Chapter 179
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Yolanda didn’t get a reply from lan, so she teased, her tone laid–back, “What, are you scared?”
Are you afraid of actually getting mixed up with me and having Charles come after you down the line? Yolanda mused to herself. ‘Honestly, in Charles‘ eyes, just us being together like this probably looks like we’re already a thing.
To him, it’s basically like we’ve already crossed the line, Yolanda thought.
“Yolanda, you don’t really know me,” Ian said, his tone suddenly turning distant.
They switched positions, and Yolanda ended up lying back on the lounge chair.
Ian lifted her legs onto his shoulders. “Let me clean you up,” he said.
Yolanda was about to ask how he planned to do that when, in the next second, he leaned down.
Before she could even react, Ian moved closer, making her breath catch for a moment.
Ten minutes later, Ian heard Yolanda’s quiet sobs and instantly stopped, wrapping her tightly in his arms and softly patting her back as if to shield her from the world.
“The more I try to clean, the messier you get. Seriously, Yolanda, are you made out of water or something?” Ian joked, unable to resist teasing her.
With his fingertip, he brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes, his heart aching. “See? I haven’t even done anything, and you’re already fighting me off.”
Yolanda nestled in his arms, breathing heavily. Her forehead pressed to his shoulder, and she said nothing.
Ian had a clean, fresh scent–something she couldn’t quite describe, but it was strangely invigorating.
Yolanda closed her eyes for a few minutes to catch her breath. Then she pressed her lips together and said, “I’m leaving.”
“Mm–hmm,” Ian murmured.
He gently helped her up, straightened her out, then spun her around right there, admiring her like she was his masterpiece.
“It’s perfect,” he said with a satisfied grin.
Ian never held back when it came to compliments, and as he spoke, his eyes sparkled with genuine admiration.
Yolanda stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips.
Ian looked genuinely stunned for a split second, then his whole face seemed to light up, like a flower bursting into bloom. “Wow, you actually kissed me? You don’t mind me at all today!”
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Chapter 179
Yolanda didn’t say a word. She just walked around him and left.
53 vouchers
Ian insisted on seeing her to the car. His fingertips brushed the corner of her lips before he handed her a tube of ointment. “Here, dab some on. If you show up like this again, I might just pretend not to care,” he teased.
Saying that, he went ahead and twisted the cap off, dabbing the ointment gently onto her lips himself.
The cool touch of the ointment was oddly comforting.
Standing outside the car window, Ian made sure he’d smoothed it on just right before pressing the tube back into her hand.
“You know, I’m only letting you off easy tonight because you gave me that matching necklace. Otherwise, I’d seriously be pissed,” Yolanda teased.
Ian always talked big about getting mad, but he never really did.
But if he ever truly lost it… that’d be scary as hell.
Yolanda understood that perfectly.
Yolanda reached up, caught hold of the chain around Ian’s neck, and tugged him closer. She placed a soft kiss on the pendant. “You know, I’ve got my name engraved on the back of your necklace–and yours is on mine.”
Ian dropped his gaze, meeting her eyes with surprise. “You actually engraved my name?”
“Yeah, just ‘Ian,” Yolanda said, her voice tender. “That’s my favorite part of your name.”
Ian didn’t say a word, just stood there, frozen.
Yolanda hadn’t realized that the single character she’d chosen for his necklace had struck a nerve. She gently nudged him away and said, “I’m heading out.”
Ian’s Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed hard, his voice hoarse and barely audible. “Yolanda… you always say things that just about kill me inside.”
Yolanda raised an eyebrow but said nothing, stepped on the gas, and sped away.
Ian stood outside for a good ten minutes, unmoving. Only then did he glance up at the villa across the street.
He turned and headed inside.
Yolanda drove to the hospital, and it wasn’t until she got to the hallway that she realized Ken Ford and Wayne Ford were actually here too. Now that was unexpected.
Those two can’t usually stand Mary Hall–so what on earth brought them over tonight, suddenly playing
nice?
Ken sneered, “We just happened to be here when she got pushed. Yolanda, Starlight’s in this mess because of you. Mary’s just caught in the crossfire.”
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Chapter 179.
Yolanda’s expression turned icy, the warmth she’d shown with tan completely gone.
“What are you two doing here?” she asked, her voice sharp.
There was just something unsettling about Ken and Wayne–being around them put anyone on edge.
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Ken let out a cold chuckle. “We’re out of here. Take care of yourself, Yolanda–whatever happens next, that’s on you.”
Yolanda took a seat by the door, her eyes fixed on the glowing surgery light as doctors bustled in and out. Not able to stay calm, she hurriedly flagged down one of them to ask how things were going.
Once she was told it wasn’t that serious, Yolanda finally breathed easier and let herself wait outside in peace.
Two hours later, Mary Hall was brought out of surgery.
Her eyes were shut, and the nurse reminded Yolanda, “The anesthesia hasn’t worn off yet. Be sure to call her name every once in a while so she doesn’t sleep too deeply.“–
Yolanda nodded and settled into the chair beside the bed.
After Ken Ford left, he immediately ratted Yolanda out to Eric Long–not just sending her exact location, but spilling every single detail about her look: denim jeans, hair pulled into a low ponytail, a soft beige top, sitting in room 306 on the third floor. Nothing left out.
Eric Long had spent the whole night waiting for a call from Mark Long. He didn’t have the slightest intention of sleeping with a woman Mark had already been with, but he was damn curious–what kind of woman could have an old man like Mark hung up on her for all these years?
But Mark still hadn’t called.
So when Eric got a message from Ken Ford, he didn’t hesitate for a second–he jumped in his car and headed straight to the hospital.
From a distance, Eric caught sight of Yolanda in the hospital room–and for a moment, he was totally blown away by how gorgeous she was.
‘Damn, this one’s actually a knockout,’ Eric thought, his mind reeling.
He could feel his heart pounding, blood running hot all over.
Even though it was way past midnight, you could still spot the occasional nurse making rounds in the hallway.
Eric lingered in the distance, leaning back with a faint smirk. ‘That bitch won’t stay holed up in there forever. She’s bound to come out sooner or later,’ he thought.
Four hours passed, and by five in the morning, the anesthesia wore off. Mary slowly fluttered her eyes open under the dim hospital lights.
“Ms. Grant,” she whispered, her voice weak.
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Chapter 179
Yolanda finally let out a shaky sigh of relief. “Thank goodness you’re alright. This whole mess was on me—I’m so sorry you got caught up in it.”
Mary braced herself to sit up, but Yolanda caught her shoulders and held her gently down. “No rushing. Rest up, okay?”
Mary didn’t hold back–she just nodded, her face pale. “Sophie’s still running her livestream, and it’s causing chaos for the company. I’ve been checking the stock, and it keeps sinking… I’m really worried.”
“Ms. Hall, you’re supposed to be recovering right now. Don’t let yourself stress out over work–your health comes first, okay?” Yolanda said softly.
Mary bit her lip, eyes rimmed red. She’d always been the cool–headed powerhouse, never one to lose her composure—yet right now, she just felt gutted for Yolanda.
Yolanda had already gone above and beyond–those exploitative contracts weren’t her doing, and she’d even kicked out two executives who’d been squeezing the female talent. But here she was, shouldering all the backlash from the talent who’d gotten riled up.
Funny how everyone acts terrified of the real bad guys and lets them off easy, but turns around and blames the one person actually trying to fix things. This world really is a joke sometimes.
Mary closed her eyes and struggled to swallow. “Ms. Grant, I don’t know what kind of background you really have, but Starlight isn’t worth all that you’re suffering for it. Honestly, you should just walk away—this place doesn’t deserve you.”
Yolanda could guess that some of Starlight’s talent had honestly broken Mary’s heart.
“Ms. Hall, I mean, sure, some of these talents are just straight up dumb,” Yolanda told her, voice soft but real. “But if you scroll through the employee group chat, you’ll see that plenty of people are still rooting for us–we can’t just let a bunch of idiots ruin it for all the folks who actually care about us, right?”
Mary lay on the hospital bed, silent tears soaking into her hair.
Her throat was burning and sore. Ever since Starlight got hit hard, she’d barely slept a wink–totally exhausted, basically running on empty.
Yolanda took a deep breath. Mary might run the show at work like a true boss, but deep down, she was all heart–soft, loyal, and way more emotional than anyone realized.
“Just focus on getting better, okay? Don’t worry about Starlight–it’s not going anywhere. Right now, Sophie’s cashing in on everything I’ve built for myself, but give me a few days and I’ll make her cough it all up, every last bit, just the way she took it,” Yolanda said, her voice steady and unwavering.
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.
