Chapter 170
Yolanda put her phone on silent and locked herself inside the hospital room.
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Linda, who was staying in the room next door, had called Yolanda multiple times to no avail, and her expression grew stormy with frustration.
May scoffed, taking the peeled orange from her housekeeper.
“Didn’t I say so? The Grant family sure raised a ‘good daughter.‘ She’s turned my whole home upside down, and now I’m sick in the hospital–even as her mother–in–law, she can’t pick up the phone once. If Charles had married Joelle, I’d be getting pampered day and night.”
Just as she finished, the hospital room door swung open–right on cue, in walked Joelle.
Back then, May never liked Joelle—her family background was just too obvious, and it always brought to mind that cheap woman who had once turned Dylan’s head completely.
In her eyes, women born into poverty only had their pretty faces to lure men in.
But Joelle wasn’t quite the same. She’d gone overseas and built up her own reputation; now, she was everywhere in the showbiz headlines, and all the gossip said she was hopelessly devoted to Charles.
As soon as Joelle walked in, she took off her hat and mask, casually closed the door behind her, and stood near the doorway.
“Aunt May, I’m not sure if you remember me,” Joelle said, voice a little nervous. “I debated for ages before coming–I was worried you might not want to see me. But you’re Charles’s mom, and when I heard you were sick, I honestly couldn’t sleep last night. If my visit bothers you, I’ll leave right now. These are for you—just a little something to help you recover. I hope you’ll accept them.”
The gifts weren’t cheap either–they were all premium health supplements, worth a small fortune.
May’s annoyance faded on the spot, and she warmly waved Joelle in, her attitude now surprisingly welcoming.
“Joelle, it’s been years since you and Charles, but I can still see he hasn’t truly let you go. You’ve always been such a headstrong child–wouldn’t even accept his help, stubbornly chose to run off with that broke guy. But you made it, pulled off your own success.”
Joelle’s eyes shimmered with tears as she brushed them away. “Back then, I was just holding onto my pride. You were right, Aunt May–I wasn’t good enough for Charles. Our families were worlds apart, and I couldn’t stand all the gossip. I didn’t actually run away with that man; I said it just to make Charles move on. I took my lumps abroad, faced setback after setback, and clawed my way to where I am now. But I know, in the eyes of the Sinclair family, all this still doesn’t amount to much. I never expected anything more between me and Charles.”
When Joelle finished speaking, she turned her teary gaze to Linda Grant. “Aunt May, may I ask who this lady is?”
May’s face fell; her dislike for the Grant family only grew stronger.
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Chapter 170
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Joelle’s tactfulness, especially when compared to the Grants, made her all the more endearing in May’s eyes.
“She’s a friend of mine,” May said, then turned to Joelle. “Joelle, has work been keeping you busy lately?”
Linda, sitting off to the side, felt a bit awkward and stood up. “Mrs. Sinclair, I’ll come visit you another time.”
She didn’t even dare to call May by her first name anymore.
May waved her off dismissively. “Alright.”
As Linda closed the door behind her, she could still hear May fussing over Joelle, asking after her with all sorts of concern.
Linda’s face grew even more sour. After all, everyone knew Joelle was Charles’s legendary first love–and now, with her back in town, she was way more eager than Yolanda herself. Honestly, what chance did Yolanda have against that?
Yolanda didn’t even have a kid yet. If Joelle got pregnant before her…
Linda’s anxiety
was through the roof. She dialed Yolanda’s number twice again, but just like before, Yolanda wouldn’t pick up.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom next door, Ian had Yolanda pinned against him in a deep kiss. She was nearly out of breath and had to reach up to gently push him away.
These VIP hospital suites all had their own private bathrooms—after all, this was a high–end private hospital that catered exclusively to the ultra–wealthy.
When Ian woke up, he headed straight to the bathroom to wash up–he always paid careful attention to these sorts of small rituals. Only after he’d freshened up did he start getting affectionate with Yolanda.
But his fever still hadn’t broken; his temperature was still hovering around 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yolanda raised her hand, placing it between them. “You’ve been running a fever all day. I think it’s time to get you an assistant. Starlight’s been crazy busy lately, and I just can’t keep an eye on you like I should.”
“I don’t want an assistant,” Ian said firmly.
Yolanda had brought it up once before, and he’d turned her down then too.
“Ian, be good, okay? You’re making me worry,” Yolanda said, her voice both tender and firm.
“Yolanda, why don’t you try a kiss at 102 degrees?” Ian teased, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as he gestured at his lips.
He tapped his lips, signaling her to kiss him.
Yolanda’s knees went wobbly at that, and she gave Ian a quick shove, trying to keep her composure. “Enough with the teasing–just tell me what you want, and I’ll order us some takeout.”
Ian let the matter drop, flopping back onto the hospital bed, his complexion unmistakably pale.
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Chapter 170
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“I really need a shower,” Ian grumbled, voice still rough from the fever. “Sweated through the whole night. Bet I smell awful, huh?”
Yolanda stood by the bed, and couldn’t help but laugh at him, shaking her head in amusement.
Ian’s lashes flickered as he stared out the window. “Trust me, when you’re around, I pay extra attention to the little details.”
Especially before things got hot between them, he’d make sure every single tooth was spotless.
Yolanda placed a takeout order, and when she spotted lan sniffing the collar of his shirt, she could tell he genuinely cared about how he smelled around her.
“I’ll bring you a couple of clean outfits over in a bit,” Yolanda said, her voice warm but reassuring. “There’s a private bathroom here, so treat yourself to a long hot shower. I need to talk to Mr. Maine about some stock deals–once I wrap that up, I’ll come back tonight to check on you, okay?”
Ian nodded, his lashes casting shadows over his cheeks. “But I still want to kiss you some more.”
Yolanda couldn’t help but think, ‘Was he always this clingy and soft whenever he got sick? He’s basically turned into a big, spoiled puppy.‘
She couldn’t resist him, though. She sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned in for another kiss.
Ian glanced through the palm–sized window in the door and caught sight of someone outside. Something dark flashed in his eyes, and without warning, he cupped the back of Yolanda’s head, pulling her in to kiss her hungrily, almost possessively.
Ten minutes later, Yolanda could barely feel her lips. “You really went all out… I have to get going. I’ll have a same–city courier bring your clothes over.”
“Okay,” Ian replied softly.
His gaze lingered on her, fixated on her kiss–bruised lips, unable to look away.
Yolanda opened the door of the hospital room and made her way down to the lobby, only to unexpectedly bump right into Linda Grant.
Linda was standing off to the side, talking on her phone. The moment she spotted Yolanda out of the corner of her eye, she hurriedly hung up.
Linda called out, “Yolanda!”
She stormed over, her steps heavy and determined, and with no warning, swung her hand out, aiming a slap straight at Yolanda.
Yolanda didn’t have time to react–the slap landed hard, leaving a fierce red mark on her cheek.
Linda was trembling, absolutely livid. “Look at Joelle, she knows how to show her face and pay respects to your mother–in–law, but you drag your feet and show up at the last possible minute! Are you trying to piss me off? Charles has never truly cared about you, and now that Joelle’s back in the country, you think he’d even
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spare you a glance? Let me tell you, Yolanda–if you even think about divorcing Charles, I’ll make sure Mark Long gets his hands on you. Don’t test me!”
Mark Long was an old friend of Yolanda’s father, and back in the day, they were thick as thieves. But Mark was a scumbag. Not long after Yolanda came back to the Grant family, he had his eye on her–even though she was just ten years old. He almost tried to force a kiss on her, and the shock made her run a fever for over half a month.
Now Mark’s in his fifties and still hasn’t learned his lesson. But because Yolanda’s identity is different now, he doesn’t dare try anything anymore, especially since the Grant family got more powerful and gradually cut off contact with him.
Even so, Yolanda would still get nasty text messages from this gross old man. Sometimes she’d get several a month, and every time she blocked his number, he’d just pop up again with a new one–blocking him never made any difference.
Mark made a fortune in the past couple years, riding the wave of live–streaming and setting up his own company. Recently, it looked like he was trying to get back in with the Grant family again–otherwise, Linda wouldn’t be talking about him like this.
Turns out Linda had known about Mark Long’s sleazy motives all along, yet she still let him hang around the Grant family in those early days. Every single time he came over, Yolanda would be scrambling to hide out in Samuel Grant’s room for safety. But Samuel was always buried in work, barely noticing her. She’d just curl up in the corner with a book, totally silent, afraid to even make a sound–scared he’d tell her to get lost if she bothered him.
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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.
