Chapter 32
Chapter 32
lan’s eyes fluttered open.
Yolanda set the book aside and kept her voice low. “I’m heading back to Beloris. You’ve got your mountain shoot today. Call me if anything comes up.”
Ian’s gaze dropped as she turned to leave, but then he was suddenly on his feet, catching up to her near the entrance pillars. “Yolanda.”
She paused. Last night had clearly left its mark on him. At his age, still untouched, that first kiss must have shaken him. With his quiet demeanor, she doubted he’d had many girls in his life.
She exhaled sharply. “Let’s just pretend nothing had happened. I’m your agent first. When you return to Beloris next month, I’ll introduce you to Simone. She’s promised you an audition.”
Without waiting for a reply, she slid into her car and clicked her seatbelt into place.
The post–storm light was murky, the hotel’s glow casting a hazy halo around his tousled hair. He lingered beside the car, studying her for a long moment before murmuring, “Drive safe.”
She offered a faint smile, echoed “Yeah, and pulled away.
In the rearview mirror, she watched him stand motionless until her car vanished around the bend. Her knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
Heat prickled her cheeks. It was ridiculous, really. Ian was everything a rising star should be: breathtaking looks, a killer physique, and raw talent.
But nothing could happen. Not with her marriage. Not with the Grant name hanging over her. Last night was a mistake. One she’d force herself to forget.
Yolanda arrived home after 10 a.m. The maid blinked in surprise when she walked in. It was unusual for her to have stayed out all night. “Mrs. Sinclair, you weren’t home yesterday?”
Yolanda gave a vague nod, heading upstairs to shower and change before meeting Megan at the studio.
Megan, freshly discharged from the hospital, was already there making renovation plans about the new layout and fresh decor. They browsed design catalogs while coordinating with contractors, aiming to start renovations that afternoon.
She took one look at Yolanda’s flushed cheeks and smirked. “I remember someone wasn’t home last night. What’s with that just got properly laid‘ glow then?”
Yolanda froze mid–reach for a chair.
Megan laughed, nudging her, “Seriously, how does Charles even glance at other women? That smug little smile of yours could melt glaciers-
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Chapter 32
55–Vouchers
“Enough,” Yolanda cut in, clamping a hand over Megan’s mouth. “Save the R–rated commentary. When we sign talents, you’ll traumatize them before their first coffee.
Megan dissolved into laughter, and then sobered abruptly. “Did my husband cause trouble for you
you guys?”
“You were in the ER, Yolanda said flatly, “while he was harassing us for money. He even swung a damn stick at me. Why haven’t you divorced him?”
Megan’s cheeks pinked as she sank onto the couch. “We met in college,” she sighed, “He was student council president back then. He wasn’t like this.”
Their alma maters had been different. Yolanda at elite Beloris University for film, Megan at a top–five national school for planning. So Yolanda didn’t know Megan’s love story.
But nostalgia, Yolanda knew, was a stubborn stain. She let it drop, turning instead to greet the arriving
construction crew.
By afternoon, the designers and construction crew had arrived. After a quick briefing, the renovation was underway, filling the space with the sound of activity.
Megan gathered some of lan’s personal items into a bag and handed it to Yolanda. “Could you take this? With all the people in and out over the next month, I don’t want his things to get lost or damaged.”
Hearing lan’s name, Yolanda felt a flicker of guilt, but she took the bag without a word.
As they walked downstairs together, Megan asked, “You stayed at the same hotel as lan last night, right? Keep a close eye on him going forward. Before, there were some wealthy admirers who tried to…. make him an offer. Things got a little messy.”
Yolanda tightened her grip on the bag and opened the car door without looking up.
Megan lingered by the curb, studying her. “You seem off today. Did lan do something?”
“I’m just tired from the drive, Yolanda said, taking a slow breath. That’s all.”
Megan leaned against the windowsill, a playful glint in her eye. “You know, Ian really is gorgeous. Just saying, Charles has his fun. Why shouldn’t you? I bet Ian wouldn’t say no. Back then he even—”
“Megan.” Yolanda’s voice was sharp, cutting her off.
Megan raised her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Drive safe, Boss.”
Shaking her head half–annoyed, half–amused, Yolanda pulled away from the curb and headed toward lan’s apartment to drop off his things.
She was almost there when her phone lit up with a new message. It was from lan: [Headed up the mountain now. It sounded like something you’d say to a girlfriend..
Yolanda’s fingers tightened on the wheel. She remembered his quiet confession. A tremor ran through her.
7:42 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 32
She left the message on read.
She dumped lan’s stuff in the living room and headed back to Moonlay Estate, only to find both May and Renee already there. They were lounging on the sofa like they owned the place, completely at ease.
The moment Yolanda walked in, May set her fork down and coolly ordered the guard, Grab her
Yolanda took a step back. “What are you doing?
May stood up, walked over, and slapped her across the face. “How dare you act innocent? Flora called this morning, hinting about Charles’s health. I found out you’re the one who’s been spreading nonsense.
“There’s nothing wrong with Charles, but there might be something wrong with your uterus. You’re going the doctor. Now,”
Pinned by two guards, Yolanda took a shaky breath. “Charles doesn’t want kids anyway. If there is a problem. isn’t that exactly what he wants?”
Renee rolled her eyes. “Yolanda, do you really think Charles doesn’t see through you? You’ve been so desperate for a baby that you tampered with the condoms. He knows.
“Let me tell you, your favorite Vitamins are laced with birth control. There’s no way you’re pregnant. Charles is fine, but after two years on the pill, you might not be. It’s time you faced the truth”
Yolanda froze. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She never messed with any condoms. How could they accuse her of that? As the guards forced her into the car, tears welled in her eyes. “I need to call Charles.”
Her mind raced back to two years ago, right after they got married, when Charles brought her that bottle of Vitamins. He said it would give her glowing skin. And it did work. She had trusted him completely and never once suspected a thing.
May scoffed. “Charles wants you checked too. You didn’t come home last night. Who knows who you were with?”
Yolanda’s heart sank. Clenching her jaw, she insisted, “I’m calling him.”
May lost her patience. She snatched Yolanda’s phone, put it on speaker, and called Charles herself.
His voice came through, smooth as always. “Mom, what is it?”
“You said you’d take Yolanda for a checkup tonight, right?” May asked.
He just said, “Yeah, I did. Why? Is she there?”
Hearing how casual he sounded, Yolanda let out a bitter laugh. One night away, and he already thought she was contaminated.
7:43 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 33
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.
