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soft,
But what really made lan feel content was the way Yolanda gazed at him when she was happy–her eyes trusting, and gentle, just like a cute little animal you can’t help but want to spoil. It was enough to melt his heart.
lan gently stroked Yolanda’s hair and gave her nose a soft kiss. “Pretty sure your husband’s MIA tonight–just get some sleep.”
“Yes,” Yolanda whispered.
Stuff like this really drains your energy; it didn’t take long before she drifted off.
Ian stayed awake, his fingers gently tracing along her face. Then, his phone buzzed on the pillow.
[Paradise may be a hero’s grave. Don’t forget, there’s someone still waiting for you.]
Ian’s lashes drooped as he pulled Ms. Grant closer, lightly tapped her nose with his finger, and whispered, “Ms. Grant, you really are a little seductress.”
In her sleep, Yolanda shifted, burying her head against his chest.
Ian stiffened for a moment, then rested his chin on her hair, closed his eyes, and let himself drift off to sleep.
The next morning, Yolanda got up, washed up, and headed straight back to Moonbay Estate.
Sure enough, Charles hadn’t come back last night–Yolanda let out a sigh of relief, got changed, and made her way over to Starlight.
Jason was already waiting for her, handing over the newly drafted talent contract for Yolanda to check out.
For now, the contract was pretty fair. It used a tiered profit–sharing system: the bigger the talent’s reputation, the higher the cut they’d get from the profits. It was designed to motivate them to climb higher.
Yolanda and Jason carefully went through a few key terms together, making sure everything checked out before moving forward with the new contract.
But introducing this new contract was clearly going to ruffle some feathers. Take the profit–sharing part: before, talents barely got one percent from endorsements, but now it was bumped up to a fifty–fifty split. The higher–ups would be taking a big hit to their bottom line.
So when the contract hit the meeting room, the Ford brothers–Ken and Wayne–basically exploded.
“Yolanda, are you nuts? Even the newbies get a fifty–fifty cut? You’re seriously going to tank Starlight! I have no idea who’s pulling strings behind you, but there’s no way we’re signing off on this. Forget about it!” Ken yelled, face flushed with anger.
Yolanda only held eighteen percent of the shares right now, so her say in things was pretty limited.
Her gaze shifted to Frank Doyle, who used to have Leon Cole and Tony Sutton in his little squad. With those
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Chapter 164
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two gone, it was clear Frank was on his own now, outnumbered and without backup. Still, he had eight percent of the shares in hand.
Yolanda knew pushing this contract through wouldn’t be easy. Until she had full control of the company, these guys were bound to try and stir up some drama.
Frank had been the quiet one from the start, and that was exactly what made him so dangerous.
In his little group, Leon and Tony were always the ones causing a fuss, acting impulsively like someone was pulling their strings.
If those two didn’t have any real strategy, then all the brains in the group had to be with Frank.
Getting his eight percent of the shares would be a tough battle.
Yolanda decided to put Frank on the back burner for now. He was alone, and he wouldn’t dare make a move just yet.
She locked her sights on Ken and Wayne. Sure, they were a bit sharper than Tony, but honestly, that was the only thing going for them.
Yolanda shot a calm smile around the room. “You’ve all had a look at the new contract. If anyone’s got an issue with my decisions, we can take it up later.”
Ken and Wayne exchanged glances, let out a cold snort, and strode out of the room.
Back in her office, Yolanda saw Jason still there. He was even more buttoned–up than her brother Samuel- shirt fastened clear to the collar, suit perfectly tailored, and those slim gold–rimmed glasses just added to his whole ultra–reserved, almost ascetic vibe.
Sighing, Yolanda rubbed her forehead and said, “Ken and Wayne each have five percent of the shares. Those two trust each other completely, so pulling that off’s going to be tough.”
Now that Leon and Tony were gone, the remaining four were seriously playing it safe.
Yolanda leaned back in her chair, stretched her neck toward the ceiling, then glanced sideways at Walter.
“Have Ken and Wayne ever had any disagreements?” Yolanda asked.
Walter, whose wounds had already scabbed over, nodded respectfully. “As far as I know, no. Those brothers have always stuck together.”
‘This is going to be tough,‘ Yolanda thought to herself.
Their little group was backed by Richard Sinclair, who was set to return soon.
Yolanda lowered her lashes, thinking, ‘I can’t rush this. If I push too hard, Charles will catch on, and the rest of the Sinclair family will turn against me too. In the end, Starlight will be mine–if it takes longer, I’ll just wait it
out.‘
Until she figured out the Ford brothers‘ weak spots, she’d have to hold her position for now.
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Jason stood up and placed a file on the desk. “Yolanda, if you need anything, just give me a call. I’ve got some matters with Sinclair Group that will keep me busy, so I might not get to WhatsApp in time.”
“Alright, thanks, Mr. Maine,” Yolanda said.
Jason nodded and turned to leave.
Yolanda skimmed through the document–it was just a rough draft of another contract and would need a bunch of edits. Fixing it meant she’d have to go through everything with Jason, line by line, which was definitely going to be a hassle.
Sure, she could have dumped the whole thing on Jason, but if she was going to claim total control over Starlight, trusting anyone too much just wasn’t an option. No matter how sharp Jason was, in the end he’d always answer to Charles.
Yolanda quickly called Mary Hall, hoping she’d come in so they could go over what comes next.
But Mary didn’t show–what she got instead was that young actress who was always hanging around.
The actress rushed in and dropped to her knees by the desk, eyes rimmed red, practically begging. “Ms. Grant, I really don’t want to do those revealing photoshoots. Can you please say something to the magazine for me…?”
Until the new contract rolled out, all the talents were stuck with the old rules. But since Yolanda had taken over, at least the higher–ups couldn’t drag them out to those shady drinking parties anymore.
Yolanda stayed cool, saying, “You agreed to these jobs yourself. If I let you bail now, we’re breaking the contract with the magazine. Who’s supposed to pay for that?”
‘No way I’m taking the blame for this,’ Yolanda thought.
Sure, she was flush with cash, but if she gave in now, all the talents in the company would be lining up to kneel and beg her to tear up their contracts next.
This whole mess was dumped on her by someone else, but it definitely wasn’t her job to clean it up.
As long as her conscience was clear, Yolanda didn’t care about anything else.
The young actress hadn’t expected Yolanda to be so uncompromising; her hand clenched tight at her side.
“But Ms. Grant, aren’t you here to support us? You’re a woman too–I thought you’d be on our side,” she said, her voice trembling.
Yolanda put down the contract and fixed the young actress with a steady gaze. “Just being the underdog doesn’t automatically make you right. Ask yourself—if I were a man, would you even dare come begging to me like this? No, you’d probably be intimidated or scared. When a male boss treats you unfairly, you grit your teeth and accept it. But when I refuse to let myself get walked all over, suddenly I’m the villain in your eyes. Isn’t that kind of a double standard?”
The young actress sprang up, her eyes brimming with frustration and hurt.
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Chapter 164
“Ms. Grant, how can you say that? I’m not that kind of person!” she choked out.
Sobbing, she ran out and threw back, “You’re just like all those men!”
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
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.
