Chapter 36
Y LV vouchers,
lan’s face was flushed with fever, his lips pale, but none of it could dull the sharp, surprised light that flared in his eyes when he saw Yolanda.
Yolanda turned, offered a brief thanks to the lingering crew member, and waited until they were alone. Then she stepped inside, closing the door behind her and turning the lock.
The room was cramped, barely large enough for the queen–sized bed that dominated the space. His opent backpack and suitcase served as a makeshift closet nearby.
Yolanda dropped two bags of medical supplies onto the mattress, her anger palpable. “Take your shirt off. Let
the see.
He was silent for a beat before slowly sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a map of dark bruises across his muscular back. It was a stark testament to how painful that fall must
have been
She drew a sharp breath, her hand flying to his forehead. He was still burning up. “I told you to call me if you didn’t feel well,” she said, frantically digging through her bag for the fever reducers.
“I thought you… wouldn’t want to hear from me,” he murmured.
Yolanda went still. She had been avoiding him all week. After all, things had been awkward since the last time. She’d needed space to clear her head, never imagining he’d been having a rough time quietly.
“Just take these first,” she said, her voice softening as she held the pills to his lips. “And don’t worry about Wayne. He’ll be taken care of.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at her with an unreadable expression.
Before she could wonder if something was on her face, his arms circled her waist. He buried his face against her stomach.
She stood frozen for a moment, then her hand came up to tentatively touch his hair. It was coarse but soft, and carried the clean scent of recent rain.
His long arms held her carefully, and he nuzzled his head against her waist like a large, wounded animal seeking comfort.
A shiver ran through her. Yolanda pushed him away, grabbed his hand, and pressed the pills into his palm. before turning to fetch a glass of water.
lan remained on the edge of the bed, staring down at the medicine in his hand, his lips pressed into a tight
line.
She returned and thrust a glass of water at him. “Take them. Get the fever down first. There are anti- inflammatories in the bag. Take two. And you can spray the bruise spray yourself,” she instructed, her tone deliberately flat.
He took the water silently and swallowed the pills.
7:44 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 36
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Suddenly feeling flushed, Yolanda tugged at her collar, fanning herself for a second before heading for the
door.
Ian instinctively began to rise to follow, but her words stopped him cold. “Stay here and rest. I’m going to see Wayne.
Wayne had just finished filming his scene when his assistant hurried over and whispered. “Ms. Owens called.”
As the male lead starring opposite a top actress, Wayne had been riding high lately. Everyone on set knew he had a grudge against lan. And that was why they would have given the sewcomer such a hard time.
He was about to ask what Rachael wanted when a stinging slap landed hard across his cheek. His head snapped to the side, and he tasted blood.
He touched his face in shock, staring at Yolanda in the hat and mask. Though he couldn’t see her face, her presence commanded attention. “You bitch,” he snarled.
Yolanda just said, “Rachael sends her regards.”
The name made him freeze. Almost no one knew about his affair with Rachael, and she had just called. And then he got slapped. Swallowing his rage, he growled, “Who are you?”
Yolanda flexed her stinging hand. “Tessa. Already forgot me, Wayne? I’ve been meeting with your sugar mommy’s partner. Does she know you’ve been stirring up trouble on set?”
Wayne went pale. His assistant leaned in, whispering urgently, “Ms. Owens told you not to make waves. This might be about that co–star you went after-
Wayne seethed, teeth clenched. “Tessa, what gives you the right to lecture me?”
Yolanda smiled, “Let’s just say I’m on good terms with the executives at Starlight Entertainment. I haven’t even brought up the drugging incident yet. Keep this up, and I’ll have you replaced before the day is over.”
Wayne had worked hard to secure Rachael’s support. He couldn’t afford to lose that. And Yolanda’s confidence shook him. Is she lan’s real backer, not just his agent? But she’s pretty. He’s lucked out with a woman like her.
His assistant spoke up again, voice tense. “Wayne, Ms. Owens is furious. Maybe it’s better to let this go.”
Wayne forced a smile, covering his reddening cheek. “My apologies. I misjudged the situation, lan and I are actually on good terms.”
The whole crew had seen the exchange. They’d thought Ian had no support, but even Wayne had been put in his place.
Yolanda’s voice was icy. “You have your backer. Ian has his. Next time, look twice before you cross a line.”
Wayne’s face darkened again. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off her face.
Zack had watched the entire scene unfold, stunned that the usually composed Yolanda could unleash such
7:44 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 36
fury.
Her cold gaze landed on him. “Mr. White, she began, her voice sharp enough to cut glass, “when I brought Jan to you, my instructions were clear: look after him. Or did that slip your mind?”
He hadn’t expected to be called out so directly. Flustered, he started to form an excuse, but she cut him off. ‘1 assume Starlight Entertainment’s executives have taken the orders by now? Are they planning to pull some strings on my behalf?”
Zack went very still. She was referring to the high–profile coffee endorsement. Everyone said Tessa had landed it on Charles’s direct orders. So she was telling the truth.
As a Starlight man himself. Zack had assumed that after Charles’s infidelity, he’d have washed his hands of his ex–wife. Apparently, he wouldn’t.
Zack had never been fond of Yolanda. He’d secretly enjoyed watching Wayne make fan’s life miserable. Now, he was squirming. “Tessa, let’s be reasonable. This is all one big misunderstanding.”
“You know better than anyone whether it’s a misunderstanding.” Yolanda shot back, her tone leaving no room for argument. “I see more than I let on. Push this further, and I promise you, no one wins.”
A cold dread washed over Zack. She was threatening him–that damn recording was still out there. If Charles decided to act on her behalf, his career would be over before he saw it coming-
He wiped a bead of sweat from his temple. “Of–of course. I’ll keep a much closer eye on things from now on. You have my word.”
Even the director had fallen silent. The rest of the crew watched, utterly cowed, reassessing the woman named Tessa. She was new, yet she’d publicly humiliated Wayne and dressed down Zack without breaking a
Sweat
With backing like that, they wondered why lan had taken the bullying for so long. Only a fool would do that.
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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.
