ZŞ(78)
55 vouchers
Sophie hadn’t been called in for ages, and tonight she’d picked out an outfit she knew he liked. To her disappointment, Charles barely paid any attention the whole time.
He was always the one in control before, but tonight, he was just going through the motions.
She didn’t dare say a word; instead, she quietly took care of everything, hoping not to upset him.
“Hey Charles, is that a new watch?” she ventured, trying to break the silence.
The brand wasn’t exactly luxury–at most, it cost just a bit over a hundred grand. It really didn’t fit someone with his status.
Charles lit a cigarette, draped his long arm over the back of the couch, and responded lazily, “Yeah.”
Sensing Charles was in a funk, Sophie snuggled into his arms. “Is your wife getting on your nerves again?”
She’d thrown out sly comments like that before–Charles never stuck up for that nag back home.
But tonight, he just frowned a bit. “What could she possibly do to bother me?”
His voice was laid–back, almost indifferent.
Sophie was totally hooked on that irresistible mix of tenderness and cold indifference he gave off. She snuggled into his arms, her heart fluttering with sweetness.
“Didn’t you say she’s boring? Isn’t it always awkward between you two, like you have nothing to talk about?” she pressed, trying to keep him engaged.
Charles took a drag on his cigarette, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he blew out a smoke ring. “Do you and I really have that much to talk about?” he replied, his voice lazy.
He thought to himself, ‘If I wanted actual conversation, I’d rather just chat with my business partners.‘
Sophie intertwined her arms around Charles’s neck, flashing him a coy grin. “All I need to do is keep you happy, Charles.”
Charles appreciated her tactful attitude–it was exactly why he indulged her.
He let out a low chuckle and brushed a lingering kiss against her lips. Right as he was about to speak, his phone lit up with a call from an unfamiliar number.
He really didn’t feel like picking up, but the call just wouldn’t stop.
When he finally answered, all he heard was an eerie static, then a disguised, menacing voice–clearly the kidnapper.
“Mr. Sinclair, we’ve got your sister. If you want her back in one piece, you better trade her for your wife,” the
voice threatened.
Chapter 97
E 55 vouchers
Charles’s face turned grim in an instant. He shoved Sophie aside and got to his feet. “Put Renee on the phone.”
The next moment, Charles heard Renee’s desperate, broken cries echo through the call.
“Charles, please, I don’t know who these people are!” Renee sobbed, her voice shaking. “I was just out shopping and suddenly they grabbed me–I don’t even know where I am! I think they’re after Yolanda; it’s gotta be something she did, and now I’m the one getting dragged into this. Charles, you have to help me, please–I’m really scared, I don’t wanna die!”
Before Renee could say anything else, the kidnapper snatched the phone away.
Charles remained unfazed, his tone cool and steady. ‘They’re just trying to mess with me. Then he asked, “How much do you want?”
The kidnapper let out a chilling laugh. “We don’t want your money, Mr. Sinclair. You have two hours to deliver Yolanda to the address I give you. If you don’t, you’ll be collecting your sister’s corpse.”
With that, the call was cut off.
Charles got dressed and headed for the door. Sophie opened her mouth to ask what was happening, but the look on his face was so intense, she didn’t dare say a word.
*****
Yolanda was just lying down in bed when she heard someone knocking on the door.
She shuffled to the door in her pajamas, opened it, and was taken aback to see Charles. “What, you’re not pulling an all–nighter at work tonight?”
Charles fixed his gaze on her face for a second, blinked, then reached out and took her wrist.
“Come with me,” Charles commanded–no room for argument in his tone.
Yolanda struggled by reflex. “Let me change my clothes.”
“No,” he said flatly, his grip unyielding.
She was still in a nightgown–so thin and flimsy, she felt totally exposed.
Charles pulled her straight into the car. Seeing Jack in the front, just as silent and grim, Yolanda couldn’t hold back her worry. “What happened?” she asked, voice trembling.
Charles took off his suit jacket and carefully draped it over her shoulders.
His scent wrapped around her, but mixed in was the unmistakable, overpowering fragrance of another woman clinging to the jacket.
She immediately started to shrug it off, but Charles spoke first. “Renee’s been kidnapped. The kidnappers want me to hand you over in exchange for her.”
Yolanda’s movements froze. She stared up at him, completely stunned. “What did you just say?”
10:34 Sat, Sep 20
Chapter 97
73
EL 55 vouchers
Charles’s fingertips traced her cheek, his voice soft but totally cold–blooded. “Yolanda, the guys we’re dealing with are extreme. Renee’s my own sister. I can’t risk anything happening to her.”
Yolanda thought she was past being mad at him, but now rage was pounding in her head, making everything
buzz.
She’d had enough. Instinctively, she raised her hand and smacked him hard across the face.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Yolanda fixed her gaze on him, voice trembling with anger. “Charles, we’ve known each other for fifteen years–not just a few days or months. You’re scared something will happen to Renee, but did you ever stop to think what could happen to me? Don’t I matter at all?”
She tried to slap him, but her fingers were shaking so badly the blow barely landed, her anger and fear making her weak.
Charles gripped her shoulder firmly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Yolanda nearly scoffed. If Charles really had what it takes to handle the kidnappers himself, he wouldn’t be trying to trade her for Renee.
The truth was, he was gambling–counting on her being sharper than Renee, that she’d figure out a way to survive. After all, she was a Grant girl; she’d been taught survival since day one.
Yolanda couldn’t believe just how badly Charles had let her down. All those feelings she’d had for him turned into the cruelest slap–and damn, her heart felt like it had been shredded. ‘How could I be so stupid about him?‘ she thought to herself.
But she forced herself to chill out fast–Charles would never soften toward her. Between her and Renee, he’d pick Renee every single time. ‘I must be out of my mind to still expect anything else,’ she mused.
Honestly, she’d lost count of how many times she’d been messed over because of Renee all these years. Not even once had Charles been on her side. ‘Guess that’s just how it works with them,‘ she thought bitterly.
It was like Renee was born to mess with her–always picking fights, always out to make her life miserable.
Back when Yolanda was still hopelessly in love with Charles, she couldn’t even see how nasty Renee was. She’d gone all out trying to suck up–learning how to whip up homemade face masks and all those skincare tricks, not expecting Renee to actually respect her as Charles’s wife, just hoping they could keep things civil for once.
But Renee’s answer was always the same–relentless sniping, barbed words at every turn.
She’d bent over backwards for Renee, May, even Grandma Flora–ended up being a total joke herself.
She thought, ‘If you keep putting yourself down, you can bet everyone else will too.‘
Yolanda wiped at her eyes–no tears, just this sour, furious ache twisting inside.
Charles pulled her in tight, his tone calm but commanding. “I put a tracker on you myself. You’re not going to get hurt, so don’t get upset.”
Her throat felt totally blocked up, not a single word could slip out.
10:34 Sat, Sep 20
Chapter 97
After a long while, she finally looked up; her eyes were just blank. “Fine.”
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.
