Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Charles tapped ash from his cigarette, his posture relaxed but distant. Rachael took that as an invitation, sliding onto his lap and starting to work loose the buttons of her blouse.
But tonight, something was off. Charles usually had a fierce, almost careless appetite, but right now, he felt nothing. He stood abruptly, dislodging her as he reached for his suit jacket. “Nor tonight, he said, his tone flat.
With two rejections in one evening, Rachael’s smile tightened for a fraction of a second. Then she shrugged it off. “Whatever. He’s a restless spirit. He’s never really cared about any of his lovers. I really wanna see him crazy about someone!
Charles slung his suit jacket over his shoulder and stepped into the elevator, where he found his aunt, Simone.
His eyes immediately caught the emerald necklace resting against her collarbone. He raised an eyebrow. “Aunt Simone, since when do you wear emeralds?”
“A gift from Yolanda,” she said, touching the stone fondly. She’d only learned tonight that it was worth a fortune; she’d loved it without knowing its price. “She’s way more thoughtful than you.”
Charles let out a short laugh and pressed the elevator button. “I wish she could focus more on me.
Simone knew that arrogant tone well. She nudged him playfully. “Well, well. Don’t tell me you’re actually sulking. Did Yolanda finally give you a taste of your own medicine?”
“It’s just a game, Aunt Simone. You wouldn’t understand. It’s how young couples play,” he smiled.
She sighed, the humor fading from her voice. “If you care about her at all, end things with those other women now. Before you push her too far and lose her for good.”
The elevator doors slid open. Charles stepped out first, throwing a casual, confident remark over his shoulder. “You worry too much. Yolanda isn’t going anywhere”
He knew she’d been in love with him for fifteen years. He’d seen that unmistakable, starry–eyed devotion in her eyes every time she looked at him.
But he’d also always known the real reason the Grant family had adopted her, and that had been enough to keep him at a distance. He hadn’t set out to hurt her; he just never valued a love that came so easily.
After leaving the hotel, Yolanda didn’t head straight to Megan. First, she checked the card and saw six million dollars. Charles was generous, though the house he’d given Sophie earlier was probably worth more.
She’d been pushing the studio to speed up the renovations and had asked lan to try and make time to come
back.
But then the coffee brand postponed the shoot for two weeks. so she figured she wouldn’t see him until after
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Chapter 35
that.
E55 vouchers
A week later, he texted her out of the blue: [Got hurt doing a stunt.] That was it. No details, no drama.
Yolanda immediately called Scan, who filled her in. “Wayne, Zack’s male lead, has been making things difficult
for lan.
“lan took a bad fall. His whole back is bruised up. He’s tough, though. He didn’t say a word, finished the shoot, and went back to his place.”
Yolanda’s expression darkened. She took a slow breath. Wayne was the creep who spiked her drink that night.
Sean sighed. “Wayne’s sugar mommy is the CEO of Primecrest. Aren’t they partnering with your husband? Saw it on the news. You might wanna step in here, or lan isn’t gonna make it.”
Stunt work was dangerous enough without someone having it out for you. One bad wire, one intentional misstep, and it wouldn’t just be bruises.
And lan never wanted to cause trouble. That was why he waited over a week to send that text. And even then, it wasn’t a complaint but just a fact.
After hanging up, Yolanda called Charles to ask where he was.
He’d been holed up around her all week, away from his lovers. She’d been buried in renovation plans from dawn till dusk. They weren’t fighting.
And now he was at his desk and set down his papers. “Work hours? I’m at the office, naturally. Coming to see me?” The last part was laced with a familiar, teasing charm.
On her end, Yolanda’s eyes welled up, her voice trembling with a carefully practiced hurt. “I just got a text… someone said you’re having an affair with the CEO of Primecrest Group. Tell me it’s not true.”
The casual smile vanished from Charles’s eyes. T’ve only slept with that woman exactly once. Who the hell has a loose tongue and texted Yolanda?‘ he thought.
“I trust you,” Yolanda continued, her voice thick with unshed tears. “I’m going to find whoever sent this. Some actor… Wayne something? He’s on set with one of my talents. I won’t be back tonight.” Then she hung up.
To Charles, Yolanda sounded like a jealous, naive fool, exactly as he expected. The idea of her getting worked up over a rumor was almost endearing. He just wanted her to trust him and never pushed further.
But his irritation quickly turned toward his lover Rachael. ‘Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? Got to cut
her off.
He called Rachael. She answered, her voice sweet with expectation, but he cut straight through it. “Control that actor of yours.” His tone was ice.
Rachael’s face darkened on the other end of the line. She started to ask a question, but he’d already hung up.
Charles could be tender as a lover and coldly professional when it came to business. Cross him, and any prior intimacy meant nothing.
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Chapter 35
65 Vauchen?
Rachael clenched her jaw, a sharp pang of humiliation tightening her chest. She had thought that after being with him, she would be special.
Yolanda stopped at a drugstore and bought out half the shelf, loading two bulky bags into the trunk before setting off for the town.
The drive took nearly five hours. By the time her car, caked in mud, climbed the final stretch to the mountain film set, it was already 5 p.m.
She was grateful for the high clearance of this car; a regular sedan would never have made it up that road.
The temporary housing was strictly functional–simple structures thrown up for the shoot and meant to be torn down later.
Pulling her hat low and adjusting her mask, she hurried toward the cluster of crew members. “Where’s lan’s room?” she asked without preamble.
A crew member glanced at her, mistaking her for help. “You here for lan? About time. He’s all alone out here. Everyone else has assistants running around. He’s been bullied all the time. And someone nearly disfigured that pretty face of his not long ago.”
With every word, a cold knot of anger and fear tightened in Yolanda’s chest.
She reached his door and knocked. A hoarse, tired voice came from inside. “Not hungry.”
She said, “lan. It’s me.”
There was a sudden shuffle of movement, and the door swung open from within.
E
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.
