Charles couldn’t stand the look in her eyes–it was an icy indifference, the kind that comes when disappointment has burned everything else away.
He gently cupped her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Just give me ten minutes. I’ll track down you and the kidnappers.”
“Mm,” Renee replied, her tone distant and hollow.
She felt numb; all her emotions seemed to have vanished.
The car pulled up to an isolated stretch outside the city. A couple of headlights lit the place up, with only a single road leading in–and now, that road was blocked off by a big truck parked sideways. The kidnappers‘ car sat right behind it.
The truck’s headlights shined bright, lighting up the whole handoff spot.
Renee was being held tight by several kidnappers, her face streaked with tears. When she saw Charles actually show up, her eyes went red with emotion, but her mouth was gagged, so all she could do was let out muffled
cries.
One of the kidnappers pressed a knife to her throat, his eyes full of menace. “Mr. Sinclair, we got a lookout on the road you came in. If you brought anybody else, your sister dies right here–no bluffing. Let’s not play games. Send your wife over, and we’ll hand your sister back.”
Charles was about to speak when the kidnapper suddenly brought the knife down and sliced off one of Renee’s fingers.
“Ahhh! Ahhh!” Renee screamed, her voice echoing with agony.
‘It hurts–it hurts so much I could die!‘ Renee thought, pain and panic flooding her senses.
Yolanda had been on her way, still half–convinced that Renee had staged the whole thing. But seeing how brutal the kidnappers were, she knew she was wrong.
These
guys were definitely after her. But she’d been a housewife for two years and hadn’t pissed anyone off.
‘Maybe it was Vivian’s uncle?‘ Yolanda thought.
But even the Andrade family wouldn’t dare go this far with Renee. If Charles found out, they’d be facing some terrifying revenge.
Charles let her go and gently nudged her forward, his tone gentle. “There’s a chopper waiting nearby. You won’t have to face this alone,”
Yolanda had barely stepped away when Charles, feeling uncertain, pulled her into a protective hug from behind. “Baby”
Her chest tightened, and for a split second, she nearly burst into tears.
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She wasn’t made of stone–how could she not feel hurt and wronged by all this?
Charles looked down, his lashes shadowing his eyes as he sighed softly. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
She didn’t say a word, just kept going forward, her silence heavier than anything.
Charles watched her walk away, and for a split second, a gut feeling twisted inside him–like he just knew he’d end up regretting this one day.
Her back was like a silent goodbye, as if she was slipping out of his life before he could even reach her.
‘But come on… Yolanda wouldn’t just stop loving me,‘ Charles tried convincing himself.
He admitted to himself he wasn’t exactly a good guy, but after fifteen years of loving him–there was just no way she’d suddenly walk away. ‘She’s loved me so long… she wouldn’t just let go, right?‘ he told himself.
Yolanda walked right up to the kidnappers. The one in charge had a wedge–shaped, unsettling face, cold gleam in the whites of his eyes, and lines on his face carved deep as scars. He laughed like a fiend and yanked Yolanda over, locking her in his iron grip.
Renee was finally released, and she nearly collapsed as she crawled toward Charles, tears streaming down her face.
The kidnapper dragged Yolanda into the car parked behind the trucks–now the road was totally blocked off, so Charles couldn’t get through.
Yolanda was tossed into the back of the car, dizzy and barely able to focus, as the vehicle tore down the road.
There were three kidnappers total–one driving up front, the other two crowded in the back with her.
She froze, too scared to make a wrong move. The tall, thin kidnapper thrust his hand out, his voice gritty and threatening. “Give me your phone. Now. Or you’ll wish you had.”
Back in Charles’s car, she’d already fired off desperate texts to Samuel and Ian–those two were her only hope. She had no one else to call for help.
She stayed silent and handed over her phone.
The tall, skinny guy powered off her phone and tossed it aside. “Charles, cold as ice. Didn’t hesitate for a second–just handed his wife over. Tell you what, in your next life, don’t marry someone like him.”
The kidnappers burst into cold, nasty laughter, but that quickly turned to brutal seriousness. “Call that guy- tell him Yolanda’s in our hands. Let’s see if he falls for it. Damn, we finally got some leverage!”
Yolanda kept quiet, watching as the man quickly whipped out his phone and dialed.
Once the call connected, his tone was pure menace.
“Listen up, Ian, you son of a bitch! I’ve got your little honey right here. If you don’t want her dead, you better show up–fast. Or we’ll take turns with her and tear her to pieces. What was her name again? Oh yeah, Yolanda! And let me tell you, she’s fucking gorgeous!”
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Chapter 98
It was on speakerphone, so Yolanda heard every word.
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Normally, lan’s voice was cool with a subtle tenderness when he spoke to her, but now, on the phone, he sounded cold and distant, like she was nothing more than a stranger.
He simply said, “I don’t know Yolanda.”
He hung up instantly, utterly decisive.
The kidnappers all whipped their heads toward Yolanda, and the tall, lanky one snapped a slap right across her face.
“Hell no, that’s impossible! We saw those two making out in the car–no way he doesn’t know her! Ian is a heartless piece of shit. Just so he doesn’t have to face us, he’s willing to dump a knockout like you!”
Yolanda reeled from the slap, her mind numb and unable to make sense of anything.
She’d wondered about just about everyone—maybe some old enemy from the Grant family—but never in a million years
did she imagine it would be Ian.
And the way he sounded on the phone… It was chillingly cold, a kind of ruthlessness she’d never heard from him before. Just like Charles had done before.
For a moment, she wondered if she’d imagined it—maybe she’d misheard him altogether.
The tall, skinny guy lost it, grabbing a knife from the side. “We’ve been busting our asses for nothing! This woman can’t even scare Ian! Fuck! What the hell do we do now? We’ve already pissed off Charles!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than they heard the thundering blades of a helicopter overhead.
With a cold snicker, the driver jerked the wheel and shot the car straight into the shadowy forest nearby.
Beneath the dense canopy, the helicopter couldn’t spot them–its view blocked by the tangled trees.
Yolanda rattled around in the backseat, every bump making her want to puke–her hands and feet were tied tight, and she was starting to really lose it.
The driver up front was swearing nonstop, while the two guys in back clutched their knives so tight their knuckles turned white–eyes locked on her like she was next on the chopping block. ‘God, I swear if one of those blades comes near my neck, it’s over for me,‘ she thought, heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe.
Yolanda took a shaky breath, forcing herself not to cry. “Seriously, you guys have got it all wrong–lan and I aren’t like that. I’m his boss, I basically forced him into everything. Trust me, he can’t stand me.”
She didn’t even get to finish before another harsh slap cracked across her cheek.
“You filthy bitch, just wait till we get where we’re going. All of us will have some fun with you, then we’ll see if
you’re still so full of shit!”
Yolanda clamped her mouth shut, realizing these guys hated lan with a passion. Every extra word out of her
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Chapter 98
mouth was just another slap waiting to happen.
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.
