Chapter 42
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Charles leaned in and kissed Yolanda gently on the cheek. “Don’t worry, William. I’ve always treated Yolandal
well.”
Yolanda gave a small smile and tucked the blanket around William. “Just focus on resting, okay? Stop worrying about the orphanage. I’ll go check on the kids in a bit.”
William closed his eyes, exhaustion written all over his face. “Yolanda, you’ve been working so hard these years and already given so much to the orphanage. If I really can’t make it, I won’t let those kids become your
burden
“There have been people trying to buy the orphanage, but I always refused. The person in charge has a bad reputation, and I was worried she wouldn’t treat the kids right. I-
Yolanda squeezed his hand. “That’s enough, William. If you keep talking like this, I’m going to get mad.”
William smiled and gently patted the back of her hand. “I’m going to get some sleep now. Thanks for coming all the way here so late. You should head home, too. Get some rest before work tomorrow.”
Yolanda felt ashamed inside. Just a few days after she married Charles, Athena had passed away.
Back when Athena was alive, she always told Yolanda that having a pretty face was a blessing, but if girls only played the beauty card, they were doomed.
She told Yolanda to have a job to stand on her own, or else people would just push her around.
At that time, Yolanda had already closed her studio and became a stay–at–home wife. Because she’d gone against Athena’s advice, she never dared to admit it, and ended up hiding it for two whole years.
If William ever found out Yolanda was a stay–at–home wife now, he’d probably be disappointed.
William and Athena had spent everything they had to take over the orphanage, and put their hearts into teaching every girl there, just hoping they’d study hard and be able to support themselves.
And
yet, as their proudest kid, Yolanda was the one who ended up as a stay–at–home wife.
Yolanda pushed down her swirling emotions. When she and Charles were on the way back home, she heard Charles ask, “Is William not doing well?”
She nodded, gazing up at the pitch–black sky. I’m afraid-”
Before she could finish, Charles’s phone rang. It was from a company executive. He raised his hand to cut her off and stepped aside. “What’s up?”
After listening for a moment, he frowned, his hair getting tousled by the night wind, but he still had that air of elegance about him. “Alright. I’ll come over and check it out now.”
He hung up and turned to Yolanda. “One of the company execs was just admitted to the hospital. It’s at one of the hospitals Sinclair Group invested in. I need to go see what’s going on. You should head home first.
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Chapter 42
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Several of Sinclair Group’s senior management were Charles’s trusted allies, while the rest backed his two uncles.
Sinclair Group might look calm on the outside, but there was a storm of power struggles brewing underneath. At such a critical moment, if anything happened to one of the higher–ups, it could throw everything into turmoil.
But Yolanda wasn’t interested in any of that. Instead of heading home, she drove for an hour straight to the orphanage.
The kids were still up. All twenty–something of them were waiting in the yard for William to come back. When they saw Yolanda, they all stood up quietly. No one made a fuss.
A boy said, “Ms. Grant, is Mr. Bennett still sick? We’re really worried about him. We made these paper cranes. Joey said if we hang them on the tree, he’ll get better.”
Yolanda looked at their adorable faces and crouched down. “Mr. Bennett will be back soon. He asked me to check if you’re all getting ready for bed. Hurry up and wash up. Otherwise, he might get upset.
The kids scattered right away, shouting as they ran, “We’ll go to bed now! Please take care of the paper cranes
- US. Grant. Next time, we’ll give you a present.”
for
Yolanda couldn’t help but smile as she hung the string of paper cranes on the tree in the yard.
When she walked inside, she saw all the kids already tucked into bed, sweetly saying goodnight to her. After closing the door, her phone rang. It was a call from William’s doctor.
“Ms. Grant, we’ve found a matching kidney donor. We can schedule the surgery soon. You- Before he could finish, his phone buzzed with another call. “Hold on, I need to take this.”
Yolanda waited for half an hour, but he never called back. She tried calling him again, but he didn’t pick up.
This doctor had been William’s main physician for a long time. He was a good man and wouldn’t joke about something like this. Without wasting another second, Yolanda drove straight to the doctor’s house and rang the doorbell.
The doctor, glasses perched on his nose, looked at her with a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly replaced by shame. “Ms. Grant, why are you here?”
He still had no idea who Yolanda really was; he just knew that she was wealthy and always treated William with kindness.
“Didn’t you just call and say you’d found a kidney donor?” Yolanda pressed.
The doctor nervously adjusted his glasses. “No, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Doctor, I’ve been searching for a matching kidney for two years. Please, I’m begging you; just be honest with. me” Yolanda’s presence was overwhelming; her eyes were so sharp, it was like she could see right through any
secrets.
The doctor hesitated, and then let out a heavy sigh. There’s nothing I can do. I should’ve been happy for you
7:46 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 42
when we found the donor, but the hospital sent word..
“The kidney got snatched by someone else. Just seconds after I called you, it was already promised to another patient.”
Yolanda let out a bitter laugh. “Is one life really worth more than another? I’ve been searching for two years. That kidney should have gone to us.”
The doctor shock his head. “Ms. Grant, the person who got it is really influential. I heard they’re connected to the Sinclair family, probably a top executive.
“This all happened just tonight, and the order came directly from the CEO of Sinclair Group. And the hospital that took the kidney is also one of theirs.
“You know, about a third of the private hospitals in Beloris are backed by the Sinclair family. We work closely with them. Some of our most advanced equipment is on loan from them.”
Yolanda’s face turned cold, and she spun around, heading for her car.
The doctor called after her, “I’ve seen this sort of thing way too often. It’s my fault for calling you so quickly. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much if you hadn’t found out right away.”
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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.
