Chapter 184
EC
16 vouchers
“Mmm. Let go! We can’t do this! Joelle tried to push him away, her voice muffled by his kiss. “This is wrong… What are we doing? she panicked inwardly.
Can’t we? Do you know how much I’ve missed you all these years?” Quentin murmured between kisses, his lips brushing hers. “Every time I flew overseas to see you, you turned me away. I wanted to help you, but you never gave me the chance. You’re always so independent, insisting on facing everything alone. But you could lean on me a little, Joelle. I really love you.”
He kissed her, pouring all the longing and love in his heart into each confession.
Joelle tilted her head back in pride, her eyes flashing with unmistakable smugness.
Here in Beloris, I’ve got men who’d do anything for me. How could someone as stiff and uptight as Yolanda ever hope to compete?‘ Joelle scoffed inwardly.
“Quentin, let me go! Otherwise, don’t even think about seeing me next time,” Joelle warned, her voice icy.
Quentin instantly went meek. “Okay, I get it. I won’t touch you,” he said, backing off.
Joelle’s eyes filled with tears. “What kind of woman do you think I am? All those years overseas, countless people tried to use me, tried to buy me off, but I never let them. I had to put up with obsessive fans stalking me and the pressure from the big players in the industry–yet I never compromised, not once did I sell out. I refuse to let myself become cheap. When I fall for someone, I love with everything I have. Right now, I only have feelings for Charles. Unless he shows me he doesn’t care about me at all, I won’t give up on him!”
“Joelle, you silly girl,” Quentin said softly, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Yolanda’s name was still trending on WhatsApp, and no one had been able to dig up any photos of her. Sophie’s livestreams never stopped–as she broadcast day and night, her profits soared.
At first, Sophie felt a pang of guilt; a little voice in her head whispered that Yolanda wasn’t really that terrible.
But the constant flow of money was just too hard to resist. It kept pushing her to spit out even nastier remarks, until the whole chat was overflowing with hate for Yolanda. When that happened, Sophie would tear up on cue, and the gifts and donations kept rolling in–sometimes adding up to hundreds of thousands with just a few tears.
Sophie was flexing hard in her girl group chat, showing off her latest haul with wild excitement.
[I’ve never seen this much money in my life! Just a couple of days, and eight million RMB is already in my account!] she typed, all fired up.
[Sophie, your streams are insane right now! You’re getting way more attention than most C–list celebs. When you make it big, don’t forget about us!] one of the girls messaged back.
Pride lit up Sophie’s eyes, and a self–satisfied grin curled on her lips.
10:38 Fr. Oct 17
Chespins 18E
The group was just five girls all pretty much the same age. Most of the time, they took whatever street photography or tandem commercial gigs they could get, sometimes posing for those low–tier magazines- honestly they were hardly making ends meet.
Bust now seeing Sophie suddenly stacking serious cash, a bunch of them couldn’t help but feel jealous just days ago, everyone was whining about being broke, and now she’d turned into a millionaire overnight. If her streams kept blowing up like this, her income was about to break the ten–million mark in no time.
She’d cover Starlight’s penalty fees easily, and still rake in a massive profit. Who wouldn’t wish it was them?
Sophie instantly fired up the group chat, and the other four were quick to join in.
Sophie was obviously in charge now, and she immediately started giving out her advice.
“Guy’s, clout disappears in a blink! If you want to cash in, just do what I say. Start your own streams ASAP and join me in trash–talking Yolanda. Seriously, you’re missing the boat–plenty of people are already trying it, but they just don’t have enough viewers. If I give you a shoutout during my live, your numbers will explode. You might not make as much as I do, but raking in a million? That’s totally doable.”
The rest of the girls were super hyped, practically worshipping Sophie with every
word.
“Sophie, your timing is just perfect! Yolanda hasn’t dared to say a single thing yet. She must really be hiding something sketchy, and whoever’s backing her clearly isn’t important–otherwise, why would this trending topic stick around for so long?” one of them said.
“Sophie’s only helping us out because we’ve all been at Starlight together for ages. Once we’re done chatting, let’s all jump in and start our own live streams,” someone else suggested.
“Rainie, why are you so quiet?” someone asked.
The only girl who hadn’t chimed in was Rainie Warren, just twenty–one years old.
Rainie hadn’t expected to be put on the spot, and her voice came out hoarse and hesitant. “I heard Ms. Hall got attacked by some crazy internet haters and was sent to the hospital. I’m really worried about her. She’s always treated us well–stepped in to shield us from unwelcome drinks at company gatherings and all that. I was thinking maybe I should go visit her…”
Rainie sounded shy and nervous, but her concern for Ms. Hall was genuinely heartfelt.
The chatroom went totally quiet, with Sophie jumping in first to break the silence.
“Ms. Hall’s totally siding with Yolanda now, she’s not really with us anymore. That day she even snapped at me and questioned everything I said. Who knows what kind of stuff Yolanda’s been feeding her. If she ended up getting attacked, it’s all Yolanda’s fault anyway. Yolanda’s the one ruining everything.”
Rainie opened her mouth, but the words just wouldn’t come; she had no idea how to push back.
‘If Sophie hadn’t started all this mess, Ms. Hall never would’ve gotten hurt… If you really think about it, Yolanda hasn’t actually done anything wrong at all, Rainie thought, frustration simmering inside.
Then, one by one, the others started jumping in.
10:38 Fri, Oct 17
Chapter 184
ZE 55 you hare
“Rainie, are you still hoping Yolanda will come through for you? You wanna stab us in the bark, after all we’ve been through) Sophie’s over here making bank and still looking out for us. Did Yolanda ever do anything for you? Seriously, girl, you need to get real, one of the girls said.
For real If I were Sophie, I’d be so bummed out, another chimed in.
Sophie, don’t take it to heart. We totally get where you’re coming from. You’re fighting for all of us–if Starlight finally starts treating the talent right because of this, we all seriously owe you,” someone else added.
Sophie couldn’t help feeling irritated. Truth be told, she’d never really liked Rainie–she was just way too meek and always kept to herself, so quiet it was almost boring. On top of that, she was always bringing homemade pickles and cured meats as gifts for Mary, as if Mary would ever want that kind of stuff. ‘Honestly, does she even realize how out of place she is?‘ Sophie thought, her annoyance bubbling just beneath the
surface.
The other three girls kept trying to comfort Sophie, but she forced herself to keep it together–even though she was barely holding back her impatience.
“Rainic, I only tried to help because I counted you as a friend. But if you don’t value that, I won’t shout you out in my stream later. Suit yourself,” Sophie said coolly.
Rainie tried to say something, but before she could even type a word, she got booted from the group chat in a
flash.
She sat there in the Starlight dance studio, eyes rimmed with red. The other three girls were in the room too, but not a single one bothered to speak to her–they just launched their live streams right away, acting like she didn’t even exist.
Sophie went live again, same as always, laying into Yolanda and calling her out. She also said her close girlfriends–who’d been through the same struggles–were willing to go on record to back her up. Then she hyped up all three of her friends‘ streams, sending her fans their way with glowing recommendations.
At first, those girls figured maybe a few thousand viewers would show up, but to everyone’s shock, their numbers exploded–shooting up to a hundred thousand people watching almost instantly.
“Oh my god! Rolling with Sophie really is the gravy train!” one of them shouted.
“Sophie, you’re our ultimate sister from now on!” another chimed in.
Rainie watched the excitement on their faces, but didn’t say a word. She just quietly grabbed her things, left Starlight, and went back to her rented apartment.
Rainie was a skilled cook, and she carefully simmered a pot of soup all afternoon. By six o’clock, carrying it with her, she made her way to Mary Hall’s hospital room.
Rainie never expected to bump into Yolanda here.
She’d never actually spoken to Yolanda before, so she jumped and took a step back, totally startled. Her hands fumbled, dropping the thermos–it slipped right across the floor and landed at Yolanda’s feet.
Yolanda heard the noisy clatter, glanced down, and picked up the thermos.
10:38 FMI, UCT 17
Chapter 183
Chapter 185
พร (92)
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.
