Chapter 8
…
:
77
55 vouchers
The next day, Yolanda got up carly. She had run a fever all night, and it felt like the heat had drained every drop of water from her body. Forcing herself, she went straight to the studio.
But someone was earlier than her.
Ian was facing the wall, practicing the lines for the second male lead in this audition.
His voice was unique–not the common deep male voice, but with a cold undertone, like a cool breeze brushing through the woods.
He had a great build, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even the casual curve of his arm holding the script revealed neat, defined muscles, but not overly bulky. That bit of freshness was exactly what girls these days liked best.
Yolanda had majored in film in college. When she heard Ian recite another line, she couldn’t help correcting him, “The stress on the last line isn’t quite right.”
Ian froze, his lashes lowering.
She walked closer and glanced at the script in his hand. His fingers were long and well–boned, carrying a faint tension.
“You’ve already started practicing?” Yolanda smiled. “Ian, with how hard you work, you’ll definitely become a big star someday.”
Ian repeated the line. “Like this?”
She nodded, then looked at her phone. “Time to go. Let’s head out.”
Jan pulled his cap on and obediently followed behind her.
Halfway down the road, he turned to look out the window. “Wait for me a few minutes.”
Yolanda thought he was just going to grab a pack of cigarettes or something, so she pulled over. “Make it quick.”
Jan got out of the car. He was tall, and even with a cap on, his back alone looked like it belonged on a runway model.
Yolanda didn’t watch him. Instead, she shut her eyes, trying to ease the pounding in her head and the ache behind her eyes.
Her phone rang just then. The screen lit up with the contact name “Honey.”
11:30 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 8
77
E55 vouchers
She answered, and Charles’s casual voice came through the line. “When I got home this morning, the maid said you had a fever last night.”
Charles hadn’t come back last night, saying he was working late.
Over the past two years, he’d used that excuse plenty of times. Yolanda had believed him
time–until that text shattered her illusion.
every
“Yeah, the fever’s gone now,” she said.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Charles asked.
In the past, whenever she felt unwell, she would call him. Even if his assistant answered instead, at least Charles would respond eventually. The problem was, he always acted concerned only after she was almost recovered.
Yolanda used to be moved by his concern countless times, but now she saw it clearly. His care was just lip service, all part of the act.
With her head still aching, she lost her patience. “Charles, is there anything else?”
In the past two years, she had almost never spoken to him in that impatient tone.
Charles frowned, his fingers tapping lightly on the heavy desk. He heard the sound of a car door opening on the other end and sensed that someone was with Yolanda.
Yolanda had been a housewife for two years now, almost completely cut off from her old
circle.
“Is someone with you?” Charles asked.
“It’s a studio talent,” Yolanda said.
Yolanda used to be gentle, even when she called to act sweet. But in the past two days, her tone had turned strangely cold.
Last night, Charles didn’t come home. What surprised him was that she hadn’t called once. He figured she was still sulking.
He couldn’t be bothered to play along and simply hung up.
Looking at the disconnected call, Yolanda gave a faint, bitter smile.
She had once thought Charles was a kind man, but now she realized it was just an image he carefully packaged. After all, a stable marriage was good for the company’s stock.
She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Beside her, lan took off his cap and handed her a
11:30 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 8
cup of cold medicine he had just prepared.
The bittersweet smell drifted up, and she slowly opened her eyes.
77
55 vouchers
He only looked at her for a few seconds before turning his head away, his handsome face shadowed with something unreadable. “Drink it.”
She didn’t refuse. Just as she finished the medicine, he handed her a cup of hot chocolate.
Yolanda gave a small smile, her voice slightly hoarse. “Thanks.”
Ian didn’t say anything, just quietly tossed the empty cup into a trash bag.
Gripping the wheel, Yolanda stepped on the gas. The warm, sweet taste of hot chocolate made her feel a little better. “Ian, aren’t you a trained actor?”
“No,” Ian said.
“I’ll help you with your lines from now on,” Yolanda said. “You’ve got the look, and your acting isn’t bad. I watched the shows you were in last night–you’ve got real talent.”
She hadn’t been able to sleep, so she got up and watched every clip of the characters Ian had played.
Ian held the trash bag and stared out the window, lost in thought.
An hour later, Yolanda’s car pulled up in front of Starlight Entertainment. For Sinclair Group, it was just a small division, but in the industry, Starlight was a solid company.
The night before, Yolanda had even made her own business card. She designed the layout herself, with no real name on it–just the stage name, Tessa Gilbert.
The staff who came to greet her smiled as they led the way. “Ms. Gilbert, this way please.”
Yolanda noticed the air felt a bit tense, so she couldn’t help but ask, “Did some big shot come by?”
The staff looked full of admiration. “Mr. Sinclair just came to inspect. He should be upstairs
now.”
Yolanda froze. She couldn’t figure out why Charles would suddenly come to such a small company for an inspection.
She glanced toward the end of the hallway and saw Sophie. In an instant, she understood everything.
A sharp sting shot through her chest.
11:30 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 8
77
55 vouchers
Just then, Sophie reached the stairwell at the corner. Yolanda saw a slender hand reach out, passing Sophie a bottle of water.
Yolanda recognized that hand right away–it was Charles’s.
She was already surprised enough that Charles would bother to come check out this little company. She hadn’t expected him to actually make time to come and keep Sophie company for her interview.
Sophie lifted her chin, like some spoiled little bird. She took the water, her eyes sparkling as she chattered to Charles.
Charles ruffled her hair, overflowing with affection.
Yolanda still couldn’t believe he was willing to put work aside and lower himself to come here.
For the past two years, Charles had always told her that work came first. So she had always been considerate, swallowing her grievances for the sake of his career.
Yolanda took a deep breath, tore her eyes away from Charles and Sophie, calmed herself, and pushed the door open.
An unfaithful man was as disgusting as a piece of gum that had been chewed for too long. And hers had even been chewed by someone else.
AD
Comment
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.
