scared.”
His words floated in the air like they were carried by the wind.
Yolanda took it as him trying to comfort her. Everyone in showbiz was afraid of being iced out, and with Charles’s power, it would be way too easy to crush their future.
At the end of the day, they were just too weak. They had to get stronger fast.
The car stopped in front of a bar. Yolanda got out and called Zack.
She bounced back quickly, like Sophie’s mess hadn’t touched her at all.
Zack came out himself to greet her. He looked surprised. “Didn’t Sean say you called him?”
“Sean’s not available right now,” Yolanda said. “Mr. White, I brought lan here to meet you.”
Zack was a little flattered by her polite attitude–after all, Yolanda was Charles’s wife.
11:31 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 11
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“Mrs. Sinclair, I-” Zack started.
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“Just call me Tessa. From now on,” Yolanda said. “Just let Ian audition like anyone else. If you’re not interested in him, then I’ll have to go ask my brother.”
These days, anyone doing good business ended up investing in entertainment–it was fast
money.
But if Yolanda went to the Grant family for help, she’d have to hide Ian.
The Grant family didn’t allow Yolanda to get this close to another man, much less spend time alone with him. Married women had to keep their distance from strangers–it was a rule carved into the family’s bones.
Just as Zack was about to speak, Yolanda smiled and said, “Mr. White, are you free now? We
can talk the way we used to–over drinks.”
Zack was polite to Yolanda, but the truth was, he didn’t like her much. Back when she walked away from showbiz, she’d broken several contracts.
If it weren’t for the fact that he worked for Starlight Entertainment and knew who she really was, he never would’ve come to pick her up
himself.
Yolanda could tell he wasn’t happy about it, so she decided to give him the chance to make things hard for her.
Sure enough, Zack gestured toward the bar with a stiff smile. “Alright, Tessa. Let’s talk over a
drink.”
As Yolanda stepped forward, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw Ian following.
His
gaze was dark, lips pressed tight, looking anything but pleased.
“Wait in the car,” Yolanda told him.
“I” Ian started, wanting to protest.
“From now on, I’m your manager and assistant. You do what I say,” Yolanda cut him off. “You need to listen,”
Ian froze, his head dropping. After a few seconds, he gave a small nod.
Since Yolanda had decided to take her career seriously, she wasn’t about to give up at the first bump in the road. Especially when all these bumps were nothing more than karma–her old choices for Charles coming back to bite her now.
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Chapter 11
“I’ll be fine. Go wait,” she told him.
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Everything had to be done by the book. She wasn’t going to spoil her actor like some managers did.
In showbiz, fame could skyrocket overnight–and crash just as fast. Yolanda wanted Ian to be in it for the long haul.
Inside the bar, Zack had already caught wind of what went down with Sean through the group chat. The look he gave Yolanda dripped with disdain.
‘So that was why she quit being a housewife,‘ he thought. ‘Turns out her husband cheated.’
His eyes landed on her. Yolanda had a great figure–slim waist, long legs—and even with just a touch of makeup, her face was already stunning.
Zack had been around Hollywood for years, seen more beauties than he could count, but Yolanda still made his eyes light up.
He smiled and had the bar manager bring over a few bottles of hard liquor on purpose.
“Tessa, does Ian want the lead, or just the supporting role?” Zack asked.
Yolanda frowned. Everyone knew the whole point of this drama was to push the male lead. As the director, Zack should’ve known that better than anyone.
But the next second, she understood what he was after.
Zack suddenly placed his hand on her leg. “You’re way too pretty to waste yourself on that cheating husband. If you’d just come around, Ian could have whatever role he wants.”
Yolanda calmly moved his hand away and gave a faint smile.
“Mr. White, I don’t think you understand,” she said evenly. “Charles can cheat, but I can’t. If I ever did, he might spare me for the Grant family’s sake, but he’d definitely kill my lover.”
Zack froze, realizing what Charles was capable of. Awkwardly, he pulled his hand back. Still, he felt irritated, thinking, ‘What’s this abandoned woman acting all high and mighty for?”
Finally, he sneered, “If you can down three bottles of this stuff, I’ll let Ian take the supporting role.”
These were high–proof liquors. Three bottles would knock anyone out cold.
But Yolanda had known what she was walking into the moment she decided to return to the industry.
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Chapter 11
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She deftly pulled some hangover pills from her bag, swallowed two, then chugged a bottle of milk. Quietly, she set her phone on the table–recording had already been running.
“Fine,” she said with a smile. “Let’s hope you keep your word.”
When Zack spotted the glowing screen and the recording symbol, his face went pale in an instant.
He knew she was threatening him. If he went back on his word, news of him trying to take advantage of her would end up with Charles.
And then, he’d be finished–blacklisted from the showbiz, maybe even forced out of Beloris entirely.
If he kept his word, Yolanda would have paid a heavy price with those three bottles, and they could call it even.
Zack couldn’t help but admire her guts and cunning. He took a deep breath. “Tessa, with moves like this, if you hadn’t quit back then, you’d probably be managing half a dozen A- listers by now.”
Yolanda let out a small laugh. “I was pretty stupid back then. My studio’s talents really did give you some trouble. So this drink–let me toast you.”
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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.
