Chapter 160
Yolanda paused mid–apply, her brow furrowing.
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Joelle had quite the reputation in Beloris back in the day, especially with Charles backing her. She was gorgeous, and now that she’s a dazzling star, all that shyness and insecurity are long gone–she’s probably even more irresistible now.
Back then, she never lacked suitors.
Seeing her fall silent, Leo scoffed, “Wow, so you really are here for him. Too bad Charles, even with his health in shambles, made the effort to come over–went up half an hour ago, and even thoughtfully picked out some extravagant gift. Honestly, you should just give up already. Fifteen years, and you still couldn’t win his heart. What he and Joelle have–that’s the real thing.”
Everyone knew Charles had been in the hospital lately.
And everyone was aware of the real estate deal he was about to cut, too.
Yolanda slipped her lipstick into her pocket, shooting Leo a glare. “You’re always giving me a hard time. Don’t tell me you’re secretly into Joelle?”
Leo’s smirk instantly vanished–he jumped to his feet and snapped, “Bullshit!”
She couldn’t think of any other reason for how he acted.
Leo had always seemed to have it out for her, always throwing nasty remarks her way.
The elevator was about to arrive. As soon as the doors slid open, Yolanda was about to step in, but Leo snatched her wrist.
Yolanda didn’t want to start a fight in a spot where anyone could walk by, but Leo yanked her behind the big potted plant Ian had just been hiding near.
It was pitch–dark back here, with the courtyard just beyond.
“Leo, you say you don’t have a thing for Joelle, so why are you so desperate to block me tonight? Are you afraid I’m gonna crash your precious Joelle’s date with Charles?” Yolanda shot back.
Leo’s eyes went red with rage, but he was hopeless at arguing–he just kept throwing out the same tired insults.
‘I must’ve really hit a nerve, Yolanda thought to herself. Back when Charles had married her out of spite, rumor had it she looked a lot like Joelle, and he was just using her as a stand–in. Even Leo once told her he’d mixed up their faces. ‘Guess Leo really is Charles’s rival for Joelle,‘ she mused.
Yolanda gave a sudden laugh, and to Leo, it was painfully sharp–like a thorn in his side.
“What’s so funny?” he snapped.
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Chapter 160
“I’m laughing at you, you dumbass. You’re nothing but somebody’s backup, and they don’t even want you,‘ she
shot back.
Every word out of her mouth struck a raw nerve.
Leo, seething, pinned her against the wall, his voice tight through gritted teeth. “What did you just say?”
“You-” Before she could get another word out, he caught her lips in a sudden, fierce kiss.
The rest of her protest was swallowed by his kiss.
Yolanda’s eyes burned with anger. ‘Me, as Joelle’s substitute? That’s ridiculous–Is Joelle even worthy of having me as her stand–in?‘
She viciously sank her teeth into Leo’s tongue, making him recoil as a sharp surge of blood filled his mouth.
Yolanda shoved him off, flashing her teeth. “Try that again and I’ll bite you to death.”
Leo wiped the blood off his mouth, shooting her a glare when he saw those bared teeth and fierce little attitude. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he awkwardly looked away. “No shame, huh? Always trying to hook guys in. Well, I’m not stupid enough to fall for your act.”
Yolanda just stared at him, speechless, ‘Does this guy ever hear himself? Ridiculous.’
He stomped off in a fury, but after a few steps, spun back around and shouted, “Whore!”
Yolanda stayed put, chest heaving with rage. ‘Should’ve bitten him harder–that was way too soft,’ she fumed.
Yolanda took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on why she’d come here tonight. She was just about to leave when, not far off behind the line of flowers, a tiny ember blinked twice in the dark–like some firefly flirting with the shadows.
‘Who the hell is out there?‘ Her heart thudded in her chest. ‘And how long have they been lurking?‘
Unease prickled down her scalp as the faint glow vanished, and then Samuel Grant slowly emerged from the gloom.
Yolanda stiffened, dropping her head so fast it was like her brain just blew a fuse.
Ever since that kiss with Ian in Samuel’s car, she hadn’t dared go back to the Grant place, or even answer a single message from her brother.
She was just way too ashamed and guilty about it.
Samuel lit another cigarette, silent–he simply had no words for her.
He watched as she stood there, head bowed, awkward and ill at ease.
‘So she gets scared too,’ he mused.
He inhaled deeply, mind replaying the past and wondering just where the Grant family had screwed up
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Chapter 160.
raising her.
D:
Her lips had just been kissed by lan, then by Leo–what next, was Charles going to have a go too? Samuel couldn’t help but wonder, his mind swirling with exasperation.
Samuel smoked through his cigarette in just a few quick pulls.
He didn’t say a word, and Yolanda kept her head down, too embarrassed to speak, her skin burning hot with shame.
All she could think about was how Samuel was always so composed, so proper, so distant. He was never the type to smoke this much–this just wasn’t like him.
Samuel started to take out another cigarette, but something made him pause. He put it back instead.
“Yolanda, you…” Samuel began, but for once, he couldn’t get the words out.
He was almost never like this–everyone said he was a total machine when it came to business deals.
After what felt like ages, he put the cigarette pack away and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Just make sure you keep your lovers well hidden, got it?”
Yolanda didn’t get what he meant at first.
He sighed and ruffled her hair. “Don’t let the Grant family catch wind of any of this, either. Charles and Ian- they’re both trouble, you know that. And as for Leo–he’s calm now because nothing’s on the line for him. The moment he actually wants something, everything changes.”
He gave her a look she couldn’t read. “Just… make sure nobody sees anything, alright?”
Yolanda’s cheeks instantly flared red. ‘Of course, he saw the whole thing,’ she thought, mortified–she wished she could just sink straight into the ground and disappear.
But Samuel’s expression turned a bit guilty. “It’s the Grant family that’s been pushing you way too hard. Growing up in a messed–up family like ours, it’s rough–no one really gets to choose. Your brother gets it, you know?”
Right after he said that, it hit him–wait, did that sound like he was actually telling her to keep doing these crazy things?
“Anyway, once you’ve had your fun, just know when to call it quits,” he said, trying to wrap things up.
“Samuel, I…” Yolanda hesitated, voice trailing off.
Samuel rubbed at his brow, looking exasperated. “Try not to mess around in places like this. I stumbled on you tonight, but next time, who knows who’ll be watching.”
Yolanda’s cheeks flushed again, feeling completely humiliated.
Samuel stared at her downturned head, then gave her a light pat. “Triangles are nice and stable–so please, don’t go turning it into some kind of tangled quadrangle, okay?”
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Chapter 161
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.
