<b>Chapter </b><b>32 </b>


    Ynda set the book aside and kept her voice low. “I’m heading back to Beloris. You’ve got your mountain shoot today. Call me if anythinges up.”


    Ian’s gaze dropped as she turned to leave, but then he was suddenly on his feet, catching up to her near the entrance pirs. “Ynda.”


    She paused. Last night had clearly left its mark on him. At his age, still untouched, that first kiss must have shaken him. With his quiet demeanor, she doubted he’d had many girls in his life.


    She exhaled sharply. “Let’s just pretend nothing had happened. I’m your agent first. When you return to Beloris next month, I’ll introduce you to Simone. She’s promised you an audition.”


    Without waiting for a reply, she slid into her car and clicked her seatbelt into ce.


    The post–storm light was murky, the hotel’s glow casting a hazy halo around his tousled hair. He lingered beside the car, studying her for a long moment before murmuring, “Drive safe.”


    She offered a faint smile, echoed “Yeah, and pulled away. <fn1192> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel</fn1192>


    In the rearview mirror, she watched him stand motionless until her car vanished around the bend. Her knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.


    Heat prickled her cheeks. It was ridiculous<b>, </b>really. Ian was everything a rising star should be: breathtaking looks, a killer physique, and raw talent.


    But nothing could happen. Not with her marriage. Not with the Grant name hanging over her. Last night was a mistake. One she’d force herself to forget.


    Ynda arrived home after 10 a.m. The maid blinked in surprise when she walked in. It was unusual for her to have stayed out all night. “Mrs. Sinir, you weren’t home yesterday?”


    Ynda gave a vague nod, heading upstairs to shower and change before meeting Megan at the studio.


    Megan, freshly discharged from the hospital, was already there making renovation ns about the newyout and fresh decor. They browsed design catalogs while coordinating with contractors, aiming to start renovations that afternoon.


    She took one look at Ynda’s flushed cheeks and smirked. “I remember someone wasn’t homest night. What’s with that just got properlyid‘ glow then?”


    Ynda froze mid–reach for a chair.


    Meganughed, nudging her, “Seriously, how does Charles even nce at other women? That smug little smile of yours could melt ciers-


    <b>P </b>


    55–Vouchers


    “Enough,” Ynda cut in, mping a hand over Megan’s mouth. “Save the R–ratedmentary. When we sign talents, you’ll traumatize them before their first coffee.


    Megan dissolved intoughter, and then sobered abruptly. “Did my husband cause trouble for you


    you guys?”


    “You were in the ER, Ynda said tly, “while he was harassing us for money. He even swung a damn stick at me. Why haven’t you divorced him?”


    Megan’s cheeks pinked as she sank onto the couch. “We met in college,” she sighed, “He was student council president back then. He wasn’t like this.”


    Their alma maters had been different. Ynda at elite Beloris University for film, Megan at a top–five national school for nning. So Ynda didn’t know Megan’s love story.


    But nostalgia, Ynda knew, was a stubborn stain. She let it drop, turning instead to greet the arriving


    construction crew.


    By afternoon, the designers and construction crew had arrived. After a quick briefing, the renovation was underway, filling the space with the sound of activity.


    Megan gathered some ofn’s personal items into a bag and handed it to Ynda. “Could you take this? With all the people in and out over the next month, I don’t want his things to get lost or damaged.”


    Hearingn’s name, Ynda felt a flicker of guilt, but she took the bag without a word.


    As they walked downstairs together, Megan asked, “You stayed at the same hotel asnst night, right? Keep a close eye on him going forward. Before, there were some wealthy admirers who tried to…. make him an offer. Things got a little messy.”


    <b>Ynda </b>tightened her grip on the bag and opened the car door without looking up.


    Megan lingered by the curb, studying her. “You seem off today. Didn do something?”


    “I’m just tired from the drive, Ynda said, taking a slow breath. That’s <b>all</b><b>.” </b>


    Megan leaned against the windowsill, a yful glint in her eye. “You know, Ian really is gorgeous<b>. </b>Just saying, Charles has his fun. Why shouldn’t you? I bet Ian wouldn’t say no. Back then he even—”


    “<b>Megan</b>.<b>” </b>Ynda’s voice was sharp, cutting her off.


    Megan raised her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright<b>. </b>Drive safe, Boss.”


    <b>Shaking </b>her head half–annoyed, half–amused, Ynda pulled away from the curb and headed towardn’s apartment to drop off his things.


    She was almost there when her phone lit up with a new message. It was fromn: [Headed up the mountain now. It sounded like something you’d say to a girlfriend<b>.. </b>


    Ynda’s fingers tightened <b>on </b>the wheel. She remembered his quiet confession. A tremor ran through her.


    7:42 Thu, Sep 11


    She left the message on read.


    She dumpedn’s stuff in the living room and headed back to Mooy Estate, only to find both May and Renee already there. They were lounging on the sofa like they owned the ce,pletely at ease.


    The moment Ynda walked in, May set her fork down and coolly ordered the guard, Grab her


    Ynda took a step back. “What are you doing?


    May stood up, walked over, and pped her across the face. “How dare you act innocent? Flora called this morning, hinting about Charles’s health. I found out you’re the one who’s been spreading nonsense.


    “There’s nothing wrong with Charles, but there might be something wrong with your uterus. You’re going the doctor. Now,”


    Pinned by two guards, Ynda took a shaky breath. “Charles doesn’t want kids anyway. If there is a problem. isn’t that exactly what he wants?”


    Renee rolled her eyes. “Ynda, do you really think Charles doesn’t see through you? You’ve been so desperate for a baby that you tampered with the condoms. He knows.


    “Let me tell you, your favorite Vitamins areced with birth control. There’s no way you’re pregnant. Charles is fine, but after two years on the pill, you might not be. It’s time you faced the truth”


    Ynda froze. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She never messed with any condoms. How could they use her of that? As the guards forced her into the car, tears welled in her eyes. “I need to call Charles.”


    Her mind raced back to two years ago, right after they got married, when Charles brought her that bottle of Vitamins. He said it would give her glowing skin. And it did work. She had trusted himpletely and never once suspected a thing.


    May scoffed. “Charles wants you checked too. You didn’te homest night. Who knows who you were with?”


    Ynda’s heart sank. Clenching her jaw, she insisted, “I’m calling him.”


    May lost her patience. She snatched Ynda’s phone, put it on speaker, and called Charles herself.


    His voice came through, smooth as always. “Mom, what is it?”


    “You said you’d take Ynda for a checkup tonight, right?” May asked.


    He just <b>said</b>, “Yeah, I did. Why? Is she there?”


    Hearing how casual he sounded, Ynda let out a bitterugh. One night away, and he already thought she was contaminated.


    7:43 Thu<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>11