Chapter 207
Ian caught on early that Yolanda was missing and had already sent the Crimson Gallery crew out to look for her.
Meanwhile, Charles had just arrived at the mountaintop villa. Not seeing Yolanda around, he started searching the place.
Charles thought Andrew was a total lunatic, so the moment Andrew hit him up with the stream link, Charles just removed him from his contacts without a second thought.
At the end of the day, only Ian, Sam, Xavier, and Quinn were tuning in to the stream.
Ian and Sam both knew Andrew wouldn’t have sent them something like this if it wasn’t serious. Xavier, hanging out at the hospital with Joelle, just clicked in out of habit.
And Quinn? He was purely in it for the entertainment–nothing like a bit of chaos to keep things interesting.
Andrew had sent the link out to over thirty people in their circle, but only four were actually watching.
He wasn’t thrilled about that, but it didn’t matter–those four were all insiders, and as long as they saw Leo hooking up with Yolanda on the live stream, Yolanda’s reputation would be trashed for good. Once he felt the timing was right, he’d just take her out, no hesitation.
As for Leo, Andrew might be crazy, but he knew better than to go up against the Lawson family. Leo had to be kept alive.
When Ian saw the two people on the stream, he could pretty much guess who was behind this trap.
He was already in the car, talking to his team. “Find out where that signal’s coming from. I need an address in thirty minutes.”
Andrew had picked up all sorts of shady tricks overseas, and his signal was blocked off from the outside world. Cracking it was going to take some time.
Right now, Andrew was running the show as the admin of the stream and sent out an announcement.
[Alright, folks, the real fun’s about to kick off. Hope you all enjoy the spectacle.]
He hadn’t shared the stream with the general public for a reason. If the whole city of Beloris caught wind of Yolanda’s mess, it wouldn’t just be Charles getting humiliated–the entire Sinclair family would be dragged down with him. And when it came to screwing up like that, his grandfather would tear him apart.
Honestly, the only reason he’d made it through all these years of Charles hating his guts was thanks to his old man backing him up.
So when it came to anything that could shake the Sinclair family, he couldn’t afford to screw around.
But if it was just the usual insiders watching, well, everyone knew how powerful the Sinclair family was–and they knew Yolanda wasn’t exactly beloved. The scandal wouldn’t touch the Sinclairs one bit. Charles would probably kick Yolanda to the curb and, who knows, maybe all eyes would turn to Joelle next.
Andrew was hopelessly into Joelle–whatever she wanted, he’d move heaven and earth to get it for her.
Xavier was utterly furious seeing his brother dragged into this disgusting live stream. He didn’t waste a second before barking out orders for his guys to find Leo, fast.
But when he realized the woman was Yolanda, Xavier totally freaked out.
If Leo actually got tangled up with Yolanda, how the hell were they supposed to face Charles?
Right now, it was obvious Leo had been drugged–who the hell would come up with a scheme this vicious?
Leo was completely out of it–all he knew was there was something cold and sugary right in front of him, and he wanted it bad.
He fought against his restraints, desperate to get that sweet, chilly treat into his mouth, but with his hands tied behind his back, it was hopeless. ‘Why can’t I reach it? I need it, now!‘ Leo thought, panic rising.
The same four people were still watching the stream.
Andrew was pretty annoyed–he’d blasted the link out to a bunch of people, and only four had actually shown
- up.
Leo was sweating bullets, his lips fumbling blindly in desperation until he finally bumped into Yolanda’s. Driven by instinct and panic, he pressed a frantic kiss on her lips.
Sam’s hand stalled for a moment as he watched the scene, his face darkening. He quickly tore his eyes away and barked at his people, “Find the address, now!”
Xavier was so freaked out he almost dropped his phone. He kicked the guy next to him hard.
“What the hell are you waiting for? Get moving! Find them, now!”
He absolutely had to stop Leo before it was too late.
Xavier jumped into the chat, his fingers flying in desperation.
[Andrew, you’d better listen up–don’t do anything you’ll regret. If you mess with Leo, I swear I’ll track you down wherever you go.]
Andrew was completely nuts–he feared no one but his grandfather, and the rest of the world didn’t even register to him.
Grinning, he typed into the chat.
[Well, would you look at that–Xavier’s here. Sit back and enjoy the spectacle, Xavier. Watch as your precious little brother gets his first time stolen away, live. Hahaha.]
Xavier fired off a whole torrent of curses, but the system instantly censored them all.
Quinn watched the stream and let out a long sigh.
‘For fuck’s sake,‘ Quinn thought, ‘I was just curious about what kind of dirty crap that psycho Andrew was sharing, but I never thought it’d be this messed up!
Now, seeing Leo making out with Yolanda like there was no tomorrow, Quinn figured the kid was so out of his mind he probably didn’t even know who he was kissing.
‘Shit, they’re totally screwed now!‘ Quinn muttered to himself.
‘Beloris is about to go up in flames!‘ Quinn thought.
Leo absolutely hated Yolanda–he was always ragging on her, saying she was way too uptight, like, even the slimiest pond eel had more energy and excitement than she did. He’d joke that Charles must’ve been cursed for eight lifetimes to end up marrying someone as boring as her.
‘Man, when Leo snaps out of it and realizes he was all over Yolanda like that,‘ Quinn thought, ‘he’s gonna go ballistic–wouldn’t be surprised if he grabbed a knife and went straight after Andrew. Once that’s done, he’ll make sure Yolanda pays too, no doubt about it. His precious first kiss, gone just like that!’
‘Shit, what the hell is even going on?‘ Quinn muttered to himself.
Quinn didn’t dare just pick up the phone and call Charles–there were only four people watching right now, and Xavier was obviously one of them. ‘Xavier’s here, but who the hell are the other two?‘ Quinn wondered, suspicious.
If Charles wasn’t in the chat, then the four of them could just act like this whole mess never happened. Just don’t mention a word about it to Leo later–especially since he wasn’t all there to begin with.
Quinn was itching to figure out who those other watchers were, but he really didn’t want his own name popping up. Last thing he needed was to get dragged into this mess too.
At least for now, Andrew, the lunatic behind this whole fiasco, had no idea who the four viewers actually were.
‘Damn, I can’t even look at Leo like this anymore,’ Quinn thought, forcing himself to look away from the
screen.
Leo had been making out with Yolanda for what felt like forever–seven, maybe eight minutes. The camera was set up by the window, so it could only catch their movements, not their voices. Leo buried his face in Yolanda’s neck and whispered, “Yolanda…”
Yolanda felt like her whole body was overheating, her breaths coming quick and shallow as she struggled for air. Finally, through the haze, her mind began to clear. ‘Where am I? Why does everything feel so stifling?‘ she groggily wondered.
She raised a hand to press against her aching forehead, only to bump into something scorching hot right next to her. Instinct kicked in–she shoved it away without even thinking.
Leo, lost in his fever and need, instinctively reached out and grabbed her hand, pressing it against his cheek like it was the only thing grounding him.
The soothing coolness from her palm washed over him, chasing away some of that burning heat. ‘Finally… that’s better,‘ Leo thought, relaxing into it.
Yolanda jolted awake and tried to get up, but the moment she moved, her ankle jerked back–chained tight. No matter how desperately she scrambled, she couldn’t get more than a step away before the cold metal stopped her short.
“Leo, get a grip!” Yolanda yelled, her voice trembling with fear and irritation.
Leo lowered his lashes at her righteous tone, clinging to his last thread of sanity even as every cell in his body screamed with pain and burning heat.
‘If this was Ian, she wouldn’t be acting like this,‘ Leo thought bitterly. ‘She’d be falling over herself to help him, even giving him water without hesitation.‘
His hands were tied tightly behind his back–he couldn’t move a muscle.
Yolanda could only sit in the chair, the cold chain around her ankle keeping her in place. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t break free.
Leo pressed his chin against her thigh, voice hoarse and desperate. “Give it to me… I’m hurting.”
Yolanda shoved him away with a sharp kick, all nerves and zero hesitation. “What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t freak me out!”
Leo gasped as pain shot through his chest from the kick, his eyes turning bright red and misty in an instant.
Xavier, watching the whole mess play out, felt his scalp start to tingle from sheer rage.
[Yolanda, are you fucking kidding me? Can’t you see he’s not even in his right mind? You think he actually likes you? That kick–believe me, I won’t forget it. You better watch yourself!] Xavier slammed the message into the chat, furious.
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.
