Ynda was taken aback, but she had to admit it was the truth.


    For people who’ve made it, no matter if they’re men or women–once they tie the knot, their side piece is best off being discreet andpliant.


    Charles could get away with pampering Sophie only because she knew how to behave–way more than Vivian ever did.


    Ynda pinchedn’s chin between her fingers and gave it a gentle shake.


    He was ridiculously handsome and still so young. When his face was nk, he radiated a fierce, almost dangerous vibe.


    ‘Does Ian count as the man I keep on the side?‘ Ynda thought.


    ‘I really don’t want to admit it,’ she sighed inwardly.


    Ian caught the flicker of emotion in her eyes and leaned in closer. “I can tell. Someone’s thinking about kicking me to the curb.”


    He brushed her hand aside, shut his eyes, and in one swift move yanked open his ck shirt, showing off those ripped abs and the striking V–line on his waist.


    “Ms. Grant,” he said with a smirk, “with a body like this, don’t you think you’d regret not taking a bite?”


    Right then, his phone buzzed. Ynda’s eyes automatically flicked over, catching a message shing on the


    screen.


    [So? Did your seduction work yet?]


    Ian wasted no time, locking his phone in a sh.


    Ynda’s fingers brushed against the chain around his neck, the soft clinking sound almost musical.


    “Ian,” she said, her tone shifting to businesslike, “I’ll talk to Aunt Simone. She’s really impressed with you. She’ll take you out to meet some directors. Don’t turn her down, okay?”


    Just like that, she switched gears, diving straight into work.


    Ian just gave a soft grunt, then, without warning, knelt down in front of her, hoisting her leg up onto his shoulder like she was his queen.


    Ynda, heels still on, kicked him square in the chest. “I’m taking you home. Don’t forget, you’re mmed with filming these days.”


    Ian caught hold of her ankle and sank his teeth in, not gentle at all—a little red mark blossomed on her skin, proof of his teasing bite.


    <b>15:51 Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>28


    “Whatever you say, boss,” he replied, shing her a wicked smile.


    Ynda, looking sharp in her business attire, went up to drive.


    After droppingn off at his vi, she headed back to Moonbay Estate, only to walk in right as Charles wasing through the door too.


    She bent over to swap her shoes, her curves shown off just right from the back.


    Charles leaned forward, his gaze settling on her fair ankle. “Did something happen to your leg?”


    “Huh?” Ynda blinked, momentarily confused.


    He knelt down, still dressed in his suit, and traced his finger over the faint red mark on her ankle. That’s when she finally understood.


    “Did you bump into something here?” he asked, his voice gentle.


    It wasn’t Charles’s fault he didn’t figure it out right away. Who leaves bite marks like that on someone’s ankle, anyway?


    Ynda stiffened for a second, then quickly yed it off. “Yeah, I probably nicked it with my high heels.”


    Charles finished slipping on his shoes and handed his suit jacket to the servant nearby. “Be more careful next time. Let’s eat.”


    He’d been getting home pretty early these days.


    It had been a long time since Ynda had sat down for a peaceful dinner with him at Moonbay Estate.


    She ignored him, grabbed her tablet, and started looking through Starlight’s files again.


    Charles saw how absorbed she was and finally broke the silence, “Are you feeling better?”


    “Yeah,” she replied, barely looking up.


    “Is Leon Cole still making things difficult for you?” he pressed.


    “Nope,” she answered, her tone casual.


    She kept eating, replying absently, not really paying attention to the man across from her.


    Charles thought back to thest two years since they got married–every time he came home, Ynda would light up, that sparkle in her eyes obvious as ever.


    He loosened his tie a little, suddenly feeling stifled.


    “You seriously have to check your tablet while eating? Who’s the real workaholic here?” he grumbled.


    Ynda blinked in surprise. She remembered how, back when she tried to share little moments from her day with him at dinner, Charles would just brush her off, sometimes even coldly asking, “Isn’t there anything


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    important you ought to be doing?”


    That stung more than she cared to admit. For her, making sure the home ran smoothly had always meant the world.


    But to Charles, even the help could handle that kind of stuff.


    So, in his eyes, all her efforts amounted to nothing at all.


    Since I still need you, Charles, she held back and offered him a gentle smile. “It’s because you put me in this position–I don’t want to let you down. Jack said Leon Cole’s got Uncle Edward behind him, and honestly, I’m worried about giving you a hard time too. I just… I don’t want to be that woman who sits at home waiting for you anymore. You never really liked that side of me, did you?”


    Charles went quiet. Lately, Ynda’s words could really get to him, stirring up feelings he didn’t even realize he had.


    ‘Maybe I’ve misjudged her,‘ he thought. ‘It was my coldness that hurt her, and now she wants Starlight because she’s eager to aplish something and prove herself to me!’


    He picked up his ss and those words shed through his mind.


    ‘Damn, she really loves me,‘ he thought to himself.


    He snickered, thinking how adorably clueless she could be. “If you really wanna win me over, maybe try leveling up your game in bed instead.”


    Crude words, but the man’s not wrong.


    “Are you done eating?” he asked.


    She nodded, and he instantly pulled her to her feet, swept her up in his arms, and carried her upstairs like she was the only thing that mattered.


    He set her down on the master bed, his hand pressing lightly against her neck in a possessive hold while the other expertly undid the buttons of his shirt.


    Charles leaned in with that wicked glint in his eyes. “So, did you pick up the trick I showed youst time?”


    ‘What trick?‘ Ynda wondered, a hint of uncertainty flickering in her gaze.


    Her eyes were clouded with confusion as she looked up at him.


    Charles gripped her chin, tilting it up as his fingers traced her lips, lingering for a teasing moment.


    Suddenly, Ynda remembered. ‘Oh, that one,‘ she thought with a little smile.


    “Didn’t get around to it,” she shrugged. “Aunt Simone just called, and I still need to learn a couple more tricks about showbiz from her. Gotta rush!”


    Charles’s face turned stormy–he was so mad he actuallyughed. “Go ahead, say that one more time.”


    <b>15:51 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>28 </b>


    Right on cue, Ynda’s phone rang. Sure enough, it was Aunt Simone calling.


    <b>66 </b>


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    She shot Charles a mischievous grin, hit ept, and said, “Aunt Simone, I’ll be there in half an hour.”


    Charles took a deep breath, and the next moment, Ynda hooked her arm around his.


    “Honey, I really just don’t want to make you lose face. I’m going to be super busy for a while, <i>so </i>can you be a little understanding?” she said, her voice soft and pleading.


    With that, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and got up to leave.


    Downstairs, she turned to Jack. “Did you bring the gift?”


    Jack respectfully handed her a box holding the emerald bracelet. Ynda had messaged him earlier that afternoon to track it down–it was worth seven figures, no less.


    Ynda stashed the box away. “Thanks for handling this, Jack.”


    She grabbed the box and headed out to her car.


    Jack headed upstairs. He had business to go over with Charles tonight, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Charles was in a rotten mood.


    Charles was sitting in his study, looking gloomy and cold.


    Jack swallowed nervously. “Mr. Sinir, Mrs. Grant asked me to pick out an emerald bracelet for her. I think it’s meant to be a gift.”


    Charles had no doubt it was meant for Aunt Simone.


    When it came to picking out gifts, Ynda always nailed it. Women raised by the Grant family just knew how to win over every single inw.


    Buttely, she hadn’t been putting that same energy into him.


    He was already wearing the watch she’d gotten him for his birthday. The strap actually didn’t fit his wrist, so he’d even gone through the trouble of having it reced.


    And about those cufflinks she showed him in a picture yesterday–she never actually handed them over, did she?


    ‘Did she really just take a picture and leave it at that?‘ he wondered.


    Just as Charles was about to furrow his brows, Jack produced a gift box. “Mrs. Grant asked me to hand these cufflinks over to you.”


    Charles shot them a nce–sure enough, it was the same pair from yesterday. He felt a bit relieved.


    “Mm.”