Chapter 196
Chapter 196
Edward’s words to Yolanda were nothing short of a slap in the face to Charles.
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Charles was ruthless by nature, and he had never liked fools like Edward. He wouldn’t show any mercy from
now on.
Sure enough, that night, Yolanda woke up from her sleep, roused by the feeling of Charles’s lips pressing against hers.
Groggy and half–awake, she squinted at his face in the soft glow of the bedside lamp–Charles’s expression was as cold as ice.
She feigned ignorance, reaching out to cup his cheeks. “Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked softly.
Charles pressed his lips to hers, then began trailing kisses further down, his movements deliberate and possessive.
Yolanda felt a sudden rush of nerves, but she put on a bright, teasing smile. “So, have you finally picked it up?” she asked, pretending to be delighted.
Charles snapped back to his senses, frowning at her. ‘Since when did she start enjoying this kind of thing so much?‘ he wondered.
Back then, there was never any foreplay–he always just got straight to the point.
“Yolanda, just make me feel good first,” Charles said, his voice low and commanding.
Yolanda yanked the covers back, wrapping herself up tight. “Forget it,” she shot back.
Charles let out a sharp, incredulous laugh, tugging her upright. “Getting bolder these days, huh? Think I’ve been spoiling you?”
Yolanda’s tears streamed down without warning.
Charles’s anger vanished. He hastily snatched a tissue from the nightstand, awkwardly wiping her cheeks. “Why are you crying? It’s not like I’d actually force you. That’s not who I am.”
Wherever he went, women practically threw themselves at him; making his wife do something against her
will was beneath him.
No need–he was never short of women.
Yolanda wasn’t having it. ‘He’s got more than enough women waiting on him outside anyway, she thought bitterly.
Charles felt a wave of annoyance. He tossed the tissue into the trash. “Did Uncle Edward mess with you tonight?”
“No, he just said a couple of mean things,” Yolanda replied.
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Chapter 196
“What did he say?” Charles demanded, unable to hide the edge in his voice.
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Yolanda fumbled for words, her face turning bright red. It was obvious she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.
Charles knew exactly what Edward must’ve said. Seeing her so flustered, the anger in his chest evaporated. He reached out and drew her into his arms.
“Why are you still so uptight? Guess that’s on me–I haven’t really loosened you up as your husband, Charles said, a teasing warmth in his voice.
Even after two years of marriage, she was still as innocent as ever.
He used to think she was all prim and proper, but now he found that innocence strangely attractive.
Yolanda closed her eyes, leaving only the upper half of her face visible, her lashes fluttering as she stubbornly refused to open them.
Charles sat down at the edge of the bed, his fingertips lightly grazing her cheek.
Something unfamiliar flickered through his heart.
Yolanda simply pulled up the covers and went right to sleep, totally unbothered. Just as Charles had said— sure, he could be a bastard, but making a woman do something against her will? That was way beneath him. He wasn’t about to demean himself like that.
After he left, Yolanda unlocked her phone and, using the number she secretly used to contact Sophie, fired off a quick message.
[You’re on duty with Charles tonight. Don’t say I didn’t give you the heads–up.]
Sophie had been pretty out of it lately. Ever since she got hurt a few days ago, she just wasn’t herself on set- every scene, she kept blowing the lines and had to do retake after retake.
Whenever she was alone, her thoughts drifted back to Charles, and before she knew it, she’d be crying all over again.
She just couldn’t accept it–after sticking by his side for over two years, almost three, he dumped her like she meant nothing at all. The more she thought about it, the more unfair it felt.
She couldn’t hold it in anymore and ended up venting to Yolanda, pouring out all her feelings over text.
[Back when he used to hold me close, he swore up and down he’d love me forever. What happened to all those sweeping vows? Were they just talk?] Sophie texted, pouring her heart out.
Yolanda read the message and thought to herself that, between Sophie and Joelle, Sophie was actually the more likable one. At least Sophie was completely devoted to Charles, unlike Joelle, who just wants to have her cake and eat it too, never willing to let go of anyone.
[Just empty words, that’s all.] Yolanda replied.
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Chapter 196
Sophie didn’t respond after that.
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Yolanda shot a text to Sophie, telling her to hit up Charles right away. The guy was clearly wound up and itching for a way to take the edge off.
Joelle, on the other hand, always kept herself aloof–there’s no way she’d let a man get to her that easily, which meant sleeping with Charles was never on the table.
Joelle knew exactly how guys operated: once they’ve had a taste, they lose interest. And with her reputation in showbiz, sleeping with someone too soon would just fuel gossip about whether she’d hooked up with men abroad.
After a quick “thanks,” Sophie wiped away her tears, put on a tearful, fragile look, and hurried to dial Charles’s
number.
“Charles, I just had a dream about you. You needed me, and I miss you so much… Charles, *sniffle* I can’t stop crying…” Sophie whimpered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Her crying was so heartbreaking, it could soften even the hardest heart. After all, she and Charles had been entangled for two whole years.
It wasn’t that he was feeling sentimental–he just needed a woman tonight, plain and simple.
Sophie left the film set, and as soon as she looked up, she spotted a familiar car parked right outside. Her eyes instantly sparkled with hope.
It was already past 2 a.m.–and Charles had actually come looking for her!
As soon as she got in the car, tears threatened to fall, but before she could even start crying, Charles reached over, pulled her straight into his arms, and pressed her down onto the seat.
Jack, who’d been driving, was long gone.
The car was parked under a huge tree, hidden in its shadow so nobody passing by would even notice them.
Sophie’s eyes shone with excitement and smug satisfaction–Charles had come back for her! ‘He couldn’t stay away. I knew I’d win him over again,’ she thought, a victorious thrill bubbling up inside.
She pulled out all the stops, showing Charles every bit of devotion she had, holding nothing back until he was finally satisfied. It was only then, feeling the tension drain from her, that she dared to relax–carefully, anxiously, as if afraid one wrong move might send him away again.
“Charles…” she whispered, her voice soft and trembling.
Charles’s looks were on another level–if he ever set foot in showbiz, he’d blow most male stars out of the water, no contest.
Right now, sweat gathered on the tip of his nose, the fiery look in his eyes finally cooling. He slumped back, totally relaxed, fully expecting her to clean up after him–like that was how things were supposed to be.
After tidying up, Sophie snuggled up close to him, looking so gentle and docile–just like a cherished little
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Chapter 196
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“Charles, does this mean you want to be with me again? It’s not the house I want, I just want you,” she whispered, hope shining in her eyes.
What she truly craved was to become the one and only Mrs. Sinclair–to be the woman who filled every corner of Charles’s heart.
But Joelle Monroe came back way ahead of schedule–she was supposed to stay away for a whole month, but suddenly turned up out of the blue. That really unsettled Sophie, leaving her feeling on edge.
Tears spilled from her eyes, falling onto Charles’s suit pants.
Charles gripped her chin, smirked, and asked, “You don’t even want the house? Then what is it you really want?”
Sophie let her lashes fall, tears streaming freely down her cheeks. “You really don’t know what I want? You used to say I was the one you cared about most.”
“Babe, the things a man says in bed don’t mean a thing. Don’t take them seriously,” Charles said with a faint, careless smirk.
Sophie’s face turned ghostly pale. She dropped to her knees beside him, her shoulders shaking as she knelt there, completely defeated.
Charles reached out and lightly tapped her cheek, his tone detached. “Still, that’s what makes you useful–you always do as you’re told.”
“Charles, have you ever truly cared about anyone? Do you really have feelings for Joelle?” Sophie asked, her voice wavering between hope and heartbreak.
If Joelle really meant that much to you, then why are you still keeping someone like me around, even after she came back?
Charles frowned, his voice barely above a whisper, tinged with impatience. “What’s your point?”
“You don’t love me, you don’t love Joelle–you don’t love anyone. You don’t even know what it means to like someone, let alone love them. We’re just here because you think we’re amusing, so you spoil us for a while, and the moment you get bored, you kick us to the curb,” Sophie said, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and heartbreak.
Charles grabbed a tissue and wiped away Sophie’s tears, his voice cool and emotionless. “Don’t cry. Pick out two houses–I’ll come visit you once in a while.”
Sophie’s eyes instantly sparkled, all her bitterness gone in a flash. “Really?” she asked, hope rising.
“Mm.” Charles replied, indifferent as ever.
She immediately snuggled up to his arm, her tone sweet and devoted. “As long as you come see me, that’s more than enough for me. I’m happy just having you.”
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At least she was nothing like that dull, unfashionable wife of his back home. Everybody knew Charles couldn’t even stand to sleep with her.
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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.
