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Yolanda and Charles headed to Muse Club’s private room. Halfway there, he stopped to take a call, so she continued toward the door.
Before she could reach for the handle, she heard Max Shaw’s voice. “Guess who Charles is bringing tonight–Sophie? Or that CEO he hooked up with that one night?”
Max was Charles’s buddy, an heir to the Shaw family, and he loved watching drama unfold.
Quinn Cooper leaned back, snickering. “I’ll put a bottle of Golden Legend on it–he’s bringing Yolanda.”
Max was confused. “Why her? He hasn’t taken Yolanda out in forever.”
“Samuel’s here tonight,” Quinn replied. ‘No way Charles would bring a fling in front of his brother–in–law.”
Yolanda’s fingers froze on the door. ‘So, they all know Charles is cheating on me. I’ve been a joke this whole time,‘ she thought bitterly.
Max took a sip of his drink, swirling the glass. “Samuel’s something else, nailing that land deal. Word is land’s owner, Lucas Zimmerman, turned down cash, turned down a house–how’d he even pull that off?”
Quinn said, “You’re missing the angle. Lucas wouldn’t budge because his wife vanished ten years back. He was scared she wouldn’t find her way home if he moved.
“When Samuel started after that land, he sent people to track her down. Lucky break–they found her. Now Samuel’s the only one Lucas will sell to.”
Lucas had gotten lucky–his family held onto that land for years, never selling. They’d even built a big house and a little farm there.
That plot of land was right in the middle of the government’s most lucrative development plans. And the city started talking about developing the area six months back. But Lucas just wouldn’t budge.
Plenty of folks in Beloris had their eyes on that plot. But Lucas was blocking everything. No one could agree on a price, and he wouldn’t back down, not one bit.
But Samuel managed to seal the deal recently. He’d got no problem swallowing his pride if it got him what he wanted. Now Charles had to team up with him to tackle that project, so bringing Yolanda along made perfect sense.
After hearing every word through the door, Yolanda pushed it open.
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Spotting her, Max exchanged a glance with Quinn. ‘Damn, Quinn’s bet is spot–on,‘ he thought.
Quinn raised an eyebrow and flagged down the manager of the club to send over a bottle of Golden Legend.
Yolanda acted like she hadn’t heard their little wager. She slid into a seat next to Charles’s- just like always–quiet, waiting.
Max twirled his glass, thinking to himself, ‘ No wonder Charles isn’t into her, even though she’s so pretty. She’s way too submissive. Young guys don’t go for the goody–goody type.’
Quinn popped the cork on the Golden Legend and poured Yolanda a glass, teasing, “Well, well -look who’s out to play. Come alone? Not glued to Charles’s side today?”
“He’ll be here in a sec,” Yolanda said, pushing the glass back. “I’m not drinking.”
Quinn leaned in, grinning. “Yolanda, you’re way too nice. Good thing you’re hitched to Charles. With how sweet you are, some other guy’d walk all over you otherwise.”
‘Liars. All of them–supposedly Charles’s best friends,‘ Yolanda sneered silently. She plastered on a fake smile and said, “I’m married now. Staying loyal to my husband is what matters.”
Quinn sighed to himself, ‘Totally a buzzkill.‘
Just then, the private room door swung open, and in walked Charles and Samuel.
Samuel was the last one to join this group, and he never really clicked with the others.
The group
had looked down on him. Everyone in their circle knew the Grants had built their wealth by exploiting women. They didn’t think the sole Grant heir was any different.
But he had blown up in recent years. Before anyone knew it, he’d become a total up–and-
comer.
Samuel stood next to Charles, maintaining his serious expression.
Yolanda jumped to her feet to greet him. She’d met him once at the Grant residence, but back then she’d been standing in the yard, being punished.
Samuel nodded, holding out a hairclip.
Yolanda froze.
“Picked it up at the mall on the way over,” Samuel said.
The clip was covered in real diamonds, sparkly and totally girly. She dropped her gaze, took it, and clipped it into her hair. “Thanks,” she murmured.
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Samuel nodded and sat down. The second he did, the easy vibe in the room vanished.
Charles stayed quiet, his eyes locked on Yolanda’s head. The small smile on his lips faded a little.
Yolanda was adopted by the Grants–no blood relation to Samuel. But like most guys, Charles was territorial. He hated when anyone invaded his turf and even left a mark.
He slid an arm around Yolanda’s waist, leaned in, and kissed her cheek. “If you like stuff like this, I’ll take you shopping before we get home.”
Samuel picked up a cup–the one Quinn had poured for Yolanda, which she hadn’t touched. He took a sip, then said, “She’s been your wife for two years, and you never bought her a hairclip before?”
Charles’s smile stiffened. His eyes turned cold.
Yolanda suppressed a smile. She was scared of Samuel, but he had one major advantage–he was brutally direct, just like at work, always cutting straight to the point.
Watching Charles squirm felt good. Still, she stepped in, sweet as could be. “Samuel, Charles has given me tons of gifts. I just don’t like wearing them.”
Samuel fixed her with a stern, fatherly look. “A young lady ought to act like one. The Sinclairs have money, so why aren’t you wearing any jewelry?”
Charles set down his cup. “Are you here to grill me, Samuel? I’ve been married to Yolanda for two years, and I’ve never mistreated her. Besides, you know how Grant women are. Simple, no frills–that’s just her style.”
Yolanda dropped her gaze, feeling a sharp pang in her chest. She did love those things, but Grant family rules frowned on flashy jewelry.
Max jumped in to smooth things over. “C’mon, Samuel, Charles treats Yolanda well, and we all see it. No need to worry–he’s not chasing after other women.”
Samuel never paid much attention to gossip; he was too straight–laced. He had no idea Charles was seeing Sophie. But even if he had known, he would’ve kept quiet for the sake of keeping the peace. His concern for Yolanda only went so far.
The mood lightened a little. Max brought up the land deal, and they moved on to business
talk.
Yolanda tuned out for a bit, but she caught the gist: With this land, Samuel’s standing as a new–money big shot would only get stronger.
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Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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.
