Chapter 163
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Ian gazed at her, his whole body taut with anticipation. “Just say the word when you’re ready.”
Yolanda opened her eyes, a dazed look overtaking her face, utterly unaware of just how enchanting she was at that moment.
He loved seeing her like this–like a rose past its peak, her scent sinking deep into his bones.
Right now, Yolanda didn’t mind clinging a bit closer, nuzzling her cheek against his neck.
Ian flashed an aggrieved grin, a hint of desperation in his voice. “You never thought of pampering me for once?”
Yolanda’s lashes fluttered playfully as she teasingly stuck out her tongue. “Like this, huh?”
Ian felt like his whole body was about to combust. Flustered, he slapped a hand over her mouth. “Spare me, Yolanda… Please!”
Yolanda’s eyes clouded with doubt, totally baffled by his sudden surrender.
‘Wait, wasn’t this exactly what he asked for?‘ Yolanda wondered.
Ian couldn’t help but bury his face against her neck in a rush, his fingers trembling as they covered her mouth.
Yolanda was like a temptress–completely irresistible in every way, yet her eyes stayed startlingly innocent.
“Ian, I… I think I can try…” Yolanda murmured, her voice carrying a hint of shy determination.
She figured she could learn, though it wasn’t easy for her. Honestly, she’d never even come close to being this vulnerable with Charles before–it was hard for her to just let go like this.
Still, what woman could resist having a guy as gorgeous as Ian totally losing his composure over her? Yolanda felt a rush of satisfaction she’d never quite experienced before.
Late at night, Simone Sinclair called Yolanda.
“Charles just got home and realized you weren’t there. He called me, and I told him you were with me. Now he’s actually driving over to pick you up,” Simone said.
Yolanda thought she must’ve misheard.
She checked the time–it was almost one a.m. ‘Seriously, has he lost his mind?‘ Yolanda wondered.
Yolanda frowned as Simone kept talking on the other end. “Yolanda, maybe you should just go over to Charles’s place first?”
Yolanda gritted her teeth in annoyance. ‘Didn’t Joelle come back already? Wasn’t she supposed to take care of this?‘
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Chapter 163
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She whipped out her phone and fired off a text to Joelle.
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[Come on, I handed him over to you and you still can’t keep him on a leash? What did you even come back for? If you’re going to be this hopeless, I might just let him get me pregnant tonight.]
Joelle hadn’t managed to get Charles to stick around tonight, so the gang was still out hitting the town. For this crowd, the real nightlife was only just beginning.
They’d switched venues and rolled into a bar now.
Charles had been keeping quiet all night, and everyone was trying to figure out what was really going on between him and Joelle.
One guy who’d had a few drinks started mouthing off. “Heard Ms. Monroe’s been slapped with a huge penalty fee–like a billion or something? Is that for real?”
Joelle’s face changed in a flash. The penalty was legit–as soon as she dropped a string of gigs and came back to the country, she had to pay up for two movies. Now she owed around a billion.
But paying it off wasn’t a problem for her. She just wasn’t planning on dipping into her own pocket.
There were tons of devoted fans back home. If she wanted, she could pick any one of them to handle it for her.
Joelle didn’t bother to explain. She shot the guy a frosty glare. “Yeah, it’s true. That billion? I’ll earn it back myself.”
The guy smirked. “Here’s the deal–give me a dance right now, and I’ll fund three movies for you. Who knows, you might just earn your way out of that debt.”
Joelle scoffed inwardly, her nerves already frayed after Yolanda’s text had rubbed salt in the wound. Her eyes were rimmed red, lips pressed into a thin line–she looked like she could shatter her wine glass any second.
Without thinking, she glanced straight at Charles.
Charles was looking at his phone, but he was still keeping an eye on her out of the corner of his eye.
Quinn, sitting next to Charles, noticed the atmosphere around him change the instant that guy made that disrespectful remark.
‘Guess he really does care. Joelle’s not the kind of woman you can just humiliate,‘ Quinn thought.
Joelle pressed her lips together and shot to her feet, the fire in her eyes unmistakable. “You for real?”
The guy just leaned back, grinning like he owned the place. “Obviously. Ms. Monroe, Mr. Sinclair’s married now and hasn’t spared you a glance all night. That ten–figure debt? No way you’re paying it off by yourself. Quit trying to act tough. You don’t have some loaded family to bail you out either–I heard your dad and brother gamble like crazy, right? If the press digs that up, well, sucks to be you.”
“Fine. I’ll dance,” Joelle snapped, her voice sharp and clear.
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Chapter 163
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She strode right into the spotlight, drew a long breath, and tossed back, “I’m an actress–no role I can’t play,
no dance I won’t do.”
Just as she was about to begin, a hand reached out from nowhere and seized her wrist.
Joelle spun around to face Charles, snatching her hand away. Her voice was icy: “You ignore me all night and now you suddenly care? Why bother?”
He didn’t spare her a glance; Charles locked his gaze on the guy, the warning in his eyes unmistakable.
The guy’s expression shifted in a heartbeat, forcing an awkward laugh. “I was only kidding, honestly. Seems Mr. Sinclair still cares about Ms. Monroe after all.”
Joelle slid into the seat beside Charles, quickly brushing away her tears. “Are things still okay between you and her?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Without looking back, Charles got to his feet. “I’ve got something to deal with tonight. I’m heading out,” he said curtly.
Joelle bit her lip, anxious, and hurried after him.
She caught up to him in the hallway, grabbing his arm and pulling him into a desperate hug from behind. “Charles, I really was wrong. I traveled the world, but only now do I realize how good you were to me.”
Joelle sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please, don’t go. I didn’t come back just to blow up your marriage–I don’t want anything from you. Just stay with me tonight, please. I’m still pure. If you walk away, I swear I’ll go find some random guy to sleep with!”
Charles frowned and turned back to her. “Got somewhere to stay?”
Joelle shook her head, her eyes still swimming with tears. “I’m just staying at a hotel.”
“That’s not safe,” Charles replied.
Her face instantly brightened, breaking into a smile as she dove into his arms and stretched up to kiss him. “You scared me half to death tonight. That cold look–seriously, it was terrifying.”
Charles glanced at the time, his voice cool. “Let me take you home.”
“Don’t–didn’t that guy inside just ask me to dance? I actually learned a bit, you know. How about I come over to your place and give you a private show?” Joelle teased, eyes glimmering.
Joelle had learned some basic dances for her film roles.
“My place isn’t really convenient,” Charles replied, dodging the offer.
“Then come to my hotel. I’ll dance just for you,” Joelle insisted, voice soft but her gaze burning. “Charles, I’m honestly still pure. Or… do you want to see for yourself?”
Charles was getting antsy as the clock ticked past one a.m.–Yolanda still hadn’t called, not even once.
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Chapter 163
‘She can’t possibly not know that Joelle’s back, right?‘ Charles thought.
‘No way in hell.
“The entire circle’s talking–there’s no way she’s in the dark.’
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‘But she’s not reacting at all. Even these people came to see the mess, but Yolanda keeps her cool like nothing’s happening,‘ he mused.
Charles’s face was serious. “I’ll drive you back to your hotel.”
“Sure,” Joelle agreed, finally letting out a relieved sigh.
She slipped her arm through his, happy again as they went downstairs together.
Meanwhile, Yolanda’s phone buzzed with a bunch of messages from an unknown number.
There were photos of Joelle kissing Charles, the two of them walking arm in arm, and even a few where they were just staring into each other’s eyes.
The person who took these pictures was a pro–they really nailed the vibe, making the two of them look like the perfect couple.
Yolanda was sprawled across her pillow while Ian covered her back with kisses. When she glanced up and caught a glimpse of the photos, he casually propped his chin on her shoulder, his eyes still lingering on the screen. “Whoever took these really knew what they were doing–pretty impressive candid shots.”
Yolanda let out a soft laugh. “Seriously, with skills like that, they could totally have a career as a paparazzi.”
Ian brushed a kiss against her cheek. “Still hanging in there?”
“Nope, that’s enough for me,” Yolanda said, sounding a little spoiled.
She was honestly a total softie with this stuff–one tiny bit of discomfort and she’d kick me straight off. At this rate, I was about to be tamed into the most obedient puppy ever.
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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.
