Yolanda bolted out of bed and marched straight to the master bedroom. Without a second thought, she drove her foot into the door, splintering the frame. It was a raw, violent act, completely unlike her.
She shouted. “Charles, remember that cross necklace I gave you? You gave it-“The words died in her throat.
He doesn’t know I know about Sophie, she realized in a flash. Confronting him now would be a mistake. He’d just offer some hollow apology and keep right on cheating, his conscience clear for good.
Charles stepped out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist, his hairgripping. The roar of the shower had drowned her out. “What did you say?” he asked,
She took a step back. turning to leave.
She needed a new plan to get the necklace. “Nothing. I’m going to bed,” she muttered.
But his hand shot out, clamping around her wrist. He pinned her against the ruined door, his gaze dropping to her mouth. “Are you sure you didn’t come here to keep me company?” he murmured, his voice low.
Yolanda’s eyes flickered to his shoulder. Fresh, red scratches ran across his skin. They were clear marks from someone else’s nails.
The truth hit her like a physical blow. “How could I have been so blind? Everyone knows about his affairs but me. No wonder he’s so brazen, she thought.
She just replied. “I have my period. I don’t think it’s time for this.”
The light in his eyes died instantly. He wasn’t going to do anything, anyway. He let go without another word.
Yolanda fled. The moment she was in the hall, her phone buzzed insistently. Another message from Sophie lit up the screen.
Sophie: [Charles said this necklace was from you. It’s so plain. Are you that hard up for cash even after you married him? For comparison, he gave me two apartments. Fifteen million dollars. Said he didn’t want me to feel cheated.]
The final text was a knife twist: [Two years as his wife, and you’ve got nothing to show for it. Doesn’t that just make you feel cheap, Mrs. Sinclair?]
Two weeks later, Ian was back to shoot a coffee commercial. Yolanda personally picked him up and escorted him to the studio at Starlight Entertainment.
As it turned out, Sophie was also on set, filming an advertisement of her own. She was a rising star now, fresh young face securing major endorsement deals for the Sinclair Group.
the
While lan was in the makeup chair, Yolanda stepped out to wander the hall, her face hidden behind a mask.
That was when she saw it: the small cross necklace dangling proudly from Sophie’s neck. A makeup talent was fussing over it. ‘Sophie, this is beautiful Guess it must be some special gift. huh?”
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Chapter 39
Sophie’s eyes instantly found Yolanda standing in the doorway, a wave of smug satisfaction washing over her expression.
“Oh, this? My boyfriend gave it to me. He said he wanted me to have a piece of him watching over me, she said, her voice sweet. “I just never wore it.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” the talent gushed,
With a deliberate flick of her finger, Sophie made sure the necklace rested prominently outside her collar, a blatant trophy displayed for the one woman she’d stolen it from. The message was clear: she had won.
Yolanda simply walked back in and tried to ignore Sophie’s speech.
Sophie looked up from the mirror with a sneer. “You can’t just barge into my dressing room. As the Sinclair Group’s top endorser, flush with fame, she had every right to be arrogant.
Yolanda remained by the door, her calm, beautiful eyes unblinking. I heard you’re interested in the Magnifique Cosmetics lipstick campaign.”
Sophie’s face tightened. “None of your business. Now get out, before I—”
“The word is, they signed Joelle, Yolanda cut in. “That star from overseas. You know, the lively girl with eyes just like yours. Rumor has it Mr. Sinclair waited for her all night once and got stood up. They had a history.
She leaned in, her whisper a blade aimed straight for Sophie’s insecurities. “Your real competition was never his wife. It’s Joelle. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? When he looks at you in bed, who is he really looking at?”
Sophie shot to her feet, her hand flying out to slap Yolanda, who caught her wrist easily. Furious, her face flushed a deep red, Sophie trembled with rage. “Get out, she shrieked at the room. “Everyone, get out NOW!”
The makeup talents scrambled for the door, not daring to look back, and shut it quickly behind them.
“Let go of me, Tessa,” Sophie snarled, her face contorted. “You slapped me before, and we haven’t settled that score. Now you have the nerve to come here and poison my mind? You bitch!”
Yolanda released her grip slowly. “I’ve had a change of heart, Ms. Sutton. There’s no need for us to be enemies. My talent is still on set, and frankly, maybe you could help us.”
“So now you give in? It’s too late for that,” Sophie snapped.
“I’m not giving in. I’m offering you information, Yolanda corrected gently. “And I’m a friend of Mrs. Sinclair’s.
I know all her weaknesses. If you want to replace her, we could be powerful allies.”
Sophie sized Yolanda up, her expression shifting from dark suspicion to outright scorn.
Yolanda remained unflappable. She nudged a broken makeup compact on the floor with the toe of her shoe. “Look into Mr. Sinclair’s dealings with Joelle. If I’m lying, you can make me pay.
Sophie glowered, pointing a sharp, manicured finger. “If you’re playing me, I will make you regret it.”
“In our world, it’s better to have a partner than an enemy. Think it over, Ms. Sutton. I have a feeling you’ll be
7:45 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 39
calling me.” Yolanda placed Tessa’s business card on the vanity.
Sophie snatched it up and immediately threw it in the trash. “Get out.”
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Yolanda opened the dressing room door and stopped short. Ian was standing right there, his tall frame blocking the light from the hallway.
She recovered quickly, pulling the door shut behind her. “I thought you were still in hair and makeup?” she asked, her voice soft.
He just murmured a noncommittal “Hmm” and turned, walking back toward his own prep room. Yolanda fell into step a few paces behind him.
He stopped abruptly, making her nearly bump into him. “Well?” he asked, his voice low. “How do I look in this?”
They’d styled him for the coffee commercial in all black. Every hair was perfectly in place, and his makeup was flawless. He was still damp from the shoot, hair and lashes beaded with moisture.
The shirt was unbuttoned to a reckless degree, a spreading water stain making the fabric cling to his chest. She could sense the crowd trying to sneak pictures. The effect was breathtaking
She adjusted her mask and gave a simple, professional nod. “You look good.”
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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.
