Chapter 150
After the others left. Yolanda stayed behind the screen.
Ian came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Did you really give him that bottle?”
“Yeah, but Charles said it on purpose,” she replied.
“Not sure your husband’s playing this right. Sure, he’s trying to push Edward into a move, but he basically just made you the biggest target in the room,” tan commented.
Yolanda raised an eyebrow and playfully patted his check. “Not bad, you’re pretty sharp.”
“Ms. Grant, you know you wouldn’t keep a clueless fool at your side–you’d be bored to death in no time,” lan teased.
Honestly, she felt the same way about some of the talent at Starlight; a handful of them she just couldn’t stand.
She’d realized long ago that Charles never really factored her into his plans. All he cared about was getting rid of those two uncles, not sparing a single thought for his own wife.
Good thing she’d figured it out early–her heart was steady and unmoved.
She slipped out of Ian’s arms, stepped from behind the screen, and headed toward the car waiting outside.
When they reached Ian’s villa, she pulled out her tablet and continued negotiating the contract revisions with Jason.
Ian had things to take care of, too–between reshooting scenes and memorizing lines for the days ahead.
Worried he might disturb Yolanda by staying downstairs, he quickly pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“I’m going upstairs to run through my lines,” Ian said.
Yolanda stayed glued to her tablet–work was all that mattered to her right now.
“Mm,” she murmured, not even glancing up.
Ian didn’t dare interrupt her. He quietly made his way upstairs to start rehearsing his lines.
Yolanda added a few more clauses to the new contract draft, then turned to Jason.
[Are these clauses legally valid?] she asked.
[Yeah,] he responded.
Once she got his answer, she immediately reached out to Mary, fingers racing across the keyboard as she lost herself in her work.
Chapter 150
Just then, her phone buzzed–it was Blake calling.
“Renee’s completely losing it–she’s practically nuts. She trusts me, so Charles hasn’t dared lay a finger on me. Miss Grant, how far do you want me to go?” Blake asked.
Yolanda answered the call, stepped aside, and stared out at the last rays of sunset. Her thoughts flashed back to that child who had breathed their last in her arms. ‘Some scars never fade, she thought.
‘If Renee can toss away lives like they’re nothing, what gives her the right to hold onto hope?‘ Yolanda sneered inwardly.
“I want you gone. Vanish from Beloris–tonight. Go abroad and don’t ever come back. I’ll send the rest of your payment right now. Tell your brother to hang in there,” Yolanda said.
Blake’s throat tightened. He took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“Miss Grant, you really are more compassionate than I thought. Got it, thank you,” he said.
Leaving now would crush Renee–she’d lose her mind.
But she deserved it.
Back at the Sinclair estate, Blake gently squeezed Renee’s hand, eyes full of raw emotion. “I need to step out and pick something up for you. Just wait for me, alright? Three hours, tops.”
Renee couldn’t cope without Blake by her side, so Charles made sure he was brought over–whether Blake wanted it or not, nobody bothered to ask.
Panic flickered in Renee’s gaze. Whenever she shut her eyes, all she saw were the eyes of that man—the one who attacked her–like some blood–hungry beast. The only way she could sleep was by clinging to Blake’s hand.
“Blake, please don’t leave me,” Renee whispered, her voice trembling.
“Renee, I love you. I swear I won’t leave you. There’s something special I want to get for you, but I have to do it myself. I can’t trust anyone else with this,” Blake replied softly.
Renee let out a shaky breath, her eyes growing red as she clung tightly to his waist. “I know, I know you’re the one who loves me most.”
Blake raised his hand and gently patted her head. “Yeah, Renee, I love you more than anyone.”
On his way downstairs, he bumped into Renee’s mother, May.
May wore a mocking look as she took a sip of coffee from the table. “Renee liking you is your lucky break, but there’s no way she’ll marry you. That baby has to go, so you’d better talk her into it yourself. Otherwise, the Sinclair family won’t go easy on you.”
Blake kept his head down, looking like he was resigned to it.
“Mrs. Sinclair, I get it. I wouldn’t dream of having Renee–I’m just here to look after her, help her get back on
9:24 Thu, Oct 2
Chapter 150
her feet,” Blake replied, keeping his tone humble and cautious.
May gave a mocking laugh, not even bothering to call him out on his act.
The moment Blake stepped outside, every trace of respect vanished from his face. Without hesitation, he booked the earliest flight–set to leave in three and a half hours—and headed straight for the airport.
Charles had eyes on Blake’s every move, but he was so convinced Blake was gunning for a spot in the Sinclair family–no way he’d bail before cashing in–that he let his guard down and forgot all about Blake’s flight info. His blind confidence became his undoing.
As Blake went through customs, his heart raced. He was terrified that Charles‘ people would stop him, and if that happened, everything would fall apart.
But Yolanda had warned him: Charles was cocky in some ways.
Charles would never see it coming–Blake skipping town right before the prize was his for the taking.
Renee sat cooped up in her room, counting the minutes–three and a half hours went by and Blake still didn’t show.
Suddenly, she lost it–shoving, smashing anything she could get her hands on.
Renee cried out, her voice wild with desperation. “I want Blake! Where did you hide him? Please–I’m begging you, just give him back to me!”
She was already hurt, and with all this frantic thrashing, it was only a matter of time before her wounds split open again.
May freaked out and immediately ordered people to search for Blake, fuming as she ranted, “He’s basically Renee’s servant now, and he thinks he can just walk off the job? Who does he think he is? Just wait till we drag him back–I’ll make sure he knows his place!”
Renee sat curled up on the floor, clutching her head, refusing to go back to bed. She looked completely lost, her mind in shambles.
“Don’t kill me, please–Don’t kill me!” Renee sobbed out, her voice hoarse with panic.
She’d always thought other people’s lives didn’t matter, never imagined one day she’d be the one begging for hers.
Renee pulled at her own hair and grabbed May’s arm. “Mom, do you know what happened? Somebody tried to kill me he had a knife, he just kept stabbing me!”
–
Panic filled Renee’s face as she desperately tried to scoot away, as if she could escape whatever was haunting
her.
May, who had always doted on her, felt tears prick her eyes. She pulled Renee into her arms. “Renee, Blake will be back soon. Don’t be scared, sweetheart.”
A glimmer of hope flashed in Renee’s eyes. “Yeah, where is Blake? He protected me–right now, I need Blake,”
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Chapter 150
she said, her voice trembling.
But the people May sent out soon came back saying they couldn’t reach Blake by phone–nobody had idea where he’d vanished to.
any
May was about to lose it. She snatched up her phone and dialed Charles without a second thought.
Charles was knee–deep in cleaning up the mess the Andrade family had dumped in his lap. Vivian had brokered the last shipping route, but now that she was in a coma, Jonathan Andrade had jumped in himself. The partners were blowing up his phone, pressing for the whole story between him and the Andrade family.
Charles had a scheme to gradually phase out the Andrade family’s influence on this shipping route, but it was going to be a hassle for a while–he’d have to start rebuilding connections with Drakeland from scratch.
“Charles, Blake disappeared four hours ago. It’s already ten o’clock, and he still hasn’t come back. Renee’s been crying nonstop, and I can’t get her to calm down. Could you maybe have someone look for him?” May asked, her voice tight with worry.
Charles wasn’t about to take his frustration out on his family, so he immediately told Jack to track Blake down. But ten minutes later, Jack walked into the study, his face grim.
“CEO, Blake booked a flight four hours ago. He’s already on the plane,” Jack said, his voice low and serious.
Charles let out a cold laugh. “Come again?”
He gave
off an aura that made the room feel like an icebox.
Jack lowered his head, struggling to get the words out. “Blake skipped town.”
AD
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.
