Chapter 171
Yolanda found the whole thing ridiculous and looked up at Linda.
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Linda was still fuming, nudging Yolanda. “Just get upstairs, don’t actually let Joelle that man–stealer win. That woman’s got no shame–Charles is married and she keeps throwing herself at him. She keeps insisting she’s not after him, all the while playing the victim after stirring up trouble.”
The more Linda mulled over it, the angrier she got. With Yolanda’s ‘I–don’t–care‘ attitude, there’s no way she could stand up to Joelle.
“Yolanda, you really need to look out for yourself. If you’re really out of options, just get pregnant. Even Charles would have to treat you better if there’s a child in the mix. The Grant business and the Sinclair family are totally tied together now, so don’t make any waves for me.”
Linda gave Yolanda a firm push back into the elevator, and the doors closed just in time.
Finally breathing easy, Linda turned on her heel and left the hospital without looking back.
Yolanda stood inside the elevator, catching the red mark on her cheek reflected in the mirrored wall. She raised her hand and gingerly touched it.
When the doors slid open, she realized she was still on the first floor. Someone outside was about to enter, but paused when he saw her, sounding a bit unsure. “Yolanda?”
Yolanda glanced up. It was Quinn Cooper.
Quinn’s gaze paused on her cheek. He’d heard from Charles that May was hospitalized, and considering May never liked Yolanda, he guessed she might have gotten physical with her again.
Yolanda’s eyes were red–rimmed, her lips flushed, and a clear handprint marked her cheek–she looked obviously bullied.
Quinn clicked his tongue. “You really ought to tell Charles. Aunt May was way out of line this time.”
Yolanda’s eyes flickered twice, thinking to herself, ‘I can’t just let myself get slapped for nothing. She said quietly, “I’m fine, I’m used to it. Charles is busy working, and I don’t want to bother him.”
‘Busy working?‘ Yolanda thought to herself, feeling a little bitter. ‘Yeah right, he’s been glued to Joelle Monroe. these days!‘
‘All he does lately is hang out with her.’
Quinn leaned casually in the elevator, clicking his tongue again. He was so tall, and those flirty eyes of his could probably make even a dog feel loved. Quinn said, “You really are too sweet, Yolanda–you just swallow all your grievances by yourself. I need to head upstairs, catch you later.”
“Bye, Quinn,” Yolanda said softly.
As soon as the elevator doors shut, Quinn couldn’t help but call Charles to tell him about Yolanda getting slapped around.
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Chapter 171
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“Charles, what did Yolanda ever do to deserve all this? She even asked me not to tell you about it—that’s how much she really likes you. You should give her some of your attention, instead of spending all your time on Joelle.”
Charles was at the office when he heard this, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Yolanda’s just too naive sometimes.”
She never asks for credit, even when it’s deserved, and she always keeps quiet when she’s been hurt. If she didn’t love me so much, there’s no way she’d put up with all of this.
Yolanda figured Quinn had already tattled to Charles. Feeling a bit resigned, she drove to Ian’s place, picked out a couple of outfits, and arranged for a local courier to deliver them to the hospital. After that, she called
Charles.
“Honey, Mom’s in the hospital and she’s really upset. Do you plan to visit her this afternoon?” Yolanda asked.
Charles was fiddling with a pen, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. He just said, “Come over to Sinclair Group. I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”
“No, that’s alright. I want to spend these next few days learning from Aunt Simone,” Yolanda replied.
Charles didn’t say a word, probably realizing that the slap mark on her face wouldn’t disappear any time soon. Yolanda must’ve come up with an excuse to avoid having to face him like this.
His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. Truth was, Yolanda had always been this way–keeping everything bottled up inside from the very start.
“Honey, is it okay if I don’t come home for a few days? If you’re worried, you can always call Aunt Simone to check on me,” Yolanda said.
She’d never been allowed to spend the night out before.
Charles rubbed his temples. “If you’re feeling hurt, just tell me.”
“No, I’m not upset. I just want to take some time for myself and learn a bit more. I asked Linda to send some things over to the hospital, so I won’t be dropping by these next few days,” Yolanda replied.
‘She’s probably just afraid of getting slapped again, Charles thought.
He didn’t say anything, a strange heaviness settling in his chest.
“Yolanda…” Charles said softly, a hint of worry in his voice. Yolanda ignored the concern, thinking to herself, ‘No need to get sentimental now.’
“Alright, honey, I’m hanging up–take care at work,” Yolanda replied quickly, wanting to end the conversation before things got awkward.
Yolanda hung up, then let herself sprawl out on the couch, finally able to relax. Last night had been exhausting, taking care of lan and barely sleeping, but with no need to go back to Water Bay these next few days, she could actually breathe easy again—“This feels so much better, she thought contentedly.
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Yolanda took out her phone and dialed Jason Maine, asking, “So, how many minority shares have we picked up so far?”
Jason kept typing away at his keyboard, sounding as cool as ever. “Not even one percent yet, but the online rumor mill is only getting hotter. More of those retail investors are panicking and dumping their shares. Give it three days max–we’ll hit that two–percent mark you wanted.”
Yolanda nodded, finally feeling some relief. She picked up her phone and pulled up Sophie’s livestream.
These days, Sophie just couldn’t get enough–now that things were finally looking up for her, she refused to stop streaming. She’d start at seven in the morning and wouldn’t log off until midnight. Word was, loads of viewers felt bad for her story and flooded her with donations–she’d pulled in over a million bucks already. which was more than she’d made in three whole years working for Starlight.
Eyes rimmed red with excitement, Sophie stared at the payout showing on the platform’s dashboard. Before she knew it, tears were rolling down her face.
“All those years at Starlight–I never saw numbers like this. The contracts we signed with them were so brutal, minimum ten years, and our share was less than one percent. Some months, I could only just scrape enough together for rent. Most of the time, we were basically starving. There was this one time I got really sick with a fever, lost all sense, tried borrowing money from my girlfriends–but everyone was broke, just as bad as me. In the end, all we could do was huddle together and cry.”
Her sobs were so heartbreaking, and her delicate look just made the viewers even more sympathetic.
[That Yolanda is such a piece of work! How can a woman be so twisted? Bet she slept her way up to CEO!]
[Who’d even want to sleep with her? Haha, not afraid her poison heart would kill them?]
[Total coward, hasn’t shown her face yet. We’re all camped out in front of Starlight–just let that snake show up, we’ll chuck rotten eggs at her!]
[Heard she’s been AWOL from the office for two straight days. Guess she’s finally scared, huh? All that guts when she was making trouble, but now she’s hiding.]
Yolanda just let the stream play in the background, using it as white noise as she leaned back on the couch and drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, Starlight’s stock price kept tanking, and Ken and Wayne were freaking out. They’d been calling Yolanda non–stop, but she was straight up ignoring them.
Right now, they were in Starlight’s conference room, faces twisted with rage.
Ken slammed his hand on the table. “Wayne, what the hell are we supposed to do? Are we just gonna watch the stock crash like this? In less than a month, our shares will be garbage! Let’s just go public and announce we’ve fired Yolanda–just cut her loose!”
But Yolanda was the Sinclair family’s pick–none of them had the power to kick her out.
Wayne looked just as pissed. He shot a look at Mr. Doyle, who had barely said a word, and sneered, “Mr. Doyle, you seriously don’t look fazed at all. Leon Cole and Tony Sutton are already wiped out, and Yolanda’s clearly got you in her sights next. So, wanna team up?”
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Mr. Doyle took a sip of coffee from the table, his face calm as ever. “No need–I’ve made more than enough over the years to retire comfortably, I really don’t care to invite trouble for myself.
Ken angrily kicked the conference room table. “Cut the crap! You’re just sitting back, waiting for us to stick our necks out so you can profit off the mess, right? If Starlight’s stock keeps nosediving, it hurts all of us. Yolanda’s obviously just someone’s kept woman–she doesn’t know the first thing about running a company and couldn’t care less what happens to Starlight. But our income is directly tied to this place–if there’s no payout at the end of the year, how are we supposed to answer to our backers? You get what I mean?”
They all had powerful people behind them. Before, they’d keep it hidden, but now no one bothered to pretend anymore.
Mr. Doyle set his cup back on the table, completely collected. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. The only person backing me is myself.”
“You-!!” Ken finally lost it, looking like he was ready to go for Doyle right then and there.
Wayne quickly stepped in and grabbed him by the arm, holding him back before things could really blow up.
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11:16 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 172
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.
