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Linda came downstairs and caught the intimate moment between Charles and Yolanda, which somehow made her feel a bit more at ease. “You’re here, Charles,” she smiled.
Charles nodded, his voice soft. “Came to take Yolanda home.”
‘Yolanda’s so lucky to have a man as sweet as Charles, and yet she doesn’t appreciate him and even talks back to her mother–in–law,‘ Linda fumed to herself.
She let out a heavy sigh. “How are you feeling? I heard you had some issues with low blood sugar at work today.”
Charles replied, “All good. Probably just missed Yolanda is all.”
That made Linda even happier. As long as Charles cared for Yolanda, this marriage would stick. “Quit with the lovey–dovey stuff this late. Just take her home,” she said.
Charles smiled, his hand still on Yolanda’s waist. “We’re off then. Yolanda’s been in a funk lately–if she rubbed you the wrong way, go easy on her, yeah?”
At this point, Linda could only laugh and wave them off.
Charles kept hold of Yolanda till they left the Grant residence.
Yolanda got into her car parked nearby, planning to drive back alone.
Charles stood by the car window, about to say something, when his phone buzzed.
Yolanda, sitting in the car silently, paused for a moment–she heard him mention her alias.
“Tessa? Got it,” Charles said to the phone. “Have the people at Starlight Entertainment handle this. Just make her apologize.”
‘Sophie called Charles to help her get revenge? And he’s actually wasting his time on something this petty?‘ Yolanda thought. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and glanced down, slamming her foot on the gas.
Charles slid into the passenger seat, leaned back, and clicked his seatbelt. Then he rested his cheek on his hand and smirked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Yolanda stayed calm. The bright red handprint on her cheek was impossible to miss.
He reached out and gently traced the red mark with his fingertip. “Your mom did this?” he asked, his voice soft, almost caring.
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Yolanda couldn’t help but laugh. Pulling the car out, she shot back, “Quit the act.”
If Charles hadn’t made a big deal about that low blood sugar, May and Linda never would’ve come down on her like this.
Charles chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. For two years of marriage, Yolanda had been the perfect, compliant wife. But lately, she’d been pushing back at him more and more.
Yolanda thought he was nuts–smiling even after she snapped at him.
Charles continued, “Babe, I didn’t fake that low blood sugar thing on purpose. I ran into this annoying business guy today and used it as an excuse to bail on some pointless event. Had no idea it would get back to our families. I’m sorry.”
Yolanda’s eyes stung. She gripped the wheel till her fingers hurt. She knew Charles was only placating her now because he was certain she wasn’t pregnant. Besides, her defiance seemed to have amused him.
‘He thinks he’s the only one who can act? Watch me,‘ she thought.
The car rolled into Moonbay Estate. She turned to him, her expression softening, her voice deliberately husky. “I’m so grateful you came to pick me up. I’ve been snappy lately. I’ll do better. Just come home more, okay?”
Charles felt like he was looking at the same old meek, boring Yolanda again, and the amusement in his eyes vanished instantly. He mumbled, “Yeah,” got out, and pulled out his phone.
Yolanda bit back an ironic laugh and followed him into the living room. She was still changing her shoes in the entryway when he was already heading out. “Got some work stuff at the office,” he said casually.
Yolanda figured it wasn’t work–more likely his mistress needed something. She didn’t really want to ask, but knowing how much he hated her old passive behavior, she deliberately put on a clingy act.
“What’s the rush? Can’t you stay home and spend some time with me? My face still hurts,” she said, feigning vulnerability.
Charles patted her cheek lightly. “Go put some ointment on that,” he said, his tone soft. Then he turned and left.
Yolanda stood there, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. After a moment, she walked upstairs to the guest room at the end of the hallway.
That day had made it crystal clear where she stood. Taking Charles head–on would only bring
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herself trouble. From now on, she’d play the submissive wife–until she was ready to strike
back.
Charles settled into the car.
Jack, sitting in the front seat, said, “Mr. Sinclair, Ms. Sutton got slapped. She wants me to deal with that nobody talent. What are your orders?”
Charles considered banning Tessa outright. But since Sophie just wanted to take down some small–time star, he figured he’d let that happen.
“Don’t bring me these minor issues again,” Charles said coldly. “Sophie might cause drama, but she won’t go too far.”
Jack nodded, understanding Charles was supporting Sophie. After a brief hesitation, he added, “Mrs. Sinclair mentioned earlier that she wanted to visit Starlight Entertainment…”
Charles lit a cigarette, scoffing, “Yolanda’s a delicate flower. Being pampered by the Grants all these years, even if she has a bit of spirit left, she’ll wise up after a few rejections. Ignore her.”
*****
Yolanda spent the night calling up the directors she knew, checking if they had any roles
open.
When she first launched her studio, only Sean and Zack knew she was Charles’s wife. She’d kept that detail quiet, so most people just knew her as Tessa.
Ian was joining the crew soon. She needed to check in on him regularly while hunting down new roles for him.
But the most critical thing now was getting him to move away from Willow Lane. The place was a mess–if anything happened, they’d be screwed.
Yolanda remembered when she got married, Samuel had given her a set of keys, saying it was his property.
Samuel was new money, owned more properties than one could count. If he’d truly meant to give her the place, he wouldn’t have kept living there himself.
Yolanda dug through the kitchen cabinet and found the keys.
Honestly, Samuel had been good to her, but he was just so intense. Even though he wasn’t as harsh as Linda, his emotionless expression always sent a chill down her spine.
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She took a deep breath, flipped the keys over, and spotted the address scribbled on the back. She decided to move lan there tomorrow morning. He was the only talent in her studio, and she had to look out for him.
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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.
