Chapter 95
Ian took the card and headed upstairs.
Yolanda stood alone in the living room, feeling like she was just some heartless player.
She headed out, drove the SUV to downstairs at the studio, and had someone drive her Lamborghini back for
her.
At the very least, she definitely couldn’t let Charles see her in the SUV, or he’d start getting suspicious.
She glanced down at her phone and sent a text to Raelyn’s agent, wording it diplomatically but making it clear that Ian wouldn’t be attending.
The agent went quiet for a few seconds, then shot back a sarcastic smirk emoji.
Then another message came through.
[Yeah, he’s trending now, but his foundation’s still shaky. Being rumored with Raelyn long–term? It’s all upside for him, no downside. Go check–every guy who’s ever been linked to her has seen his career skyrocket.]
Yolanda felt a bit uneasy. Sure, Ian wasn’t as big a star as Raelyn right now, but isn’t hooking up supposed to be a two–way street?
Since they’d already turned down the offer, and they were bound to cross paths in the future, there was really no reason for the agent to be so petty about it.
She didn’t bother replying.
Brittany Carpenter, the agent, was fuming, gripping her phone tightly in frustration.
Raelyn had already slipped into a pretty nightgown. When she saw how upset Brittany looked, she could pretty much guess that Ian wasn’t coming over.
During filming, Ian always kept to himself, quietly sitting in his chair until it was his turn to shoot. He was polite and low–key–if it weren’t for that ridiculously handsome face and the fact that he was the male lead, Raelyn wouldn’t have given him a second glance.
She was always the one calling the shots in situations like this. It wasn’t about trading her body for favors or career moves–she just wanted to sleep with men she actually found attractive.
She’d just snagged a major award and was now at the top of her game–an A–list actress with real talent. Any guy she picked was usually more than happy to say yes.
But lan was the one exception.
It really got under her skin. After always being the center of attention, tasting defeat like this just made her obsess over it even more.
With a frosty look, she told Brittany, “Go check him out. See if he’s got any family. The brands he wears aren’t
10:33 Sat, Sep 20
Chapter 95
:
(78)
55 vouchers
even expensive, and before all this online buzz, he was practically a nobody—those guys barely scrape by. Dig up anything that could be his Achilles‘ heel.”
Now she just had to have him–her pride wouldn’t let her back down, and the thrill of the chase was too tempting.
Who knows, maybe after just one night, lan would be the one hooked and begging for more.
Brittany didn’t mess around–she went out and followed Ian herself, and actually managed to find the care facility where his mom was staying.
lan’s mom was in a pretty upscale nursing home, running about 100 thousand a year.
The view there was nice, and they were super strict about patient privacy.
Ian rarely came by.
This time, he showed up in a hat and pushed open the door to the room.
His mom was skin and bones, but her eyes lit up the moment she saw him. “Ian, you’re here!”
Her eyes went red as she cupped his face. “Let me get a good look at you. You look thinner. Weren’t you busy with work lately? Why’d you suddenly come see me?”
Ian scanned the room, his eyes sharp. “That man hasn’t been here, has he?”
Though she looked worn and thin, his mom still sat up straight, her features striking–she must’ve been a real beauty when she was young.
She stayed silent, wringing her hands in front of her.
His
eyes grew cold. “Mom, are you really still not willing to let this go? Hasn’t he already hurt you enough?”
She looked a little awkward, picked up some fruit and handed it to him. “Don’t say that. He’s still your father. It wasn’t easy raising you all by myself all these years. I just thought… maybe someday we could all sit down together. If he saw how amazing you’ve become, maybe he’d finally care. I just… I just can’t let it go.”
When a woman pours too much of herself into a man, it’s hard not to end up with this kind of unwillingness
to move on.
The deeper it gets, the more it turns into an emotional knot you just can’t untangle.
Ian didn’t take the fruit. “Do you remember that time you took me to see him, and we almost got run over? He’s not clueless–he knows you’ve been raising me on your own all these years. Don’t kid yourself.”
She swallowed hard, clutching the fruit in her hands, silent.
Ian wasn’t much for words, especially when it came to family stuff.
He looked down, just sitting there in silence.
10:33 Sat, Sep 20
Chapter 95
78
55 vouchers
After a long silence, she finally spoke. “If he ever comes looking for you, just try to be polite, okay? Ian, you’re his son too–you deserve a share of that company. His family made sure you never got your diploma, kept you from finding a job, did everything they could to make your life miserable. I hate him. I honestly don’t even know if I love him or hate him anymore. I just want to get something out of him for once. We struggled for so many years, and now knowing he and his wife are living the good life… I just can’t sleep. I haven’t slept in days.”
She’d been through hell–lied to, used, left pregnant and almost dragged off for an abortion. She barely managed to run away, hiding out in the filthiest alleys to give birth, too scared to even try finding a job, living like a cockroach in the gutter.
But they still wouldn’t let her go. They had a bunch of people torment and humiliate her for seven straight days. She didn’t even dare to die.
When she finally stumbled back, barely alive, she saw little Ian scraping up bread so tough it was like a brick off the floor. Right then, she just broke down and sobbed.
After being tormented by those men for a week, she figured maybe dying was easier, but she just couldn’t let go of her kid.
After that, her mental state just kept getting worse. She knew she hadn’t really been good to Ian.
But this kid never let her down–he always made her proud, with top grades and good looks to match.
Tears streamed down her face. “I just can’t let it go. I’ve been scraping by all alone in the gutter, and every time I close my eyes, all I hear are those men’s curses. These past two years, every time I come to, I’m scared out of my mind. Ian, it’s not that I still hope for anything from him–I want to ruin him. You’re my son, and you’re incredible. What I couldn’t do, I know you can, right?”
Ian pulled her into a silent hug, gently patting her back. His eyes darkened with something unspoken as he murmured, “Yeah.”
Softly, he spoke four words: “I’m already on it.”
“I’m already on it.”
田
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.
