Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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In Beloris, if you were one of the big shots, guns were nothing new–but you never, ever flashed them in front of regular folks. Solvaria was dead serious about gun control, and Grady had made such a scene that even the government people saw it. Now that the officials caught him in the act, there was no easy way out of this mess.
Soon enough, the cops arrived, packing bulletproof shields and live firearms.
One of the officers shouted, “Don’t move!”
Grady quickly realized he’d been set up–someone had slipped that gun on him on purpose.
The only person who’d gotten close to him was that waitress. He wasn’t used to being treated like this–back in Raventon, nobody dared mess with him.
“Damn it! You bitch! You think you can play me?” he yelled.
He raised his gun, but the cops were quicker.
The ordinary folks at the scene were screaming in terror–most of them had only seen gunfights on TV before, never in real life. Those with nerves of steel didn’t waste any time, they whipped out their phones and started filming, then blasted the footage all over online platforms.
Grady took a bullet to the shoulder, but he refused to back down. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to aim and fired straight at the waitress.
The waitress was so terrified she passed out cold, and by pure luck, the bullet missed her.
Seeing Grady still firing, the cops didn’t hesitate—they unleashed a barrage of bullets.
When someone was waving a gun around and threatening people’s lives, there was no time for questions–the police just pulled the trigger and ended it right there.
Grady was hit by over a dozen rounds, shock and disbelief swirling in his eyes as he slowly collapsed to the floor.
The government official next to Charles let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat off his forehead. “Thank God he’s dead. Imagine if a guy like that was still loose–who knows what kind of chaos he’d bring. Mr. Sinclair, are you alright?”
Charles chuckled quietly, catching Grady’s lifeless, wide–eyed stare out of the corner of his eye–clearly, the man hadn’t gone peacefully.
Charles’s lips tilted in a faint, almost ironic smile. “Honestly, I’m a little shaken. In broad daylight, out in the open, someone actually had the guts to pull a gun.”
The official gave a weary sigh. “He got what was coming to him. Let the cops take it from here. This way.”
The group slowly walked away.
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Chapter 121
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The last spark in Grady’s eyes faded away, and even as he died, his eyes never left Charles–they were locked on him until the very end.
Maybe he realized what had really happened, but at that point, nothing he said could have changed a thing.
News of Grady’s death spread like wildfire, and it didn’t take long for Vivian to hear about it.
She’d been getting chewed out by the higher–ups lately over that last project, and now, all of a sudden, someone nearby told her that her uncle Grady had just been shot dead right there. She was stunned.
‘No way!‘ Vivian thought, her mind reeling.
‘Grady was untouchable. How could those cops dare make a move against him?‘ she wondered, still in shock.
Her face went pale as a ghost, and when she sat down, her nails dug deep into her palms.
Cedric stormed in, his face twisted with rage.
Vivian shot up from her seat, her voice trembling with urgency. “Cedric, what’s going on? Did you find out anything?”
Cedric slammed his hand down on the table, glaring furiously. “Word is, he opened fire on a civilian, and the cops just put him down on the spot.”
Vivian was on the verge of breaking down, slumping hard into her seat. “No way. Uncle Grady can be clueless sometimes, but he’d never be dumb enough to show up with a gun in a place like that.”
Even if Grady never thinks before acting, he still wouldn’t do something that stupid.
Cedric rubbed at his brow, his frustration plain. “I’ve already checked the security feeds. Now that Grady’s been caught shooting a civilian, the higher–ups are all watching closely. We need to lay low for a while–don’t stir up any trouble, especially now.”
Vivian swallowed, forcing herself to calm down. “Think we can pay someone hush money? We can’t let this blow up.”
If word gets out, the whole Andrade family will be put under a microscope, and we’d be looking at an even bigger mess.
Cedric clawed at his hair, practically vibrating with anxiety. “If the witnesses were just regular people, we could probably buy our way out. But Charles was there, and so was that newly appointed Minister Howard- he’s got a rep for being a total straight arrow, won’t take a cent. Throw Charles into the mix and this is pretty much impossible.”
Vivian’s pupils contracted, her lips quivering. “You mean… Charles was there too?”
Cedric tilted his head back, looking utterly defeated. “Yeah. He was having dinner with Minister Howard. They were pretty far from Uncle Grady, just made a bit of small talk.”
Vivian swallowed, suddenly overcome by a sixth sense–was Charles really behind all this?
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Chapter 121
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But she instantly dismissed the thought. “The Andrade family’s always been an asset to Charles–why would he go so far? Why use such brutal means?‘
‘Is he really doing all this just for Yolanda?‘ Vivian’s mind raced, trying to grasp the real reason.
‘No way. Charles would never do something this insane. To him, women are just background decoration,‘ Vivian thought.
She shook her head, murmuring softly, “No, it definitely wasn’t him.”
Cedric shot upright, tension flashing across his face. “Who?”
Vivian went paper–white, forcing a shaky smile. “No one.”
Cedric narrowed his eyes, his stare turning fierce. “Are you saying Charles did this?”
“No way! Cedric, sure, Charles ditched the deal this time, but with the way things are between us, there’s still plenty of ways for us to team up. Why would he cut himself off for good?” she insisted.
Vivian’s heart hammered in her chest, and a tiny voice inside her kept wavering, crying out warnings she tried to ignore.
But she refused to believe it.
Cedric felt a wave of relief wash over him–he’d been on edge the whole time. If Charles really was the one who set this up, they’d be looking at a world of trouble.
*****
Yolanda arrived at the set around 8 PM. The scene tonight was set in a shadowy alley.
Ian was in the middle of a fight; his character’s shirt was ripped open by a knife, showing off those sculpted V- lines on his abs.
Some of the girls on set looked ready to scream, but managed to hold it in, cheeks flushing red as they clamped their hands over their mouths.
Ian’s moves were ridiculously smooth–almost unreal. Even Simone couldn’t hide her surprise.
After the scene wrapped up, Simone turned to Yolanda. “Did you ever get him a professional fight coach?”
Yolanda shook her head, her eyes full of admiration.
Simone clicked her tongue twice. “Wow, you lucked out–his moves are sharper than the coaches themselves.”
Yolanda thought for a moment, guessing it was probably because lan used to do underground fighting.
When the fight scene wrapped up, the set erupted in applause.
Ian bowed, then made his way over to Yolanda.
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Chapter 121
Yolanda was wearing a hat, her face still covered up.
Simone stood up and called out to the crew, “Alright, take a break! Bring out the cake!”
Soon enough, a cart rolled in, and the set erupted in birthday wishes.
“Happy birthday, Ian!”
“Thanks for all your hard work, Ian!”
Ian looked surprised, glancing at Simone and nodding slightly. “Thanks, Ms. Sinclair.”
Then he glanced over at Yolanda.
Yolanda naturally stood beside him and said, “Make a wish.”
Most of the time, Ian kept to himself, just quietly sitting alone, always looking a little distant.
But now, he put his hands together and made his wish, looking totally focused.
Seeing how seriously Ian was taking it, Simone grinned. “So, what did you wish for?”
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Ian shot a quick sidelong glance at Yolanda, but kept it cool as he blew out the candles. “If I say it out loud, it
won’t come true.”
Everyone started passing out slices of cake, and the set buzzed with a warm, friendly vibe.
Ian had a few more scenes to shoot that night, so he was stuck on set for now. Still, it was impossible not to notice the barely concealed anticipation flickering in his eyes.
He glanced over at Yolanda and lightly tugged her sleeve. “Come to my dressing room.”
Yolanda arched an eyebrow at him, then headed over to Simone instead, throwing back a casual, “Give me a
minute.”
Ian just stood there, a flicker of something deeper in his eyes as he pressed his lips together.
Yolanda made her way over to Simone, seeking her advice on a couple of things, and soon the two were deep in conversation.
They shot a few more scenes, and before anyone realized it, it was already 11:30 PM.
Ian couldn’t help stealing glances at Yolanda–sometimes standing, sometimes sitting–clearly having a hard time keeping his cool as he watched her from across the set.
After Yolanda finally finished chatting with Simone, she headed straight for lan’s dressing room.
Since his scenes were all set for late at night, the moment she stepped inside, Ian didn’t hesitate–he shut the door, pinned her against it, and kissed her like he’d been dying to all day.
“Did
you
do that on purpose?” Ian murmured in a low voice, not bothering to hide his frustration.
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Chapter 121
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‘Seriously, she waited until the middle of the night to show up?‘ Ian thought, a mix of annoyance and longing swirling inside him.
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.
