Chapter 7
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Charles sat with Sophie by his side, surrounded by a few of his friends. He had already introduced Sophie to them before, though none of them had ever mentioned it to Yolanda.
Sophie had the kind of face that looked like everyone’s first crush. Clinging to Charles’s arm, her voice was sweet.
“Charles, I’ve got an audition tomorrow, and I’m a little nervous. Will you stay with me tonight?” she said, locking her gaze on him.
Back when he first started liking her, he had told her he loved her eyes–they were bright and beautiful. So Sophie knew just how to use that trick to keep him hooked.
Charles smiled and peeled a grape for her himself.
For a rich young man like him, who had always had everything done for him, he had never taken care of anyone. That small gesture made Sophie feel a rush of satisfaction she had never felt before. Blushing, she threw herself into his arms. “Please?”
Just as the words left her lips, his phone rang. The screen flashed with the name saved as— Honey.
The smile in his eyes faded slightly. He slipped the grape into Sophie’s mouth, then left his hand there, slowly tracing along her lips.
Sophie’s face burned as her heartbeat raced. Coupled with Charles’s handsome looks, it was impossible for her not to be enchanted. Charles just had that kind of charm that drew women
- in.
He answered the call, his tone flat. “What is it?”
Yolanda was standing by the nightstand in their bedroom. She couldn’t find her business card and vaguely remembered Charles had put it away.
As the head of her own studio, she needed that card for all the upcoming contracts.
“Where did you put my business card?” she asked.
“Ask the maid. How would I remember something like that?” Charles replied.
Yolanda knew better than to expect anything from him. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Fine.”
Charles chuckled, his hand still brushing against Sophie’s lips as he gave her a teasing look. “You don’t really want your business card–you just want to know what I’m doing, don’t you?”
11:29 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 7
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Half–truths always hit the hardest.
Yolanda said nothing. Charles had too many tricks, and she never knew how to fight back.
But luckily, she caught Sophie’s voice on the other end of the call. Reality had a way of slapping her awake just when she was about to soften toward Charles.
Her lashes lowered. “No. I’m hanging up.”
Charles ended the call, only to feel Sophie sink onto his lap. “Charles, then don’t go back tonight, okay?”
Charles glanced at the three men across from him, his closest friends. They were already used to his situation.
Max Shaw let out a quiet laugh. “It’s only halfway through the month, and Charles has already spent ten nights with you. His wife must be heartbroken.”
Sophie blushed hard. She buried her face against Charles’s chest, her heart pounding wildly.
Charles was handsome, and he always looked at her with deep affection, whispering sweet words. Naturally, Sophie loved him.
She wanted him to divorce Yolanda soon and be with her instead. But she had to keep that urge under control–pushing Charles too hard would only backfire.
Sophie was an actress, so it wasn’t like she hadn’t met rich men before. But compared with the people sitting in front of her now, those men she used to know were nothing but upstarts.
Charles and his friends came from real aristocratic families, each with powerful backgrounds. Sure, there were plenty of rich kids in the industry, but these few were at the very center of
power.
Sophie had made up her mind to win Charles’s heart and kick Yolanda out of the picture.
Charles tilted his head and brushed a kiss against Sophie’s cheek. “Babe, you should head back first. I’ve got something tonight.”
Sophie felt a little unwilling, but she knew she had to listen. She held his face in her hands, kissing him for several long minutes before finally getting up to leave.
The moment she was gone, Max couldn’t hold back. “You keep this up, Yolanda’s bound to find out.”
Before Charles could reply, Quinn Cooper cut in. “If he dares do it, it means he’s not afraid of being found out.
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Chapter 7
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“But Charles, hasn’t Yolanda loved you for over ten years? Back when she was adopted by the Grant family, you always went to hang out with her. No matter what, she’s still our childhood friend–you shouldn’t go too far.”
Charles leaned back, fingers sliding over the rim of his glass, speaking carelessly. “I told her clearly when we got married–I don’t love her.”
Quinn lifted his glass, took a sip. “Everyone knows who you really love. Sophie’s eyes do look a lot like hers. Yolanda’s gorgeous, though. How did she end up stuck with you?”
Max chimed in, “Bad luck. One look at Charles, and that was it–ruined for life. Yolanda’s not escaping that.”
Quinn chuckled. “Well, not necessarily. Maybe one day she’ll wise up and keep a lover of her own, just like Charles.”
Charles undid a button on his shirt, closed his eyes, and smiled faintly. “Yolanda was raised by the Grant family to be a house wife. She can’t live without me.”
No one else spoke, clearly agreeing with him. Everyone knew the Grant family had adopted Yolanda for one purpose–marriage ties.
She was lucky to be with Charles.
Yolanda woke up in the middle of the night, feeling unwell.
She touched her forehead. It must’ve been all the stress piling up these past few days–she had a fever.
Forcing herself up, she tried to go downstairs to find some fever medicine.
The maid heard the noise and turned on a wall lamp. “Mrs. Sinclair, what are you looking for?”
I’m looking for some fever medicine. I think I’ve got a fever.” Yolanda leaned against the side table, her head spinning.
“I’ll find it for you. Just sit down, I’ll bring you some water,” the maid hurried over.
“Thank you, Yolanda said.
She had always been kind to the maid, never putting on airs. The Grant family might have had a lot of strict rules, but Yolanda had truly been raised as the perfect society lady.
She held her head, her shoulders rising and falling, feeling so sick she wanted to throw up.
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Chapter 7
In the dim light of the hall, her phone rang.
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Still groggy, she answered and put it on speaker. A woman’s voice came through right away. “Charles. I’ve got an interview tomorrow, I really can’t tonight.
“Charles…”
Yolanda’s face instantly went pale. Her fingers trembled as she tried to hang up, but her vision was so blurred she missed the button.
The maid stood by with the medicine, not daring to say a word.
“Mrs. Sinclair, m–maybe they dialed the wrong number…” the maid tried to cover for Charles. After all, Charles was the one signing their paychecks.
Yolanda was just a housewife. If it ever came down to a divorce lawsuit, she’d be at a huge disadvantage.
The thought made her smile bitterly, and her mind cleared a little. She took the fever medicine from the maid, swallowed it dry without water.
“Don’t tell Charles about this,” she told the maid.
A glint of disdain flashed in the maid’s eyes. She figured Yolanda would just pretend she didn’t know about Charles’s affair.
‘Well, of course–Mr. Sinclair gives Mrs. Sinclair 60 thousand dollars a month. Of course she’d turn a blind eye,‘ she thought.
“I won’t say a word in front of Mr. Sinclair,” the maid replied.
AD
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.
