《After She She Stopped Loving Him》 Titan 1 Charles Sinir was cheating. 77 55 vouchers Ynda Grant had been married to him for two years and had never seen him lose control in public. It waste at night, and Charles was holding a girl in his arms. They tangled recklessly in a dark, empty alley. The girl was skinny, like a small flower growing out of the mud. She wrapped her legs around Charles¡¯s waist and leaned on his shoulder, sobbing. Ynda sat in her car and leaned back slightly. Half an hour earlier, when someone sent her this address, she thought it was a mistake. It was not far from the home she shared with Charles. She had thought that if Charles ever cheated, he would at least book a clean presidential suite. Charles was a powerful businessman. His family had been wealthy and respected for three generations. He had always been strict about food, clothes, and taste. Ynda never imagined he would entangle himself with another woman in such a dirty ce. The stained floor and mossy walls seemed to shame his name. ¡®He loved her this much?¡® She found it ridiculous. ¡°Then what does that make me, his wife in name only?¡® She didn¡¯t wait for them to finish, nor did she go up to catch them. It wasn¡¯t worth the scene. Two years ago, when she married Charles, he told her he would never love her. He already loved someone else. It had been her choice to marry him anyway, even giving up her rising career, only to prove her devotion. For two years, she took care of him. She knew about his stomach problems, so she cooked every meal with care and nned his clothes every day, She never let anyone else handle his needs. But she had never thought the man she treasured so carefully would drop his noble mask in such a filthy ce and turn into a beast. Ynda felt as if she had been pped hard¨Cpainful and humiliating. But she still had things to do. This marriage had to end. She drove home. The headlights swept past, and Charles froze, lifting his head. 55 vouchers He wasn¡¯t sure whose car it was, but it was heading toward the vi district where their home stood. A strange unease came over him. ¡°Charles, I still feel so bad¡­¡± the girl in his arms begged, but he had already sobered up, slowly straightening his sleeve. ¡°Charles?¡± she whispered, confused. ¡°That¡¯s enough for tonight,¡± he said. ¡°Thepany has big projectsing up. I can¡¯t risk divorce rumors right now.¡± ¡°I understand, Charles,¡± she said. ¡°I can wait.¡± Charles raised his hand and patted her head. Her pitiful look reminded him of Ynda back then. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F?nd-Novel ***** Ynda had juste out of the bathroom when she saw the bedroom door pushed open by Charles. He carried his suit jacket on his arm and raised a brow. His face was sharply handsome, almost aggressive, with a high nose and deep¨Cset eyes. The narrow lift at the end of his eyes gave him a distant, cold arrogance. On the cor of his white shirt was a smear of pink lip gloss left by his mistress. Ynda had never liked lip gloss¨Cshe always thought it sticky on the lips. But Charles seemed to like it very much. As she dried her hair, Ynda walked toward the bed. Charles nced at her slim waist and asked, ¡°When did you get back?¡± ¡°This afternoon,¡± Ynda said. Charles let out a small breath. Through the window¡¯s reflection, she saw him toss aside his tie and unbutton his shirt with one hand. The back of his shirt was dirty, and he only said casually, ¡°I was out ying golf tonight.¡± I ¡°Then I guess you scored plenty of holes. Congrats,¡± Ynda said tly. Charles frowned, a little unsettled. 77 55 vouchers He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°Are you mad? But I told you when we married, I didn¡¯t love you. If you¡¯re that unhappy, just find someone else to cheat with.¡± Ynda said nothing. Her chest felt like it was being bound with wire, every breath sharp with pain. She had known Charles for years. Back when she was first adopted by the Grant family, she had already met him. She never imagined that after all her years of love and two years of marriage, this would be the answer she got. ¡°Fine,¡± she replied lightly. Charles chuckled and brushed a kiss against her cheek. He didn¡¯t think she meant it. Ynda loved him¨Cso deeply it shook the earth. He believed she would never betray him. Comment Send gift No Ads AD C Titan 2 hapter 2 : 77 55 vouchers Ynda sat down on the edge of the bed first and picked up her tablet to check her assets. Charles took a set of pajamas from the closet and went into the shower. The sound of water filled the bathroom. Ynda lowered hershes, wondering how much money she could get if she divorced him. Charles never loved her. Their marriage was only because of the ties between the Grant family and the Sinir family¨Cor more exactly, because of his friendship with her so¨Ccalled brother. Ynda was only the adopted daughter of the Grants. As she swiped across the screen, a wave of steam drifted over her. Charles rested his chin on her shoulder and quietly looked at the files on her tablet. ¡°Thinking about divorce?¡± he asked carelessly, then slid his finger to the previous page. ¡°Have you thought about the cost of leaving me?¡± The cost was clear: she would get nothing. Ynda had wasted two years by his side, living as a full¨Ctime housewife. She couldn¡¯t walk away empty¨Chanded. Charles held her from behind, his posture both forceful and proud. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with work and ignored you. Are you lonely?¡± Ynda turned off the tablet,y down, and faced away from him. ¡°I was just looking.¡± Divorce wouldn¡¯t be easy. The Grant family would never approve, Charles slid into bed and pulled her waist back against him. ¡°When you married me, you said you didn¡¯t care if I loved you, as long as you could see me every day.¡± Ynda froze, her heart aching. It had only been two years, yet hearing her old promise now felt bitter and humiliating. Charles could never be moved. Born into wealth, used to admiration, he had long been bored with love itself. Maybe he thought himself too noble. He always looked down on women like Ynda, raised in big families to be proper and dull. : 77 55 vouchers Ynda was beautiful; if she hadn¡¯t been, the Grant family would never have taken her in. She had been raised for one purpose¨Cfor marriage. A pretty trap to show the world. She shut her eyes, not wanting to hear more of his cruel words. But tonight he seemed restless, talkative after chasing thrills elsewhere. ¡°Ynda, flowers wither if they¡¯re not watered,¡± he went on. ¡°If you¡¯re too lonely, find another man to spoil you.¡± Thest trace of color drained from Ynda¡¯s face. Charles truly had no heart. He knew she had loved him for years, yet he always faced her with that cold, calcting look. In this rtionship, she had lost toopletely. If she made a scene, she would only look like a clown. Charles noticed Ynda keeping her eyes shut and raised a brow. Over the past two years, he had said plenty of mean words, but she never argued back. Even in bed, she was dull. He never cared for women who lived by the rules. Charlesy down and closed his eyes. Only when his breathing grew steady did Ynda slowly sit up. She looked at him and, for a moment, truly wanted to stab him with a knife. But wasting her life in prison for a man like him wasn¡¯t worth it. Latest content published on Find?Novel She picked up her tablet again. Charles refused to divorce now, and with the close ties between the Sinir family and the Grant family, any scandal would hurt bothpanies. After thinking it through, she decided she needed to get back to work. There was always a way out. Just as she was about to lie down, Charles¡¯s phone buzzed. At first, she thought it was hers. She picked it up and unlocked the screen, only to see a private photo so explicit she froze, Her eyes widened, then she realized it wasn¡¯t her phone¨Cit was his. She quickly put it back. So this was what Charles liked: women who looked innocent on the surface but were bold and reckless behind closed doors. She was about to lie down when Charles reached for his phone. His voice came out rough. ¡°Did you touch my phone?¡± ¡°I picked up the wrong one. I didn¡¯t read the message,¡± Ynda said. ¡°All right,¡± Charles replied. He got up, typed a reply, and stepped out to make a call. Titan 3 : 77 55 vouchers The next morning, Ynda was ready to head out when she ran into Charlesing downstairs. He wore a dark suit, his 6¡¯2¡± frame giving off a heavy sense of pressure. Seeing her at the door, he frowned. Latest content published on find(?)ovel ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked. Ynda bent down at the entryway to change her shoes. She had shed her usual softness and dressed sharp. ¡°I want to check on my old studio.¡± She had once co¨Cinvested in a studio that trained talents, but after getting married, she barely managed it. Now she still had some savings left to put in, and she had signed a few talents before¡ªshe wanted to see how they were doing. Charles¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Sixty thousand dors a month in allowance isn¡¯t enough?¡± He thought she should stay home, a vase waiting for him toe back. For the past two years, she had done just that. Ynda felt a tightness in her chest. Her shoes were on. ¡°I want to go back to work.¡± His eyes lingered on her for a few seconds before he looked away, his tone t again. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± He believed she woulde back defeated soon enough, once she saw how harsh the outside world was. He walked to the dining table and noticed breakfast was different. ¡°Who made breakfast today?¡± he asked. Before, Ynda had cooked his meals herself, but today¡¯s food clearly wasn¡¯t hers. ¡°We did,¡± a maid said. ¡°Mrs. Sinir said from now on, we¡¯ll handle the cooking.¡± Charles stayed quiet, toozy to argue, He figured she was just throwing a tantrum because he had ignored hertely. A few gifts would calm her down. ***** Ynda followed her memory and drove to the studio. 77 55 vouchers When she passed by the mall building, she happened to see a giant poster hanging outside. On it was the brand ambassador chosen for Sinir Group¡¯s perfume this season¨Cthe same young starlet who had been fooling around with Charlesst night. Ynda pulled her gaze back and gripped the steering wheel even tighter. The starlet¡¯s name was Sophie Sutton, a girl Charles had personally brought into the spotlight. Ynda didn¡¯t know what it was about Sophie that obsessed him, but now he had even made her the face of the brand. She took a deep breath and pressed the gas pedal. The studio wasn¡¯t far from Sinir Group, only about a ten¨Cminute drive. She had rented the entire top floor back then. Now the doors were wide open, and all she could hear was the sound of fists pounding against a punching bag. She turned the corner and saw a young man inside the studio wearing a ck T¨Cshirt, boxing gloves on his hands, hitting the bag again and again. His hair was a bit long, his muscles elegant and well¨Cdefined, not overly bulky, carrying a raw youthfulness. He was slightly taller than Charles. Ynda only saw his side profile. He looked younger than Charles. Though silent, his beautiful eyes, now lowered, gave him a charm that was hard to put into words. Ynda spoke up. ¡°Excuse me- ¡°1 The man turned his head to nce at her, and because he stopped moving, the bag swung back and hit him in the face. She hurriedly pushed open the ss door and walked inside. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He tilted his head, his cheek a little red. Then he pressed his lips together without saying anything. Ynda looked around. Her memory wasn¡¯t wrong¨Cthis was indeed the studio she had rented years ago. Back then she had paid five years¡® rent in one lump sum, which was no small amount. But now it seemed to have turned into a boxing room. Ynda stood there without a word, like a socialite who had identally stepped into a back¨Calley gym, utterly out of ce with her surroundings. The man lowered his head, unfastened his gloves, and tossed them aside. He turned and opened the ss door, about to leave. Sweat dripped from his hair, his expression tight, and as he walked, he carried with him a restless, heated air. When he reached the door, he bumped right into Megan Cartering in. 77 55 vouchers Megan looked confused at first, but when she saw Ynda, her face lit up with surprise. ¡°Ynda? What are you doing here? Oh my God, I¡¯m not seeing things, am I? You haven¡¯t been back since you got married.¡± Seeing her old partner and friend, Ynda finally let out a breath. For a moment, she thought she¡¯d gone to the wrong ce. Megan shoved the man toward her and scolded, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Weren¡¯t you just asking when the boss wasing? Well, here she is.¡± The man still had a wrist brace on, wrapped tight around his wrist. He turned his head aside and gave a faint nod. That was when Ynda really looked at him. He was handsome¨Cdifferent from Charles, who had that rich, cold, untouchable aura. This man was more like a lone tree standing on a mountaintop. He might¡¯ve looked distant, but his lips were impossibly alluring. There was something about him, a contradiction that made it hard to look away. Megan quickly pulled Ynda aside and whispered, ¡°You¡¯ve been gone for two years, and I don¡¯t have much pull. Most of our talents left, so now it¡¯s just Ian. Thank God he stayed, or I¡¯d have been begging on the streets by now.¡± Ynda felt a pang of guilt. She noticed the young man standing off to the side, head down, lost in thought. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he leave?¡± she asked curiously. Megan rubbed her chin. ¡°Beats me. He¡¯s only twenty¨Cthree, looks like this, and tons ofpanies have tried to poach him. ¡°If he¡¯d signed somewhere else, he¡¯d be a superstar by now. Directors can¡¯t stop giving him roles just from his looks alone. He was born to be an actor.¡± Ynda said nothing. Back when she opened the studio, she made a huge ssh. And with her background as part of the Grant family, directors all went out of their way to support her. But after she got married, she stopped caring about it. She thought the studio had long since fallen apart. She never imagined there¡¯d still be an actor left¨Cand one with this much talent. She stared at the young man, and he slowly lifted his head. Their eyes met for an instant before he quickly looked away, dropping his gaze. Titan 4 : Ynda felt a pang of guilt. ¡°How about we all grab a mealter?¡± she suggested. 77 55 vouchers Megan looked even more surprised. ¡°Your husband actually lets you work now? Last time we talked on the phone, you said you weren¡¯t going to work anymore.¡± The question hit a sore spot, and Ynda felt a little embarrassed. There was no way she could air her marital mess in front of everyone. Rich people cared about appearances¨Cdirtyundry was never to be shown in public. That was one of the rules she had learned from the Grant family. So, Ynda only smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t just stay at home all the time. By the way, what¡¯s his name again?¡± She still couldn¡¯t believe someone this talented had wasted two years here. Before Megan could answer, the young man spoke up. ¡°Ian Foster.¡± Read full story at find[?]ovel He nced at Ynda, then quickly looked away. Ynda curved her lips. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Megan whispered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Wasn¡¯t it you who brought him here back then? How could you forget his name?¡± Ynda felt awkward¨Cshe honestly couldn¡¯t remember. The past few years, she had poured all her energy into Charles, doing everything she could to care for him. She hadn¡¯t paid attention to anyone else. Taking a deep breath, she kept her smile. ¡°Megan, mind if we order takeout at your ceter?¡± Megan froze for a few seconds before nodding. ¡°My ce is tiny. You¡¯re used to living like a richdy¨Cjust don¡¯t look down on it.¡± Megan was blunt, not mocking. But Ynda realized that after being cooped up for two years, she really had fallen out of touch with the world. As they headed outside, she asked, ¡°Was itn¡¯s idea to turn this ce into a boxing room?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Jan doesn¡¯t like going out, and since the top floor is all ours, we figured we might as well. Young people, you know¨Cthey¡¯ve got energy to burn,¡± Megan said. Ian followed beside her, casually pulling on a cap. He didn¡¯t say much, but his striking looks were impossible to ignore. 55 vouchers When they reached Ynda¡¯s car, Megan opened the passenger door and gestured to Ian. He stopped, nced at Ynda, and didn¡¯t move. Ynda smiled. ¡°Go ahead and sit. We¡¯ll probably be seeing a lot of each other from now on.¡± Hisshes lowered as he slid in without a word. The passenger seat had always belonged to Charles, so out of habit, Ynda leaned over and buckled Ian¡¯s seatbelt for him. Ian¡¯s whole body went stiff, his fingers curling slightly on his knee. Then he turned his head toward the window, silent. It was only after fastening it that Ynda realized Ian wasn¡¯t Charles. He didn¡¯t need her fussing over him at all. She pulled back, started the car, and set the GPS for Megan¡¯s ce. Megan was lively. She asked Ynda, ¡°Have you watched any of the shows Ian¡¯s been in? In the past two years, he¡¯s done quite a few. Though he hasn¡¯t had a leading role, he¡¯s gained some attention. Our studio¡¯s been surviving on him alone.¡± Ynda felt even more embarrassed. If she had known the studio had such a talented guy, she would¡¯ve introduced him to some directors. And ever since getting married, she hadn¡¯t followed the entertainment industry at all. Ian stayed quiet, his head lowered. He didn¡¯t hear Ynda¡¯s answer, but he could tell she hadn¡¯t seen any of those shows. Megan gasped dramatically, ¡°Oh my God, you haven¡¯t even been watching TV or movies? Ynda, didn¡¯t you study this in college? How could you give it all up after getting married? ¡°Your husband must really love you to let you give up something you¡¯re so passionate about.¡± Ynda gripped the steering wheel tighter. She felt helpless, her heart heavy, not knowing what to say. They stopped at a red light, and just as she was about to change the subject, another car pulled up beside hers. Through the half¨Clowered window, she saw Charles with Sophie. Sophie sat on Charles¡¯sp, tilting her head to say something while stubbornly leaning in to C Titan 5 hapter 5 Chapter 5 77 55 vouchers After everyone got out of the car, Megan noticed Ynda was staying fairly calm and tried tofort her. ¡°At least you still have money. Men really are no good.¡± Yndaughed suddenly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Ian¡¯s still here.¡± Content originallyes from Find_Novel(. Megan quickened her pace and swiped her card to enter the apartment. ¡°Ian doesn¡¯t count. He¡¯s two years younger than you, still an innocent kid, doesn¡¯t understand all the messy stuff in a marriage.¡± Megan was twenty¨Cseven and had married young too. While pressing the elevator button, sheined to Ynda, ¡°Most men can¡¯t resist cheating once they have some money. I thought your husband might be different, since you¡¯ve known him so long. And he¡¯s never been short of women, right?¡± Ynda cleared her throat. ¡°Megan, let¡¯s not talk about that.¡± Even though Ian was younger, he was still a man. And he was at an age where he could still have romantic illusions¨CYnda didn¡¯t want to poison that. Megan zipped her lips and opened her apartment door. The ce was about 800 square feet, fairly clean. In pricey Beloris, the rent wasn¡¯t cheap either. Ynda, used to taking care of everything as a full¨Ctime housewife for the past two years, patted the seat next to her and looked at Ian. ¡°Take a seat,¡± she said. He paused for a few seconds before slowly sitting down. Megan brought them coffee, her eyes shining. ¡°Ynda, so now that love¡¯s gone, you¡¯re focusing on your career? When we first set up this studio, it was so impressive. Several directors even promoted us on Twitter,¡± The more she spoke, the more regretful she sounded. After finishing her coffee in one gulp, she continued, ¡°Look atn¨Cso young, so talented, and he wasted two years under my watch. I feel guilty just thinking about it.¡± Jan still wore his cap, hair tucked underneath, hiding most of his expression. Ynda knew she owed Megan an apology. She had promised to fight in the entertainment industry, but had turned around and gotten married instead. She took a deep breath and leaned forward to pour coffee for Megan. But she wasn¡¯t used to the height of this coffee table, and the pot nearly slipped from her hands. At that moment, Ian¡¯s hand reached out from the side and steadied her wrist. Ynda was a little surprised and looked at him. 55 vouchers Ian nced up at her, a sh ofplicated emotion passing quickly through his eyes. Then he withdrew his hand. ¡°Sorry.¡± Ynda shook her head and refilled Megan¡¯s cup. ¡°You¡¯re right. My love is gone, so I want to focus on my career again. I have some money, and I can reach out to the directors we worked with before. Time to sign some new talents.¡± ¡°New talents? What about Ian?¡± Megan asked. ¡°Ynda, I¡¯ll warn you¨Cthese past two years, Ian has been holding up the studio. We can¡¯t betray him. He stayed when the studio was at its worst.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be his manager,¡± Ynda said. Ian froze for a moment, then turned to look at her. Ynda smiled. ¡°So we¡¯ll be working closely from now on.¡± Megan almost jumped for joy. ¡°Great. You know more people than I do, and doesn¡¯t Charles have an entertainmentpany under him? You could totally divert some resources to Ian, right?¡± She spoke with conviction. ¡°Better than letting Charles give his resources to his little mistress.¡± Ynda couldn¡¯t help butugh dryly. She rubbed the cup in her hands. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me I¡¯d do the same. Until I finalize my divorce, I¡¯ll try to make up for the losses of these past two years.¡± ¡°Ynda, are you going to get a divorce?¡± Megan asked. She nced at Ian when she asked, then added, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you still can¡¯t let go of Charles. Men cheat either zero times or countless times. He sleeps with someone else and stilles to sleep with you¨Cdon¡¯t you feel disgusted?¡± Ynda¡¯s fingers trembled slightly. Megan¡¯s words were crude, but they were the truth. Even lying in the same bed as Charlesst night, she had felt a bit off. She leaned back and took a slow, deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to cling to a failed marriage forever, but the Grant family and the Sinir family are tightly connected in business. I can¡¯t get divorced right away. ¡°But this works too. At least I can rely on these two families to build some capital for myself first.¡± : 55 vouchers That way, she wouldn¡¯t end up on the streets with nothing after a divorce. Megan quickly grabbed a few bottles of wine from the fridge. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll maken a top star someday. Come on, Ynda, I hope you get your divorce soon. Cheers!¡± Ynda rarely drank. The first rule in the Grant family was that women should be gentle and considerate, staying away from alcohol, which could easily cloud one¡¯s thoughts. Megan seemed to notice Ynda¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of living like this? So many rules from the Grant family, and I don¡¯t see you being that happy either.¡± Ynda was provoked by this and reached for a bottle to open it. Just then, Ian¡¯s hand reached out. ¡°Let me do it.¡± He opened the bottle effortlessly. Ynda looked at his profile and smiled faintly. ¡°Ian, you really look young, like a college kid.¡± Ian, pouring the wine, lowered hisshes and said, ¡°You¡¯re not old either.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t reply. Her rtionship with Charles had left her feeling battered and hollow. She had spent her whole life learning endless rules, never experiencing the vibrant youth of her peers¡ªof course she wasn¡¯t untouched by age. Beneath her appearancey a weary, numb soul. She didn¡¯t know how much she had drunk. By the end, she simply copsed on the table and fell asleep. Megan was drunk too. She yawned, staggering to her feet. ¡°Ian, could you carry Ynda to the sofa? I¡¯m dizzy and need to lie down inside.¡± Suddenly, only Ian and Ynda were left. He hesitated for a few seconds, then lifted Ynda andid her gently on the sofa. He pulled a nearby nket over her. He didn¡¯t sit on the sofa. Instead, he sat on the floor, staring at her face for a few seconds before lowering his head and quietly looking at his hands, Titan 6 hapter 6 At ten o¡¯clock that night, Charles arrived home. He had expected Ynda to be waiting for him in the living room. That was how it had been for the past two years. But tonight, she wasn¡¯t there. He tossed his coat to a nearby maid. The maid¡¯s sharp eyes caught the lipstick marks on the coat. Hastily, they covered it up, pretending not to notice. Everyone in the mansion knew Charles had a mistress, but no one dared to mention it aloud. ¡°Where¡¯s Ynda?¡± Charles asked. ¡°Mrs. Sinir hasn¡¯t returned since she went out this afternoon,¡± the maid replied. Charles nodded. Just as he was about to go upstairs, the living room door opened. Ynda hade back. Her hair was a little messy. She bent down to change her shoes, showing off her long legs. Charles noticed the faint flush on her cheeks from drinking and frowned. ¡°You drank?¡± This had never happened before. The Grant family didn¡¯t teach women to drink outside; if they drank, it was always in front of their husbands. Ynda was sober by now. When she saw the time, she felt a little panicked. Her ingrained schedule made her drive back quickly, but at the doorstep, she found it funny. Whether she came home early orte, no one really cared. She passed by Charles, and he caught the faint scent of alcohol on her. He reached out and pulled her close. ¡°Drinking your troubles away?¡± he joked. ¡°Is there anything bothering you that you can¡¯t tell me?¡± Charles always spoke so casually. He wasn¡¯t heartless toward Ynda, but he never took initiative either. Even with his affairs, he made sure she retained her dignity. Both of them had been raised in prominent families and knew some things shouldn¡¯t be exposed. Ynda thought this was good. At leastter, when she went elsewhere for resources, people would give her respect knowing she was Charles¡¯s wife. She pushed Charles away. ¡°It¡¯s about the studio.¡± 77 55 vouchers She didn¡¯t really need to; he let go automatically. He wasn¡¯t fond of touching her. Thest time they were intimate had been two months ago. Ynda had a perfect face, both innocent and seductive, but her personality was rigid. In the industry, there were plenty of women trained by their families to follow the rules, and Charles was long bored of them. ¡°Your little studio hasn¡¯t copsed yet?¡± His tone was t as he walked upstairs, pulling out his phone, seemingly replying to someone. Ynda felt a pang in her chest. She followed him upstairs into the bedroom and saw a smile in his eyes as he spoke gently on the phone. No doubt¨Cit was Sophie. When he noticed her, the smile in his eyes faded slightly. He hung up and asked, ¡°Something you need?¡± Ynda tucked her hair behind her ear and spoke softly, ¡°Starlight Entertainment under Sinir Group¨CI want to pull some resources from it.¡± Charles held his phone, his gaze on her. Ynda rarely made requests. Now, her expression was a little awkward, but she looked more alive than usual. For some reason, he smiled. ¡°Alright. Just don¡¯t get too greedy.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, then turned to grab clothes from the closet to shower. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, kissing her neck. ¡°Being so polite tonight? Shouldn¡¯t asking for this stuff be normal?¡± Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but the next second, she caught the scent of another woman¡¯s perfume on him. Charles had never been stingy with sweet talk; charming women was as easy for him as ying with a dog. Ynda should have seen through it long ago. At that moment, Charles¡¯s phone rang again, the screen shing Sophie¡¯s name. Ynda saw it, but pretended not to. Charles kissed her on the cheek. ¡°It¡¯s work. I need to head out for some overtime.¡± She said nothing, lowering her head as she stepped toward the bathroom. Probably fearing he might change his mind, she repeated, ¡°Tomorrow I want to meet a few directors from Starlight Entertainment.¡± Charles didn¡¯t stop. To him, it was all trivial. Sinir Group was a hugepany, and Starlight Entertainment was just a tiny, tiny division. ¡°No problem,¡± he said. ¡°Just don¡¯t hook up with young actors like other women do.¡± After saying this, he seemed to realize something. After all, he himself was exactly that kind of person. He thought women in bed should at least be a little passionate to be fun. With a faint chuckle, he added, ¡°Though sometimes the younger ones are more energetic- you could try it too.¡± His jokes were always like this¨Chalf¨Csmiling, half¨Cderisive,pletely humiliating Ynda¡¯s feelings. He knew full well that women from the Grant family never cheated. Once Charles left, Ynda grabbed her phone and contacted a director at Starlight Entertainment named Sean Anderson. ¡°Mr. Anderson, it¡¯s me, Tessa Gilbert.¡± This content belongs to find(?)ovel Tessa Gilbert was a stage name Ynda had used before. Because the Grant family had so many rules, she had prepared this name when she decided to team up with Megan in the entertainment industry. Directors who knew her real identity were careful not to say anything indiscreet. ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯d like to bring someone for an audition,¡± she continued on the call. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± After hanging up, she looked out the window and took a deep breath. Ynda had known Charles for fifteen years and was intimately familiar with everything about him. To leave himpletely would be excruciating. She could pretend to be oblivious and continue living as a titled socialite, but she would despise herself for it. She asked Megan for Ian¡¯s contact information and tried to add him on WhatsApp. Ian initially refused. Realizing she had forgotten to say who she was, she sent the request again: n, it¡¯s Ynda.] This time, he epted. ¡­ 77 55 vouchers Ynda: [Tomorrow,e with me to meet a director. He¡¯s casting a supporting male role.] Ian: [Okay.] Looking at his brief reply, Ynda thought Ian was handsome but far too cold in temperament. : 77 ET 55 vouchers Titan 7 : 77 ET 55 vouchers Charles sat with Sophie by his side, surrounded by a few of his friends. He had already introduced Sophie to them before, though none of them had ever mentioned it to Ynda. Sophie had the kind of face that looked like everyone¡¯s first crush. Clinging to Charles¡¯s arm, her voice was sweet. ¡°Charles, I¡¯ve got an audition tomorrow, and I¡¯m a little nervous. Will you stay with me tonight?¡± she said, locking her gaze on him. Back when he first started liking her, he had told her he loved her eyes¨Cthey were bright and beautiful. So Sophie knew just how to use that trick to keep him hooked. Charles smiled and peeled a grape for her himself. For a rich young man like him, who had always had everything done for him, he had never taken care of anyone. That small gesture made Sophie feel a rush of satisfaction she had never felt before. Blushing, she threw herself into his arms. ¡°Please?¡± Just as the words left her lips, his phone rang. The screen shed with the name saved as¡ª Honey. The smile in his eyes faded slightly. He slipped the grape into Sophie¡¯s mouth, then left his hand there, slowly tracing along her lips. Sophie¡¯s face burned as her heartbeat raced. Coupled with Charles¡¯s handsome looks, it was impossible for her not to be enchanted. Charles just had that kind of charm that drew women
  1. in.
He answered the call, his tone t. ¡°What is it?¡± Ynda was standing by the nightstand in their bedroom. She couldn¡¯t find her business card and vaguely remembered Charles had put it away. As the head of her own studio, she needed that card for all the uing contracts. ¡°Where did you put my business card?¡± she asked. ¡°Ask the maid. How would I remember something like that?¡± Charles replied. Ynda knew better than to expect anything from him. Taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°Fine.¡± Charles chuckled, his hand still brushing against Sophie¡¯s lips as he gave her a teasing look. ¡°You don¡¯t really want your business card¨Cyou just want to know what I¡¯m doing, don¡¯t you?¡± 77 55 vouchers Half¨Ctruths always hit the hardest. Ynda said nothing. Charles had too many tricks, and she never knew how to fight back. But luckily, she caught Sophie¡¯s voice on the other end of the call. Reality had a way of pping her awake just when she was about to soften toward Charles. Hershes lowered. ¡°No. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Charles ended the call, only to feel Sophie sink onto hisp. ¡°Charles, then don¡¯t go back tonight, okay?¡± Charles nced at the three men across from him, his closest friends. They were already used to his situation. Max Shaw let out a quietugh. ¡°It¡¯s only halfway through the month, and Charles has already spent ten nights with you. His wife must be heartbroken.¡± Sophie blushed hard. She buried her face against Charles¡¯s chest, her heart pounding wildly. Charles was handsome, and he always looked at her with deep affection, whispering sweet words. Naturally, Sophie loved him. She wanted him to divorce Ynda soon and be with her instead. But she had to keep that urge under control¨Cpushing Charles too hard would only backfire. Sophie was an actress, so it wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t met rich men before. Butpared with the people sitting in front of her now, those men she used to know were nothing but upstarts. Charles and his friends came from real aristocratic families, each with powerful backgrounds. Sure, there were plenty of rich kids in the industry, but these few were at the very center of power. Sophie had made up her mind to win Charles¡¯s heart and kick Ynda out of the picture. Charles tilted his head and brushed a kiss against Sophie¡¯s cheek. ¡°Babe, you should head back first. I¡¯ve got something tonight.¡± Sophie felt a little unwilling, but she knew she had to listen. She held his face in her hands, kissing him for several long minutes before finally getting up to leave. The moment she was gone, Max couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°You keep this up, Ynda¡¯s bound to find out.¡± Before Charles could reply, Quinn Cooper cut in. ¡°If he dares do it, it means he¡¯s not afraid of being found out. 55 vouchers ¡°But Charles, hasn¡¯t Ynda loved you for over ten years? Back when she was adopted by the Grant family, you always went to hang out with her. No matter what, she¡¯s still our childhood friend¨Cyou shouldn¡¯t go too far.¡± Charles leaned back, fingers sliding over the rim of his ss, speaking carelessly. ¡°I told her clearly when we got married¨CI don¡¯t love her.¡± Quinn lifted his ss, took a sip. ¡°Everyone knows who you really love. Sophie¡¯s eyes do look a lot like hers. Ynda¡¯s gorgeous, though. How did she end up stuck with you?¡± Max chimed in, ¡°Bad luck. One look at Charles, and that was it¨Cruined for life. Ynda¡¯s not escaping that.¡± Quinn chuckled. ¡°Well, not necessarily. Maybe one day she¡¯ll wise up and keep a lover of her own, just like Charles.¡± Charles undid a button on his shirt, closed his eyes, and smiled faintly. ¡°Ynda was raised by the Grant family to be a house wife. She can¡¯t live without me.¡± No one else spoke, clearly agreeing with him. Everyone knew the Grant family had adopted Ynda for one purpose¨Cmarriage ties. She was lucky to be with Charles. Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel Ynda woke up in the middle of the night, feeling unwell. She touched her forehead. It must¡¯ve been all the stress piling up these past few days¨Cshe had a fever. Forcing herself up, she tried to go downstairs to find some fever medicine. The maid heard the noise and turned on a wallmp. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, what are you looking for?¡± I¡¯m looking for some fever medicine. I think I¡¯ve got a fever.¡± Ynda leaned against the side table, her head spinning. ¡°I¡¯ll find it for you. Just sit down, I¡¯ll bring you some water,¡± the maid hurried over. ¡°Thank you, Ynda said. She had always been kind to the maid, never putting on airs. The Grant family might have had a lot of strict rules, but Ynda had truly been raised as the perfect societydy. She held her head, her shoulders rising and falling, feeling so sick she wanted to throw up. In the dim light of the hall, her phone rang. : 77 55 vouchers Still groggy, she answered and put it on speaker. A woman¡¯s voice came through right away. ¡°Charles. I¡¯ve got an interview tomorrow, I really can¡¯t tonight. ¡°Charles¡­¡± Ynda¡¯s face instantly went pale. Her fingers trembled as she tried to hang up, but her vision was so blurred she missed the button. The maid stood by with the medicine, not daring to say a word. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, m¨Cmaybe they dialed the wrong number¡­¡± the maid tried to cover for Charles. After all, Charles was the one signing their paychecks. Ynda was just a housewife. If it ever came down to a divorcewsuit, she¡¯d be at a huge disadvantage. The thought made her smile bitterly, and her mind cleared a little. She took the fever medicine from the maid, swallowed it dry without water. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Charles about this,¡± she told the maid. A glint of disdain shed in the maid¡¯s eyes. She figured Ynda would just pretend she didn¡¯t know about Charles¡¯s affair. ¡®Well, of course¨CMr. Sinir gives Mrs. Sinir 60 thousand dors a month. Of course she¡¯d turn a blind eye,¡® she thought. ¡°I won¡¯t say a word in front of Mr. Sinir,¡± the maid replied. AD Titan 8 ¡­ : 77 55 vouchers The next day, Ynda got up carly. She had run a fever all night, and it felt like the heat had drained every drop of water from her body. Forcing herself, she went straight to the studio. But someone was earlier than her. Ian was facing the wall, practicing the lines for the second male lead in this audition. His voice was unique¨Cnot themon deep male voice, but with a cold undertone, like a cool breeze brushing through the woods. He had a great build, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even the casual curve of his arm holding the script revealed neat, defined muscles, but not overly bulky. That bit of freshness was exactly what girls these days liked best. Ynda had majored in film in college. When she heard Ian recite another line, she couldn¡¯t help correcting him, ¡°The stress on thest line isn¡¯t quite right.¡± Ian froze, hisshes lowering. She walked closer and nced at the script in his hand. His fingers were long and well¨Cboned, carrying a faint tension. ¡°You¡¯ve already started practicing?¡± Ynda smiled. ¡°Ian, with how hard you work, you¡¯ll definitely be a big star someday.¡± Ian repeated the line. ¡°Like this?¡± She nodded, then looked at her phone. ¡°Time to go. Let¡¯s head out.¡± Jan pulled his cap on and obediently followed behind her. Halfway down the road, he turned to look out the window. ¡°Wait for me a few minutes.¡± Ynda thought he was just going to grab a pack of cigarettes or something, so she pulled over. ¡°Make it quick.¡± Jan got out of the car. He was tall, and even with a cap on, his back alone looked like it belonged on a runway model. Ynda didn¡¯t watch him. Instead, she shut her eyes, trying to ease the pounding in her head and the ache behind her eyes. Her phone rang just then. The screen lit up with the contact name ¡°Honey.¡± 77 E55 vouchers She answered, and Charles¡¯s casual voice came through the line. ¡°When I got home this morning, the maid said you had a feverst night.¡± Charles hadn¡¯te backst night, saying he was workingte. Over the past two years, he¡¯d used that excuse plenty of times. Ynda had believed him time¨Cuntil that text shattered her illusion. every ¡°Yeah, the fever¡¯s gone now,¡± she said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡± Charles asked. In the past, whenever she felt unwell, she would call him. Even if his assistant answered instead, at least Charles would respond eventually. The problem was, he always acted concerned only after she was almost recovered. Ynda used to be moved by his concern countless times, but now she saw it clearly. His care was just lip service, all part of the act. With her head still aching, she lost her patience. ¡°Charles, is there anything else?¡± In the past two years, she had almost never spoken to him in that impatient tone. Charles frowned, his fingers tapping lightly on the heavy desk. He heard the sound of a car door opening on the other end and sensed that someone was with Ynda. Ynda had been a housewife for two years now, almostpletely cut off from her old circle. ¡°Is someone with you?¡± Charles asked. ¡°It¡¯s a studio talent,¡± Ynda said. Ynda used to be gentle, even when she called to act sweet. But in the past two days, her tone had turned strangely cold. Last night, Charles didn¡¯te home. What surprised him was that she hadn¡¯t called once. He figured she was still sulking. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to y along and simply hung up. Looking at the disconnected call, Ynda gave a faint, bitter smile. She had once thought Charles was a kind man, but now she realized it was just an image he carefully packaged. After all, a stable marriage was good for thepany¡¯s stock. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Beside her,n took off his cap and handed her a cup of cold medicine he had just prepared. The bittersweet smell drifted up, and she slowly opened her eyes. 77 55 vouchers He only looked at her for a few seconds before turning his head away, his handsome face shadowed with something unreadable. ¡°Drink it.¡± She didn¡¯t refuse. Just as she finished the medicine, he handed her a cup of hot chocte. Ynda gave a small smile, her voice slightly hoarse. ¡°Thanks.¡± Ian didn¡¯t say anything, just quietly tossed the empty cup into a trash bag. Gripping the wheel, Ynda stepped on the gas. The warm, sweet taste of hot chocte made her feel a little better. ¡°Ian, aren¡¯t you a trained actor?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ian said. ¡°I¡¯ll help you with your lines from now on,¡± Ynda said. ¡°You¡¯ve got the look, and your acting isn¡¯t bad. I watched the shows you were inst night¨Cyou¡¯ve got real talent.¡± She hadn¡¯t been able to sleep, so she got up and watched every clip of the characters Ian had yed. Ian held the trash bag and stared out the window, lost in thought. An hourter, Ynda¡¯s car pulled up in front of Starlight Entertainment. For Sinir Group, it was just a small division, but in the industry, Starlight was a solidpany. The night before, Ynda had even made her own business card. She designed theyout herself, with no real name on it¨Cjust the stage name, Tessa Gilbert. Updates are released by f?ndnovel The staff who came to greet her smiled as they led the way. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, this way please.¡± Ynda noticed the air felt a bit tense, so she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did some big shote by?¡± The staff looked full of admiration. ¡°Mr. Sinir just came to inspect. He should be upstairs now.¡± Ynda froze. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Charles would suddenlye to such a smallpany for an inspection. She nced toward the end of the hallway and saw Sophie. In an instant, she understood everything. A sharp sting shot through her chest. 77 55 vouchers Just then, Sophie reached the stairwell at the corner. Ynda saw a slender hand reach out, passing Sophie a bottle of water. Ynda recognized that hand right away¨Cit was Charles¡¯s. She was already surprised enough that Charles would bother toe check out this littlepany. She hadn¡¯t expected him to actually make time toe and keep Sophiepany for her interview. Sophie lifted her chin, like some spoiled little bird. She took the water, her eyes sparkling as she chattered to Charles. Charles ruffled her hair, overflowing with affection. Ynda still couldn¡¯t believe he was willing to put work aside and lower himself toe here. For the past two years, Charles had always told her that work came first. So she had always been considerate, swallowing her grievances for the sake of his career. Ynda took a deep breath, tore her eyes away from Charles and Sophie, calmed herself, and pushed the door open. An unfaithful man was as disgusting as a piece of gum that had been chewed for too long. And hers had even been chewed by someone else. AD Comment Titan 9 Sean stood up the moment he saw Ynda. ¡°It¡¯s been two years since youst reached out. I thought maybe Charles didn¡¯t approve, and you¡¯d decided to quit showbiz altogether.¡± Ynda shook his hand gracefully. ¡°Charles is tied up with work¨Che doesn¡¯t interfere in my business. Sean, this is my studio¡¯s talent, Ian Foster. Can we have him goter?¡± Ian had two million followers on Twitter. People were talking about him, but he was still basically D¨Clist. Sean patted her shoulder, then looked at Ian. ¡°Well, since you put it that way, how could I not give you some face? Grab a seat. The audition for the second male lead¡¯s about to start.¡± Even if the role was pre¨Cdecided, they still had to go through the motions. Ynda looked at Ian and gently reminded him, ¡°Go ahead. When it¡¯s your turn, Sean will call your name.¡± Ian nodded and slowly walked over. After Ynda sat down in front of Sean, he let out a sigh. ¡°If you¡¯d been working these past two years, you¡¯d definitely be a top agent by now. I¡¯ve seen this kid in dramas¨Che¡¯s talented. You really hit the jackpot with him.¡± Ynda was dressed simply today, but her looks were stunning enough that even without makeup, people couldn¡¯t take their eyes off her. She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s never toote as long as you¡¯re willing.¡± Sean raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve changed. Would¡¯ve been great if it had always been like this.¡± The auditions for the female lead started first. After all the candidates had performed, one person was still missing. Sean frowned and called out, ¡°Who¡¯ste?¡± Ynda guessed it was Sophie. Afraid of running into Charles, she stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some fresh air,¡± She nned toe back after Sophie finished her scene, ¡°Don¡¯t go too far,¡± Sean reminded her. Ynda grabbed a bottle of water from nearby and walked into the hallway. She let out a sigh of relief. But as she passed the restroom, a moan caught her attention. ¡­ : 77 55 vouchers ¡°Charles, it¡¯s really my turn to audition. If I¡¯mte, the director will scold me. Please, just stop it¡­¡± Sophie¡¯s voice came from inside the restroom. Though she was telling Charles to stop, her legs were still wrapped around his waist. Through the slightly open restroom door, Ynda could even see the seductive glint in Sophie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Charles, you said the Sinir family is strict, but you seem pretty skilled. Who taught you?¡± Sophie teased. Charles chuckled and lifted her chin, moving with practiced ease. ¡°And you, baby, where did you learn all this?¡± ¡°I just want to keep you tied down a little, so you don¡¯t go home,¡± Sophie hummed. Ynda¡¯s face turned ashen, and her heart felt like it was being cut into pieces. She stepped back, only to feel someone cover her eyes. A voice whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t look. They¡¯re disgusting.¡± The water bottle in Ynda¡¯s hand slipped to the floor. Sophie, startled, looked up and saw someone outside. She quickly pushed at Charles. ¡°Someone¡¯s there.¡± Charles released Sophie. As he turned, all he saw was the half¨Cempty water bottle on the floor. He straightened the folds of his clothes with deliberate care. In reality, he and Sophie hadn¡¯t done much¨Cjust a little flirting. He wasn¡¯t sure if the person outside had taken photos, and he couldn¡¯t let a scandal leak. After leaving the restroom, Charles called his assistant. ¡°Check the surveince.¡± He wanted to know who had been standing outside¨Cand make sure that person stayed quiet, so Ynda wouldn¡¯t find out. Sophie straightened her clothes. She had apparently seen Ynda entering the audition room earlier and guessed she was here to audition too. ¡°Charles, leave this to me,¡± Sophie said. ¡°I know who was outside just now. I¡¯ll make sure she doesn¡¯t say anything.¡± Charles, at that moment, returned to his aloof, high¨Cand¨Cmighty demeanor. He pinched her cheek. ¡°Focus on your work.¡± ¡°Got it. I won¡¯t embarrass you,¡± Sophie said. ¡°Go wait outside. I¡¯ll get this over with, then we can have dinner together.¡± 77 55 vouchers He chuckled lightly and nced at the watch on his wrist. It was the one Ynda had given him¨Ca gift that had hit the right spot in his heart, so he¡¯d worn it ever since. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for only half an hour,¡± Charles said. ¡°Why so heartless?¡± Sophie pretended to be sad. They flirted casually, as if no one else existed, until Charles was escorted out amidst his entourage. Only then did Sophie lift her chin and enter the audition room. She saw Ynda and immediately recognized her as the woman who had been standing outside the restroom earlier. Ynda looked pale, but undeniably beautiful. Sean, seeing that Sophie had only just arrived, was a little impatient. He was about to usher her out when someone ran over to remind him, ¡°Sean, she¡¯s sent by Mr. Sinir.¡± Sean furrowed his brow, wondering what Charles¡¯s rtionship with Sophie could be. After all, Ynda was still sitting there. Ynda anticipated what Sean was thinking and politely said, ¡°I¡¯ve never involved myself in Charles¡¯s affairs.¡± Besides, Sophie had Charlespletely wrapped around her finger in the bedroom. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find1Novel Sophie sweetly introduced herself and began her performance. But her acting was a disaster. By the end, she probably realized how embarrassing it was and couldn¡¯t help tearing up. She¡¯d been kept up toote by Charles the night before and had forgotten her lines. This was far below her usual level. She quickly turned to Sean, pouting, ¡°Mr. Anderson, I was with my boyfriendst night and got dyed. I really didn¡¯t mean to forget my lines. I¡¯ll memorize them properly next time.¡± Then she nced at Ynda, a flicker of triumph crossing her eyes, before adding a threat, ¡°By the way, if you dare tell anyone what you saw outside, you¡¯ll be responsible for the consequences.¡± She had intended to say it politely, but Ynda was too beautiful¨Cit sparked jealousy in her. No one liked to be outshone, especially in the entertainment industry, where looks often mattered more than anything else. Seeing Ynda stay silent, Sophie got even angrier. ¡°Did you hear me? I don¡¯t care who you are¨Cyou can¡¯t mess with my backer.¡± Sean, already in a bad mood, snapped back, ¡°Who she is has nothing to do with you. Don¡¯t waste my time with the other auditions.¡± : 77 55 vouchers Sophie, used to being pampered wherever she went, nearly burst into tears at Sean¡¯s harsh tone. Her manager quickly handed over some tissues. ¡°Mr. Anderson, Sophie really did work too hardst night. Sorry for causing any trouble. Sophie,e on¨Cgo call Mr. Sinir.¡± Sophie¡¯s manager, who had never lost out since working with Sophie, knew better than to make a scene when so many people were around. Sophie shot Ynda a re before the manager pulled her aside. Ynda watched as Sophie made the call. Charles was probably on the other end, coaxing her just enough to make her beam with happiness. Finally, Ynda understood why Charles spoiled Sophie so much. When Sophie smiled, her eyes were strikingly simr to the woman Charles couldn¡¯t have¡ª those same lively, irresistible eyes. And just that resemnce alone was enough to throw him off bnce. AD Titan 10 Chapter 10 But none of that had anything to do with Ynda anymore. ??)) 76 55 vouchers She pushed down all the emotions swirling inside her and focused on the audition in front of her. Sean suddenly asked, ¡°I heard Mr. Sinir came by today too. Does he know you broughtn for the audition?¡± Even though Sean was on good terms with Ynda, if Charles really didn¡¯t approve of her actions, Sean could be held ountable for letting her in. The Sinir family was huge and powerful¨CSean didn¡¯t dare offend them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sean,¡± Ynda said. ¡°I already told him.¡± Sean let out a sigh of relief. He nced at Sophie, still crying and whining not far away, and couldn¡¯t help but tell Ynda, ¡°You¡¯re ten thousand times better than her.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t feel proud of being better than Sophie¨Cshe felt ashamed. Sophie was short- sighted, sending private photos to men in the middle of the night, relying on men to climb thedder. But then Ynda reminded herself that, in the eyes of others, she was also a woman living off Charles¨Conly no one would ever say it out loud. ?????? ???? Find¡ïNovel Women without careers were looked down on everywhere. Ynda realized how utterly foolish it had been to dedicate herself entirely to being a housewife two years ago. Her chest tightened, and Sophie was close enough that Ynda could hear every single coaxing word on the phone. So she stood up and said, ¡°Sean, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± She had just said it when Charles, surrounded by people, appeared at the doorway¡ªbut he didn¡¯t see her. Sophie¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw Charles. ¡°Charles!¡± She ran over, looping her arm through his, pride written all over her face, Charles genuinely spoiled her, evening here just to see Sean for her. Sophie thought of Ynda and felt upset. She had just asked around and learned that Ynda was an agent, bringing an actor to audition for the second male lead, A smirk curved on her lips, and she teased Charles, ¡°Charles, can I pick the second male lead myself?¡± 11:30 Wed, Sep 10 76 55 vouchers Charles raised an eyebrow, looking at her animated expression. She reminded him of the early days of Ynda. ¡°Why all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I just want to,¡± Sophie said. ¡°Come on, say yes. Didn¡¯t you say, as long as it¡¯s not a big deal, I can make the call?¡± He chuckled lightly, and Sean quickly stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Sinir.¡± Sean had expected Charles to be there for Ynda¨Che never imagined he¡¯d be flirting with Sophie while Ynda was still in the room. Charles gently pushed Sophie away, his tone a little careless. ¡°Just let Sophie pick the second male lead.¡± Sean wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Mr. Sinir, but today Mrs. Sinir-¡± He didn¡¯t get to finish before Sophie cut in again. ¡°Oh, Charles, I already found the woman who was spying on us earlier. She knows Sean. I warned her already.¡± Charles¡¯s gaze flickered, somethingplicated shing in his eyes. Sean frowned, and instantly thought of Ynda. He turned back to nce at her, still sitting quietly inside. He remembered that Ynda had stepped out for a bit earlier, and when she came back her face looked pale. It hit him¡ªshe must¡¯ve seen Charles and Sophie together. ¡®Does Mr. Sinir not realize the one who caught him with Sophie was Mrs. Sinir herself?¡® Sean thought, but he didn¡¯t dare say it out loud. ¡°Sean, is there a problem?¡± Charles asked. His presence was so overwhelming, the questionnded in Sean¡¯s chest like a hammer blow. From where Charles stood, he couldn¡¯t see Ynda. Sean hesitated, then thought of Ynda¡¯s calm, detached expression. With a sigh, he said, ¡°No, whatever you say.¡± Charles gave a slight nod, then as if remembering something, added, ¡°Ynda will be here soon. If you¡¯ve got a suitable role, give it to her.¡± Sean nced at Sophie, then finally asked, ¡°Am I supposed to listen to Ms. Sutton, or to Mrs. Sinir?¡± Before Charles could answer, Sophie leaned on his arm, pouting sweetly. ¡°Charles¡­¡± Charles chuckled, indulgent. He figured even if Sophie wanted to take something, she¡¯d never : take it away from Ynda. So he said, ¡°Give Sophie first pick.¡± Sean kept quiet, but his eyes darted to Ynda. 76 55 vouchers She didn¡¯t look their way. She was busy telling Ian what to watch out for, as if the noise at the door had nothing to do with her. The audition for the second male lead was about to start. Sean went back to his seat with a sigh. ¡°Tessa, you and Mr. Sinir, are you¡ª¡± ¡°Sean, let¡¯s start the auditions,¡± Ynda cut in, her voice even calmer. Sean remembered two years ago, the joy on her face when she told him she was getting married. Back then, he wanted to warn her¨CCharles had mistresses, and not just one. But she was too proper, too naive, thinking her love for Charles could conquer everything. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin,¡± Sean said. All the actors who came to audition for the second male lead were ready. Even though Ian was basically locked in, to be fair, he was by far the best among them. Ynda was pleased with his performance. Her eyes were full of admiration. Sean was satisfied, too. He let out a sigh of relief and was about to announce the result when Sophie suddenly stood up. Her chin lifted slightly, and all the lip gloss she¡¯d put on had been wiped clean by Charles¡¯s kiss. ¡°Mr. Anderson, I don¡¯t want this man as the second male lead,¡± she said to Sean. ¡°I want that one.¡± She casually pointed to one of the actors who had just auditioned for the role. The man she pointed at stood up in disbelief, shocked by his sudden stroke of luck. It was obvious to everyone that Sophie had connections. If she picked someone, maybe he really could get the role. Ynda¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. She said softly, n did really well, and this role suits him.¡± Sophie folded her arms and raised her brows. ¡°Did he really? I didn¡¯t feel it. ¡°Lady, do you even know who¡¯s backing me? Whoever I want as the second male lead gets the role. My boyfriend¡¯s power is no joke.¡± She acted all sweet and coy in front of Charles, but in front of everyone else, she was as arrogant as could be. : Sean finally lost some patience. ¡°And do you know who she is?¡± 76 55 vouchers Ynda lowered her eyes. If she openlypeted with Sophie, the winner and loser would depend on Charles¡¯s stance¡ªand it was clear he was siding with Sophie. There was no need for her to humiliate herself. So Ynda smiled. ¡°Ms. Sutton, I don¡¯t know who your boyfriend is, but if you mean that man in the restroom, I remember he¡¯s married, isn¡¯t he? ¡°These days, even homewreckers act so brazen? Ms. Sutton, you¡¯re still young. If this ever gets out, your future would be ruined. So keeping a low profile might be wiser.¡± Sophie¡¯s face instantly turned pale. Her rtionship with Charles did need to be kept secret. ¡°I¡¯m warning you,¡± she said to Ynda. ¡°If you dare run your mouth, not only the actor under your care but you yourself won¡¯t survive in Beloris!¡± In truth, she actually hoped Ynda would be stupid enough to spread it around. She¡¯d heard Charles¡¯s wife was stiff and boring, unloved by Charles, yet shamelessly refused to divorce him. Sophie nced at Sean and rolled her eyes. ¡°My boyfriend already warned Sean to listen to me. Even in front of his wife, Sean has to back me first. ¡°The real homewrecker is the one who isn¡¯t loved. My boyfriend¡¯s wife is just a prop, shamelessly clinging on without divorcing. Pathetic.¡± Ynda hadn¡¯t nned to make a scene, but with Sophie insulting her this far, if she didn¡¯t fight back, she¡¯d be spineless. So she pped Sophie hard across the face. Sophie covered her cheek, stunned. ¡°How dare you?¡± Ynda took a deep breath, then smiled at Sean. ¡°Sean, I¡¯ll be takingn with me.¡± Sophie¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± She shouted, watching Ynda head for the door, and wanted to rush forward in anger. But fan, who was following behind Ynda, suddenly turned back and gave Sophie a look that froze her stiff in ce. When she snapped out of it, her face burned red with shame, Covering her face with her hands, she burst into tears and ran out. She was going straight to Charles to tattle, to make him teach Ynda andn a lesson. Titan 11 Ynda could feel Sophie¡¯s hateful gaze burning into her back, but she didn¡¯t care. 76 55 vouchers When she finally walked outside with Ian, she stopped, turned her head, and gave him a nce. He looked cool, not disappointed at all, and that somehow made her a little sad. Her forced dignity copsed for a moment, but she quickly pulled herself together. She opened the passenger door and let him get in first. He said, ¡°Thanks.¡± Ynda stepped on the gas. ¡°Starlight Entertainment just invested in two TV dramas. One¡¯s directed by Sean Anderson, the other by Zack White. Same type of show, except Zack¡¯s show only has the male lead and a supporting role left to cast. ¡°The supporting role¡¯s tricky¨Cnail it, and you¡¯ll gain fans. The male lead¡¯s already cast, and the role isn¡¯t that strong. The script was basically written to make the male lead shine. ¡°Ian, I¡¯m not going to let Charles ruin your career.¡± Sophie wasn¡¯t the type to let things go, but Ynda was ready to shield Ian from all the storms. She believed someone with Ian¡¯s talent shouldn¡¯t be wasted like this. Ian looked at her, then turned his eyes to the window, staring at the scenery outside. ¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡± His words floated in the air like they were carried by the wind. Ynda took it as him trying tofort her. Everyone in showbiz was afraid of being iced out, and with Charles¡¯s power, it would be way too easy to crush their future. At the end of the day, they were just too weak. They had to get stronger fast. The car stopped in front of a bar. Ynda got out and called Zack. She bounced back quickly, like Sophie¡¯s mess hadn¡¯t touched her at all. Zack came out himself to greet her. He looked surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t Sean say you called him?¡± ¡°Sean¡¯s not avable right now,¡± Ynda said. ¡°Mr. White, I broughtn here to meet you.¡± Zack was a little ttered by her polite attitude¨Cafter all, Ynda was Charles¡¯s wife. Chapter 11 Find the newest release on find(?)ovel :. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, I-¡± Zack started. : 76 55 vouchers ¡°Just call me Tessa. From now on,¡± Ynda said. ¡°Just let Ian audition like anyone else. If you¡¯re not interested in him, then I¡¯ll have to go ask my brother.¡± These days, anyone doing good business ended up investing in entertainment¨Cit was fast money. But if Ynda went to the Grant family for help, she¡¯d have to hide Ian. The Grant family didn¡¯t allow Ynda to get this close to another man, much less spend time alone with him. Married women had to keep their distance from strangers¨Cit was a rule carved into the family¡¯s bones. Just as Zack was about to speak, Ynda smiled and said, ¡°Mr. White, are you free now? We can talk the way we used to¨Cover drinks.¡± Zack was polite to Ynda, but the truth was, he didn¡¯t like her much. Back when she walked away from showbiz, she¡¯d broken several contracts. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he worked for Starlight Entertainment and knew who she really was, he never would¡¯vee to pick her up himself. Ynda could tell he wasn¡¯t happy about it, so she decided to give him the chance to make things hard for her. Sure enough, Zack gestured toward the bar with a stiff smile. ¡°Alright, Tessa. Let¡¯s talk over a drink.¡± As Ynda stepped forward, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw Ian following. His gaze was dark, lips pressed tight, looking anything but pleased. ¡°Wait in the car,¡± Ynda told him. ¡°I¡± Ian started, wanting to protest. ¡°From now on, I¡¯m your manager and assistant. You do what I say,¡± Ynda cut him off. ¡°You need to listen,¡± Ian froze, his head dropping. After a few seconds, he gave a small nod. Since Ynda had decided to take her career seriously, she wasn¡¯t about to give up at the first bump in the road. Especially when all these bumps were nothing more than karma¨Cher old choices for Charlesing back to bite her now. 11:31 Wed, Sep 10 ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Go wait,¡± she told him. : 76 55 vouchers Everything had to be done by the book. She wasn¡¯t going to spoil her actor like some managers did. In showbiz, fame could skyrocket overnight¨Cand crash just as fast. Ynda wanted Ian to be in it for the long haul. Inside the bar, Zack had already caught wind of what went down with Sean through the group chat. The look he gave Ynda dripped with disdain. ¡®So that was why she quit being a housewife,¡® he thought. ¡®Turns out her husband cheated.¡¯ His eyesnded on her. Ynda had a great figure¨Cslim waist, long legs¡ªand even with just a touch of makeup, her face was already stunning. Zack had been around Hollywood for years, seen more beauties than he could count, but Ynda still made his eyes light up. He smiled and had the bar manager bring over a few bottles of hard liquor on purpose. ¡°Tessa, does Ian want the lead, or just the supporting role?¡± Zack asked. Ynda frowned. Everyone knew the whole point of this drama was to push the male lead. As the director, Zack should¡¯ve known that better than anyone. But the next second, she understood what he was after. Zack suddenly ced his hand on her leg. ¡°You¡¯re way too pretty to waste yourself on that cheating husband. If you¡¯d juste around, Ian could have whatever role he wants.¡± Ynda calmly moved his hand away and gave a faint smile. ¡°Mr. White, I don¡¯t think you understand,¡± she said evenly. ¡°Charles can cheat, but I can¡¯t. If I ever did, he might spare me for the Grant family¡¯s sake, but he¡¯d definitely kill my lover.¡± Zack froze, realizing what Charles was capable of. Awkwardly, he pulled his hand back. Still, he felt irritated, thinking, ¡®What¡¯s this abandoned woman acting all high and mighty for?¡± Finally, he sneered, ¡°If you can down three bottles of this stuff, I¡¯ll let Ian take the supporting role.¡± These were high¨Cproof liquors. Three bottles would knock anyone out cold. But Ynda had known what she was walking into the moment she decided to return to the industry. 76 55 vouchers She deftly pulled some hangover pills from her bag, swallowed two, then chugged a bottle of milk. Quietly, she set her phone on the table¨Crecording had already been running. ¡°Fine,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you keep your word.¡± When Zack spotted the glowing screen and the recording symbol, his face went pale in an instant. He knew she was threatening him. If he went back on his word, news of him trying to take advantage of her would end up with Charles. And then, he¡¯d be finished¨Ccklisted from the showbiz, maybe even forced out of Beloris entirely. If he kept his word, Ynda would have paid a heavy price with those three bottles, and they could call it even. Zack couldn¡¯t help but admire her guts and cunning. He took a deep breath. ¡°Tessa, with moves like this, if you hadn¡¯t quit back then, you¡¯d probably be managing half a dozen A- listers by now.¡± Ynda let out a smallugh. ¡°I was pretty stupid back then. My studio¡¯s talents really did give you some trouble. So this drink¨Clet me toast you.¡± AD Comment Titan 12 :. 76 55 vouchers Zack didn¡¯t take the bait. He only picked up his ss after watching Ynda finish three bottles without even flinching. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cut to the chase,¡± he said. ¡°Ian can take the supporting role.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Ynda said softly, then grabbed her bag. ¡°I¡¯ll have someonee by tomorrow to sign the contract.¡± With that, she pushed the door open, steadying herself against the wall as she staggered out. Her stomach was in knots, and it was all she could do to keep herself from copsing. Just as she was about to leave, she unexpectedly ran into Sophie again. But Sophie didn¡¯t notice Ynda. The p mark on her cheek had already been covered with foundation, and right now she was bragging to her friend. ¡°Charles is spoiling me more and more. I said I wanted to go have drinks with Seanter, but he wouldn¡¯t let me. He even said he¡¯d make that bitch who hit me today apologize in person.¡± She let out a smug littleugh. Her friend said, ¡°Good thing you don¡¯t have to go. Those directors and producers are all Sometimes when they put their hands on my waist, I don¡¯t even dare push them off. pervs. ¡°Mr. Sinir really does love you. I just wonder when he¡¯s gonna get divorced. But since he¡¯s already doing this much for you, I¡¯d say it won¡¯t be long.¡± Sophie said, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s close. Last night, while he was leaving hickeys on me, he keptining his wife was boring and wouldn¡¯t let him mark her. ¡°I don¡¯t get why that woman even bothers pretending. She can¡¯t even keep her man now. Serves her right.¡± Her friend reminded her, ¡°Sophie, I heard Charles¡¯s wifees from some really powerful family. You better be careful and not go too far.¡± Sophie rolled her eyes, clearly ignoring the warning. Her head was full of nothing but how to make Ynda pay, She was hell¨Cbent on tossing Ynda to a bunch of sleazy directors and letting them have their way with her. Ynda stood there, her stomach churning even worse. She pushed open the bathroom door and leaned over the sink, throwing up. : 76 55 vouchers She looked at the lifeless woman in the mirror, her eyes rimmed red. She looked aplete mess. She quickly turned on the faucet and sshed her face hard with cold water. But the burning in her stomach didn¡¯t go away. She threw up three more times before she finally felt a little better. The women in the Grant family were never good drinkers. They were raised to be housewives, not the kind who went out drinking with business partners. The three bottles had been strong. They burned all the way down Ynda¡¯s throat into her stomach, making her miserable. She reeked of alcohol. There was no way she could go home like this. Ynda lowered hershes, holding her stomach. Suddenly, in the mirror, she saw a familiar face. Ian. She quickly pulled her hand away from her stomach, bent down, and sshed her face again before turning to him, her expression calm. ¡°I got you the supporting role,¡± she said. Ian stood there with his cap on, not moving. He wanted to reach out and steady her, but his hand froze midair. She¡¯d told him before she hated being touched. He lowered his eyes and said hoarsely, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this.¡± The bathroom had harsh overhead lighting, but even that couldn¡¯t hide how pretty Ynda looked. Her eyes were wet, and when she smiled, it was alive and bright. ¡°I told you, I¡¯ll look after you,¡± she said. ¡°Ian, you deserve this. You¡¯ve got talent, I¡¯ve got the means. We¡¯re going to make it.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. Atst, he let his hand fall forward, taking her arm to steady her. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Ynda had always kept her distance from men other than Charles. She tried hard not to lean on Jan. But the liquor hit her harder and her vision blurred. By the time they were leaving the bar, she nearly stumbled to the ground. ** Across the street stood a luxury hotel. Max had just pulled up outside and stepped out of his 11:31 Wed, Sep 10 car. : 76 55 vouchers He was here to meet a business partner. But when he looked up, he saw a tall man with a great build walking a woman out of the bar. Max froze. He knew the woman right away¨Cit was Ynda. He¡¯d known her for years through Charles¡¯s circle. He frowned, pulled out his phone, and called Charles. ¡°Charles, I think I just saw Ynda. She¡¯s with some guy, and they looked pretty close.¡± Charles was already back at the office. His fingers paused over the keyboard when he heard that. ¡°You must¡¯ve seen wrong.¡± Max thought about it and nodded to himself. That made sense. The Grant family was strict, and Ynda wasn¡¯t the type to fool around with strangers. Even after all these years of marriage, whenever she came to pick Charles up, she never even let the waiters get close. Everyone used to joke about how far she¡¯d go for Charles. Max chuckled. ¡°Maybe I did. If Ynda was really the type to do that, you wouldn¡¯t have been cheating on her for two whole years.¡± Checktest chapters at F¦Énd£Îovel Charles stared at the phone after the call ended, frowning as a thought crossed his mind. ***** Ynda felt her stomach twisting, her head aching. When she got in the car, she stumbled and banged her nose right into Ian¡¯s chest, the pain stinging all the way to her eyes. Ian settled her into the passenger seat and adjusted it to a morefortable angle. Her cheeks were flushed as she reminded him, ¡°Remember to go to Starlight tomorrow morning and sign that contract with Mr. White.¡± ¡°Got it. But first, I¡¯m taking you to get your stomach pumped,¡± Ian said. She shut her eyes, sweat breaking out all over from the pain. ¡°Sorry to trouble you.¡± At the hospital, after the procedure, Ynda¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. She leaned back against the bed, drained of all color. The doctor gave her a stern warning. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t drink so much. If it leads to a perforated stomach, the pain will be a whole lot worse.¡± ¡­ : :>)) 76 55 vouchers She forced a smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± The doctor sighed, thinking she must¡¯ve been drinking that hard because of a fight with her husband. Sitting on the bed, Ynda caught the strong reek of alcohol clinging to her. She quickly wired money to Megan, telling her to bring fresh clothes. There was no way she could go home reeking of booze again. Charles might not care, but the maids would gossip. If the Grant family caught on that she¡¯de home smelling like liquor two nights in a row, she¡¯d be in serious trouble. Megan arrived with the clothes and, seeing how pale Ynda looked, quickly guessed what had gone down. ¡°Charles is just shameless,¡± Megan snapped. ¡°He gives his mistress a top¨Ctier endorsement, but you¨Cjust for trying to get your actor a supporting role¨Cyou have to drink yourself half to death. ¡°You two have known each other fifteen years. How can he be this heartless?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t want to get into it with Ian sitting right there. She cleared her throat. ¡°Megan, that¡¯s enough.¡± Megan took a deep breath, biting down hard. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll shut up. But if you ever go soft on Charles again, I swear I¡¯m cutting ties with you. ¡°You¡¯re a rich girl for God¡¯s sake. Cooking for him every day, doing everything around the house¨Cif he had even a shred of conscience, he¡¯d never let you be treated this way.¡± Ynda rubbed her temples, her voice faint. ¡°Stop.¡± Öæ Titan 13 Chapter 13 55 vouchers Megan¡¯s eyes turned red. She held Ynda¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Ynda, I just don¡¯t think should be like this. you ¡°You don¡¯t know how jealous I was of you back in school. You were so dazzling then, proud like a little princess.¡± Ynda lowered her eyes. The truth was, she had never been proud. People thought she shined because she was the daughter of the Grant family. But everyone in the circle knew she had been adopted for a marriage alliance. Before the age of ten, she had lived in an orphanage. For the past two years, Charles had given her 60 thousand dors every month, but she always sent half of it back to the orphanage. She never forgot how she had gotten where she was, so she pushed herself to do everything perfectly. In school, she studied hard, determined to take first ce in every exam. But she hadn¡¯t expected that what wasn¡¯t truly hers could never be forced. No matter how hard she tried, Charles still didn¡¯t care about her. So she no longer wasted her efforts hoping for Charles¡¯s love. Ynda felt a bit tired. Just as she was about to say she needed to rest, her phone rang. It was Charles. He usually only called when it was about business. As soon as she answered, his voice came through. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner at the Sinir manorter. You¡¯re not home?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m at the hospital,¡± Ynda said. ¡°Your fever hasn¡¯t gone down yet?¡± Charles asked. ¡°It¡¯s gone,¡± Ynda said. ¡°I¡¯m here visiting a colleague. Come pick me up.¡± Ynda lowered her gaze, grabbed the new clothes Megan had bought, and headed to the restroom to change. Megan tried to stop her. ¡°Are you crazy? You just had your stomach pumped, and now you¡¯re going to dinner with him?¡± Ynda¡¯s face was pale as she sighed. ¡°It¡¯s about the Sinir family, I can¡¯t put it off.¡± At least for now, none of this was up to her. 76 55 vouchers She quickly changed, freshened up, and sprayed some minty breath spray, making sure there was no trace of alcohol on her. Then she earnestly reminded Megan, ¡°Taken to sign the contract with Zack tomorrow morning. Once it¡¯s signed, he has to join the crew right away.¡± Megan felt so bad for Ynda that she almost cried, but she knew business came first. She sighed, ¡°Ynda, when you push yourself, you really don¡¯t care about your life.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t have time to say more. She looked toward Ian, who stood quietly in the corner, worried that today¡¯s events might affect him. Sheforted him, ¡°Ian, don¡¯t feel pressured. Just focus on your acting. This is only the beginning for us.¡± She believed Ian would get more roles in the future. Ian looked up at Ynda¡¯s pale face. He pressed his lips together, his hand tightening slightly at his side, then nced out the window. ¡°Okay.¡± Ynda couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly at his withdrawn nature. She smiled a little, and as soon as she went downstairs, she saw Charles¡¯s car waiting outside. His assistant, Jack Nn, was in the driver¡¯s seat. Jack got out, opened the door for her respectfully, and said, ¡°Mrs. Sinir, please.¡± Ynda slid into the seat next to Charles. Papers rested on his knees, but his eyes were fixed out the car window, staring up at the hospital. He could only see the curtains, but he had just clearly felt someone watching him from up there. The look carried a faint trace of mockery, and it made him very ufortable. Charles pulled his gaze back and looked at Ynda, who had just gotten into the car. He usually couldn¡¯t be bothered to notice her, but today her face was pale, and when the car braked hard, she almost fell right into his arms. He reached out, steadying her by the shoulder. ¡°Since when were you this weak?¡± Ynda froze, eyes shut, trying to calm the burning in her stomach. ¡°Just not feeling well.¡± ¡°Is this colleague of yours a man?¡± Charles pressed. He didn¡¯t think the person watching him upstairs at the hospital had been a woman. Even though Charles often told Ynda to go try other men, if she really did, he would still lose face¨Cand he definitely wouldn¡¯t let her off. ¡°No, I went to see Megan,¡± Ynda said. Charles didn¡¯t ask anything else. 76 55 vouchers Her face was ghostly pale now¨Canyone with eyes could tell she was sick. But Charles just couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. She held her stomach, leaning back against the seat. She heard Charles ask, ¡°Are you really that bad?¡± She pulled at the corner of her lips, her voice sharp because of her bad mood. ¡°Thanks for asking. A few more minutes and I¡¯d probably be dead.¡± The moment she realized what she¡¯d said, she quickly opened her eyes¡ªand sure enough, Charles was staring in shock. He had probably never been snapped at by her like that. She looked away, took a deep breath, and softened her voice. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just my stomach acting up.¡± He raised his brows, oddly impressed by that brief sh of temper. Charles let out a smallugh, watching the scenery slide past the window. ¡°Ynda, you looked so alive just now I couldn¡¯t help staring. You can be like that with me all the time.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes flickered with embarrassment. Charles had always liked lively women. After all, the woman he loved most had a lively character. So did Sophie. Ynda lowered her eyes and simply said nothing. The next second, Charles suddenly pried her mouth open and shoved in two painkillers. ¡°Swallow them,¡± he said half¨Cjokingly. ¡°Now you can¡¯t say I don¡¯t care about you.¡± Official source is findnovel Her cheeks flushed with anger for a moment, but then she heard himugh as he pushed open the car door. He seemed satisfied, like a prank had worked perfectly. That was Charles. Part of the reason she¡¯d been stuck on him for fifteen years was because he knew how to charm women. When he yed the part, he looked really charming. Ynda followed him inside, stepping into the hall of the Sinir manor. Charles¡¯s mother, May, spotted Ynda and waved impatiently. ¡°What took you so long? Go on, everyone¡¯s waiting for the coffee you¡¯re supposed to make.¡± 76 55 vouchers Charles¡¯s younger sister, Renee, lit up the second she saw him. ¡°Charles, you¡¯re here so early today? That¡¯s rare, really rare. Did you get me the gift I asked for on yourst trip?¡± By st trip,¡± she meant when Charles had gone abroad the week before. Back then, Ynda had been at home waiting for him with all her heart, calling him every day with concern- only for him to take Sophie along instead. Charles sat down nearby. When he saw Ynda head into the kitchen, he reached out and flicked Rence lightly on the forehead. ¡°I did buy it, but don¡¯t you dare run your mouth in front of Ynda.¡± Rence rolled her eyes and whispered, ¡°You¡¯ve already cheated, even went abroad with Sophie for so long. Why not just divorce Ynda? What¡¯s the difference between her and a maid in this house? It¡¯s not like we can¡¯t afford one.¡± Charles pulled out a set of car keys. The gift he had bought Renee was a limited¨Cedition Lamborghini, priced at nearly six million dors. Renee instantly wrapped her arms around his and cooed, ¡°Okay, I promise I won¡¯t No sooner had she finished than Ynda walked over with a pot of coffee. say a word.¡± That was how the Grant women were¨Chandling everything at home, from caring for the elders to taking care of every little detail, never leaving anything undone. Even if their husbands cheated, they had to swallow their pride and endure. Because of this, many rich yboys with ruined reputations ended up marrying a woman from the Grant family. The Grants used this strategy to climb their way into several powerful families. And with the sudden rise of Samuel Grant, the Grants¡® own new star, they had finally secured their ce. Samuel was Ynda¡¯s brother in name. The entire Grant family pinned all their hopes on him, and he truly was good enough¨Che was even friends with Charles. Öæ AD Comment Titan 1I4 Ynda poured coffee for May, then for Renee and Charles as well. 76 55 vouchers May took a sip. She had never liked Ynda, always feeling that a woman like her didn¡¯t deserve Charles. So when she saw Ynda sit down, she frowned again. ¡°Ynda, go help in the kitchen. Why are you sitting here?¡± May said. ¡°The maids at Moonbay Estate all say you haven¡¯t been cooking these past couple of days. ¡°You know Charles always loves your cooking. If you don¡¯t cook and his stomach starts acting up, what then?¡± In the past, whenever May picked on her, Ynda would always look to Charles. But today she didn¡¯t. Instead, she simply stood up and went straight to the kitchen. A flicker of surprise shed in Charles¡¯s eyes. He looked at the coffee in front of him and, after a long while, finally said, ¡°Mom, why do you always have to make things hard for her?¡± May was a little surprised. Before, whenever she gave Ynda a hard time, Charles had never stepped in. He was always busy¨Cmost of the time, the moment he sat down at home, he had to pull out hisptop to deal with work. The rest of his time was spent fooling around with other women. May knew her son too well. She knew he didn¡¯t like Ynda. She sighed and said, ¡°What exactly are you thinking? If you don¡¯t want a divorce yet, then just let her have a baby first, andter you can kick her out. Samuel might be capable, but he¡¯s still not strong enough to shake us.¡± Samuel might be a rising star, but the Sinir family had decades of foundation. They had nothing to fear. Charles nced toward the kitchen, catching only half of Ynda¡¯s figure. Her posture was excellent¨Cher back was always perfectly straight. It was obvious she had taken countless etiquette lessons as a youngdy. Her face was beautiful, too. Charles thought that if he couldn¡¯t marry the one he loved, then being with Ynda wasn¡¯t so bad. She was obedient, pure, and sometimes amusing when he teased her. ¡°You want a grandchild already?¡± he asked May with a teasing smile. 11:31 Wed, Sep 10 : : 76 55 vouchers May shot him a reproachful look. ¡°If you don¡¯t want kids with Ynda, then have one with another woman. As long as it¡¯s your child, that¡¯s what matters.¡± Charles frowned. He had no intention of having a child with any other woman. The only person he had ever wanted to have a child with was the one he had loved all along. Back then, he and the Grant family had even made an agreement that Ynda must not get pregnant. At least in his eyes, she wasn¡¯t worthy of carrying a Sinir child. ¡°If you really want a grandchild, then you¡¯ll just have to wait a few more years,¡± he told May. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time.¡± That reassured May. She knew Charles was probably waiting for the woman he loved to return. She was quite shocked, actually, that the Grant family had produced such a lovesick fool like her son. ¡°Forget it, as long as you know what you¡¯re doing. This is my only wish,¡± May said. ¡°I know who you¡¯re waiting for, but don¡¯t forget¨Cwhen you had that car ident, she abandoned you. Why still hold on to a woman like that?¡± Charles¡¯s face instantly darkened. Renee quickly leaned toward May and said, ¡°Mom, really? It¡¯s been two years already, why bring it up again? Who knows how that woman¡¯s doing now? Hopefully she¡¯s rotting abroad somewhere. ¡°If you ask me, she and Ynda are the same type¨Ccan¡¯t live without a man.¡± The woman Charles loved had run off with some broke guy, and she had done it right when Charles was lying in a hospital bed after his car crash. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Charles lifted a hand to rub his temples and stood up to head upstairs. ¡°Don¡¯t ever mention her again.¡± Renee pouted. From the look on his face, she could tell he was still thinking about that woman. Too bad that woman didn¡¯t seem to care whether a man was rich or poor¨Cotherwise she wouldn¡¯t have chosen a penniless loser. At dinner, Ynda followed the maids, carrying dishes to the table, while everyone else sat neatly at their seats. But Charles¡¯s father, Dn, didn¡¯te home tonight. Ever since Ynda had married Charles, Dn had rarely been around :. 76 55 vouchers Ynda sat next to Charles. Her stomach hurt, and when she looked at the food on her te, she couldn¡¯t help but gag a little. Renee covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes wide. ¡°Ynda, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re pregnant.¡± Ynda¡¯s face went a bit pale. She held her fork tightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a stomachache.¡± She could feel it¨Cthe moment Renee said those words, May¡¯s expression changed, and Charles had that half¨Csmile on his face. Back when Ynda still had hope for him, she used to ask when they would have a child. He would always brush her off, saying to wait a little longer. She thought she really could wait. But now she saw the truth¨CCharles never intended to let her get pregnant. ¡°I really just have a stomachache,¡± Ynda repeated. May slowly put down her fork. She nced at Charles, and since he didn¡¯t say anything, she didn¡¯t press further. The mood at the table turned tense. It stayed that way until dinner ended. Just as Ynda was about to leave, May asked her, ¡°I heard you¡¯re going out to work now?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ynda said. For original chapters go to find{n}ovel ¡°Don¡¯t go to work,¡± May told her. ¡°Just stay home and take care of Charles.¡± Ynda pressed her lips together, her eyes clear. ¡°There are plenty of maids at home who can take care of him.¡± It was the first time she ever talked back to May. May¡¯s face darkened, then she gave a coldugh. ¡°Ynda, you know I¡¯ve never been satisfied with you. Your only value is to take care of Charles.¡± Ynda took a deep breath and asked, ¡°May, anything else?¡± The moment she said that, Renee rolled her eyes. ¡°Ynda, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? How can you talk to my mom like that? ¡°Don¡¯t you know your allowance every month has to go through her approval? If she doesn¡¯t agree, you won¡¯t get a dime next month. ¡°You¡¯ve loved Charles for years, and you¡¯re lucky that you married him. If you don¡¯t learn to appreciate it, I¡¯d say it¡¯s only a matter of time before another woman takes your ce.¡± Ynda had been neglected for two years. Before, she endured it out of love for Charles, but : tonight she didn¡¯t want to endure anymore. ¡°It would be wonderful if that woman really shows up,¡± she said. 76 55 vouchers Shock shed across both May and Renee¡¯s faces. May mmed the table hard. ¡°How dare you?¡± Charles set down his coffee cup and let his gaze fall on Ynda¡¯s face. For the past two years, he had been satisfied with her obedience. But now, she had changed. He stood up and said coolly, ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Mom, don¡¯t be upset. I found that emerald bracelet you¡¯ve always wanted. I¡¯ll have Jack bring it over tomorrow.¡± May gave a cold snort and dropped the matter. Ynda followed Charles out the door. As she was about to get in the car, she heard him ask, ¡°Are you really pregnant?¡± He spoke while lowering his head to light a cigarette. But then he seemed to think of something and slowly put the lighter away. ¡°Go to the hospital.¡± Ynda found it almost funny. ¡°If I really am, what would you do?¡± For once, annoyance flickered in Charles¡¯s eyes. All that gentleness and charm he used to coax her were gone. He didn¡¯t have to say it. Ynda already knew the answer. It felt like a de had pierced her heart. She had always known he was ruthless, but she never thought he would be this ruthless. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Titan 15 Ynda took a deep breath, her expression hardening. ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant. No need to go to the hospital.¡± Charles¡¯s stare cut through the air, icy enough to make the temperature drop. Ynda suddenly realized¨Cshe¡¯d never really known him at all. ¡°Whether you go to the hospital isn¡¯t your call,¡± Charles said, getting in the car first. Ynda stood there silently. For a moment, she felt like the ache was not in her stomach but buried deep in her chest. Years of love didn¡¯t simply disappear, not even after seeing the painful truth. She slid into the car, her face ashen, and leaned back with her shut. eyes Jack kept driving. Without Charles saying a word, he steered toward the hospital. Ynda had figured the checkup would be fine, nothing special¨Cthen her phone buzzed. Ian¡¯s name shed across the screen. He said, ¡°Megan was in a car crash. She¡¯s at the hospital, and her husband, Henry, is flipping out, yelling about needing to see you.¡± ¡®Megan? In an ident? She was fine that morning.¡® Ynda¡¯s heart raced as she blurted out, ¡°Is she okay? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t there. She called me, and now she¡¯s unconscious in surgery,¡± Ian said. He hesitated, then added, ¡°And Henry¡¯s a gambler.¡± ¡°The same hospital as this morning? I¡¯m on my way.¡± Ynda hung up and turned to Charles. ¡°I need to go to Beloris Hospital. My friend was in an ident.¡± The hospital Charles was taking her to was funded by the Sinir family¨Cmiles from Beloris Hospital. Charles stared down at the papers, slowly turning the pages. A sardonic gleam flickered in his eyes. Ynda¡¯s face went even paler. She could read it in his eyes¨Che thought she¡¯d just made the whole thing up. Still, she began, ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant. I¡¯ll show you the test results tomorrow. But I have to get to the hospital right now. My friend¡¯s in critical condition. She¡¯s my business partner, and she¡ª¡± : Charles cut her off, voice icy. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± 76 EZ 55 vouchers His coldness cut deeper tonight, revealing a side of him she¡¯d never seen before. Now, she finally understood how heartless he truly was. ¡®Right. If he had a heart, he wouldn¡¯t have married me, slipped into my bed, then gone straight to someone else without blinking,¡® She sneered silently, wrenching the car door open. Shocked, Jack mmed on the brakes. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, that¡¯s way too dangerous!¡± Ynda hit the ground with a thud. Her ankle screamed in pain, and she knew it was going to swell up badly. ¡°Mrs. Sinir!¡± Jack called, but Ynda didn¡¯t look back. She just limped away. Charles sat in the car, his eyes razor¨Csharp and his mouth pressed into a thin, hard line. Cold fury radiated from him. Jack shifted ufortably, picking his words carefully. ¡°Mr. Sinir, maybe we should¡ª¡± Charles mmed the door shut, his face dark. ¡°Leave her.¡± Jack went silent. He shifted the car into drive and pulled away. ***** Ynda kept walking, her ankle throbbing. Blinding headlights suddenly cut through the dark, and an oing car swerved, barely missing her. She froze. The window rolled down, and a guy yelled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Wanna die? Fine, but don¡¯t take me with you!¡± The window snapped shut, and the car peeled off, tires screeching. A chill ran through Ynda. She touched her cheek and found tears on her fingertips. She quickly wiped them away, resolve hardening in her eyes. She wouldn¡¯t shed another tear over Charles¨Cnot worth it. She¡¯d only end up despising herself if she did. Ynda walked for half an hour, ignoring the burn in her leg. When she finally reached the hospital entrance, she saw Ian standing there. He was tall, masked and hat pulled low, blending into the night. But even so, people passing by couldn¡¯t help ncing back. He looked up, spotted her, and hurried over. ¡°M¨CMs. Grant.¡± Ynda paused, realizingn had never called her by name earlier. ¡°Just use my name,¡± she said quietly. ¡°How¡¯s Megan?¡± Ian¡¯s eyes dropped to her stiff leg. ¡°You hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Is Henry still causing a scene?¡± 76 55 vouchers Ian lowered hisshes, his voice quiet. ¡°Yeah. The hospital called security, and he started fighting them.¡± Ynda felt a twist of guilt¨Cshe¡¯d failed as a boss, even more as a friend. She knew Megan was married, but she¡¯d never bothered to ask about her marriage. She pushed through the pain and kept walking. Outside the ER, Henry¡¯s angry yell cut through the air. ¡°That witch better die in there. Won¡¯t give me money when I ask, huh? Serves her right!¡± This content belongs to F¦Énd£Îovel Ynda¡¯s face hardened. Noticing that Ian was about to move, she quickly seized his arm. He nced at her small hand gripping his sleeves. Hisshes flustered, and he looked away. Ynda stood there, watching as security dragged Henry off¨Clooked like they¡¯d toss him out. She then turned back at Ian and said, ¡°Stay out of this kind of drama no matter what. You¡¯ve got fans now. People could dig up dirt on you. ¡°If you ever make it big, this could be a major scandal. Getbeled as a troublemaker, and you¡¯ll never shake that reputation.¡± Ian hesitated. ¡°But-¡± Ynda cut him off, ¡°No buts. I¡¯m the one handling your career, so you listen.¡± Her eyes were bright, hershes still damp from tears she¡¯d shed not long ago. Now, her expression was nothing but pure determination. With that, she turned the corner and walked up to the security guards. Henry, still struggling to break free, spotted her and his eyes lit up. ¡®Wow, she¡¯s gorgeous,¡® he thought to himself. Ynda ignored him, speaking politely to the guards. ¡°Please get him out of here.¡± Henry let out a sneer, his face twisting with bitterness. ¡°You¡¯re Megan¡¯s boss, right? She bragged her boss was a pretty piece. Guess you funded that studio on your back, huh? No real boss looks like a freaking temptress.¡± Titan 16 Ynda was unfazed. She pulled out her phone and acted like she was dialing the police. Henry¡¯s eyes went wide with panic. ¡°You bitch! What the hell are you doing?¡± he shouted. Gamblers like him were terrified of cops. He¡¯d onlye after Megan because he owed a mountain of debt. He shoved past the guards and locked eyes with Ynda, his gaze wild and menacing. ¡°Just you wait,¡± he snarled. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡± Then he spun and stormed off. Ynda pressed her lips together and tucked her phone away. She hadn¡¯t called the police. When it came to studio, she preferred to handle things quietly. She took a deep breath and turned to the doctor. ¡°How is Megan?¡± ¡°Out of the woods. She just needs rest¨Clots of it,¡± the doctor replied. Ynda nodded. Just then, the ER doors slid open, and Megan was wheeled out toward a room downstairs. Ynda followed, sitting by the bed. Ten long minutester, Ian stepped in and held out a can of bruise spray. Ynda paused for a moment and then took it. ¡°Thanks. Listen, with Megan out, I¡¯ll go with you to sign the contract tomorrow morning. After that, you¡¯ll head to set. You¡¯re a great actor -I¡¯ll find more roles for you.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Ian whispered, his gaze sticking to her. She looked fragile, like she might break, but her eyes were bright, sharp with resolve. Since the doctor said Megan wouldn¡¯t rouse until morning, Ynda stood up and said to Ian, ¡°Let¡¯s head back. Workes first.¡± Just as they stepped outside the hospital, Ynda clutched her stomach and doubled over, fighting the urge to puke. This content belongs to find?novel Ian hesitated for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± Sweat beaded on Ynda¡¯s forehead. She managed a weak smile. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Go rest when you get back. Wait-¡± Before she could finish, a gust of wind whipped by. ¡°Bitch, you : 76 55 vouchers think you can call the cops on me?¡± Henry roared, swinging a stick at Ynda. Ynda reached out to block, but suddenly a shadow fell over her. Ian caught the stick mid¨Cswing and kicked Henry hard, sending him sprawling. Henry clutched his stomach and spit up blood, his face pale. ¡°You two will regret this!¡± he snarled, staggering to his feet. This time, he really ran away. Ynda darted over, grabbing Ian¡¯s hand. ¡°You okay? Did he hurt you?¡± She checked his hand carefully, saw no marks, and let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t step in front of me like that again.¡± Ian¡¯s fingers twitched. He looked away. Ynda¡¯s gaze lingered on his wrist¨Cfirm, steady, a hint of the strength under his good looks. She pulled her hand back. ¡°Studio at nine tomorrow. See you then.¡± With that, she gged a cab and climbed in, leaning back once the door shut. Her face was pale, nausea coiling in her stomach, and her ankle throbbed like crazy. The cab stopped at Moonbay Estate. As she stepped out, a sick feeling settled over her. Still, she dragged herself forward and unlocked the door with her fingerprint. The hall lights were on. Charles sat on the couch, the air so quiet it felt heavy. Ynda started to kick off her shoes in the entryway. As she bent down, a sharp pain knifed through her stomach. She bolted to the bathroom, retching into the sink¨Cthose drinks earlier were wrecking her. When she walked back to the living room, Charles was still on the couch. She knew he was angry. The madder he got, the quieter he got. She stayed where she was, waiting for him to speak. Charles slowly set his papers down. ¡°Tough week?¡± he asked. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re so snappy?¡± Ynda froze, her eyes burning. ¡®How ridiculous, she thought. ¡®When I was hanging on his every word, he never gave me a second thought. Now that I¡¯ve let go and pulled back, suddenly he cares. Guess guys only want women who beg and whine, huh?¡± Her face was still pale. She grabbed the banister and started up the stairs. Charles watched her retreating back and finally said, ¡°Ynda, you can¡¯t get pregnant.¡± Ynda froze, but her voice stayed calm. ¡°I already told you¨CI¡¯m not pregnant.¡± ¡°But before, you wanted kids.¡± 76 55 vouchers Ynda¡¯s knuckles went white on the stair rail, the cold metal seeping into her skin like a knife. to the heart. ¡°Charles, I know who you¡¯re waiting for,¡± she smiled icily. ¡°I was stupid to think that after all these years, you might love me. But I get it now¨Cno more fantasies.¡± Charles stared at her rigid back, a faint sigh escaping. ¡°How many times have you said that, Ynda? Let¡¯s not do this again.¡± He walked over, sliding an arm around her waist. Only then did he notice that her face glistened with sweat¨Cshe was clearly feeling terrible. He gently wiped the sweat from the tip of her nose with his fingertips and spoke softly, ¡°The baby can¡¯t stay. I¡¯ll take you to the clinic tomorrow. I¡¯ll make it right. Just be good.¡± Ynda¡¯sshes fluttered wildly. She med herself for loving Charles too much¨Ctoo openly ¨Cso no one believed she¡¯d ever walk away. Besides, she was from the Grant family. No Grant woman got divorced; that was shameful. She quit fighting, realizing nothing she said would ever reach Charles. Catching her silence, Charles gave a subtle smile and gently pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The touch was tender, yet it felt oddly cutting. ¡°Quit stirring up trouble. Bring Mom that emerald bracelet tomorrow and apologize,¡± he said softly. ¡°Ynda¨Cyou¡¯re wife material. Don¡¯t make me sorry I picked you.¡± Ynda shut her eyes slowly. His tone was sweet, but the words cut like des. Without saying anything, she limped the rest of the way up the stairs. Charles finally noticed her hurt leg. But he didn¡¯t say a word¨Che never bothered with that stuff. Ynda went to the master bedroom and forced herself to shower. Only when she sat on the bed did she see how swollen her ankle was. She grabbed the spray Jan had bought her and spritzed herself. Then she called a maid, asking her to move all her clothes to the guest bedroom down the hall. The maid looked uneasy. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, I¡¯m not sure if-¡± Ynda cut her off, her voice steady. ¡°Just do it.¡± : : The maid had no choice but to start moving things. 76 55 vouchers Charles came upstairs, took in the scene, and let out a softugh. He stepped to Ynda, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers. ¡°You naughty brat.¡± Ynda¡¯s expression shifted. Suddenly, a wave of helplessness swept over her. Just then, Charles¡¯s phone rang¨Cit was Sophie. He didn¡¯t answer. Ynda¡¯s little rebellion tonight caught him off guard, and he found it kind of funny. He smiled, ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯ve had your fun. Don¡¯t wear me out over house drama. You want separate beds? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll find someone else?¡± Ynda turned her head away. Seeing that thest of her things was carried out, she headed for the end of the hall. ¡°Do whatever you want,¡± she said. Charles stood at the master bedroom doorway, chuckling softly. ¡°Don¡¯te begging meter.¡± That was always his tone¨Cteasing, like nothing matters. Everyone knew how cold he could be, and he¡¯d had plenty of other women. ¡®How rare. A guy like Charles actually falling in love and waiting for a woman for two whole years, Ynda thought bitterly. Titan 17 0 : Ynda slept until dawn, waking just after six. : 76 55 vouchers Just as she stepped out of the guest room, Jack handed her a gift box. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, Mr. Sinir asked you to deliver this.¡± Ynda took it and headed straight downstairs. Jack blinked, slightly taken aback. Charles had been with Sophie for over ten days this month. Before, Ynda would¡¯ve dropped hints, fishing for details on his schedule. But now, she didn¡¯t ask a single thing¨Cjust grabbed the box and went down. Charles still wasn¡¯t home. Ynda guessed he¡¯d spent the night with Sophie. She did a quick workout on an empty stomach, picked at a light breakfast, then headed out around 7:30 to make the delivery. She¡¯d really ticked May off yesterday. Seeing her this early, May¡¯s face soured like she¡¯d stepped in something gross. ¡°Charles asked me to bring you this bracelet,¡± Ynda said, holding out the gift box. May took it. Inside was the emerald bracelet¨Cthe kind one couldn¡¯t just buy with money- she¡¯d been obsessing over. The bracelet worked its magic. Her mood lightened as she slid it on. Then she shot Ynda a sideways nce. ¡°Has Charles taken you to get checked? Are you pregnant or not?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go this afternoon,¡± Ynda replied. ¡°Just a stomach bug, probably.¡± May¡¯s eyes sharpened, a sneer in her voice. ¡°Heard from the maid at Moonbay Estate that you¡¯ve been hunting down herbal remedies to get knocked up. Is that right?¡± Ynda stiffened. She¡¯d been desperate for Charles¡¯s baby, and now it was only making her look like a fool. ¡®I was such an idiot, thinking a kid could keep him around,¡® she thought. May went on, ¡°Charles treats you good, right? He gives you 60 thousand a month in allowance and bailed your family out more times than I can keep track of. Samuel wouldn¡¯t be where he is without him. ¡°So don¡¯t start thinking that just because your family¡¯s rolling in cash now, you can y these games. Charles said itst night¨Cyou don¡¯t deserve to have his baby.¡± Ynda¡¯s fist tightened, but she wasn¡¯t as stung as she might¡¯ve been¨Cshe¡¯d seen thising. ¡°No need to stress,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you the test results today. I wouldn¡¯t even want to carry a Sinir baby.¡± 76 55 vouchers Her words were humble, but they hit May like a sharp edge¨Cthough she couldn¡¯t put her finger on exactly what felt off. ¡°Enough. Get out of here,¡± she snapped. ¡°Keep this up, and I¡¯ll call the Grants, asking them how they raised such a daughter.¡± Ynda flinched, thinking of the Grant family¡¯s memorial hall she¡¯d always hated. There was a punishment room¨Ccold, pitch¨Cck, terrifying. She¡¯d been locked in there once for two days and hade out barely alive. She bowed her head, pressed her lips tight, and mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll leave now.¡± May finally felt satisfied. She knew very well Ynda was terrified of returning to the Grant family¡ªthey were way harsher than the Sinirs ever were. ¡®Charles has been this good to her, and she never even thanked him. What an ungrateful woman,¡® May thought. ***** Once Ynda got in the car, she realized her back was soaked with cold sweat. Honestly, the Grants hadn¡¯t punished her very much, but their house always felt suffocating. Ever since she was a kid¨Cafter learning she was adopted¨Cshe¡¯d lived with a constant fear of being abandoned. So, she¡¯d always pushed herself to be the best at everything. But she had never realized the Grants were grooming her to be the perfect wife. Ynda leaned back, her eyes stinging. She floored the gas pedal and sped toward her studio. Ian was already there waiting. Today, he wasn¡¯t wearing a mask, and his lean frame stood out -his sharp features impossible to miss. When he saw her, he dropped his gaze, lost in thought. Ynda had driven her own car. She nodded for him to get in. Ian clutched the contract tight and slid into the passenger seat. She leaned over to buckle his seatbelt, like she always did. Sensing his tension, sheforted, ¡°We¡¯re gonna be around each other a lot. Better get used to it. As your agent and assistant, I¡¯ll even handle your wardrobe.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ian stared out the window, his fingers slowly curling into a fist. Ynda then drove to Zack¡¯s film set. To her surprise, Sophie was there too. 76 55 vouchers Sophie had beenunched into stardom by Charles, and with major brand endorsements under her belt, she was now an A¨Clist rising actress. Everywhere she went, people fawned over her. Spotting Ynda, Sophie stormed over, her eyes zing with fury. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ve been wanting to find you. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d have the balls to show your face here, you bitch,¡± Sophie spat. She raised her hand to p Ynda, but Ian caught her wrist, tight. Sophie yanked hard, but couldn¡¯t break free. Her face flushed crimson with rage. ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared of getting your career destroyed? Just wait¨Cyou¡¯ll regret this,¡± she snapped, pulling away and turning to make a call. Ynda frowned and stopped her. ¡°Ms. Sutton, I¡¯m pretty tight with Mrs. Sinir.¡± Sophie paused, knowing that was a threat. She cut off the call before it could connect and asked coolly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ynda stepped closer. She was taller than Sophie, with looks and poise that outshone herpletely. Sophie¡¯s cheeks red even redder, feeling totally overshadowed. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Mr. Sinir told you not to push your luck?¡± Ynda said. ¡°If word gets to his wife, he might not have your back. The Sinirs don¡¯t like scandal¨Cyou should know that.¡± Charles might spoil Sophie, but she was just a disposable ceholder. Ynda was certain he¡¯d never jeopardize the reputation he¡¯d carefully crafted over years. Charles could be sweet one minute, ice¨Ccold the next. He could lift a woman to the stars today and drop her into hell tomorrow without a second thought. Sophie¡¯s expression kept changing, her eyes burning with raw fury. Ynda smiled coolly. ¡°Let¡¯s keep things calm. I¡¯ll stay quiet about Mrs. Sinir¨Chope you make your move fast, Sophie.¡± Sophie ground her teeth hard enough to hurt, her chest heaving with rage. Ever since she¡¯d been with Charles, no one had dared to treat her like this. ¡®Damn it!¡® she seethed internally. I¡¯m not letting the p go. Just wait¨CI¡¯ll make you crawl and beg for mercy! ¡°Go ahead and try. Say one word, and you¡¯ll see how fast Charles drops you,¡± Sophie hissed. She whirled around and pulled out her phone. ¡®Sophie¡¯s seriously a handful,¡¯ Ynda thought, frowning. Then she brushed her off and took Ian to meet Zack. : Right before the contract was signed, Zack¡¯s phone rang¨Cit was Jack. 76 55 vouchers Zack gripped the pen, his face changing as he listened. Before long, he hung up, set the pen down, and said, ¡°Tessa, Jack just called. I can¡¯t give you that role. You know I work for Starlight Entertainment¡ªI could lose my job over this.¡± Ynda curled her fingers tight, knuckles whitening. ¡°Sign the contract first, Mr. White. I¡¯ll take care of whateveres up.¡± 11:33 Wed, Sep 10 Read full story at findnovel Titan 18 Zack had already glimpsed the ruthless calction behind her sweet facade from that recording. He didn¡¯t dare refuse and signed the contract. Instantly, a smile spread across Ynda¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you to look out for Ian from now on,¡± she said smoothly. This TV series was a huge project this year. While it was partly designed to push some stars, tens of millions had been sunk into the production. At this point, the die was cast. No matter how ufortable Zack felt, with his weakness exposed, he wasn¡¯t about to rock the boat. Ynda and Ian got into her car¨Ca $600,000 Porsche, a wedding gift from Samuel two years ago. ¡°Where do you live?¡± asked Ynda. Ian replied, ¡°Willow Lane.¡± Ynda frowned. Willow Lane had no nice parts¨Cjust run¨Cdown houses, once called a slum. It was close to downtown, but the area was a mess. Ynda fell silent. She realized she didn¡¯t know much about her studio¡¯s only talent¡ªor much about Megan¡¯s marriage. After what felt like forever, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home. You start filming in three days. I¡¯ll help you get settled at first¨Cfind you roles, line up ads. Once your career takes off, Megan will take over.¡± Ian nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± The car pulled into Willow Lane and stopped where he lived. She looked at the alley¨Cgloomy even in daylight¨Cand felt a weird, uneasy twist in her gut. Ian pulled on a mask and a hat and then got out Ynda followed him out. ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± she said tersely, Ian stood still, his back ramrod straight. Ynda pressed, ¡°I need to know you better. You¡¯re my only client right now¨CI¡¯m pouring all my time into you. If we sign more peopleter, we¡¯ll probably barely see each other.¡± She was dead set on building up the studio. : : Ian looked down, tugged his mask a little higher, and started walking. 76 55 vouchers Ynda followed behind. Unlike downtown¡¯s busy bustle, the streets here were potholed, with trash heaped in corners. They stopped at his ce. The door decorations were faded, but the area was clean. The lock was old. He pulled out his key and unlocked it. Inside, there was a tiny yard with a punching bag¨Ccovered in dents, like he used it a lot to blow off steam. The house itself was maybe 600 square feet, simple but neat. Ian took off his hat and mask and headed to the narrow kitchen. He washed the only cup had over and over¨Ceven running boiling water over it before finally pouring some water inside. This content belongs to he Ynda stood in the living room, eyeing his tall, good¨Clooking frame, and let out a soft sigh. She felt like that the second he took off that mask, the entire room came to life. In this rundown space, he stood out like a vibrant bloom¨Csharp, proud, and cool. Ian walked out of the kitchen and set the cup of water down in front of Ynda, who was perched on the narrow couch. ¡°Here,¡± he said, his eyes casting down. Ynda nced around, fighting a small smile. ¡°No girlfriend right now, Ian?¡± Ian shook his head. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Good. If you do get one, tell me first. Your face will draw fans easy, but more fans mean more rules,¡± Ynda said. Her slender fingers curled around the ss, but she didn¡¯t take a sip. She was here with a purpose. ¡°You live by yourself?¡± she asked. ¡°My mom¡¯s in the hospital. She¡¯s sick.¡± ¡°Megan says you¡¯ve been keeping the studio afloat these past two years. You must¡¯ve made some good money¨Cso why haven¡¯t you moved to a better ce?¡± ¡°Hospital bills aren¡¯t cheap,¡± Ian said, his eyshes flickering. For once, his obedience had a hint of stubborn defiance. ¡°What about your dad?¡± Ynda pressed. She didn¡¯t want to be noisy, but as his agent, she had to ask¨Cbetter to prep him now than let the gossip sites tear him apartter. After all, a talent¡¯s entire life was exposed under the spotlight. Ian nced past her at the punching bag outside and whispered, ¡°Dunno.¡± ¡°School records? Any skeletons I should know about?¡± she kept asking. Ian stayed quiet, his lips pressing into a thin line. 76 55 vouchers Ynda picked up the cup and took a small sip. ¡°When you hit it big, the tabloids will dig up every little thing. I need to n ahead so we aren¡¯t blindsided.¡± Ian swallowed hard, and after a long pause, his voice came out rough. ¡°I was at Beloris University, but something went down. It wasn¡¯t my fault, I swear. I don¡¯t even get it¡­¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not on you, I¡¯ll fix it. Rest up today, and be on set in three days. I¡¯ll rush to line up endorsements for you,¡± Ynda smiled. ¡°Call me if anything personales up. Ian, I need you to step up a little, okay?¡± She then stood, grabbing her bag off the nearby table. A subtle fragrance clung to her¡ªnot from perfume¨Csoftly filling the cramped room. She pped a hand on his shoulder. ¡°We gotta trust each other. If you¡¯re hiding something, tell meter. But do it before you¡¯re famous.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ynda pulled her hand back, catching a glimpse of a pink flush at the tips of his ears. She frowned, ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling good, tell me too.¡± Ian remained silent, simply standing to see her out. Ynda drove off, but as she turned out of the alley, she spotted a luxury car pulling in. The license te looked familiar, but she couldn¡¯t ce where she¡¯d seen it. ncing in the rearview mirror, she saw it stop right at Ian¡¯s front door. A middle¨Caged guy got out. From a distance, his build looked familiar¨Clike Dn, the one who rarely came home. Ynda had married into the Sinir family for two years and had barely seen him. But he had constantly showed up at charity events¨Cshe¡¯d seen him in the papers plenty of times. Word was he sponsored hundreds of students, was a shrewd businessman, and even had connections in government circles. That was why Charles steered clear of divorce drama. But Charles was all smooth surface with a wild streak underneath. He might torch his entire reputation for the right woman. The problem was, the one he¡¯d risk everything for hadn¡¯te back yet. 55 vouchers Titan 19 Ynda¡¯s mind was still drifting when May called. ¡°Got the test results yet? Ynda, don¡¯t drag this out. Even if you hide the pregnancy, you¡¯ll have to get rid of it eventually.¡± Ynda winced, biting back her irritation. ¡°I¡¯m going now. But rx¨CI¡¯m not pregnant. Charles isn¡¯t exactly great in bed, y¡¯know? Maybe he¡¯s the issue. And you and Dn are still young¨Cyou could have another son.¡± ¡°You!¡± May sputtered, livid. ¡°This woman must be out of her mind¨Chow dare she talk like that?¡® she thought. After hanging up, Ynda felt a twinge of regret. May was petty and had always disliked her. Pushing back would only make things worse. Sure enough, when Ynda pulled into the hospital parking lot, Linda was already there waiting. The Sinir family had money in this hospital¨Cnot as big as the one where Megan stayed, but perfect for those hush¨Chush affairs within wealthy circles. Anyone in the know who wanted a discreet medical check woulde here. The staff kept their mouths shut tight. Ynda could only get tested here to put the Sinirs at ease. But she hadn¡¯t expected Linda to show up. After getting out of the car, Ynda slowly approached and called out respectfully, ¡°Mom.¡± Linda only wore an emerald bracelet, standing straight with an air of pure elegance. ¡°Go get tested. I¡¯ll wait in the car. Come back with me afterward.¡± Ynda dropped her gaze, swallowed every question, and walked straight to the hospital. Thirty minutester, the results came back: not pregnant. She didn¡¯t need to send the report to Charles; the hospital would handle that. She clutched the report and followed Linda into the car, with her own vehicle driven back by Linda¡¯s staff. During the entire ride, Linda said nothing. Ynda kept her head down, the test slip crumpled in her fist. After a while, the car stopped at the Grant residence. Just as Ynda squatted by the entryway to change her shoes, a p suddenlynded. She was knocked sideways; her forehead brushed the cab and her cheek red hot, swelling fast. This content belongs to ?ovelFind The servants there had grown used to such scenes, silently continuing their work. Linda, who had just delivered the p, sauntered over to the sofa and sat down. A servant quickly brought her a cup of coffee and set it on the side table. 76 55 vouchers Linda picked up the cup and took a delicate sip, her every movement still graceful and refined. Ynda had feared Linda the most¨Cshe was the one who always raised her hand first. Still stinging from the p, Ynda slipped on her shoes and walk over to the sofa. Before she could sit, Linda shot her a cold, piercing look. ¡°Stay right there.¡± Ynda froze, standing still with her back rigid as a board. She knew May had to be the one pping her gums again. May was that mean¨Canytime she got mad, she made sure the person who ticked her off paid for it. Linda set down the coffee cup with a clink, her voice sharp. ¡°Badmouthing your husband to his mother, huh? Is that what we taught you?¡± Ynda pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She¡¯d learned Linda¡¯s rules since childhood. Talking back to May like that was enough to earn her three days locked in the punishment room. Linda smoothed a strand of hair and sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve been in the Sinir family two years. Since it¡¯s your first slip¨Cup, stand there till morning. No dinner tonight.¡± Ynda stayed silent. Arguing now would only make it worse. The Grants had adopted her for one reason: to seal the marriage alliance. Defying her mother¨Cinw waspletely off- limits. Anger coiled in Ynda¡¯s chest, hot and tight, stinging her eyes till tears threatened. She¡¯d followed the Grant family rules perfectly: been faithful to Charles and yed the perfect housewife. And then she¡¯d walked in on his affair, humiliated, stripped of every scrap of dignity. ¡°I heard from the Sinirs you¡¯re going to work?¡± Linda asked. Her tone was hard, like she was determined to crush Ynda¡¯sst bit of pride. Ynda tried to exin. ¡°Mom, I¡­¡± : 76 55 vouchers Before she could finish, Linda hurled her coffee cup over. It cracked against her forehead and left a burning red welt. ¡°When you married Charles, I told you your only job was to take care of him,¡± Linda snapped. ¡°He nearly passed out at work this morning from low blood sugar. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Ynda¡¯sshes fluttered. She really hadn¡¯t known. Last night, she¡¯d slept in a separate room from Charles. This morning, after dealing with May, she¡¯d gone straight to sign Ian¡¯s contract. She finally understood why May¡¯s words stung today¨CCharles had woken up with low blood sugar. Anytime something happened to him, both the Sinirs and Grants would jump to me her for ¡°not caring enough.¡± Ynda thought it was ridiculous. She¡¯d looked after Charles all these years, and he worked out regrly¨Chow¡¯d he suddenly get low blood sugar? It was a in power y¨Ca brutal reminder that she was nothing without him. The elders from both families could force her to bend. ¡®Typical Charles¡ªhe doesn¡¯t even have to lift a finger, and I¡¯m already falling apart,¡® Ynda thought bitterly. Linda opened her mouth for round two when the front door swung wide. Samuel walked in wearing a custom charcoal suit. At twenty¨Cseven, he was already a rising star in Beloris¡¯s elite circles. Linda¡¯s face instantly brightened. She turned to Ynda and whispered, ¡°Go stand in the yard. Stay out of the way.¡± Samuel handed his coat to a nearby servant. His gaze drifted up, caught the red mark on Ynda¡¯s cheek, and his brows furrowed slightly. Linda beamed, ¡°Back early today?¡± Samuel wasposed, serious, and rarely smiled¨Cjust like Linda. In his presence, Ynda always stayed silent, too intimidated to speak. He was making waves these days. Everyone knew how sharp he was¨Csteady yet decisive, like a sharp de quietly sheathed. He waspletely different from Charles, who always masked his ruthlessness with a smile and cool demeanor. Samuel ignored Linda and headed for the stairs. Over his shoulder, he said, ¡°She¡¯s a person, Mom. Lay off the pping.¡± Linda would tear into Ynda just like beating a dog. Behind closed doors, she never showed mercy. an ounce of : 76 55 vouchers Upon hearing Samuel¡¯s words, Linda smiled, her eyes sliding to the figure standing in the yard. ¡°If she messes up, she pays. She needs to remember¨Cher only shot is Charles. ¡°You¡¯re tied tight to the Sinirs now. Don¡¯t blow this. Samuel, we took her in for one reason: to be a pawn in our marriage alliance, nothing more.¡± Ynda stood in the yard, too far away to hear their conversation. She watched Samuel nce in her direction before climbing the stairs without a word. Five hourster, the doorbell suddenly rang. Charles walked in, sliding open the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling doors, and stopped in front of Ynda. ¡°You were outte. I knew I¡¯d find you here,¡± he said with a smile, extending his hand to help her up. Back in the day, Ynda would¡¯ve broken down in tears. But now, her head was clear¨Cshe saw right through his little game. He could have shown up hours earlier, but he¡¯d left her waiting for five brutal hours. She ignored his outstretched hand and walked right past him into the living room. Charles raised an eyebrow and then slipped an arm around her waist. ¡°Upset? Mad at me?¡± Ynda stayed silent, limping forward. Her ankle still wasn¡¯t right, and after standing for hours, her legs were stiff¨Cshe could barely stay on her feet. Charles stood there, watching the stubborn line of her back. She looked like a weed pushing through concrete¨Cbent by the wind, maybe, but never broken. Back in school, she used to cry while doing homeworkte at night, determined to reim her top spot. She always had to be the best, or she couldn¡¯t rest. Charles chuckled softly, stepped closer, and slid his arm around her waist again. ¡°Sometimes, messing with her can be pretty fun,¡± he thought, a little smirk ying on his lips. Titan 20 Chapter 20 : 76 55 vouchers Linda came downstairs and caught the intimate moment between Charles and Ynda, which somehow made her feel a bit more at ease. ¡°You¡¯re here, Charles,¡± she smiled. Charles nodded, his voice soft. ¡°Came to take Ynda home.¡± ¡®Ynda¡¯s so lucky to have a man as sweet as Charles, and yet she doesn¡¯t appreciate him and even talks back to her mother¨Cinw,¡® Linda fumed to herself. She let out a heavy sigh. ¡°How are you feeling? I heard you had some issues with low blood sugar at work today.¡± Charles replied, ¡°All good. Probably just missed Ynda is all.¡± That made Linda even happier. As long as Charles cared for Ynda, this marriage would stick. ¡°Quit with the lovey¨Cdovey stuff thiste. Just take her home,¡± she said. Charles smiled, his hand still on Ynda¡¯s waist. ¡°We¡¯re off then. Ynda¡¯s been in a funktely¨Cif she rubbed you the wrong way, go easy on her, yeah?¡± At this point, Linda could onlyugh and wave them off. Charles kept hold of Ynda till they left the Grant residence. Ynda got into her car parked nearby, nning to drive back alone. Charles stood by the car window, about to say something, when his phone buzzed. Ynda, sitting in the car silently, paused for a moment¨Cshe heard him mention her alias. ¡°Tessa? Got it,¡± Charles said to the phone. ¡°Have the people at Starlight Entertainment handle this. Just make her apologize.¡± ¡®Sophie called Charles to help her get revenge? And he¡¯s actually wasting his time on something this petty?¡® Ynda thought. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and nced down, mming her foot on the gas. Charles slid into the passenger seat, leaned back, and clicked his seatbelt. Then he rested his cheek on his hand and smirked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ynda stayed calm. The bright red handprint on her cheek was impossible to miss. He reached out and gently traced the red mark with his fingertip. ¡°Your mom did this?¡± he asked, his voice soft, almost caring. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 : 76 E 55 vouchers Ynda couldn¡¯t help butugh. Pulling the car out, she shot back, ¡°Quit the act.¡± If Charles hadn¡¯t made a big deal about that low blood sugar, May and Linda never would¡¯vee down on her like this. Charles chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. For two years of marriage, Ynda had been the perfect,pliant wife. Buttely, she¡¯d been pushing back at him more and more. Ynda thought he was nuts¨Csmiling even after she snapped at him. Charles continued, ¡°Babe, I didn¡¯t fake that low blood sugar thing on purpose. I ran into this annoying business guy today and used it as an excuse to bail on some pointless event. Had no idea it would get back to our families. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes stung. She gripped the wheel till her fingers hurt. She knew Charles was only cating her now because he was certain she wasn¡¯t pregnant. Besides, her defiance seemed to have amused him. ¡®He thinks he¡¯s the only one who can act? Watch me,¡® she thought. The car rolled into Moonbay Estate. She turned to him, her expression softening, her voice deliberately husky. ¡°I¡¯m so grateful you came to pick me up. I¡¯ve been snappytely. I¡¯ll do better. Juste home more, okay?¡± Charles felt like he was looking at the same old meek, boring Ynda again, and the amusement in his eyes vanished instantly. He mumbled, ¡°Yeah,¡± got out, and pulled out his phone. Ynda bit back an ironicugh and followed him into the living room. She was still changing her shoes in the entryway when he was already heading out. ¡°Got some work stuff at the office,¡± he said casually. Ynda figured it wasn¡¯t work¨Cmore likely his mistress needed something. She didn¡¯t really want to ask, but knowing how much he hated her old passive behavior, she deliberately put on a clingy act. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Can¡¯t you stay home and spend some time with me? My face still hurts,¡± she said, feigning vulnerability. Charles patted her cheek lightly. ¡°Go put some ointment on that,¡± he said, his tone soft. Then he turned and left. Ynda stood there, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. After a moment, she walked upstairs to the guest room at the end of the hallway. That day had made it crystal clear where she stood. Taking Charles head¨Con would only bring 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 ¡­ 76 55 vouchers herself trouble. From now on, she¡¯d y the submissive wife¨Cuntil she was ready to strike back. Charles settled into the car. Jack, sitting in the front seat, said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Ms. Sutton got pped. She wants me to deal with that nobody talent. What are your orders?¡± Charles considered banning Tessa outright. But since Sophie just wanted to take down some small¨Ctime star, he figured he¡¯d let that happen. ¡°Don¡¯t bring me these minor issues again,¡± Charles said coldly. ¡°Sophie might cause drama, but she won¡¯t go too far.¡± Jack nodded, understanding Charles was supporting Sophie. After a brief hesitation, he added, ¡°Mrs. Sinir mentioned earlier that she wanted to visit Starlight Entertainment¡­¡± Charles lit a cigarette, scoffing, ¡°Ynda¡¯s a delicate flower. Being pampered by the Grants all these years, even if she has a bit of spirit left, she¡¯ll wise up after a few rejections. Ignore her.¡± ***** Ynda spent the night calling up the directors she knew, checking if they had any roles open. When she firstunched her studio, only Sean and Zack knew she was Charles¡¯s wife. She¡¯d kept that detail quiet, so most people just knew her as Tessa. Ian was joining the crew soon. She needed to check in on him regrly while hunting down new roles for him. Checktest chapters at find~novel But the most critical thing now was getting him to move away from Willow Lane. The ce was a mess¨Cif anything happened, they¡¯d be screwed. Ynda remembered when she got married, Samuel had given her a set of keys, saying it was his property. Samuel was new money, owned more properties than one could count. If he¡¯d truly meant to give her the ce, he wouldn¡¯t have kept living there himself. Ynda dug through the kitchen cab and found the keys. Honestly, Samuel had been good to her, but he was just so intense. Even though he wasn¡¯t as harsh as Linda, his emotionless expression always sent a chill down her spine. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 76 55 vouchers She took a deep breath, flipped the keys over, and spotted the address scribbled on the back. She decided to moven there tomorrow morning. He was the only talent in her studio, and she had to look out for him. AD Comment Titan 21 56 vouchers Early the next morning, Ynda drove ton¡¯s ce. She banged on the old door for ages, no one answered. Just as she reached for her phone to call him, the door creaked open. Ian was in a ck T¨Cshirt, one cheek swollen red¨Clike he¡¯d taken a punch. Ynda¡¯s brows shot up. She scanned the messy yard, spotting signs of a fight everywhere. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked. Ian¡¯s charming eyes glistened, like he was holding back tears. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Ynda took a sharp breath, grabbed his arm, and hauled him inside. but When she¡¯d visited yesterday, the ce was tiny but neat. But now, it was a total disaster. Every single piece of furniture was flipped, the only cupy shattered in pieces¨Cnothing was left intact. Ynda¡¯s face went dark. Since Ian wasn¡¯t gonna talk, she turned for the door. Ian hesitated and then blurted out, ¡°Some strangers showed upst night. I don¡¯t know who they were.¡± He rushed the words, as if she¡¯d walk out if he slowed down. Ynda stopped and turned back to him. Sweat beaded on his forehead¨Chis injuries must be worse than he let on. She propped up the sofa and said softly, ¡°Sit. Let me check.¡± Ian froze, and then slowly sat down. Ynda lifted his shirt, exposing his chest. There were wounds, but what really caught her eye was his chiseled abs, the perfect V¨Cline, his broad shoulders, and lean waist¨Che could easily pass for a fitness model. Her fingertips felt a sudden tingle, and only then did she realize her move was a little out of line. Ian bit his lip, his ears burning red. Finally, he gave up and turned away, clutching the hem of his shirt¨Clike he¡¯d just been taken advantage of. Ynda cleared her throat, locked her gaze on the bruises dotting his chest, and forced herself to stay calm. ¡°Anywhere else hurt?¡± she asked, pressing gently on the bruises and ncing up. ¡°Did they crack a rib?¡± Jan sucked in a breath, yanking his shirt down harder. ¡°No.¡± 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 76 55 vouchers Ynda let out a relieved sigh. She stood up and said, ¡°Pack your stuff. We¡¯re moving today. You can¡¯t stay here anymore.¡± ¡°I got you a ce¨Ca nice vi, good security. Even when you be famous, you¡¯ll be safe there. At the very least, you won¡¯t have to deal with stuff like being followed or getting into fights,¡± Ynda replied. Ian hesitated a beat before asking softly, ¡°Won¡¯t your husband get mad?¡± Ynda paused, taking a second to process it, and then realized he¡¯d misunderstood. Sheughed, finding him kind of cute for some reason. ¡°It¡¯s not my husband¡¯s,¡± she exined. ¡°It¡¯s my brother¡¯s. He looks tough, but he¡¯s good to me. Besides, he¡¯s got so many houses¨Che couldn¡¯t care less about this one.¡± Ian looked down and stood up. ¡°Got it.¡±. Ynda watched his back, sighing quietly. Newest update provided by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Ian didn¡¯t have much to pack. Just ten minutester, he emerged with a backpack and a small suitcase. His hair was a bit messy, and his arm muscles flexed subtly as he carried his backpack. His eyes were captivating, set in a face that spelled trouble¨Chandsome enough to spark conflict and settle it with just a nce. After he got in the car, Ynda drove to the vi. It was in a prime spot, right in the heart of Beloris¨Csuper valuable. Samuel must¡¯ve put thought into picking this when he gave her the keys. The vi was beautifully designed, with two stories and a well¨Cmanicured garden. Samuel had someone fix it up beforehand, clearly, Ynda loved the setting. ¡°Come here,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll add both our fingerprints to the system, so we can put the keys away for good.¡± Jan set down his backpack, took off his hat, and walked over. Ynda scanned her fingerprint first, then grabbed his finger to add his. Once they were done, a voice prompt confirmed both owners¡® fingerprints were sessfully registered. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 : 76 55 vouchers Ynda winced a little¨Cthat voice prompt sounded kinda suggestive. She took a deep breath, pushing away the strange thoughts creeping into her mind. ¡°Ian,¡± she called, keeping her voice steady. ¡°You like boxing, right? I¡¯ll grab a heavy bag and pro gloves. Pick any room and make it your mini gym.¡± The vi had plenty of space. He¡¯d be alone here, free to do whatever he wanted. ¡°Ynda,¡± he called out suddenly. It caught her off guard. ¡°Hmm?¡± she replied, realizing it was the first time he¡¯d called her by her first name. ¡°I¡¯ll buy my own. Keep your money.¡± ¡®Is he trying to save me money? Never figured someone so quiet could be this thoughtful, Ynda thought. For a second, she didn¡¯t know what to say. Now she understood why guys went crazy when a girl looked out for their wallet. Such souls were so pure that the others just couldn¡¯t help but be kind to them. On a whim, Ynda pulled out her phone and ordered a few pairs of boxing gloves and a heavy¨Cduty punching bag. Then she turned to Ian. ¡°They¡¯ll deliver this afternoon. You can set them up. Filming starts the day after tomorrow, so heal up fast. And you should¡¯ve called mest night.¡± As she spoke, she pulled out her phone to check messages and saw one from Sean: [Is your talent in trouble? Heard some gossip this morning¨CMr. Sinir stepped in for Sophie.] Ynda¡¯d had a hunch, and now it was confirmed. Anger flickered in her chest. She turned to Ian, her voice sharp with suspicion. ¡°You know who did thisst night?¡± Jan stayed silent. He dropped his gaze, quietly sorting through his stuff. Looks like those guys introduced themselvesst night,¡® Ynda thought. She fixed her gaze onn, her voice serious. n, whatever happens, you have to tell me. If you keep this up, I¡¯ll be really mad.¡± Jan looked up at her, whispering, ¡°I don¡¯t want to put you in a tough spot.¡± Then he dropped his gaze and went back to organizing his things. Tan¡¯s way too touchy. He probably sensed how rocky things were between me and Charles. He was worried that if I found out Charles was behind all this. I¡¯d lose it and our already shaky marriage would fall apart, Ynda thought, understanding. ¡°Listen,¡± she said, her voice firm, ¡°you might end up being my cash cow someday. Charles is 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 not half as important as you.¡± 76 EX 55 vouchers 22 : 76 55 vouchers Ynda stormed off, fuming inside. Now that Charles could pull dirty moves for Sophie, she could fight back for Ian. Just then, her phone rang¨Cit was Sean. ¡°Tessa,¡± he said. ¡°The execs over at Starlight Entertainment just told me you gotta apologize to Sophie. Bet that¡¯s Mr. Sinir¡¯s call.¡± A man making his wife apologize to his mistress was totally crazy. Sean, who had known Ynda for years, couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Sinir¡¯s really something else.¡± Ynda let out augh. She saw Charles clearly now¨Ctotal pro at acting devoted, except when it came to his first love. ¡°Sean, I¡¯ll take care of it. Thanks for the heads¨Cup.¡± Sean sighed and hung up. Ynda kept driving, plotting how to make Sophie pay, when bam¨Csomeone rear¨Cended her, and it was Sophie. Sophie was in a shy sports car, sunsses perched on her nose. When she saw she¡¯d hit a 600¨Cthousand¨Cdor Porsche, she let out a smirk. Her manager whispered, ¡°Stay in the car. You¡¯re famous now¨Cmedia¡¯s everywhere. I¡¯ll deal with this.¡± Sophie rolled her eyes. ¡°Okay. Make them pay. This car¡¯s a gift from Charles.¡± The manager cringed. They¡¯d rear¨Cended the other car, and it was totally their fault¨Chow could they ask for money? Ynda got out and recognized the manager, her brow furrowing. Spotting Ynda through the car window, Sophie took off her sunsses and rolled the window down. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Tessa,¡± she said¡ªshe¡¯d heard her name from someone. Sophie then pulled out apact to touch up her makeup, looking way too pleased with herself as she asked, ¡°By the way, how¡¯s that talent? Heard he¡¯s moving to Zack¡¯s team. Think he¡¯s even in shape to film right now? ¡°I told you not to cross me. I haven¡¯t forgotten that p you gave me. Apologize and bark like a dog for an hour, and I¡¯ll let your talent off the hook. Otherwise, his luck would run out for good next time.¡± Ynda smiled, pulled out her phone, and started typing. Sophie¡¯s manager rushed over. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, let¡¯s work this out. You know if you tick off Mr. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 : ¡­ : Sinir, your career could go up in smoke, right?¡± 20 E55 vouchers For more chapters visit find[?]ovel Ynda didn¡¯t even nce at him. She snapped a pic of Sophie and sent it to a paparazzo she knew. She¡¯d even got the headline ready: [Famous Actress Rear¨Cends Car and Harasses the Victim.] Ynda wasn¡¯t someone to mess with, especially not when she was still fired up getting hurt. If Sophie wanted a fight, Ynda was ready to show her who¡¯d end down harder. about Ian up knocked The paparazzo moved fast. He posted the photo on a Twitter ount with 10 million. followers, even dropping the exact crash location. As soon as the post went live, Ynda saw the notification, hailed a cab, and took off. Sophie scoffed, figuring Ynda was just scared. She slid her sunsses back on and said impatiently, ¡°She¡¯s gone. Let¡¯s bounce.¡± No sooner had she spoken than cars swarmed them, and cameras started shing. The manager¡¯s face went pale. He grabbed his phone, pulled up Instagram, and saw the post had already racked up thousands ofments in minutes. ¡°Oh no, this is a total disaster,¡± he cried. Sophie¡¯s car was stuck in the middle, boxed in. She flushed bright red, tears spilling down her cheeks as anger coiled in her chest. Back home, Ynda scrolled through the news. Sophie had been escorted away by cops- fined, and publicly called out for blocking traffic. She found it funny and let out augh. But when she looked up, she froze¨CRenee was staring at her, curious. ¡®Why¡¯s Renee at Moonbay Estate today?¡® she wondered. Renee was big into celebrity gossip, so she couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°You saw the trending stuff, right? You know Sophie?¡± Ynda¡¯s smile dimmed a little. ¡°No. Do you?¡± Guilt flickered in Renee¡¯s eyes¨Cshe knew Sophie was Charles¡¯s secret fling. He¡¯d even taken Sophie on business trips, and Renee had gotten a car to keep quiet. Still, she shook her head. ¡°Nope, never heard of her. Why would I know some movie star?¡± A sarcastic glint shed in Ynda¡¯s eyes. ¡®I used to be so naive, she thought. ¡®Everyone knows Charles is cheating, and they¡¯re all covering him.¡¯ 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 76 55 vouchers Renee leaned back, looking every bit the spoiled rich girl. ¡°That face mask you made mest time worked great. Whip up some more.¡± She said it like it was no big deal. She figured Ynda worked for the Sinirs, and this was just part of her job. Ynda bent down to change her shoes by the entryway, staying silent. Renee had super sensitive skin. She¡¯d seen tons of dermatologists, but none of them helped. She ended up allergic to most skincare products. Back when Ynda was head over heels for Charles, she¡¯d cared about every Sinir. She¡¯d dug into skincare research and made those masks just for Renee. They worked, so Renee kepting back whenever she ran out. Only then did Renee ever soften her tone. Any other time, her words were sharp, full of jabs. Ynda wasn¡¯t made of steel; those words definitely stung. But back then, just one tiny bit of kindness from Charles, and she¡¯d brush it all off, forgive and forget. Now, she¡¯d seen it clearly¨Cher ce in the Sinir household was no better than a servant¡¯s. She headed for the stairs, muttering, ¡°I forgot how to make it.¡± Renee, who had been sitting with an air of arrogance, shot to her feet. ¡°What are you talking about? You made that recipe up yourself. How could you forget? You just don¡¯t want to, do you?¡± Ynda kept going up the stairs, pretending not to hear. Renee swiped the cups off the coffee table, fuming. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for these damn face masks, I¡¯d have already pushed Charles to divorce this bitch by now,¡® she thought. ¡®He never even liked her anyway! AD Comment Send gift No Ads 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 Chapter 23 ¡­ 76 Titan 23 Chapter 23 ¡­ 76 E55 vouchers Ynda went upstairs and hopped online to dig up info. Using some old contacts, she found a perfect role for Ian. Coincidentally, it was in a TV show directed by Charles¡¯s aunt, Simone Sinir. Simone was a big¨Ctime director. The entertainmentpanies under the Sinir Group were actually all her doing. Charles had zero interest in that side of the business. And Simone was crazy talented. She cranked out one hit project a year, and she was famous all over the country by now. Her TV show this year was in pre¨Cproduction, and they were casting the male lead. If Ian nabbed that part, it could really boost his profile. Ynda stared at the name ¡°Simone.¡± She¡¯d never talked to this aunt¨Cinw. Simone¡¯s almost always overseas shooting, hardly ever home. ¡®I have to get Ian this role,¡® Ynda thought. She stretched, and only then did she realize she¡¯d been glued to the documents for over four hours. When she stood up to move, she noticed a maid lingering by the door. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, the Sinir manor called. They want you over for dinner tonight¡ªit¡¯s Ms. Simone Sinir¡¯s birthday,¡± the maid said. Ynda quickly grabbed clothes to change. ¡°Has Charlese back yet?¡± The maid looked away. ¡°He said you should head over first. Meet him at the Sinir manor.¡± Ynda got it. Sophie had made a total fool of herself that afternoon. Chances were, Charles was busy coddling her right now. A bitterugh shed in Ynda¡¯s eyes. She finished getting dressed and grabbed the emerald ne Charles had given her for their first anniversary. It was worth over three million dors, and she¡¯d use it as a birthday gift. The rich wives in their crowd were obsessed with emerald, That hint of green screamed luxury¨Cwhoever got a nice piece would unt it everywhere. When Ynda first got the ne, she was so moved that she¡¯d cried. She thought Charles had finallye around and cared about her. Looking back now, it wasughable. Charles had money to burn¨Che¡¯d just tossed her that extra trinket to keep her docile at home. She figured she deserved being stuck in this mess. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 Ynda took a deep breath and stashed the emerald ne away. 76 55 vouchers The maid noticed and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°That ne was from Mr. Sinir for yourst anniversary, wasn¡¯t it? With your second oneing up¡­¡± Ynda headed down the stairs, her voice steady. ¡°Doubt he even remembers what he gave.¡± The maid went quiet. It was true that Charles couldn¡¯t care less about his wife. Ynda didn¡¯t bother calling Charles. She hopped in her car and drove straight to the Sinir manor. Stepping into the hall, she spotted Wyatt right away, sitting right in the middle of the sofa. Simone was off to the side, chatting with someone. Tonight was Simone¡¯s birthday. Just days ago, she¡¯d snagged a Best Director award. But instead of partying with people from the industry, she¡¯d opted for a family dinner. Fresh chapters posted on find~novel Everyone knew Simone was proud. Born into money and status, she brushed off all the sleaze in the film industry. Only the absolute best got to call her a friend. Simone was thirty¨Cfived. She didn¡¯t dress like the typical wealthy youngdy. Instead, she wore a crisp work outfit that made her look sharp and professional, with shoulder¨Clength hair. She nced at Ynda, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes. Then she smiled, ¡°This is Ynda, right?¡± Wyatt nodded, leaning on his cane, and said to Ynda, ¡°Flora¡¯s waiting upstairs. Her back¡¯s acting up again, and only your massages help.¡± Ynda pressed her lips together, then spoke politely to Simone. ¡°Happy birthday, and here¡¯s the gift. ¡°I was gonna keep it, but I just don¡¯t pull it off right. It¡¯ll look better on you. You two talk¡ªI¡¯ll go check on Flora upstairs.¡± With that, Ynda leaned forward and ced the emerald ne¡¯s gift box on the coffee table. Simone watched theposed Ynda, a little smile of approval flickering in her eyes. She turned to Wyatt. ¡°Dad, Ynda¡¯s a good kid. She¡¯s been sweet to all of us these past two years. Heard she even made a face mask for Rence. Tell Charles to treat her right.¡± Charles was the Sinir heir¨Ctop of the heap. But no matter how he looked down on a woman¡¯s affection, he shouldn¡¯t trample on it. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 76 55 vouchers Wyatt chuckled, ¡°Kids work things out on their own. Why stress? Charles is killing it with the business. Naturally, he¡¯d never waste time on women. He¡¯ll settle down when he¡¯s ready.¡± Simone frowned. Grown up in this circle, she knew the old¨Ctimer¡¯s deep¨Cdown bias toward men¨Cit was like some ancient habit. As a director in the entertainment industry, she knew closing that gender gap took a hundred times the work. But she wasn¡¯t gonna argue with her dad over Ynda. ***** Ynda headed upstairs. Through the curtains, she caught a whiff of herbal medicine. Flora had been in poor health for years, and she¡¯d seen countless traditional doctors over the years. Hearing the footsteps at the door, she called out, ¡°Ynda? That you?¡± A maid hurried over and pulled back the curtain. Ynda walked in and sat gently on the edge of the bed, keeping her posture respectful. ¡°Heard your back¡¯s bothering you again, and came to massage it for you,¡± she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s Aunt Simone¡¯s birthday today¨Cyou¡¯ll be going down for dinner soon. So, let me work on your legs.¡± No one in the Sinir family really liked Ynda. The night she first married into the family, she came to meet Flora, and her words back then were brutally harsh. She had said, ¡°Landing a spot in the Sinirs is your lucky break. How Charles treats you is his call. The Grants taught you proper manners, I hope¨Cso I won¡¯t waste breath. ¡°Respect your elders, your husband, the kids. Slip up, and Charles can kick you out anytime.¡± Back then, Ynda¡¯d nodded nervously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make things work with Charles. We¡¯ll have a steady life.¡± Thinking back now, it felt like a lifetime ago¨Cheavy with sadness. If she hadn¡¯t learned the truth, she¡¯d still be trapped between the Grants and Sinirs, no way out. Ynda took a slow breath and started softly massaging Flora¡¯s legs. ¡°Has Charles talked to you about having kids yet?¡± Flora suddenly asked, lying back on the bed with her eyes closed. The room smelled of sandalwood fragrance. Emerald beads circled her wrists, a ring on her finger¨Cshe looked both regal and unyielding. 11:34 Wed, Sep 10 .::. 76 55 vouchers ¡°He said we¡¯ll wait in a few years,¡± Ynda replied. The Sinir family loomed over her like a shadow. Until she could get away, she had to y by their rules. ¡°Tsk. Let¡¯s hope you¡¯re not barren,¡± Flora said. AD Titan 24 Chapter 24 76 65 vouchers Ynda froze for a second. Once, ament like that would¡¯ve cut deep, but now she stayed calm. ¡°Having kids is all up to Charles. I¡¯ll go with whatever he wants,¡± she said. Her obedience seemed to rx Flora. ¡°Good you get that,¡± Flora smiled. ¡°Take care of Charles, and we¡¯ll treat you right.¡± Ynda said nothing, just kept massaging Flora¡¯s legs. After half an hour, she lowered her head and moved to Flora¡¯s back. She¡¯d spent two years learning traditional massage, all to keep Flora happy. ?????? ???? Find_Novel(. Flora finally sat up, satisfied. ¡°You¡¯re good at this. Where¡¯d you learn? C¡¯mon, let¡¯s go down.¡± Ynda bent down and picked up the shoes by the bed for Flora. Then she followed Flora out. When they reached downstairs, Flora frowned, ¡°Charles still not here?¡± Ynda thought, ¡®Maybe he¡¯s tangled up in Sophie¡¯s sheets.¡¯ Flora spun around, her voice sharp. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe with him?¡± ¡°Granny, he¡¯s swamped with work. I didn¡¯t want to bug him about it,¡± Ynda replied. At this point, Flora couldn¡¯t really say anything more. She just pressed her lips together and sat off to the side. Ynda saw Simone checking out the flowers in the garden and hurried over. ¡°Aunt Simone,¡± she called. Simone nodded in response, then nced through the window at Wyatt and Flora in the room. She thought, ¡®Mom¡¯s always favored sons over daughters. Ynda¡¯s probably gotten her fair share of the short end of the stick. But the Grant women sure know how to stay quiet and humble. Ynda began straightforwardly, ¡°Aunt Simone, I heard you¡¯re working on a new TV series. Found your lead actor yet?¡± Simone narrowed her eyes, surprised by the direct question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a housewife? Got someone to rmend?¡± ¡°Housewives live off their husbands,¡± Ynda smiled. ¡°I wanna start my studio, and I¡¯ve got a talent who¡¯d be perfect for this role. Can you give me a shot?¡± 18 yourbers Ynda was quite perceptive. Simone was proud, but she hated seeing capable women stuck at home. Beforeing, she¡¯d watched Simone¡¯s interviews. Simone had said she wanted more women to thrive in the industry. Simone wasn¡¯t like the other Sinirs, or maybe just different from most women. Men ran most businesses, most everything. For a woman to make it, she had to fight through all the sexism. Simone was Flora¡¯s youngest kid. Back then, because she wasn¡¯t a boy, she never got the love. That made her real independent¨Cmaybe even a little self¨Cabsorbed. So, Ynda figured it was best to be straight with Simone about the role. Simone couldn¡¯t stand girls who acted all meek. She respected ambition. A woman with ambition still has hope. But if she was just living for her husband, that was a dead end. Simone hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Ynda before¨Cnever cared to dig deeper. But now, she cracked a smile. ¡°Y¡¯know, if the Grants heard that, they¡¯d give you a hard time.¡± Ynda dropped her gaze. ¡°I only dared say it because I saw your interviews. You said women should reach high, and I wanna try.¡± Simone was the rebel. High society looked down on showbiz, but she¡¯d dived right in anyway. She was shocked again. She¡¯d always thought Ynda was quiet¨Cnever guessed she¡¯d watched those crazy interviews, let alone taken them to heart. She patted Ynda¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Just for what you said, I¡¯ll give you this chance. You¡¯ve got my number¨Cbring your talent directly to me. But keep this quiet, especially around the old folks. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be in real trouble.¡± After all, the Grant family only married women to be full¨Ctime housewives. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Does Charles let you work?¡± ¡°He¡¯s cheating. He doesn¡¯t care what I do anymore.¡± Simone couldn¡¯t help but cough, her emotionsplex. She¡¯d known Charles was cheating for a while¨Cshe was his aunt, after all. But she didn¡¯t expect Ynda to be this calm now. She used to be head over heels for him. 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 Every time she visited the Sinirs, her eyes stayed glued to him. 76 E55 vouchers And Charles had hidden his girlfriend so well¨Chow¡¯d Ynda, that once¨Cblind fool, find out? ¡°You¡¯re not gonna say anything to him, right?¡± Ynda asked. Simone found the whole situation pretty amusing. Charles thought he¡¯d covered his tracks perfectly, but Ynda had known all along and didn¡¯t even seem to care¨Chad she stopped loving him? ¡®Charles¡¯s so sure he¡¯s fooling Ynda, but little does he know who will end up outsmarting whom,¡® Simone thought. She could hardly wait to see how this mess yed out. ¡°Nope,¡± she grinned. Just then, the living room door swung open. Charles strolled in, decked out in a sharp suit, and made a beeline for Flora. ¡°Grandma, feeling any better?¡± he asked. Flora spotted a lipstick smudge on his cuff and swatted at it. ¡°Fool around outside all you want, but don¡¯t bring the evidence home. ¡°Ynda loves you to death. I don¡¯t wanna deal with the day she finds out and throws a fit¨Cno peace then. I like her massages, but I don¡¯t need to hear her crying about you.¡± Charles smiled and passed her a coffee. ¡°Grandma, she barely leaves the house¨Chow would she find out? Even if she did, she¡¯d just cry by herself and beg me not to go. I¡¯d smooth it over easily.¡± Flora took the cup and sighed. ¡®Charles is loving on the surface, but ice¨Ccold underneath- hard to say if that¡¯s a good thing. If he stayed that way forever, fine. But if he ever fell hard for someone¨Ccrazy in love, like Ynda is¨Cthen our family would be in real trouble. But then she realized Charles was their golden boy¨Calways on top, never failing. Even when his first love dumped him, his ego kept him from chasing after her. Born with a silver spoon, he¡¯d never oncepromised for a woman. Finally, Flora said, ¡°Do what you think is best. I¡¯m just giving you a heads up.¡± Just then, Ynda and Simone walked in from the garden. Ynda¡¯s face lit up when she saw Charles. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re here!¡± Charles nced at her, shing a quick smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. He patted her 76 55 vouchers head absently and mumbled ¡°hmm¡± before sitting down and firing off some flirty texts to Sophic. Çú Titan 25 Ynda textedn to ask what time he was going to the set tomorrow. He replied right away: [10 AM. Youing?] Ynda felt a bit better. In the suffocating Sinir family, chatting with Ian was surprisingly rxing. [I¡¯ll be there. Is your boxing room all set up?] she replied. Ian sent a photo a minuteter. It showed a 1000¨Csquare¨Cfoot space with one punching bag standing on the floor and a few more hanging from the ceiling. He was in a ck short¨Csleeve, one hand slipped into a ck boxing glove. Even from the picture, Ynda could see the veins in his arm, subtle but noticeable. Ynda¡¯s lips twitched into a small smile. If Ian got that lead role in Simone¡¯s show, his career would take off for sure. ?????? ???? ?ovelFind Charles¡® voice cut in from beside her, ¡°Who you texting?¡± Ynda tightened her grip on the phone for a split second, then set it down casually. ¡°Megan, my partner at the studio,¡± she said tly. ¡°She had a car ident a couple days ago. I¡¯m just checking in.¡± Charles poked her cheek with a finger. ¡°Smiling that soft for her?¡± ¡®I smiled softly? No, that was an ambitious grin,¡® Ynda thought. Still, she put on a tender smile, though she couldn¡¯t care less about him. ¡°I smile like that for you too, honey,¡± she said. As they held each other¡¯s gaze, Flora interrupted, ¡°Since you two are so close, when are you gonna think about kids? Charles, you¡¯re twenty¨Ceight¨Ctime to start thinking about it.¡± Charles¡¯s smile faltered. He took Ynda¡¯s hand,cing their fingers together. ¡°Ynda¡¯s health isn¡¯t the best. We¡¯ll talk about it in a few years.¡± ¡®He doesn¡¯t want kids, but he used me as a shield. Bet Flora will now think I can¡¯t have babies, Ynda thought. Sure enough, Flora¡¯s face soured. She turned to the butler beside her, ordering, ¡°Arrange a full checkup for Ynda. See if there¡¯s something wrong with her womb.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Sinir,¡± the butler replied. Ynda tensed, anger flickering for a second as she nced at Charles. Charles stayed cool, calmn as ever. ¡°Grandma, no need for that. She¡¯s just on the delicate side. 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 : Pregnancy might make her worse. Let¡¯s wait.¡± : 76 55 vouchers Flora¡¯s face was stone¨Ccold. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she married to have kids? It¡¯s been two years¨Cnothing. Wait much longer, and the other woman might beat her to it.¡± Ynda dropped her gaze, thinking, ¡®Fine. Let the other woman have his kid. Sophie¡¯d jump at the chance.¡® But when she looked up, her face was all worry. ¡°Honey, I can handle it. Let¡¯s try tonight. Honestly, I want a baby too.¡± Charles¡¯s expression clouded over. Flora let out a relieved breath, pleased Ynda was being ¡°sensible.¡± She smiled, ¡°I have some special wine. Take a bottle home tonight. It¡¯ll help you get pregnant in two weeks, guaranteed.¡± Charles said nothing, slowly letting go of Ynda¡¯s hand. She could tell that he was repulsed. After dinner, as Charles and Ynda prepared to leave, Flora had someone fetch a bottle of her special wine, which was packed with god¨Cknows¨Cwhat ¡°fertility supplements.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and she looked up with a smile. ¡°Grandma, one bottle might not be enough. Could you get a few more? Charles¡­¡± She paused, seeming to hold back the rest. Flora¡¯s face shifted. She quickly ordered someone to fetch five more bottles. These were packed with heavy¨Cduty stuff, the kind that¡¯d make even a sterile man to a brothel. Simone hid a smirk from the side. ¡®Ynda¡¯s got some nerve, she thought. Charles stood by the car, jaw tight. He didn¡¯t say yes or no¨Cjust stayed quiet. Ynda hurried to the guys carrying the wine. ¡°Stick those in the trunk, please. Thanks,¡± she said. Then she nced at Simone. Simone made a phone gesture, signaling they¡¯d connectter. Ynda nodded, then climbed into the car with Charles. They didn¡¯t head to Moonbay Estate. Instead, they drove to Muse Club. It was the spot for rich kids, a fancy bar that burned cash. Members only, no randoms allowed. Charles unbuttoned the top of his cor, clearly ticked about those five bottles of special wine. ¡°Why here?¡± Ynda¡¯s lips curved a little. He actually brought her out tonight¨Chow ¡°generous.¡± Charles hauled her into hisp. ¡°You think I can¡¯t perform because I¡¯ve been ignoring you?¡± Ynda¡¯s face flickered, but quickly she collected herself. ¡°Honey, I want a baby. But you keep : 55 vouchers shutting me down¨Cwhat else was I supposed to do?¡± she murmured, her voice dripping with false sweetness. Charles dropped the act, gripping her chin. ¡°Ynda, you remember the rule? No baby for you.¡± Ynda looked down, silent. Charles softened his voice. ¡°It¡¯s just a kid. I¡¯ll make it up to you another way.¡± Ynda looked at him. ¡°Really? Then I want an agent, Tessa Gilbert.¡± Charles frowned. That name rang a bell. Ynda continued, ¡°I want to sign her to my studio. Since I can¡¯t be in the spotlight, she¡¯ll front for me. I checked her out¨Cshe¡¯s good. She can get resources from Starlight Entertainment for me.¡± To Charles, this was small potatoes. At least it was better than her going on about a baby. He looked toward the front and called, ¡°Jack.¡± Jack answered right away, respectful. ¡°I¡¯ll let the execs at Starlight Entertainment know ASAP.¡°¡± Charles nodded, patted Ynda¡¯s cheek, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t pull this kind of stunt again. Grandma¡¯s getting old and might actually believe you.¡± Ynda dropped her gaze, acting docile. ¡°Got it. My bad tonight.¡± Jack almost spoke up¨CTessa had ticked off Sophie. But with Ynda asking and Charles agreeing, he kept his mouth shut. He was just an outsider, and he knew better than to get involved. Finally, Yndanded a legitimate chance to use ¡°Tessa Gilbert¡± in public. This was just the first step, and by the time Charles figured it out, it¡¯d be way toote. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 Titan 26 55 vouchers Ynda and Charles headed to Muse Club¡¯s private room. Halfway there, he stopped to take a call, so she continued toward the door. Before she could reach for the handle, she heard Max Shaw¡¯s voice. ¡°Guess who Charles is bringing tonight¨CSophie? Or that CEO he hooked up with that one night?¡± Max was Charles¡¯s buddy, an heir to the Shaw family, and he loved watching drama unfold. Quinn Cooper leaned back, snickering. ¡°I¡¯ll put a bottle of Golden Legend on it¨Che¡¯s bringing Ynda.¡± Max was confused. ¡°Why her? He hasn¡¯t taken Ynda out in forever.¡± ¡°Samuel¡¯s here tonight,¡± Quinn replied. ¡®No way Charles would bring a fling in front of his brother¨Cinw.¡± Ynda¡¯s fingers froze on the door. ¡®So, they all know Charles is cheating on me. I¡¯ve been a joke this whole time,¡® she thought bitterly. Max took a sip of his drink, swirling the ss. ¡°Samuel¡¯s something else, nailing thatnd deal. Word isnd¡¯s owner, Lucas Zimmerman, turned down cash, turned down a house¨Chow¡¯d he even pull that off?¡± Quinn said, ¡°You¡¯re missing the angle. Lucas wouldn¡¯t budge because his wife vanished ten years back. He was scared she wouldn¡¯t find her way home if he moved. ¡°When Samuel started after thatnd, he sent people to track her down. Lucky break¨Cthey found her. Now Samuel¡¯s the only one Lucas will sell to.¡± Lucas had gotten lucky¨Chis family held onto thatnd for years, never selling. They¡¯d even built a big house and a little farm there. That plot ofnd was right in the middle of the government¡¯s most lucrative development ns. And the city started talking about developing the area six months back. But Lucas just wouldn¡¯t budge. Plenty of folks in Beloris had their eyes on that plot. But Lucas was blocking everything. No one could agree on a price, and he wouldn¡¯t back down, not one bit. But Samuel managed to seal the deal recently. He¡¯d got no problem swallowing his pride if it got him what he wanted. Now Charles had to team up with him to tackle that project, so bringing Ynda along made perfect sense. After hearing every word through the door, Ynda pushed it open. : 76 E55 vouchers Spotting her, Max exchanged a nce with Quinn. ¡®Damn, Quinn¡¯s bet is spot¨Con,¡® he thought. Quinn raised an eyebrow and gged down the manager of the club to send over a bottle of Golden Legend. Ynda acted like she hadn¡¯t heard their little wager. She slid into a seat next to Charles¡¯s- just like always¨Cquiet, waiting. Max twirled his ss, thinking to himself, ¡® No wonder Charles isn¡¯t into her, even though she¡¯s so pretty. She¡¯s way too submissive. Young guys don¡¯t go for the goody¨Cgoody type.¡¯ Quinn popped the cork on the Golden Legend and poured Ynda a ss, teasing, ¡°Well, well -look who¡¯s out to y. Come alone? Not glued to Charles¡¯s side today?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be here in a sec,¡± Ynda said, pushing the ss back. ¡°I¡¯m not drinking.¡± Quinn leaned in, grinning. ¡°Ynda, you¡¯re way too nice. Good thing you¡¯re hitched to Charles. With how sweet you are, some other guy¡¯d walk all over you otherwise.¡± ¡®Liars. All of them¨Csupposedly Charles¡¯s best friends,¡® Ynda sneered silently. She stered on a fake smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m married now. Staying loyal to my husband is what matters.¡± Quinn sighed to himself, ¡®Totally a buzzkill.¡® Just then, the private room door swung open, and in walked Charles and Samuel. Samuel was thest one to join this group, and he never really clicked with the others. The group had looked down on him. Everyone in their circle knew the Grants had built their wealth by exploiting women. They didn¡¯t think the sole Grant heir was any different. But he had blown up in recent years. Before anyone knew it, he¡¯d be a total up¨Cand- . Samuel stood next to Charles, maintaining his serious expression. Ynda jumped to her feet to greet him. She¡¯d met him once at the Grant residence, but back then she¡¯d been standing in the yard, being punished. Samuel nodded, holding out a hairclip. Ynda froze. ¡°Picked it up at the mall on the way over,¡± Samuel said. The clip was covered in real diamonds, sparkly and totally girly. She dropped her gaze, took it, and clipped it into her hair. ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured. 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 ¡­ 76 55 vouchers Samuel nodded and sat down. The second he did, the easy vibe in the room vanished. Charles stayed quiet, his eyes locked on Ynda¡¯s head. The small smile on his lips faded a little. This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Ynda was adopted by the Grants¨Cno blood rtion to Samuel. But like most guys, Charles was territorial. He hated when anyone invaded his turf and even left a mark. He slid an arm around Ynda¡¯s waist, leaned in, and kissed her cheek. ¡°If you like stuff like this, I¡¯ll take you shopping before we get home.¡± Samuel picked up a cup¨Cthe one Quinn had poured for Ynda, which she hadn¡¯t touched. He took a sip, then said, ¡°She¡¯s been your wife for two years, and you never bought her a hairclip before?¡± Charles¡¯s smile stiffened. His eyes turned cold. Ynda suppressed a smile. She was scared of Samuel, but he had one major advantage¨Che was brutally direct, just like at work, always cutting straight to the point. Watching Charles squirm felt good. Still, she stepped in, sweet as could be. ¡°Samuel, Charles has given me tons of gifts. I just don¡¯t like wearing them.¡± Samuel fixed her with a stern, fatherly look. ¡°A youngdy ought to act like one. The Sinirs have money, so why aren¡¯t you wearing any jewelry?¡± Charles set down his cup. ¡°Are you here to grill me, Samuel? I¡¯ve been married to Ynda for two years, and I¡¯ve never mistreated her. Besides, you know how Grant women are. Simple, no frills¨Cthat¡¯s just her style.¡± Ynda dropped her gaze, feeling a sharp pang in her chest. She did love those things, but Grant family rules frowned on shy jewelry. Max jumped in to smooth things over. ¡°C¡¯mon, Samuel, Charles treats Ynda well, and we all see it. No need to worry¨Che¡¯s not chasing after other women.¡± Samuel never paid much attention to gossip; he was too straightced. He had no idea Charles was seeing Sophie. But even if he had known, he would¡¯ve kept quiet for the sake of keeping the peace. His concern for Ynda only went so far. The mood lightened a little. Max brought up thend deal, and they moved on to business talk. Ynda tuned out for a bit, but she caught the gist: With thisnd, Samuel¡¯s standing as a new¨Cmoney big shot would only get stronger. 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 Chapter 27 Titan 27 Charles had a little to drink tonight. He propped his head on one hand and nced at the hairclip in her hair. It looked nice¨Csurprising,ing from someone as uptight as Samuel. He reached over, pulled it out, and tossed it into a tight corner of the car, before Ynda got a chance to stop him. ¡°We¡¯ve got tons of these at home,¡± he said. Ynda stayed quiet, just staring out the window. Charles could shower his other women with cars and houses, but she couldn¡¯t take a gift from another man¨Call about his stupid pride. Ynda wasn¡¯t good at fighting with Charles, and there wasn¡¯t much point. The car pulled up to Moonbay Estate. Charles watched as she got out and headed upstairs without a word. He paused, raising an eyebrow. ¡°This little softie has a temper now?¡® he thought, a spark of interest flickering in his eyes as he told Jack, ¡°Go buy a bunch more of those hairclips.¡± Jack didn¡¯t ask why. After all, Charles had always done whatever he wanted. ***** Read full story at F?ndNovel Ynda went back to the guest room. She sprayed her ankle again with the stuff Ian had given her. Suddenly, she heard footsteps at the door and looked up to find Charles there. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes scanning the room¨Cthe farthest from the master bedroom, and pretty small. She grabbed the pajamas nearby, ready to head to the shower. He caught her arm and asked, ¡°Where are you going to do?¡± He scooped her up in his arms and headed for the bed, his voice calm and even. ¡°We¡¯ll wash up after. Ynda almost scoffed. ¡®He was with Sophie this morning, and he still has energy left for this tonight?¡® she thought. In two years of marriage, Charles rarely touched her. He liked women who were fiery in bed. But Ynda was stuck in her little box of rules¨Cwhen things got too intense, she only dared to beg softly, never bold like Sophic. ¡°I don¡¯t feel good today. I don¡¯t want to, Ynda mumbled. She burrowed under the covers, her face cold. Once, when Charles came on to her, her eyes would¡¯ve lit up with love. But not 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 anymore. : 76 55 vouchers Charles sat on the edge of the bed and tilted her chin up. ¡°It¡¯s just a hair clip. Why are you this upset?¡± Ynda dropped her gaze, hesitated, and then looped her arms around his neck. ¡°After this, will you leave again for work?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, feeling an unexpected softness in his chest. ¡°I¡¯ll stay home with you tonight.¡± The words barely left his mouth when his phone rang¨CSophie was calling. Ynda slowly let go, her voice t. ¡°Must be work. Go answer it.¡± Charles stood and grabbed the phone. Sophie¡¯s sugary voice poured out. ¡°Charles, I sent you some pics. Take a look¨Cyou like them?¡± Charles nced down, swiping through the photos. Sophie was posing in provocative shots, wearing that outfit he¡¯d bought her. A text popped up from Sophie: [I¡¯ll wait two hours, but that¡¯s it. I had a rough scare today and wanna crash early.] Charles smirked. ¡®Sophie¡¯s little games are kind of cute¨Cway better than the boring Ynda,¡® he thought. He grabbed his coat and turned to Ynda. ¡°Heading to an overseas meeting. I had Jack pick up that hair clip for you. Get some rest.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t say a thing. Only after Charles left did she pull out her phone. She had two SIM cards¨Cone she barely used, and Charles didn¡¯t know a thing about it. She messaged Sean asking for Sophie¡¯s contact info, then sent her a friend request on WhatsApp. Sophie had just sent Charles those photos, sure he¡¯d swing by that night. Feeling pretty pleased with herself, she saw the friend request pop up. The note read: [Charles¡¯s wife.] Sophie was momentarily startled, but quickly she collected herself. ¡®Charles¡¯s wife has no clout at home. This was the perfect opportunity to push her out,¡® she thought. She epted the request and waited for Ynda to speak first. But Ynda simply added Sophie¨Cshe could be useful¨Cand then went to take a shower calmly. 11:35 Wed, Sep 10 76 55 vouchers Sophie waited until Charles showed up, and still nothing came through on her phone. ¡®Looks like this so¨Ccalled Mrs. Sinir is a total pushover,¡¯ she thought with a smirk. As soon as Charles walked in, she jumped into his arms. They didn¡¯t slow down till midnight. Half¨Casleep, she watched him get dressed. ¡°Charles? You leaving?¡± she asked. Charles nodded. ¡°Yeah. Be good. Don¡¯t pull a stunt like this morning again.¡± Tears welled in Sophie¡¯s eyes as she wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°It¡¯s all Tessa¡¯s fault. Can you handle her for me?¡± Charles paused¨Cthat name again. He remembered that earlier, Ynda had mentioned Tessa, wanting to sign her to her studio. He¡¯d agreed without thinking. He handed Sophie a bank card with three million on it and said, ¡°Tessa¡¯s Ynda¡¯s now. Leave her alone.¡± A sh of anger crossed Sophie¡¯s face¨Cshe knew Ynda was his wife. But she forced a smile. ¡°Got it. So Tessa really knows Mrs. Sinir. I thought she was lying about being friends with your wife. Sorry, Charles¨CI won¡¯t bother her anymore.¡± Charles loved howpliant she was outside the bedroom. He pinched her chin and kissed her. ¡°Good girl.¡± ***** Middle of the night, Ynda¡¯s phone buzzed with a message. Sophie¡¯d sent over some intimate shots of her and Charles. In the photos, Sophie¡¯s neck was covered in hickeys. Her freshly manicured hand rested on Charles¡¯s chest. The whole scene screamed how intense things had gotten between them. Ynda checked Sophie¡¯s Twitter. She¡¯d just posted: [He just left. From here, I can see the fireworks¨Ctonight¡¯s were real nice.] There was a blurry picture of a guy¡¯s shadow with it. Ynda figured the post was probably only visible to her, meant to provoke her. After thinking it over, she sent Sophie $30 and texted: [Thanks for the gig.1 Sophie thought she¡¯d won this round. But as she saw the $30 transfer and those four words, her blood started to boil. Fucking bitch! She¡¯s just as irritating as Tessa. I won¡¯t let either of them get off easy,¡® she fumed to herself. Titan 28 55 vouchers The next morning at eight sharp, Ynda arrived to pick Ian up. With fingerprint ess to his ce, she let herself in without a second thought. She set the breakfast she¡¯d brought on the kitchen counter. Their call time was ten, and with no signs of him downstairs, she knocked on the master bedroom door. ¡°Ian? You up?¡± she asked. To her surprise, the door wasn¡¯ttched, and her gentle push made it swing open. Ahead, the ensuite bathroom¡¯s sliding door stood slightly open, the sound of running water drifting out, along with low, muffled groans. Ynda froze. Through the steam, she caught a glimpse of Ian¨Chis toned frame, his head tilted back, and water sluicing down his body. She stumbled backward, her hip smacking into the dresser hard enough to make her wince. Ian¡¯s eyes flew open at the noise. Through the haze of the shower, he turned and spotted Ynda hovering in the doorway. Her face burned. She ducked her head and bolted. The water kept running. Ian¡¯s muscles tensed under the spray. He looked down and dragged a hand through his wet hair, droplets flying as he reached for a towel. After drying off, he caught his reflection in the fogged mirror: jaw clenched, and something too sharp to name flickering in his eyes. Downstairs, Ynda sat stiffly on the couch, her pulse still hammering. In all her life, she¡¯d never walked in on a man like that. Her skin burned, and her thoughts tangled into knots. She¡¯d always treated Ian as just her friend,pletely ignoring how charming he was. But the image of him, water¨Cslicked and sinfully built, burned behind her eyelids. She groaned, thumping her forehead with her palm. A movement in her periphery made Ynda nce up. Ian wasing downstairs, unusually quiet¨Cnot that he was ever talkative, but today, the silence felt deliberate. Like he was avoiding her after the bathroom incident. Heat prickled her neck. She scratched her cheek, staring at the floor. ¡°Hey, uh, sorry about before. I thought you¡¯d still be asleep. Didn¡¯t mean to walk in on you showering. Well, I¡¯ll drive you to the set. We¡¯ll leave by ten.¡± Ian just slid into a chair, shoulders rigid as he unpacked the breakfast she¡¯d brought without a word. : :>)) 76 55 vouchers Ynda took a steadying breath. ¡°Look, morning energy is totally normal. My bad for not calling first. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure you know before Ie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he cut in, voice low. She exhaled, relief loosening her shoulders. Then, almost against her will, a wry thought flickered through her mind. ¡®Twenty¨Cthree¨Cyear¨Colds and their endless stamina. Between his boxing routines, that unfairly perfect face, and¨Cwell¨Ceverything else, some lucky woman¡¯s going to have her hands full someday.¡¯ By now, Ynda had pulled herself together¨Chair neatly tied back, that fleeting blush long faded, her usual sweet¨Cbut¨Csharpposure firmly in ce. She slid into the chair beside him, watching as he picked at his food with deliberate slowness. An amused smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get you to the set.¡± Ian paused mid¨Cbite, his eyes flickering to hers like he wanted to say something. But after a beat, he just pressed his lips together and nodded. It wasn¡¯t until they were in the car that Ynda realized why he¡¯d hesitated. The film crew was shooting on location for a fantasy drama, which meant the first month of production would take ce almost entirely in the mountains. And the drive there would take a solid four hours at least. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Last night, when she¡¯d asked him about the schedule, he¡¯d been vague. And like an idiot, she¡¯d agreed without thinking it through. Ian buckled himself into the passenger seat, his voice carefully neutral. ¡°If it¡¯s too much trouble-¡± ?????? ???? find?novel The way he said it made it impossible for her to back out now. ¡°No trouble at all,¡± she cut in, forcing cheer into her tone. ¡°Pack whatever you need. I¡¯m your agent and assistant now, remember? This is literally my job.¡± A faint smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± Ynda leaned against the car, arms crossed, as she watched him haul out his suitcase and backpack. With his casual clothes and slightly tousled hair, he really did look like some college kid heading out on a trip. Ian tossed his bags into the backseat before sliding into the passenger side again. They were about to spend over four hours in the car, so when Ynda passed a convenience store, she pulled over to grab some snacks. She hadn¡¯t been out much these past two years, and as she drove, she couldn¡¯t help but notice 76 55 vouchers the changes along the roadside. Spring had painted the city in bursts of color, flowers blooming in patches she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°When did they nt all these? I don¡¯t remember this section being so¡­ floral,¡± she asked. ¡°Two years ago,¡± Ian said simply. Ynda pursed her lips, forcing a tight smile. Just then, her phone rang. She pulled over to answer it, catching a glimpse of Ian stepping out of the car in her periphery. It was the maid from Moonbay Estate. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, your wedding anniversary is the day after tomorrow. Should we decorate likest time?¡± Last year, Ynda had gone all out¨Ccandlelit dinners, fresh flowers, and the whole estate transformed into something out of a dream. But Charles never showed. He¡¯d imed it was for ast¨Cminute business trip, though sheter learned he¡¯d been with Sophie. All she got was an emerald ne sent in his absence. This year, he hadn¡¯t even mentioned the date. He must have forgotten, so she brushed it off. ¡°No,¡± she said tly. ¡°Should we still prepare the cake ingredients?¡± the maid asked. A bitter taste rose in her throat. Last year, she¡¯d spent weeks perfecting a homemade cake, even taking decorating sses just to get it right. But he didn¡¯te. Like so many other things¨Cmassages, creams, and borate meals¨Cshe¡¯d learned them all for him. And for what? He was never home. She just answered, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ll be busy. We¡¯ll discuss itter.¡± The maid hesitated. Last year, Ynda had started nning a month in advance, while now, she wouldn¡¯t even acknowledge it. The maid couldn¡¯t imagine what mattered more to Ynda than Charles. Ynda hung up, exhaling slowly as she leaned back in her seat. Funny how things changed. Fifteen years of loving him, and she¡¯d once believed she¡¯d never walk away. But here she was, letting go, piece by piece. At least now, his absence didn¡¯t keep her up at night. At least now, she no longer ached for his touch or hug. She sighed, lost in thought, until a burst of color caught her eye. A bouquet appeared, bright and vivid, like spring itself held in the hands. For a moment, she just stared. Thenn¡¯s face emerged from behind the blooms. ¡°An olddy was selling these down the road,¡± he said. ¡°Said she grew them. Figured if I bought some, she could pack up early.¡± 76 65 vouchers The words snapped her back to the present. She took the flowers, lips quirking. ¡°That¡¯s the most I¡¯ve ever heard you say at once.¡± Ian slid into the passenger seat, buckling up without another word. Ynda bent to inhale the sweet, fresh scent. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the sharp line of his throat, the way his Adam¡¯s apple moved as he settled back. The awkward memory flickered, sudden and unbidden. Her breath hitched. Flustered, she tossed the bouquet aside and hit the gas. Titan 29 E55 vouchers Ynda and Ian drove until noon, when the sky darkened without warning. Rain mmed down in thick sheets, forcing them to slow. Ynda gripped the wheel, tension coiling in her chest. They were so close¨Calready in town, just minutes from the film crew¡¯s hotel. But the storm had other ns. Pulling over, Ynda grabbed an umbre and hurried into the lobby, only to freeze at the sight of Sophic. Of course. Sean¡¯s production was shooting here too. Fate seemed determined to throw them together. Sophie¡¯s lethargy vanished as her eyes narrowed into venomous slits. ¡°Do you have some kind of tracking device on me?¡± she spat. Ynda brushed past without acknowledgment. This hotel was the best in town, so it was fully booked by the twopeting productions¨CSean¡¯s crew upied the third floor while Zack¡¯s team was stationed above them. The elevator doors opened. Ynda and Ian stepped inside, followed by a determined Sophie. The other guests wisely chose to wait for the next ride. As the elevator ascended, Sophie rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t think knowing Charles¡¯s wife gives you some special advantage,¡± she sneered. ¡°Mark my words: on their anniversary in two days, Charles will be in my bed, not hers.¡± Ynda remained impassive, though she had to admire Sophie¡¯s tenacity. Two years was an impressive run for one of Charles¡¯s ythings. Though knowing him, he¡¯d likely had other dalliances. At least Max had definitely mentioned a fling with a CEO or something. The elevator dinged on the third floor. Sophie delivered one final re, mistaking Ynda¡¯s silence for fear. With a triumphant sniff, she strutted out. Ynda and Jan made their way up to the fourth floor. Ian stole a nce at her, but she seemed unfazed, her attention fixed on locating the right room. Inside, the room turned out to be surprisingly decent. Tonight was their final table read before the crew headed into the mountains, where the actors would be staying for the next month. Ynda peered out the window at the stormy sky. She¡¯d nned to leave after droppingn off, but the downpour was too heavy to drive through. : Without a word, Ian unzipped his suitcase and started unpacking. 75 55 vouchers In better weather, she could¡¯ve reached Moonbay Estate by 6 PM. But with rain this relentless, there was no point trying. Ynda sighed. ¡°Guess I¡¯m stuck until it lets up.¡± Ian kept his eyes down. ¡°Stay for a little longer, then.¡± She took a seat beside him. He was her biggest star and her golden ticket, so naturally, he deserved her undivided attention. She said, ¡°You¡¯re heading into the mountains tomorrow. Watch your diet, and try to be more approachable with the crew. That stone¨Cfaced routine won¡¯t do you any favors.¡± She then nudged the small pharmacy bag toward him. ¡°I packed your meds: stomach pills, fever reducers, and everything. A whole month up there, I must be worried about you.¡± The faintest smile tugged at Ian¡¯s lips. ¡°And call me the second you feel sick, got it?¡± She frowned. ¡°Ian, are you even paying attention?¡± He smiled, ¡°Mm.¡± Rain hammered against the windows, the wind whipping the curtains into a frenzy through the half¨Copen pane. A knock came at the door. It was the call for the final table read. Ynda answered, and the man on the other side froze, momentarily stunned by her striking beauty. It was Wayne Dalton, the leading actor this drama was banking on to be a star. He looked quite good. His gaze lingered a beat too long, his cheeks flushing. ¡®How hasn¡¯t someone this gorgeous made it big yet?¡® he thought before shing a smile. He asked, ¡°You¡¯re an actress, right? I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve never seen you before. You¡¯re unforgettable.¡± Ynda took a step back and said nothing. Ian moved past her, his voice t. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± She nodded, left alone in the room, listening to the relentless downpour outside. The drama¡¯s mysterious backer was a wealthy woman and the entire production was built around Wayne. As he andn walked away, Wayne kept ncing back, his mind racing. ¡®Stunning, really. Is she this guy¡¯s agent? Since when do agents look like that?¡® ¡°So, you¡¯ren, the second lead?¡± Wayne said, sidling closer. ¡°Just call me Wayne. That¡¯s your agent back there? You two¡­ together? You know how this industry works. Hook me up with her, and I¡¯ll get you a role in my next project.¡± 11:36 Wed, Sep 10 : 75 55 vouchers His imagination ran wild. ¡®Check her out. Those elegant curves and that poised grace? If she ever steps in front of a camera, every other actress might as well quit.¡® Ian looked at him but didn¡¯t answer. Wayne¡¯s smile twisted. ¡°Come on, man. She¡¯s just an average woman. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± Wayne was clearly annoyed, his jaw clenched. He¡¯d spent years grinding in the industry, going nowhere. Until now, some rich woman had taken an interest, pouring money into his drama. He thought through gritted teeth, ¡®Once my new drama airs, I¡¯ll be untouchable. Everyone¡¯s kissing his ass, except this nobody. How dare he!¡® Nearby, Sophie watched, lips curling. She knew Wayne casually¨Cenough to recognize him, not enough to call him a friend. ¡°Got your eye on the agent?¡± she purred, stepping closer. Wayne swallowed. ¡°You got an idea?¡± Sophie reached into her bag and pulled out a small packet, her smirk widening. ¡°Sure. One drink. That¡¯s all it takes.¡± His fingers twitched. ¡°You sure this is safe?¡± ?????? ???? F?ndNovel Sheughed, patting his chest. ¡°Rx. She¡¯s nobody, and neither is Ian. That pretty face is begging for trouble. You¡¯ve got backing. Who¡¯s gonna stop you?¡± Wayne pocketed the pills, grinning. ¡°Didn¡¯t peg you for the type, Sophie.¡± Sophie¡¯s smile turned icy. That p still burned. She had originally reserved this particr maneuver for Tessa, nning to throw her to some desperate director as retribution. But now, the opportunity was even sweeter. ***** Ynda paced the hotel room for thirty restless minutes before a knock interrupted her. Room service had arrived with dinner. She epted the tray absently, setting it on the table without enthusiasm. Through the rain¨Cstreaked window, the storm showed no signs of letting up. Charles would definitely notice if she came home thiste. She prodded at the congealing food with Through the rain¨Cstreaked window, the storm showed no signs of letting up. Charles would definitely notice if she came home thiste. She prodded at the congealing food with her fork before pushing it away, settling for a ss of juice instead. Titan 30 The downpour intensified over the next twenty minutes. Ynda shrugged out of her coat, revealing a fitted white blouse that clung to her frame. The room felt stifling suddenly, or maybe it was just her rising anxiety. An overnight stay would createplications she couldn¡¯t afford. Not in two years had she slept anywhere but home. She reached for her phone, dialing Megan to coordinate their alibis before Charles could start asking ufortable questions. Megan sounded puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t Ian tell you it was so far? I warned him.¡± ¡°He must¡¯ve forgotten. He¡¯s at the read¨Cthrough now.¡± Ynda watched rain streak the ss. ¡°It¡¯s a four¨Chour drive in this kind of rain. By the time I get back, it¡¯ll be sote. Charles will definitely notice.¡± ¡°Charles?¡± Megan snorted. ¡°That man¡¯s probably balls¨Cdeep in his mistress right now.¡± Ynda forced a smile. The heat crawling up her neck wasn¡¯t just from the stuffy room. She guessed maybe she¡¯d run a fever. She ended the call just as the door clicked open. However, it wasn¡¯t Ian. Wayne slinked inside, predatory glee lighting his face. ¡°Looks like the medicine¡¯s kicking in, sweetheart. Here I am.¡± Her stomach twisted. Before she could react, he was already moving toward her. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± she snapped, her voice sharp despite the fog in her head. Wayne¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation. Up close, she was even more breathtaking than he¡¯d imagined. ¡®No wonder Ian keeps her around,¡® he thought, ¡®He has a good taste.¡® ¡°Helping you, obviously,¡± he said, feigning innocence. ¡°You must be feeling pretty rough right now, huh?¡± Rough was an understatement, but Ynda grabbed the nearest thing¨Ca heavy vase¨Cand swung. ¡°Get out!¡± she shouted. But he caught her wrist easily. The drugs had sapped her strength, and he was far stronger. ¡°Face it, no one¡¯sing to save you,¡± he taunted. ¡°Ian¡¯s too busy with Sophie to care. But don¡¯t worry. After tonight, you¡¯ll be mine. And trust me, I¡¯ll treat you right.¡± At the entrance to the hall, Sophie did blockn. In her eyes, she was already a rising star ¨C far above some nobody like him. The fact that she was even bothering to speak to him was a privilege he should be grateful for. Her chin lifted in that imperious way she¡¯d perfected. ¡°We need to talk,¡± shemanded. 75 55 vouchers Ian took one look at her smug expression and shouldered past without breaking stride. ¡°Keep walking and my boyfriend cklists you,¡± she shrieked after him. He didn¡¯t turn. Since she had just been with Wayne, acting sneaky, Ian assumed they must be ying some games. ***** When Ian reached his room, a loud crash came from inside. He shoved the door open to find Ynda gripping a stool, while Wayne groaned on the floor, clutching his head. Seeing Ian, Ynda dropped the stool and sagged against the wall, breathing hard. Without hesitation, Ian hauled Wayne up and threw him out, then mmed and locked the door behind him. Sweat beaded on Ynda¡¯s forehead. She¡¯d been holding herself together, but now she slumped into the corner, her voice weak. ¡°Ian¡­¡± He crossed the room in a few strides, lifting her onto the bed. Her flushed cheeks told him she¡¯d been drugged. Her head spun, vision blurring. Every inch of her ached. Updates are released by Find?Novel Ian soaked a towel in cold water and pressed it to her face. The coolness soothed her, and she clung to his wrist, fingers tightening around his. He stilled, meeting her clouded gaze. Outside, rainshed against the windows. Inside, the air was thick with tension. Then her phone buzzed and the screen lit up with Charles¡¯s name. Gently, Ian pulled his hand back and resumed wiping her face, silent. But Ynda sat up suddenly, wrapping her arms around his neck. ¡°I¡¯m burning up,¡± she murmured, her breath hot against his ear. He stiffened, and then turned his face away, hesitating before dabbing her cheek again with the damp towel. For a brief moment, rity flickered in her eyes. She fumbled for the nightstand. ¡°Water¡­ I need-¡± She took a sip but remained dazed, sweat still glistening on her skin. As Ian leaned over to set the bottle down, she seized his cor. Her lips crashed into his- sweet, desperate, and wild as the storm outside. ¡°I¡¯m burning. Help me,¡± she pleaded. Ian froze before slowly pushing her back. ¡°There¡¯s a bathtub. I¡¯ll get a cold bath for you.¡± 75 55 vouchers He turned toward the bathroom, but a burning touch stopped him. Her hand clutched his wrist, fever¨Chot. The contact sent electricity up his arm. Before he could react, she yanked him back by his cor. Her palms framed his face as she kissed him hungrily. He didn¡¯t reciprocate, sensing her frantic need. Finally, he turned toward the rain¨Cstreaked window, voice rough. ¡°Don¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°Stop hiding,¡± she whispered against his lips. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking straight,¡± he said. ¡°I can¡¯t¡ª¡± Her grip on his fingers tightened. He exhaled sharply. ¡°Let me help another way, okay?¡± Her cheeks burned crimson as she buried her face in his neck, inhaling his crisp, earthy scent. His hand hovered at her waist, waiting. Thunder rumbled outside. He looked down, conflict darkening his eyes. Titan 31 Chapter 31 Ynda nodded, pressing closer. Even through the haze, she could tell Jan¡¯s body was wless, every line of him powerful. And what he meant was something else entirely. Ynda stayed silent. Outside, the rain continued its relentless rhythm, and the curtains swayed in the damp breeze. Suddenly, she shoved him away, Ian sank onto the bed, the dim glow of the bedsidemp casting long slndows across the room. Ynda¡¯s cheeks burned. She clutched her coat tighter, her fingers trembling. He had changed into loose ck track pants earlier when he¡¯d stepped out. Now, he studied her, voice low. ¡°More water?¡± Sweat slicked her palms. Her thoughts spun, What do I do now?¡± He held the cup to her lips, his face striking in the muted light. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to drink. Shame coiled in her stomach. When she didn¡¯t move,n set the cup down. He sat beside her, hesitating before muttering, ¡°Sorry¡± Her heart stuttered. She exhaled sharply. She was the one who¡¯d been drugged and lost control¨Cwhy was he apologizing? Fragments of memory surfaced: her pleading and his restraint. Fingers twisting the nket, she swallowed. ¡°I¡¯m the one who should apologize. Just¡­ give me a second.¡± This had spiraled beyond anything she¡¯d imagined. ¡®How could I even look at him now?¡® She pressed her palms to her temples. Then, through the fog, his voice came again, hesitant. ¡°None of the films I did before had kissing scenes.¡± Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel She nced over. He was crushing the water bottle in his grip, his difort palpable. The stic crackled loudly in the quiet room, crumpling under his fingers. A thought struck Ynda: the kiss they shared maybe was his first one. She sat frozen, her shirt half- unbuttoned Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed her softly. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m pure,¡± he said abruptly. Then he stood, scooped her pants off the floor, andid them on the bed. She opened her mouth, but no words came. The inner door clicked open. He left without another word. The entire floor was rented by the crew, though. Maybe he had to stay in the hallways. Ynday there for what felt like hours, torn between mortification and the urge to p herself. Finally, she 7:42 Thu, Sep 11 dragged herself up and fled to the shower. 55 vouchers After her shower, she felt refreshed, the exhaustion washing away. She turned up the lights, as if brightness could dissolve the lingering awkwardness. Outside, rain drummed against the windows. The memory of how her hands cradled face and that impulsive first kiss rushed back. She buried her face in her palms, cheeks burning. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t shake it from her mind. She¡¯d been dazed at the time, but she remembered how desperately he¡¯d tried to please her. Ynda pushed open the window, letting the cool night air rush in. Finally, her thoughts settled. Then her phone rang. It was nine at night,ter than she¡¯d ever stayed out before. She took a steadying breath and nced at Charles¡¯s name. A flicker of guilt tightened in her chest. Anyway, she answered. ¡°Where are you?¡± His voice was sharp. Ynda replied with that sweet, satisfied tone, ¡°At the studio. Megan was discharged today. We¡¯re going over our next steps. He didn¡¯t press further, just tossed his loosened tie aside. That suit you pressed for mest month, remember? Where is it?¡± Ynda looked down. The light brown one¨CCharles rarely wore anything so casual. He preferred dark, steady tones with nothing shy. She answered. ¡°It¡¯s in the dust bag on the far right of your closet. A cab door clicked open on his end. A beat of silence, and then his voice softened. ¡°You remember every little thing, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ve got a short triping up. Next time, don¡¯t stay out sote.¡± He sounded in a good mood tonight, probably because the deal with Samuel had gone well. Ynda listened to the rain drumming against the window and seized the opening. ¡°Honey, the studio¡¯s just getting off the ground. I might be busier from now on.¡± Charles lit a cigarette, raking a hand through his hair. Fresh scratches ran down his back. Those wild, careless marks came from someone who wasn¡¯t his wife. He knew what she was really asking for: freedom, experience, a life outside their home. But in his mind, she didn¡¯t need it. She hadn¡¯t suffered enough to understand the world. Ynda didn¡¯t wait for his refusal; she already knew it. Charles had that old¨Cschool pride buried deep. Mistresses were for fun, while wives were for keeping Sure enough, he finally said. ¡°Ynda, don¡¯t do it again.¡± Her grip tightened around the phone. The unfairness of it stung¨Che¡¯d disappear for months with other women, yet she couldn¡¯t even stay outte once. She drew a slow breath. His voice cut through again, colder now. The Grant family married you off to me because you were obedient. That¡¯s what I expect from my wife¨Cquiet, at home. Business isn¡¯t a woman¡¯s concern.¡± 7:42 Thu, Sep 11 DE Vouchers A long drag of his cigarette. The silence stretched, uneasy. He¡¯d grown too used to her waiting, like a pet, dependable and tame. Maybe he¡¯d indulged her too much. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you a gift when I¡¯m back,¡± he said, softer now. ¡°Just stay home.¡± Ynda pressed her lips together and said nothing. When the call ended, she stared out at the storm, exhaling slowly. The rain had finally stopped by dawn. When Ynda came downstairs et 6 a.m., she foundn sprawled awkwardly across a lobby chair, a book draped over his face like a makeshift sleep mask. The dim lighting and dozing receptionist gave the space a hushed stillness. His long legs dangled ufortably over the chair¡¯s edge¨Che was too tall for the cramped furniture. She approached quietly and lifted the book from his face. His striking features, rxed in sleep, made her pulse stutter. Titan 32 Chapter 32 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¨Cstorm 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. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel 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, 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¨Creach for a chair. Meganughed, nudging her, ¡°Seriously, how does Charles even nce at other women? That smug little smile of yours could melt ciers- P 55¨CVouchers ¡°Enough,¡± Ynda cut in, mping a hand over Megan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Save the R¨Cratedmentary. 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¨Cfive 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.¡± Ynda 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 all.¡± Megan leaned against the windowsill, a yful glint in her eye. ¡°You know, Ian really is gorgeous. Just saying, Charles has his fun. Why shouldn¡¯t you? I bet Ian wouldn¡¯t say no. Back then he even¡ª¡± ¡°Megan.¡± Ynda¡¯s voice was sharp, cutting her off. Megan raised her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Alright, alright. Drive safe, Boss.¡± Shaking her head half¨Cannoyed, half¨Camused, 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.. Ynda¡¯s fingers tightened on 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 said, ¡°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, Sep 11 Titan 33 ¡°Charles¡± Ynda velled. DOD Charles paused, realizing she could hear him. He sighed, Darling, you know the rule. It¡¯s a Grant family policy¨Canyone who stays out overnight has to get checked. It¡¯s nothing personal¡± Ynda¡¯s face went pale. Her eyshes fluttered as she fought back emotion. If he was so afraid of her getting pregnant, it made no sense that he would still seek intimacy. ¡°Is it true?¡± she asked, her voice trembling ¡°About the birth control?¡± Charles went quiet with a frown. He figured Renee had spilled everything. There was no use hiding it now. ¡°The pills aren¡¯t harmful,¡± he said calmly. ¡°They just prevent pregnancy Ynda slowly balled her hand into a fist. Her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn¡¯t say another word. May ended the call and directed the driver to head to the Sinir¨Cfunded hospital. The examination was deeply humiliating¨Cthey used instruments to check for any physical traces left by a man. Ynday on the cold bed, listening to the hushed whispers of the nurses, burning with shame. After a moment, one of them looked up at the monitor and reported to May, ¡°No signs of recent sexual activity! Which meant not even with Charles. It appeared Ynda really wasn¡¯t pleasing him. May waved her hand dismissively, and the nurses finally let go. Ynda slowly sat up, trembling, as May remarked coldly, ¡°You should learn how to keep your husband interested. You¡¯re not good enough, so he messes with other women. I thought you knew how to please a man as a Grant.¡± May¡¯s tone dripped with disdain for any Grants. Without another word, she turned and walked out. Nearby, those two nurses exchanged quiet words. ¡°Typical rich families¡­ It¡¯s not all it¡¯s cracked up to be. You get used and still have to put up with inspections like this.¡± ¡°Shh, keep your voice down.¡± Ynda kept her eyes down, quietly pulling her clothes back on. Outside the hospital, Jack was waiting. He stepped forward and handed her a neatly wrapped gift box. ¡°From Mr. Sinir, ma¡¯am. ssic love bombing after a blow¨Cup. Without a word, Ynda walked past him and hailed a cab. Jack immediately phoned Charles, who was away on business. On the other end, Charles massaged his temples and let out a tired sigh. 7:43 Thu, Sep 11 Charles didn¡¯t get back until seven the following evening. When he found the downstairs empty. Charles headed straight up to Ynda¡¯s room. Shrugging off his suit jacket, he leaned against the doorframe and let the word slip out softly. ¡°Babe.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t so much as nce up, her attention nailed to the documents spread across her desk. A faint smirk touched his lips. There wasn¡¯t a woman alive he couldn¡¯t win over, and Ynda was the easiest of them all. The rightful source is find(?)ovel He tossed his coat onto a nearby armchair. ¡°Jack told me you refused the gift. I cut my trip short, you know Let¡¯s go to dinner.¡± Ynda still didn¡¯t respond. He moved behind her, bracing a hand on the desk to look over her shoulder. Then she noticed a fresh, thin scratch from some woman¡¯s nail trailing across the back of his otherwise well¨Cgroomed hand. Clearly, even two days away hadn¡¯t left him lonely. His eyes fell on the renovation ns for the studio spread out before her. ¡°Renovating the studio?¡± he asked, his voice close to her ear. ¡°Do you need more funding?¡± He then lowered his chin to rest against her shoulder, his voice a low murmur near her ear. ¡°It¡¯s been too long since we went out for dinner. Come on, change.¡± Ynda kept her eyes fixed on the screen. After a long moment, she finally spoke, ¡°Tessa is paying a visit to Starlight Entertainment soon. Your new premium coffee line is picking a spokesperson, no? Just choose one of Tessa¡¯s talents, okay?¡± Charles turned his head, brushing a kiss into her hair. ¡°It¡¯s just a coffee endorsement. Of course, if that¡¯s what you want. Feel better now? Let¡¯s eat¡± She nced down and nodded. As they were getting ready to leave, the maid handed Charles his coat with a warm, knowing smile. ¡°You must have rushed back to celebrate your anniversary with Mrs. Sinir, Mr. Sinir. How thoughtful.¡± Charles froze for a fraction of a second, his eyes cutting toward Ynda. A flicker of cold irony showed in Ynda¡¯s gaze before she bent down to fasten her shoe, saying nothing. ¡®Of course he¡¯s forgotten, she sneered inwardly. He recovered instantly, slipping into his own shoes and sliding an arm around her waist, his voice dripping with practiced charm. There¡¯s a ce nearby with a fantastic fireworks disy tonight. We¡¯ll go after dinner.¡± Ynda¡¯s mind went straight to Sophie¡¯s post. His ybook was so predictable. Silent, she let him lead her to the car and got in, buckling her seatbelt with a quiet click. She looked down at her phone and typed a message ton: [Landed you the coffee endorsement. Come back sometime this week for the shoot.] His reply was almost immediate: [Okay.] 7:43 Thu, Sep 11 One word, and she was back there: Ian¡¯s clumsy kiss, the nervous jump of his Adam¡¯s apple, and his slender fingers. A sudden thirst parched her throat. She gulped water from the bottle in the cupholder, but the warped stic, still marked from where he¡¯d gripped it, brought the memory crashing back with the water¡¯s taste. She rolled the window down, sucking in a sharp breath of cool air to douse the heat on her skin. Fifteen years as Charles¡¯s perfect partner and fifteen years of impableposure, all undone by one reckless night with a young man. ¡°Ynda?¡± Charles called. His voice broke through her thoughts. She blinked, her cheeks warming. ¡°Are we here?¡± He turned toward her, leaning in slowly. She instinctively drew back. His fingers caught her chin, turning her face toward his as he studied her. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± She swallowed, her throat tight. ¡°I, uh-¡± He suddenly released her, clicking his own seatbelt open with a low, knowing chuckle. ¡°Must be something dirty if you can¡¯t say it out loud. She didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she pushed the car door open and stepped out into the evening air. But she had only taken a few steps when a woman in her thirties rounded the corner. nked by a cluster of executives who hovered with attentive deference, she clearly held a position of power. They, too, were headed. for the restaurant. The woman¡¯s eyesnded on Charles, and a knowing eyebrow arched upward. After murmuring a quick word to her entourage, she strode toward him. She reached out as if to touch his face, but he smoothly sidestepped the gesture. ¡°Mr. Sinir,¡± she said. Charles nced back at Ynda, a faint, almost mocking smile ying on his lips. ¡°Honey,e meet Rachael Owens. She¡¯s Sinir Group¡¯s most proactive new partner.¡± Rachael adjusted her sses, a flicker of surprise in her eyes as her hand fell back to her side. Her gaze swept over Ynda, and a polished, professional smile appeared. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you two out for a romantic evening. Please, don¡¯t let me interrupt. My team has a dinner to get to. We¡¯ll talk more on Tuesday, Mr. Sinir?¡± Charles dipped his head, his attention seemingly absorbed by the cuff of his sleeve as he straightened it. ¡°Naturally.¡± With a final, almost imperceptible nce, Rachael tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and rejoined her waiting group, disappearing into the lobby. Ynda watched it all with icy rity. With the unspoken intimacy and the casual familiarity, this might be the female CEO Max had hinted about. 7:43 Thu, Sep 11 She took a slow, deep breath. A year ago, the sight might have sent a pang of humiliation and hurt through her. Now, she felt nothing but a vast, hollow calm. Ìï Titan 34 : 65 vouchers Ynda was seated by the window with Charles. Then she opened Sophie¡¯s post, erging the photo toy it side¨Cby¨Cside with the real¨Clife scene before her. It was a perfect match. A faint smile touched her lips. She took a sip of juice, snapped a photo, and posted it to the private Twitter ount Sophie followed. If Sophie keeps clinging to Charles, she thought, ¡®he won¡¯t have any time left for
  1. me.
Then Charles¡¯s phone buzzed when their food had just arrived. He took his phone and got up briskly. ¡°I need to take this.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t ask anything. She simply bowed her head and focused on the food quietly. Charles slipped out into the hallway, phone in hand. But before he could find a quiet spot, an arm reached out from the next booth and pulled him inside. There was Rachael, who only moments before had been all sharp edges, now wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning in for a kiss. He tilted his head away, a faint glint of amusement in his eyes. Rachael pouted, tracing idle circles on his chest with one finger. ¡°What¡¯s this? Staying loyal to the wife, Mr. Sinir?¡± Charles stood tall, his features strikingly handsome under the soft lighting. ¡°It¡¯s our anniversary,¡± he said simply. Rachael¡¯s eyebrow arched in understanding. Anniversary rules: no funny business. She sighed dramatically, ¡°Fine. And here I thought I¡¯d get to steal you for a minute.¡± His gaze drifted over her suggestive posture. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been cozying up to some actortely.¡± Rachael lit a cigarette, a sly smirk ying on her lips. ¡°After a man like you, everyone else is a letdown, event celebrities. But he¡¯s¡­ entertaining. Besides, I invested in a show backed by your Starlight Entertainment. Consider it a favor.¡± Charles checked his phone. Five minutes had passed. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡± Her eyes glittered as she twisted his tie around her finger. ¡°Someone was just mentioning his anniversary, no? Poor girl, it must be exhausting being married to you.¡± ¡°Ynda is innocent, he replied coolly. ¡°She doesn¡¯t suspect a thing.¡± In his eyes, Ynda was pure. He left traces all the time¨Cperfume, lipstick, andte nights. She¡¯d ask, of course, but a few sweet lies were always enough. She had no other experience topare it to. But her unquestioning trust eventually bored him. He gripped Rachael¡¯s neck and kissed her, and then pushed her away. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I have to go.¡± ¡°Always so cold. Mr. Sinir,¡± she murmured. But he was already walking away, straightening his tie. Then he returned to his booth and slid the door open, Ynda was still by the window, meticulously cutting her steak into neat pieces. Outside, fireworks burst into the night sky, painting brilliant, flecting patterns across the ss. She turned to watch, her eyshes fluttering as a delighted smile spread across her face. Cheating had never weighed on Charles¡¯s conscience. He¡¯d never been particrly fond of Ynda to begin with. But the sight of her, so innocent and captivated by something so simple, made something in him soften. He took his seat across from her. ¡°Do you like the fireworks?¡± Ynda propped her chin on her hand. This was surprising, and no wonder Sophie was so obsessed with him. ¡°They¡¯re lovely. I suppose all women are swayed by pretty things like this, aren¡¯t we?¡± Charles picked up his wine ss and gently tapped the rim against the tip of her nose. ¡°It¡¯s our wedding anniversary. Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡± Her eyshes fluttered again. This time, she caught the faint, clinging scent of perfume on his sleeve- Rachael¡¯s perfume. She thought, ¡®How can Charles just sit here, smelling of another woman on our anniversary? And I¡¯m suffocating under the memory of being drugged and spending those hours with Ian. I can¡¯t even talk about him. God, I shouldn¡¯t have been this sensitive. ¡°What did I say on thest anniversary? Oh, right. He hasn¡¯t even been there. He was with Sophie and talked to me on the phone. A faint, ironic smile touched her lips. ¡°Same asst year, honey. I wish every year would be just as good as today,¡± Charles¡¯s brow furrowed. For some reason, the words left him strangely unsettled. Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a call from Sophie. Sophie had seen Ynda¡¯s post after finally getting service in the mountains, and she was livid. She¡¯d bombarded Charles with a series of provocative photos, but he hadn¡¯t responded. ¡®Is he really going to spend the night with his boring wife?¡® she wondered. Panicking, she made this call, her voice a pained whimper. She imed she¡¯d been hurt, that there was no hospital nearby, and that she was in agony and needed him. But a quiet warning bell often rang just before one lost their grip on something important. Tonight, it was ringing for him. He found he didn¡¯t want to leave. He remained seated across from Ynda, watching her slowly finish her steak, and for the first time all evening, a strange sense of calm settled over him. After dinner, he slid a bank card across the table toward her. ¡°For your studio renovations.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel He¡¯d always given her sixty thousand a month but never a dor more. Now, he was offering six million all at 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 5 once. Ynda figured it was fairpensation for fifteen years. She picked up the card without a second thought. ¡°Thanks, honey.¡± Charles was used to getting what he wanted. Life had always handed him wins. He enjoyed pulling strings in business and with women. It was a game he knew how to y. Her easypliance reminded him ofst year¡¯s birthday. She¡¯d shown upte, worried about his stomach. bringing food as a devoted wife. He¡¯d been in bed with Sophie at the time. He saw her calls but didn¡¯t answer. And Ynda waited downstairs all night. The memory put him in a good mood. He leaned in to kiss her. But she turned her face away, looking out at the fireworks. They said the showsted half an hour, and this was the best view in the city. It was hard for regr people to book, but Charles had a permanent booth here. The restaurant belonged to the Sinir Group, after all. His expression cooled. ¡®ying hard to get? Pointless, he thought. The colored lights glittered in her eyes. ¡°I heard this fireworks show has run every night for ten years. This is my first time seeing it, though.¡± He¡¯d brought so many other women here. She used to wonder what was wrong with her. She¡¯d learned everything she thought might please him. But Charles never came home. Now she understood: a man like him wasn¡¯t meant to be kept. He didn¡¯t value what came too easily. She stood. ¡°Megan¡¯s workingte alone at the studio. I should go check on her. Thanks for dinner. She tucked the card into her pocket. Charles stayed seated, momentarily caught off guard. It wasn¡¯t until the door clicked shut that he let out a low chuckle. ¡®Still mad at me, then.¡® He lit a cigarette, gaze drifting downward. He¡¯d never seen her act like this before. And he had to admit it was interesting. The door to the private booth swung open, and Rachael¡¯s voice cut through the quiet. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you just got stood up by your own wife.¡± She sauntered in, perching familiarly on the edge of the table. ¡°A man like you, getting turned down? Hard to picture.¡± 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 Titan 35 Charles tapped ash from his cigarette, his posture rxed but distant. Rachael took that as an invitation, sliding onto hisp and starting to work loose the buttons of her blouse. But tonight, something was off. Charles usually had a fierce, almost careless appetite, but right now, he felt nothing. He stood abruptly, dislodging her as he reached for his suit jacket. ¡°Nor tonight, he said, his tone t. With two rejections in one evening, Rachael¡¯s smile tightened for a fraction of a second. Then she shrugged it off. ¡°Whatever. He¡¯s a restless spirit. He¡¯s never really cared about any of his lovers. I really wanna see him crazy about someone! Charles slung his suit jacket over his shoulder and stepped into the elevator, where he found his aunt, Simone. His eyes immediately caught the emerald ne resting against her corbone. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Aunt Simone, since when do you wear emeralds?¡± ¡°A gift from Ynda,¡± she said, touching the stone fondly. She¡¯d only learned tonight that it was worth a fortune; she¡¯d loved it without knowing its price. ¡°She¡¯s way more thoughtful than you.¡± Charles let out a shortugh and pressed the elevator button. ¡°I wish she could focus more on me. Simone knew that arrogant tone well. She nudged him yfully. ¡°Well, well. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually sulking. Did Ynda finally give you a taste of your own medicine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a game, Aunt Simone. You wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s how young couples y,¡± he smiled. She sighed, the humor fading from her voice. ¡°If you care about her at all, end things with those other women now. Before you push her too far and lose her for good.¡± The elevator doors slid open. Charles stepped out first, throwing a casual, confident remark over his shoulder. ¡°You worry too much. Ynda isn¡¯t going anywhere¡± He knew she¡¯d been in love with him for fifteen years. He¡¯d seen that unmistakable, starry¨Ceyed devotion in her eyes every time she looked at him. But he¡¯d also always known the real reason the Grant family had adopted her, and that had been enough to keep him at a distance. He hadn¡¯t set out to hurt her; he just never valued a love that came so easily. After leaving the hotel, Ynda didn¡¯t head straight to Megan. First, she checked the card and saw six million dors. Charles was generous, though the house he¡¯d given Sophie earlier was probably worth more. She¡¯d been pushing the studio to speed up the renovations and had askedn to try and make time toe back. But then the coffee brand postponed the shoot for two weeks. so she figured she wouldn¡¯t see him until after 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 that. E55 vouchers A weekter, he texted her out of the blue: [Got hurt doing a stunt.] That was it. No details, no drama. Ynda immediately called Scan, who filled her in. ¡°Wayne, Zack¡¯s male lead, has been making things difficult forn. n took a bad fall. His whole back is bruised up. He¡¯s tough, though. He didn¡¯t say a word, finished the shoot, and went back to his ce.¡± Ynda¡¯s expression darkened. She took a slow breath. Wayne was the creep who spiked her drink that night. Sean sighed. ¡°Wayne¡¯s sugar mommy is the CEO of Primecrest. Aren¡¯t they partnering with your husband? Saw it on the news. You might wanna step in here, orn isn¡¯t gonna make it.¡± Stunt work was dangerous enough without someone having it out for you. One bad wire, one intentional misstep, and it wouldn¡¯t just be bruises. Andn never wanted to cause trouble. That was why he waited over a week to send that text. And even then, it wasn¡¯t aint but just a fact. After hanging up, Ynda called Charles to ask where he was. He¡¯d been holed up around her all week, away from his lovers. She¡¯d been buried in renovation ns from dawn till dusk. They weren¡¯t fighting. And now he was at his desk and set down his papers. ¡°Work hours? I¡¯m at the office, naturally. Coming to see me?¡± Thest part wasced with a familiar, teasing charm. On her end, Ynda¡¯s eyes welled up, her voice trembling with a carefully practiced hurt. ¡°I just got a text¡­ someone said you¡¯re having an affair with the CEO of Primecrest Group. Tell me it¡¯s not true.¡± The casual smile vanished from Charles¡¯s eyes. T¡¯ve only slept with that woman exactly once. Who the hell has a loose tongue and texted Ynda?¡® he thought. ¡°I trust you,¡± Ynda continued, her voice thick with unshed tears. ¡°I¡¯m going to find whoever sent this. Some actor¡­ Wayne something? He¡¯s on set with one of my talents. I won¡¯t be back tonight.¡± Then she hung up. To Charles, Ynda sounded like a jealous, naive fool, exactly as he expected. The idea of her getting worked up over a rumor was almost endearing. He just wanted her to trust him and never pushed further. But his irritation quickly turned toward his lover Rachael. ¡®Why couldn¡¯t she keep her mouth shut? Got to cut her off. He called Rachael. She answered, her voice sweet with expectation, but he cut straight through it. ¡°Control that actor of yours.¡± His tone was ice. Rachael¡¯s face darkened on the other end of the line. She started to ask a question, but he¡¯d already hung up. Charles could be tender as a lover and coldly professional when it came to business. Cross him, and any prior intimacy meant nothing. 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 65 Vauchen? Read full story at fin?novel Rachael clenched her jaw, a sharp pang of humiliation tightening her chest. She had thought that after being with him, she would be special. Ynda stopped at a drugstore and bought out half the shelf, loading two bulky bags into the trunk before setting off for the town. The drive took nearly five hours. By the time her car, caked in mud, climbed the final stretch to the mountain film set, it was already 5 p.m. She was grateful for the high clearance of this car; a regr sedan would never have made it up that road. The temporary housing was strictly functional¨Csimple structures thrown up for the shoot and meant to be torn down Take your shirt off. Let the see. He was silent for a beat before slowly sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a map of dark bruises across his muscr back. It was a stark testament to how painful that fall must have been She drew a sharp breath, her hand flying to his forehead. He was still burning up. ¡°I told you to call me if you didn¡¯t feel well,¡± she said, frantically digging through her bag for the fever reducers. ¡°I thought you¡­ wouldn¡¯t want to hear from me,¡± he murmured. Ynda went still. She had been avoiding him all week. After all, things had been awkward since thest time. She¡¯d needed space to clear her head, never imagining he¡¯d been having a rough time quietly. ¡°Just take these first,¡± she said, her voice softening as she held the pills to his lips. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about Wayne. He¡¯ll be taken care of.¡± He sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at her with an unreadable expression. Before she could wonder if something was on her face, his arms circled her waist. He buried his face against her stomach. She stood frozen for a moment, then her hand came up to tentatively touch his hair. It was coarse but soft, and carried the clean scent of recent rain. His long arms held her carefully, and he nuzzled his head against her waist like arge, wounded animal seekingfort. A shiver ran through her. Ynda pushed him away, grabbed his hand, and pressed the pills into his palm. before turning to fetch a ss of water. line. She returned and thrust a ss of water at him. ¡°Take them. Get the fever down first. There are anti- inmmatories in the bag. Take two. And you can spray the bruise spray yourself,¡± she instructed, her tone deliberately t. He took the water silently and swallowed the pills. 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 35 vouchers Suddenly feeling flushed, Ynda tugged at her cor, fanning herself for a second before heading for the door. Ian instinctively began to rise to follow, but her words stopped him cold. ¡°Stay here and rest. I¡¯m going to see Wayne. Wayne had just finished filming his scene when his assistant hurried over and whispered. ¡°Ms. Owens called.¡± As the male lead starring opposite a top actress, Wayne had been riding hightely. Everyone on set knew he had a grudge againstn. And that was why they would have given the seer such a hard time. He was about to ask what Rachael wanted when a stinging pnded hard across his cheek. His head snapped to the side, and he tasted blood. He touched his face in shock, staring at Ynda in the hat and mask. Though he couldn¡¯t see her face, her presencemanded attention. ¡°You bitch,¡± he snarled. Ynda just said, ¡°Rachael sends her regards.¡± The name made him freeze. Almost no one knew about his affair with Rachael, and she had just called. And then he got pped. Swallowing his rage, he growled, ¡°Who are you?¡± Ynda flexed her stinging hand. ¡°Tessa. Already forgot me, Wayne? I¡¯ve been meeting with your sugar mommy¡¯s partner. Does she know you¡¯ve been stirring up trouble on set?¡± Wayne went pale. His assistant leaned in, whispering urgently, ¡°Ms. Owens told you not to make waves. This might be about that co¨Cstar you went after- Wayne seethed, teeth clenched. ¡°Tessa, what gives you the right to lecture me?¡± Ynda smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m on good terms with the executives at Starlight Entertainment. I haven¡¯t even brought up the drugging incident yet. Keep this up, and I¡¯ll have you reced before the day is over.¡± Wayne had worked hard to secure Rachael¡¯s support. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose that. And Ynda¡¯s confidence shook him. Is shen¡¯s real backer, not just his agent? But she¡¯s pretty. He¡¯s lucked out with a woman like her. His assistant spoke up again, voice tense. ¡°Wayne, Ms. Owens is furious. Maybe it¡¯s better to let this go.¡± Wayne forced a smile, covering his reddening cheek. ¡°My apologies. I misjudged the situation, and I are actually on good terms.¡± The whole crew had seen the exchange. They¡¯d thought Ian had no support, but even Wayne had been put in his ce. Ynda¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°You have your backer. Ian has his. Next time, look twice before you cross a line.¡± Wayne¡¯s face darkened again. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off her face. Zack had watched the entire scene unfold, stunned that the usuallyposed Ynda could unleash such 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 fury. Her cold gazended on him. ¡°Mr. White, she began, her voice sharp enough to cut ss, ¡°when I brought Jan to you, my instructions were clear: look after him. Or did that slip your mind?¡± He hadn¡¯t expected to be called out so directly. Flustered, he started to form an excuse, but she cut him off. ¡®1 assume Starlight Entertainment¡¯s executives have taken the orders by now? Are they nning to pull some strings on my behalf?¡± Zack went very still. She was referring to the high¨Cprofile coffee endorsement. Everyone said Tessa hadnded it on Charles¡¯s direct orders. So she was telling the truth. As a Starlight man himself. Zack had assumed that after Charles¡¯s infidelity, he¡¯d have washed his hands of his ex¨Cwife. Apparently, he wouldn¡¯t. Zack had never been fond of Ynda. He¡¯d secretly enjoyed watching Wayne make fan¡¯s life miserable. Now, he was squirming. ¡°Tessa, let¡¯s be reasonable. This is all one big misunderstanding.¡± ¡°You know better than anyone whether it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Ynda shot back, her tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°I see more than I let on. Push this further, and I promise you, no one wins.¡± A cold dread washed over Zack. She was threatening him¨Cthat damn recording was still out there. If Charles decided to act on her behalf, his career would be over before he saw iting- He wiped a bead of sweat from his temple. ¡°Of¨Cof course. I¡¯ll keep a much closer eye on things from now on. You have my word.¡± Even the director had fallen silent. The rest of the crew watched, utterly cowed, reassessing the woman named Tessa. She was new, yet she¡¯d publicly humiliated Wayne and dressed down Zack without breaking a Sweat With backing like that, they wondered whyn had taken the bullying for so long. Only a fool would do that. Content originallyes from ? Comment Send gift No Ads AD Titan 37 El 55 vouchers.. Ynda returned ton¡¯s room and found him struggling to apply spray medication to his own back. She closed the door, removed her mask and hat, and set them on a shelf. When he saw her, he wentpletely still. Without a word, she took the bottle from his hand, sprayed the medicine evenly across his back, and remembered it needed to be rubbed in. After a brief hesitation, sheid her fingers gently against his skin, and ler shuddered faintly at once. Then she began to massage, His muscles were solid and defined beneath her touch. She could feel their tension as she worked the medicine in. When she was done, Ynda quickly made her way to the bathroom to wash her hands. The bathroom was tiny, so cramped she could barely move. Bending over the sink, she squeezed soap into her palms and scrubbed thoroughly. Then the door opened. Ian filled the doorway, tall and broad, stepping inside without a word. Ynda froze, and then hurriedly ducked her head to rinse the soap away, anxious to be done and out of there. But he was blocking the exit. Slowly, he turned the faucet on. The sound of rushing water brought back memories of that stormy day. This text is hosted at findnovel He wet his hands, but skipped the soap. Instead, he took her hand and gathered some of the suds from her own. Thick, slick foam coated their skin. She could feel tiny bubbles bursting between their fingers with faint. soft pops. She nced up and caught his eyes in the mirror. He wasn¡¯t looking at her. Instead, he just looked down at their hands, rubbing them together quietly. Trapped, with no way out, Ynda cranked the water back on full force and tried to wash the tension away. The air was thick with unspoken words, heavy like soap suds. She couldn¡¯t stand it. She had never felt anything this tense, not even with Charles. Eventually,n rinsed off. But he still didn¡¯t move. Ynda¡¯s fingers curled tightly at her sides. She turned sideways, voice tight with a panic she didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Move. I need to get out.¡± He didn¡¯t budge. She kept her head down, too nervous to meet his eyes, her eyshes fluttering like trapped wings. She had grown up in the gilded cage of the Grant family since she was ten. She was always proper and shielded, her world a curated collection of polished people and impable manners. 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 But here, in this cramped bathroom, something raw and unfamiliar stirred deep within her. It was in that moment she suddenly understood why someone as relined as Charles would seek thrills in a grimy alley. People could be foolish that way. The thrill of the new was a potent temptation. Just when she was certain Ian would say something, he simply moved aside. The intensity in his posture dissolved as quickly as it had appeared. A silent sigh of relief escaped her. The space was too narrow. As he turned to let her pass, the rough fabric of his clothes brushed against hers. The brief contact sent a shiver through her. And once she was free of the bathroom, a sudden weakness washed over her. But it was also a strange,forting warmth that lingered in her chest. Trying to regain herposure, she bent to organize the medicine on the table. ¡°You¡¯ll need theseter,¡± she said. ¡°Wayne won¡¯t be a problem anymore. I spoke with the director. In two weeks, you¡¯ll go back to Beloris and shoot that coffee endorsement. From the bathroom, his voice was low. ¡°Yeah.¡± Her throat felt parched, as if all the moisture had been leeched from her body. She grabbed a cup from the table and took arge gulp. I¡¯m leaving now. If something like this happens again, call me immediately. Ian, don¡¯t let this happen again.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± His agreement was quiet, almost absent, and she couldn¡¯t tell if he was really listening. Ynda had said all there was to say. The drive back would take more than five hours; she wouldn¡¯t be home until well past 10 p.m. Even though she¡¯d told Charles in a fury that she wasn¡¯t going back, the thought of facing another humiliating inspection was even worse. She opened the door to leave, but arms wrapped tightly around her waist, firm and unyielding- Ynda froze, her grip tightening on the doorknob. She lowered her gaze to the hands locked around her. They were long and graceful, with pronounced knuckles she recognized instantly. Her back was flush againstn¡¯s chest. She could feel the intense heat radiating from him. There was a rawness to his strength, something held tightly in check, and it unnerved her in a way she couldn¡¯t name. Slowly, she raised her own hands and began prying his fingers loose, one by one. ¡°Focus on your filming.¡± she said, her voice quieter than she intended. He didn¡¯t respond, didn¡¯t fight her. He just watched, silent and tense, as the door finally swung open¨Cand then closed between them. Ynda got into her car and drove off without looking back. Halfway home, a burst of spring flowers caught her eye along the roadside. She pulled over, hands still clenched on the steering wheel. Drawing a shaky breath, she rubbed her face as if she could wipe away the tangled thoughts. Then, shaking her head clear, she put the car back in gear and 7:44 Thu, Sep 11 continued on. The four¨Chour round trip on winding mountain roads had left her car spattered with mud, the wheels and undercarriage caked in dirt. Instead of heading straight back to Moonbay Estate, she detoured to a car wash. It was past eleven by the time she finally pulled into the courtyard. Normally, she¡¯d have been asleep by now -her routine was strict: up at six a.m., lights out by ten pam. As the engine quicted, her phone buzzed with a message from Seam: [Wayne got reced. Was that you? Word is his backer is furious and dropped himpletely.J Ynda let out a quiet snort. Men like Wayne, who started bullying people the second they got a linle power, neversted. Besides, Rachael had never been his biggest fan. The way she¡¯d looked at Charles that day was pure, unguarded admiration. Maybe it was love. Charles, however, was heartless; he kept love and sex inpletely separate boxes. She typed back: [Just a small nudge. Is there a new lead?] Sam¡¯s reply was almost immediate: [Yes, and they¡¯re reworking the script. The old one was built entirely around Wayne to push him. A new version could actually make the show better.] Ian caught a lucky break, Ynda replied. A hit show can make a lot of people famous. A faint smile touched her lips as she was about to type another message, but a familiar prickle ran down her spine the unmistakable feeling of being watched. She looked up. There, standing on the second¨Cfloor balcony, was Charles. Charles held a cigarette between his fingers, the breeze ruffling his hair. ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯rete.¡± Ynda¡¯s heart gave a nervous flutter. Trying to sound casual, she asked, ¡°No overtime today?¡± He stubbed out the cigarette. I¡¯ve been home on time all week. Actually, she hadn¡¯t noticed. After all, she¡¯d moved into the bedroom at the far end of the hall. He leaned against the doorframe, studying her with azy tilt of his head. ¡°I dropped by your studio earlier. The interior looks good.¡± Her grip tightened around her phone. ¡®Why did Charles go to my studio? He¡¯s never shown any interest in me before. This feels off. If he starts paying attention now, he might find out I¡¯m Tessa. Titan 38 Chapter 38 Charles had never cared about what Ynda truly felt, yet her hollow performance now ignited his curiosity. She walked past him and started up the stairs. He waited for her on thending, leaning back with an air of detached coolness. ¡°I took care of that celebrity issue,¡± he mentioned. She continued down the hall without looking back. ¡°Okay.¡± Charles watched her go, a fresh cigarette perched between his fingers, unlit. After a brief pause, he followed her. Ynda grabbed her pajamas and headed for the shower. When she stepped out, she found him already in bed, leaning against the headboard with his long legs stretched out. She froze, about to ask what he was doing here. But then, his phone rang. This time, it wasn¡¯t Sophie. A momentter, Jack knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ve identified the mole who leaked the internal info.¡± The leaked bid had cost Charles a major project he¡¯d spent months preparing for. Now, they finally had a lead. Ynda moved toward the bed and reached for the covers, but his hand closed around her wrist. ¡°Come with me. I want you there.¡± She frowned, turned away, and began changing into her sleep clothes. Charles watched, faintly amused, his hand resting lightly on her waist. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting differenttely. sweetheart.¡± Around a man like Charles, even the smallest shift in behavior didn¡¯t go unnoticed. She kept her eyes down, changing slowly. ¡°I¡¯m just tired She got into the car after him; Jack was behind the wheel. They pulled up to another of Charles¡¯s properties, one Ynda had never seen before. The e moment she stepped inside, the metallic tang of blood hit her like a wall. She recoiled instinctively. In the center of the living room, a man, beaten nearly unconscious, seemed to sense their arrival. He began pleading frantically, voice ragged, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I shouldn¡¯t have done this. I¡¯m begging you, let me go, just this once. Have mercy!¡± Charles walked calmly to the sofa in the middle of the room and sat down. His expensive leather shoes were smudged with blood, but he paid them no mind. The man crawled forward, forehead dripping crimson. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ll return every cent to thepany. I was wrong. I was greedy.¡± 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 38 He lunged for Charles¡¯s pant leg, but Charles shifted his leg and kicked him away dismissively. 2.56 vouchers Ynda stood behind Charles, watching his ice¨Ccold expression. A chill ran through her. She¡¯d known Charles for years and had seen his anger before. In public, he yed the charming, doting man, but when crossed, he turned ruthless and cruel. Updates are released by Find¡ïNovel He took a tissue and slowly wiped a drop of blood from his trousers. Without looking up, he asked Jack, ¡°Where¡¯s his family?¡± Jack replied. ¡°At the airport. He transferred the money to them. Looks like he was trying to get them out of the country.¡± ¡°Stop them.¡± Charles ordered. The man on the floor froze, eyes wide with horror. ¡°Mr. Sinir, it was me. Punish me, not them. They¡¯re innocent, I¡¯m begging you¡­ His voice broke into sobs as he trembled. ¡°They didn¡¯t know. They had no part in this- He thought of his tender wife, and his bright son who¡¯d just been epted to a university overseas. His bloodied fingers curled into fists against the cold floor. Then, with a sudden burst of despair, he lunged toward a nearby pir and smashed his head against it. ¡°Take my life! Just spare them,¡± he gasped before his eyes went nk and he copsed, lifeless. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Charles¡¯s low, humorless chuckle. Jack, quick to understand, already made a hushed, urgent call to intercept the man¡¯s wife and son before they could board their flight. Ynda¡¯s stomach turned. She¡¯d grown up in the Grant family, so she was no stranger to violence. But the thick, coppery smell of blood hanging in the air was something else entirely. Sheltered by strict upbringing and polished manners, the raw brutality of the moment left her shaken. Charles nced sideways, noting her paleplexion. He gestured casually. ¡®Come. Sit.¡± She took a step back. After everything had settled, she just wanted to go home. ¡°When are we going back?¡± He lit a cigarette, the me flickering in his dark eyes. ¡°I thought you might plead for mercy o on his family¡¯s behalf. Ynda turned her face away, fist clenched at her side. ¡°If the family profited from his betrayal, they¡¯re not innocent.¡± And she didn¡¯t want to interfere in his business. Her chest felt tight, her back damp with cold sweat. This was the price of betraying Charles. Arrogant, ruthless, and surrounded by yes¨Cmen who saw everyone else as beneath them, he lived by his own brutal. code. She drew a slow breath, forcing her emotions down. Charles crushed his cigarette into an ashtray and leaned back. In one swift motion, he caught her wrist and 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 pulled her forward. She stumbled, bending awkwardly over the back of the couch until their faces were just inches apart. His lips met hers. It was a hard, possessive kiss tinged with the scent of blood and tobo. ¡°Honey,¡± he murmured, voice dangerously soft, ¡°if this bothers you, you should¡¯ve said something sooner.¡± Ynda stayed bent, feeling his breathing sharp and cold against her car. He released her wrist slowly and stood. ¡°Jack, finish up here.¡± Jack replied, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Jack stayed behind to oversee the cleanup. Back in the car, Charles slumped into the passenger seat, tilting his head back. His Adam¡¯s apple moved faintly as he closed his eyes. I¡¯m exhausted. Drive.¡± Ynda slid behind the wheel, her palms slick with sweat. Ynda and Charles arrived back at Moonbay Estate a little after one in the morning. Ynda got out of the car, brushed past Charles without a word, and went straight to her room. She made it to the sink just in time, retching before sshing cold water on her face. A dry voice came from the doorway. Charles stood there, having shed his jacket, his shirt sleeves rolled up. One eyebrow was arched. ¡°Was it that bad?¡± She hurriedly rinsed her mouth and shook her head, avoiding his eyes. ¡°Just an upset stomach.¡± She¡¯d showered before they left, but now she felt contaminated, needing to scrub the phantom scent of blood from her skin. She kept her gaze down and pushed the bathroom door shut without another word. Charles didn¡¯t move, a silent presence on the other side. When she finally emerged, he was gone Alone, she curled into a tight ball on the bed. She andn had gone too far. If Charles ever found our, his retaliation would be merciless. A man like him, prideful and powerful, would never tolerate such a blow to his ego. She tossed restlessly, her mind racing for a way out of this marriage. Her phone buzzed. It was a message from her another number. Sophie: [Think you¡¯ve won? How pathetic. I¡¯ve had fun with Charles more times than you, his real wife. Bet you didn¡¯t know he gave me this.] Then a photo followed Ynda¡¯s breath caught. Since she was ten, she had given Charles a gift every year¨Cmeaningless luxuries he likely never noticed. But this one was different. This cross ne was a cherished keepsake from Athena, thete wife of the orphanage director, a woman who had been like a mother to her. 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 55 vouchers Two years ago, after Charles¡¯s car ident, she¡¯d been terrified. Hoping it would protect him, she had reluctantly parted with it, her most precious possession. And he had casually given it away to his mistress. A sharp, visceral painnced through her chest. Her fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles turned white. ? Titan 39 Ynda bolted out of bed and marched straight to the master bedroom. Without a second thought, she drove her foot into the door, splintering the frame. It was a raw, violent act,pletely unlike her. She shouted. ¡°Charles, remember that cross ne I gave you? You gave it-¡°The words died in her throat. He doesn¡¯t know I know about Sophie, she realized in a sh. Confronting him now would be a mistake. He¡¯d just offer some hollow apology and keep right on cheating, his conscience clear for good. Charles stepped out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist, his hairgripping. The roar of the shower had drowned her out. ¡°What did you say?¡± he asked, She took a step back. turning to leave. She needed a new n to get the ne. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m going to bed,¡± she muttered. But his hand shot out, mping around her wrist. He pinned her against the ruined door, his gaze dropping to her mouth. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯te here to keep mepany?¡± he murmured, his voice low. Ynda¡¯s eyes flickered to his shoulder. Fresh, red scratches ran across his skin. They were clear marks from someone else¡¯s nails. The truth hit her like a physical blow. ¡°How could I have been so blind? Everyone knows about his affairs but me. No wonder he¡¯s so brazen, she thought. She just replied. ¡°I have my period. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s time for this.¡± The light in his eyes died instantly. He wasn¡¯t going to do anything, anyway. He let go without another word. Ynda fled. The moment she was in the hall, her phone buzzed insistently. Another message from Sophie lit up the screen. Sophie: [Charles said this ne was from you. It¡¯s so in. Are you that hard up for cash even after you married him? Forparison, he gave me two apartments. Fifteen million dors. Said he didn¡¯t want me to feel cheated.] The final text was a knife twist: [Two years as his wife, and you¡¯ve got nothing to show for it. Doesn¡¯t that just make you feel cheap, Mrs. Sinir?] Two weekster, Ian was back to shoot a coffeemercial. Ynda personally picked him up and escorted him to the studio at Starlight Entertainment. As it turned out, Sophie was also on set, filming an advertisement of her own. She was a rising star now, fresh young face securing major endorsement deals for the Sinir Group. the Whilen was in the makeup chair, Ynda stepped out to wander the hall, her face hidden behind a mask. That was when she saw it: the small cross ne dangling proudly from Sophie¡¯s neck. A makeup talent was fussing over it. ¡®Sophie, this is beautiful Guess it must be some special gift. huh?¡± 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 Sophie¡¯s eyes instantly found Ynda standing in the doorway, a wave of smug satisfaction washing over her expression. ¡°Oh, this? My boyfriend gave it to me. He said he wanted me to have a piece of him watching over me, she said, her voice sweet. ¡°I just never wore it.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s so sweet,¡± the talent gushed, With a deliberate flick of her finger, Sophie made sure the ne rested prominently outside her cor, a tant trophy disyed for the one woman she¡¯d stolen it from. The message was clear: she had won. Ynda simply walked back in and tried to ignore Sophie¡¯s speech. Sophie looked up from the mirror with a sneer. ¡°You can¡¯t just barge into my dressing room. As the Sinir Group¡¯s top endorser, flush with fame, she had every right to be arrogant. Ynda remained by the door, her calm, beautiful eyes unblinking. I heard you¡¯re interested in the Magnifique Cosmetics lipstick campaign.¡± Sophie¡¯s face tightened. ¡°None of your business. Now get out, before I¡ª¡± ¡°The word is, they signed Joelle, Ynda cut in. ¡°That star from overseas. You know, the lively girl with eyes just like yours. Rumor has it Mr. Sinir waited for her all night once and got stood up. They had a history. She leaned in, her whisper a de aimed straight for Sophie¡¯s insecurities. ¡°Your realpetition was never his wife. It¡¯s Joelle. It makes you wonder, doesn¡¯t it? When he looks at you in bed, who is he really looking at?¡± Sophie shot to her feet, her hand flying out to p Ynda, who caught her wrist easily. Furious, her face flushed a deep red, Sophie trembled with rage. ¡°Get out, she shrieked at the room. ¡°Everyone, get out NOW!¡± The makeup talents scrambled for the door, not daring to look back, and shut it quickly behind them. ¡°Let go of me, Tessa,¡± Sophie snarled, her face contorted. ¡°You pped me before, and we haven¡¯t settled that score. Now you have the nerve toe here and poison my mind? You bitch!¡± Ynda released her grip slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve had a change of heart, Ms. Sutton. There¡¯s no need for us to be enemies. My talent is still on set, and frankly, maybe you could help us.¡± ¡°So now you give in? It¡¯s toote for that,¡± Sophie snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not giving in. I¡¯m offering you information, Ynda corrected gently. ¡°And I¡¯m a friend of Mrs. Sinir¡¯s. I know all her weaknesses. If you want to rece her, we could be powerful allies.¡± Sophie sized Ynda up, her expression shifting from dark suspicion to outright scorn. Ynda remained unppable. She nudged a broken makeuppact on the floor with the toe of her shoe. ¡°Look into Mr. Sinir¡¯s dealings with Joelle. If I¡¯m lying, you can make me pay. Sophie glowered, pointing a sharp, manicured finger. ¡°If you¡¯re ying me, I will make you regret it.¡± ¡°In our world, it¡¯s better to have a partner than an enemy. Think it over, Ms. Sutton. I have a feeling you¡¯ll be 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 calling me.¡± Ynda ced Tessa¡¯s business card on the vanity. Sophie snatched it up and immediately threw it in the trash. ¡°Get out.¡± iou voucherf Ynda opened the dressing room door and stopped short. Ian was standing right there, his tall frame blocking the light from the hallway. She recovered quickly, pulling the door shut behind her. ¡°I thought you were still in hair and makeup?¡± she asked, her voice soft. He just murmured a nomittal ¡°Hmm¡± and turned, walking back toward his own prep room. Ynda fell into step a few paces behind him. He stopped abruptly, making her nearly bump into him. ¡°Well?¡± he asked, his voice low. ¡°How do I look in this?¡± They¡¯d styled him for the coffeemercial in all ck. Every hair was perfectly in ce, and his makeup was wless. He was still damp from the shoot, hair andshes beaded with moisture. Newest update provided by find{n}ovel The shirt was unbuttoned to a reckless degree, a spreading water stain making the fabric cling to his chest. She could sense the crowd trying to sneak pictures. The effect was breathtaking She adjusted her mask and gave a simple, professional nod. ¡°You look good.¡± ? AD Titan 40 Ian curved his lips in a faint smirk and kept walking toward the dressing room. The makeup talent let out a relieved breath when she saw hime back. When he¡¯d suddenly walked out just now, she¡¯d thought he wasn¡¯t happy with the styling. The shoot was set indoors, with a ck chair giving off a ssic vibe.n¡¯s chiseled features were so striking that he barely needed any makeup. He was already camera¨Cready. The photographer was about to give him some pointers, but seeing how naturally Ian worked the camera, he just rxed. ¡°Alright, turn your body a bit. Lighting, bring up the left side. Let¡¯s get some shadow on half his face. Yeah, that¡¯s it.¡± The photographer added, ¡°Mr. Foster, over here! Make your gaze a bit more alluring Ynda stood off to the side with the crew, wearing a hat and a mask, but even so, her figure was hard to miss. She watchedn shine in front of the camera, a trace of satisfaction flickering in her eyes. The photographer kept showeringn withpliments, even stepping in during the break to fix Ian¡¯s hair. One of the crew members leaned over to Ynda and whispered, ¡®T¡¯ve never seen the photographer this hyped. There was this up¨Canding actor before who was so stiff in front of the camera. It took us a whole day just to get his eyes right.¡± Ynda hummed in agreement, catching a glimpse ofn leaning back. His Adam¡¯s apple stood out; the top light cast his chin¡¯s shadow across his exposed corbone. His eyes smoldered at the camera, toeing the line between inviting and aloof His legs were so long; he looked like he didn¡¯t even know where to put them. Excitement colored the photographer¡¯s cheeks, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Yes, just like that.¡± He fired off a dozen shots, stepped up to smooth out the ck shawl on the chair, and then came back for more. Ynda had expectedn to be a little nervous about his first big endorsement, but he handled it like a pro. When it was over, the photographer and crew crowded around Ian. ¡°Mr. Foster, thanks for your hard work. Your camera presence is insane, and your looks are just unreal.¡± Official source is Find_Novel(. Ian lowered hisshes, nodded, and gave a quick bow of thanks before heading over to Ynda. Ynda ordered coffee for the photographer and the crew before tellingn to head to the car first. She had some things to discuss with the production manager. As Ian walked out of Starlight Entertainment, he identally bumped into a woman dressed to the nines. He quickly stepped aside. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± he said. May¡¯s eyesnded on his face, and after a few seconds, her face contorted with rage. She hurried back to her 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 car, fixing a venomous stare onn¡¯s face as he walked away. 155 voucherFX May seethed, thinking. He¡¯s that bitch¡¯s kid. Damn it. Why is he still alive? Her hands gripped the steering wheel hard. She was itching to m the gas and ram right into fan¡¯s car. May saw that after a woman in a hat and a mask got inton¡¯s car, Tan finally drove away. May didn¡¯t go after them. All her usual elegance andposure had vanished. She made a call, practically snarling through gritted teeth. ¡°Dig up everything on that bitch¡¯s kid. Didn¡¯t we already get him expelled? Why the hell is he still in Beloris? Find out who helped him back then. I want him dead, and I want his name dragged through the mud. Make sure he¡¯s finished.¡± Meanwhile, as Ynda drove off, she nced in the rearview mirror. She had a nagging feeling that the luxury car parked nearby looked familiar, but now that it was farther away, she couldn¡¯t make out the license te. Things were quiet in the car, so she broke the silence. ¡°Tired? Get some rest tonight, okay? We¡¯ll head back to the set in the morning.¡± Ynda kept her face calm. ¡°Just call me Ms. Grant from now on, alright?¡± He turned to look at her profile, his lips pressing into a thin line. Ynda felt her palms grow damp with sweat. She could feel his wounded gaze on her, but she made herself look away. When the car stopped outside his ce, she still didn¡¯t turn to look at him. ¡°Go on, head inside, and have something to eat¨Cmaybe some bread. I¡¯ll have a driver pick you up in the morning.¡± But he just sat there, not making a move to open the door. ¡°,¡± she called softly. He lowered hisshes, his voice soft and a little distant. ¡°Did I make things difficult for you?¡± ¡°No, I¨CYnda began, her words faltering. But before she could finish,n suddenly leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Her voice caught, and she stared at him in disbelief. He pulled back quickly, turning his gaze out the window. ¡°I want to call you Ynda. Could I?¡± Ynda took a deep breath, her eyes steeling. ¡°Get out. If you ever pull that again, I¡¯ll have Megan take care of you instead. From now on, I¡¯ll only deal with your scripts.¡± 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 Ian¡¯s throat tightened. He lifted his hand and opened the door. As he closed it, he whispered, ¡°Sorry¡± Ynda sped oft, and only when she¡¯d put some distance between herself andn did she finally pull over, pressing a hand to her forehead. She¡¯d never had to deal with anything like this before. Her heart was pounding. Panic wed at her chest, like she was about to step outside the lines her family had drawn for her. She leaned back, realizing her back was already damp with sweat. Betraying Charles would be a disaster. All she wanted was to stack up some leverage, so when the divorce came, she wouldn¡¯t end up totally screwed. Anything beyond that, she didn¡¯t dare let herself think about it. Charles might not have any lines he wouldn¡¯t cross, but she had to draw her own somewhere. E Titan 41 That night, after Charles had finished fooling around with Sophie, he stood by the bed, straightening out the wrinkles in his suit. When he was undressed, he¡¯d give Sophie anything she wanted. But once he put his clothes back on, he turned back into the high¨Cand¨Cmighty CEO of Sinir Group. Remembering what Ynda had said, Sophie grabbed his sleeve. ¡°Charles, I mentioned before that I wanted the lipstick endorsement for Magnifique Cosmetics, right? I checked, and the current spokesperson is Joelle. Honestly, she¡¯s nothing special. How could she possibly outshine me?¡± The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. Sophie had never seen him like this before; her heart sank. She swallowed, forcing a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Did I say something wrong, Charles? I¡¯ve seen her photos. Could you help me get the Magnifique Cosmetics endorsement? 1-¡± He slowly removed her fingers from his sleeve and leaned in close, studying her face. ¡°Sophie, did someone say something to you?¡± Sophie put on her most convincing act, her eyes growing teary. ¡°Charles, I just can¡¯t stand being outshined by someone who¡¯s clearly not as good as me. It¡¯s been eating away at me.¡± He patted her cheek lightly, a faint smile in his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t say such silly things next time.¡± Sophie¡¯s face instantly drained of color, her fingers curling into a fist. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, her voice barely steady. ¡°Be good, and there¡¯ll be plenty of resourcesing your way. But if you¡¯re not, I can rece you anytime,¡± Charles said as he straightened his tie and grabbed his suit jacket. ¡°I¡¯m heading out.¡± Sophie couldn¡¯t even muster a smile, she just stared helplessly as he walked away. As soon as the door closed behind him, she hurled a pillow across the room, tears streaming down her face. She¡¯d insulted Charles¡¯s wife right to his face before, and he¡¯d never cared. But just bringing up Joelle made him turn cold in an instant. Tessa hadn¡¯t lied¨CJoelle was the one he cherished a lot in his heart. Sophie pounded the bed beneath her. They¡¯d just been tangled up together, and he could flip the switch like that. She¡¯d never seen Charles act this way before. It was like he¡¯d turned into ice, shutting her outpletely. Her face twisted with rage; she snatched up the business card she¡¯d salvaged from the trash. It was Tessa¡¯s contact info.. She finally saw it. Charles was truly heartless. She¡¯d been chasing some ridiculous fantasy of rising to the top. She was nothing but a joke. She was grasping at straws, clutching the card so hard her knuckles turned white, before finally letting it fall from her hand. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 Charles hadn¡¯t even made it far down the road when his phone buzzed¨Cit was Ynda. She said softly, ¡°Charles, things have taken a turn for the worse with William. Can youe over right now?¡± Ynda spent her childhood at the orphanage until she was ten. William, the director, wasn¡¯t in great shape, but he still looked after a few of the kids who had no family. William¡¯s wife, Athena, had died a few years back from working herself to death, and now William was just barely getting by. When Ynda got the call that night, she rushed straight to the hospital and was already pacing the hallway, waiting anxiously. To her, William was like the grandfather she never had. She¡¯d never known real family love in the Grant or Sinir families; the only warmth she¡¯d ever felt came from William. She forced herself to stay strong, clenching her fists to keep them from trembling, and waited until William was finally wheeled out. The doctor pulled off his mask. ¡°We caught it early this time, but William doesn¡¯t have much time left. He needs a kidney transnt. We¡¯ve been searching for a suitable donor for two years but still haven¡¯t found a match.¡± Ynda leaned back against the wall, her hand limp at her side. ¡°Please let me know the moment you find a donor, okay?¡± ¡°Ms. Grant, don¡¯t worry, William is at the top of the donor list. As soon as we find a match, he¡¯ll be the first to get the surgery,¡± the doctor reassured her. Ynda nodded, forcing a weak smile. ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡± She walked into the hospital room and saw a few kids gathered around the bed. They were all orphans from the orphanage, and they¡¯d lived with William for most of their lives. William was only sixty. He¡¯d taken over the struggling orphanage back when he was middle¨Caged. He and his wife had run it together for years, and after Athena passed away, he managed everything on his own. ¡°Ms. Grant, why isn¡¯t Mr. Bet waking up?¡± one of the kids asked, their voice trembling. ¡°We¡¯re so scared. What if Mr. Bet never wakes up?¡± another one cried. Ynda reached out and gently patted their heads. These kids were the ones who¡¯d called 911. If they hadn¡¯t, William might not have made it. She said softly, ¡°Be good, okay? I¡¯ll have someone take you all home. Mr. Bet is going to be fine, so don¡¯t stay here and disturb his rest. Once he¡¯s better, he¡¯lle back to you.¡± Each of the kids took turns hugging her around the waist. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Grant.¡± Once the kids left, Ynda walked over to William¡¯s bedside. 7:45 Thu, Sep 11 William opened his eyes. ¡°Ynda, where¡¯s Charles!¡± Back when Ynda had just been taken in by the Grant family, she brought Charles to the orphanage. William liked him right away, and back when Athena was still around, she liked him, too, They even knew about Ynda¡¯s little crush on Charles. So many years had flown by, and every time Ynda visited, William would always ask about Charles. But the Charles of today was nothing like the pure¨Chearted kid he once was. ¡°I called him. He¡¯s on his way over, Ynda replied. William nodded, took her hand, and gave it a gentle pat. ¡°Ynda, you have to take good care of yourself. I¡¯ve always worried about you the most. Knowing Charles will look after you puts my mind at ease.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes stung with tears, but she held them back. ¡°William, we¡¯ll definitely find a matching kidney. You¡¯re just sixty, I asked the doctor, and he said if the transnt works, you could easily have another twenty years. Right as she finished speaking, Charles pushed open the door and walked in. Ynda immediately noticed a faint water stain on his pants and quickly averted her gaze. He came over and rested his hands gently on her shoulders, asking with concern, ¡°William, are you okay? When William saw Charles, he tried to sit up, but Ynda gently pushed him back down. ¡°William, don¡¯t get worked up. He¡¯s here, and he¡¯s not going anywhere.¡± William¡¯s gazended on Charles, and he reached out to grab his hand. ¡°Charles, thest time we saw each other was when you and Ynda first got married.¡± Charles lookedpletely unbothered, a faint smile ying on his lips as he casually slipped an arm around Ynda. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve just been swamped these past two years. Haven¡¯t had a chance to drop by.¡± William¡¯s eyes were full offort. He couldn¡¯t help but cough, saying, ¡°I know you¡¯re busy. You¡¯re such a capable guy. Ynda won¡¯t ever have to suffer with you around.¡± Ynda clenched her fist at her side, her nails digging into her palm, but she kept her face neutral. ? Ìï AD Comment Send gift Titan 42 65 vouchers Charles leaned in and kissed Ynda gently on the cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, William. I¡¯ve always treated Yndal well.¡± Ynda gave a small smile and tucked the nket around William. ¡°Just focus on resting, okay? Stop worrying about the orphanage. I¡¯ll go check on the kids in a bit.¡± William closed his eyes, exhaustion written all over his face. ¡°Ynda, you¡¯ve been working so hard these years and already given so much to the orphanage. If I really can¡¯t make it, I won¡¯t let those kids be your Updates are released by find~novel burden ¡°There have been people trying to buy the orphanage, but I always refused. The person in charge has a bad reputation, and I was worried she wouldn¡¯t treat the kids right. I- Ynda squeezed his hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough, William. If you keep talking like this, I¡¯m going to get mad.¡± William smiled and gently patted the back of her hand. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some sleep now. Thanks foring all the way here so You should head home, too. Get some rest before work tomorrow.¡± Ynda felt ashamed inside. Just a few days after she married Charles, Athena had passed away. Back when Athena was alive, she always told Ynda that having a pretty face was a blessing, but if girls only yed the beauty card, they were doomed. She told Ynda to have a job to stand on her own, or else people would just push her around. At that time, Ynda had already closed her studio and became a stay¨Cat¨Chome wife. Because she¡¯d gone against Athena¡¯s advice, she never dared to admit it, and ended up hiding it for two whole years. If William ever found out Ynda was a stay¨Cat¨Chome wife now, he¡¯d probably be disappointed. William and Athena had spent everything they had to take over the orphanage, and put their hearts into teaching every girl there, just hoping they¡¯d study hard and be able to support themselves. And yet, as their proudest kid, Ynda was the one who ended up as a stay¨Cat¨Chome wife. Ynda pushed down her swirling emotions. When she and Charles were on the way back home, she heard Charles ask, ¡°Is William not doing well?¡± She nodded, gazing up at the pitch¨Cck sky. I¡¯m afraid-¡± Before she could finish, Charles¡¯s phone rang. It was from apany executive. He raised his hand to cut her off and stepped aside. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± After listening for a moment, he frowned, his hair getting tousled by the night wind, but he still had that air of elegance about him. ¡°Alright. I¡¯lle over and check it out now.¡± He hung up and turned to Ynda. ¡°One of thepany execs was just admitted to the hospital. It¡¯s at one of the hospitals Sinir Group invested in. I need to go see what¡¯s going on. You should head home first. 000 El 56 vouchers: Several of Sinir Group¡¯s senior management were Charles¡¯s trusted allies, while the rest backed his two uncles. Sinir Group might look calm on the outside, but there was a storm of power struggles brewing underneath. At such a critical moment, if anything happened to one of the higher¨Cups, it could throw everything into turmoil. But Ynda wasn¡¯t interested in any of that. Instead of heading home, she drove for an hour straight to the orphanage. The kids were still up. All twenty¨Csomething of them were waiting in the yard for William toe back. When they saw Ynda, they all stood up quietly. No one made a fuss. A boy said, ¡°Ms. Grant, is Mr. Bet still sick? We¡¯re really worried about him. We made these paper cranes. Joey said if we hang them on the tree, he¡¯ll get better.¡± Ynda looked at their adorable faces and crouched down. ¡°Mr. Bet will be back soon. He asked me to check if you¡¯re all getting ready for bed. Hurry up and wash up. Otherwise, he might get upset. The kids scattered right away, shouting as they ran, ¡°We¡¯ll go to bed now! Please take care of the paper cranes
  1. US. Grant. Next time, we¡¯ll give you a present.¡±
for Ynda couldn¡¯t help but smile as she hung the string of paper cranes on the tree in the yard. When she walked inside, she saw all the kids already tucked into bed, sweetly saying goodnight to her. After closing the door, her phone rang. It was a call from William¡¯s doctor. ¡°Ms. Grant, we¡¯ve found a matching kidney donor. We can schedule the surgery soon. You- Before he could finish, his phone buzzed with another call. ¡°Hold on, I need to take this.¡± Ynda waited for half an hour, but he never called back. She tried calling him again, but he didn¡¯t pick up. This doctor had been William¡¯s main physician for a long time. He was a good man and wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this. Without wasting another second, Ynda drove straight to the doctor¡¯s house and rang the doorbell. The doctor, sses perched on his nose, looked at her with a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly reced by shame. ¡°Ms. Grant, why are you here?¡± He still had no idea who Ynda really was; he just knew that she was wealthy and always treated William with kindness. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just call and say you¡¯d found a kidney donor?¡± Ynda pressed. The doctor nervously adjusted his sses. ¡°No, I made a mistake. I shouldn¡¯t have said that.¡± ¡°Doctor, I¡¯ve been searching for a matching kidney for two years. Please, I¡¯m begging you; just be honest with. me¡± Ynda¡¯s presence was overwhelming; her eyes were so sharp, it was like she could see right through any secrets. The doctor hesitated, and then let out a heavy sigh. There¡¯s nothing I can do. I should¡¯ve been happy for you 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 when we found the donor, but the hospital sent word.. ¡°The kidney got snatched by someone else. Just seconds after I called you, it was already promised to another patient.¡± Ynda let out a bitterugh. ¡°Is one life really worth more than another? I¡¯ve been searching for two years. That kidney should have gone to us.¡± The doctor shock his head. ¡°Ms. Grant, the person who got it is really influential. I heard they¡¯re connected to the Sinir family, probably a top executive. ¡°This all happened just tonight, and the order came directly from the CEO of Sinir Group. And the hospital that took the kidney is also one of theirs. ¡°You know, about a third of the private hospitals in Beloris are backed by the Sinir family. We work closely with them. Some of our most advanced equipment is on loan from them.¡± Ynda¡¯s face turned cold, and she spun around, heading for her car. The doctor called after her, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this sort of thing way too often. It¡¯s my fault for calling you so quickly. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t hurt so much if you hadn¡¯t found out right away.¡± AD Titan 43 Ynda drove straight back to Moonbay Estate and waited for Charles until he finally came homete at night. He looked a bit tired, unbuttoning his shirt as he nced at her by the door. ¡°You¡¯re still up?¡± Ynda closed the door and lowered her gaze, stepping forward to help him with his tie. For original chapters go to find[?]ovel Charles was used to her taking care of him, so he let her continue and asked in a calm voice, ¡°You¡¯re worried about William, aren¡¯t you?¡± She nodded. ¡°The hospital¡¯s been looking for a kidney donor, but I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ve found one yet.¡± Charles rubbed his forehead. ¡°There¡¯s no rushing something like this. Ynda watched as Charles pulled out a robe from the closet and walked straight into the bathroom, leaving his phone lying on the bed. She¡¯d been married to him for two years, always quiet and proper, never did anything out of the ordinary. So he never had any reason to doubt her. The Grant family was like shackles to her, and her love for Charles was an even tighter shackle. They all thought she¡¯d always be the docile, obedient doll. She lowered her gaze, staring at his phone. When Charles came out and saw her still waiting, he raised an eyebrow and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re in the mood tonight,¡± he teased. Ynda walked over to the sofa, picked up the suit he¡¯d tossed on the floor, ying the perfect wife. ¡°Charles, if something happens to William, I¡¯ll be really upset.¡± Charles paused, fingers still in his hair, and then carelessly pulled out a cigarette. ¡°Honey, if anything does happen to William, I promise you, Sinir Group will take care of the orphanage. Would that make you feel better?¡± Ynda¡¯s heart sank. There was no point arguing with Charles about the kidney anymore; he¡¯d already decided what he wanted to do. Charles was cold and distant, and right now, he was only willing to take over the orphanage because of a sliver of guilt in his heart. He¡¯d known from the start that the kidney he snatched was supposed to be for William. She lowered her eyes and managed a small smile. ¡°That puts my mind at ease. I¡¯ll go get some rest now.¡± Charles leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. ¡°Still holding a grudge? Not even going to sleep with your husband tonight?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve been having nightmarestely. I don¡¯t want to keep you up,¡± she said, and then walked out. The moment the door shut, all the warmth vanished from Charles¡¯s eyes. His phone rang again; it was from the hospital. He lit his cigarette and asked, ¡°Does she know about this?¡± OFE 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 ¡°I haven¡¯t had the chance to tell Ms. Grant yet, came the reply. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Charles said coolly ¡°Mr. Sinir, the surgery is scheduled for two weeks from now. Is that alright?¡± ¡°As soon as possible,¡± he said, standing on the balcony and flicking ash from his cigarette, a faint smirk on his lips. Get the top specialists.¡± ¡°You can count on us, Mr. Sinir.¡± Back in her bedroom, Ynda just couldn¡¯t fall asleep. The kidney had already been snatched away by Charles¡¯s side. If William missed this chance, he¡¯d have to wait. He didn¡¯t have that kind of time. I have to do something, she thought anxiously. Early the next morning, Ynda found out Sinir Group¡¯s surgery was scheduled in two weeks. She had to find a way for William to get that kidney before then. Charles was taking this matter seriously. Unless something truly urgent forced him out of Beloris, he wasn¡¯t going anywhere. Ynda kept drawing on her tablet over and over until she finally settled on a workable n. She contacted a friend abroad who worked in showbiz. When her friend heard the n, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°This is pretty risky.¡± Ynda took a deep breath, her eyes firm. I¡¯m leaving things over there to you.¡± ¡°Alright, hope you can really pull this off, her friend replied. A weekter, Ynda showed up at the edge of Charles¡¯s bed, hugging her pillow. She took a sip from her ss of milk, and then ced the mostly full ss on the nightstand. Charles watched as she slipped under the covers, his hand slipping around her waist in a teasing way. ¡°Why the sudden visit tonight?¡± She didn¡¯t say a word, just curled up on her side of the bed. Charles drained the rest of her milk andy down beside her. ¡°Get some sleep. I¡¯m tired too tonight.¡± In the middle of the night, Ynda slowly sat up, carefully picked up his phone, and ced a call. 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 Titan 44 The hospital picked up the call respectfully. ¡°Mr. Sinir.¡± Tm Mrs. Sinir. How¡¯s the surgery scheduled?¡± Ynda asked. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, we¡¯ve already spoken to the specialists, and the surgery is set to begin in two weeks, the doctor replied. Ynda lowered hershes and spoke softly, ¡°Tve found a new donor. Since the surgery won¡¯t happen for another two weeks, there¡¯s no need to cut in line for someone else¡¯s kidney.¡± ¡°A new donor?¡± the doctor echoed, ¡°Alright, please handle the arrangements and have the donor information transferred. If anythinges up. my husband will contact you directly, Ynda said. The doctor, Hugh Thornton, didn¡¯t think twice. After all, it was Charles¡¯s number, and he was way too cautious to let anyone else touch his phone. So Hugh thought the woman had to be Mrs. Sinir. ¡°Rest assured, Mrs. Sinir. I¡¯ll arrange for the donor to be transferred right away.¡± After hanging up, Ynda looked down at the phone, opened every single app, and set it to drain the battery as fast as possible. At four in the morning, Charles heard a noise by the balcony door. He sat up, reaching for his phone on the pillow, but it was dead. He walked over to the balcony and had just opened the door when he heard Ynda¡¯s voice. ¡°But you were the one who left. Charles isn¡¯t the type to take back what he¡¯s let go. He won¡¯te looking for you.¡± As she spoke, she caught sight of Charles standing on the balcony out of the corner of her eye. Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Honey¡­ The panic on her face didn¡¯t seem fake. Charles threw on a coat. The early spring nights were still chilly, and the wind was fierce. His face was hidden in the shadows as he said, ¡°Give me the phone.¡± He clearly knew who had called. Ynda took a step back, her expression calm. ¡°It was just a wrong number. Charles strode over and snatched the phone from her hand, but the screen showed the call had already ended. ¡°Ynda,¡± he said. He almost never called her by name, which meant he was really pissed. He gave a shortugh, scrolled through her phone, and found a news headline. [International superstar Joelle had gone missing after falling off a cliff during filming.] His face went cold, and his eyes were icy and bottomless. Ynda¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she pressed her lips together. 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 He gave her a deep, lingering look before turning and striding away. Ynda quickly followed after him. ¡°Charles¡­¡± 55 vouchate But he was already changing, tossing her phone onto the bed. He opened the bedroom door and told Jack. ¡°Get me on the earliest flight to Mand, now¡± The sound of footsteps faded as they left one after the other. Ynda took a deep breath and called William¡¯s doctor, Tommy Reese. ¡°The donor kidney is being transferred now. I¡¯ve already got Sinir Group on board. Let¡¯s get the surgery done as soon as possible.¡± Tommy nced at the clock; it was only six in the morning, ¡°Alright, Ms. Grant. I¡¯ll perform the kidney transnt tomorrow.¡± Ynda¡¯s palms were slick with cold sweat as she hung up, her heart chilled to the core. By the time it was fully light out, Tommy called. The surgery is set for nine tomorrow morning. ¡°Can we do it any sooner?¡± Ynda pressed, not wanting to leave anything to chance. Tommy hesitated, and then said, ¡°Tonight.¡± ¡°Can you really do it?¡± she asked urgently. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll get the patient prepped right away.¡± Ynda let out a sigh of relief. Things on Charles¡¯s end should be dyed until tonight. After all, he was still on the ne. She rushed to the hospital. When William heard the donor kidney had finally arrived, he could hardly believe it. He sped Ynda¡¯s hand tightly, his voice shaking with excitement. ¡°I thought we¡¯d never find one?¡± ¡°William, just focus on the operation. Everything else is taken care of,¡± Ynda reassured him softly. William¡¯s lips curled into a grateful smile as he patted her hand. ¡°Ynda, meeting you is the best luck I¡¯ve ever had.¡± The surgery started exactly at six that evening, right on the dot. At ten that night, Tommy came out of the operating room and pulled off his mask. ¡°The surgery was a sess. But I have to ask you. How did you get Sinir Group to let go of that kidney?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t say a word. She just headed straight for William¡¯s room. He was still out cold, and wouldn¡¯t be waking up until morning. By the time Ynda made it back to Moonbay Estate, her nerves had been stretched to the limit, and now she was just dead tired. 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 Her phone buzzed with another call from her friend abroad. ¡°Ynda, I¡¯ve managed to hold out until now Joelle¡¯s a huge name overseas. Both herpany and the press have people searching everywhere? Ynda copsed onto the couch, too tired to move. ¡°It¡¯s done here. Thanks.¡± Her friend sounded relieved. ¡°If I weren¡¯t Joelle¡¯s agent, there¡¯s no way I could¡¯ve pulled this off.¡± Ynda gave a tired smile, rubbing her temples. ¡°Whatever¡¯s between us, let¡¯s keep it that way. No one else can ever find out.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. By the way, your husband came over, but he didn¡¯t meet anyone. He just called in a team of experts to search the ce, and then stayed in his car the whole time and never got out.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t say a word. Who would¡¯ve thought Charles would get cold feet abouting back?¡± she sneered, finding it almost funny. She then said, ¡°Thanks. Just make sure you don¡¯t slip up.¡± Charles wouldn¡¯t be back for at least two more days, and Ynda needed to make sure she waspletely out of this mess before then. She went straight to Sinir Group¡¯s hospital and found Hugh, the same doctor she¡¯d talked to on the phone earlier. Hugh held a lot of sway at the hospital, but Ynda knew exactly where his Achilles heel was. Otherwise, she never would¡¯ve dared to set this whole thing in motion. She arranged to meet Hugh out in the suburbs, and then slid a photo across the weathered tabletop right in front of him. Hugh¡¯s face turned icy, a hint of panic shing in his eyes. ¡°Who the hell are you? If you don¡¯t start talking. I¡¯m calling the cops.¡± ¡°Dr. Thornton, I¡¯m Charles¡¯s wife. I called youst night. You should remember my voice,¡± Ynda said, her tone steady and in control. The photo was of Hugh¡¯s daughter. She was just as talented in medicine as he was. If nothing messed things up, her future was set. Hugh took a deep breath, still in hisb coat. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, what do you want? Why did you ask me out here?¡± ¡°The whole kidney donor thing¨CI did it behind Charles¡¯s back. He¡¯s out of the country for now, but in two days he¡¯ll know everything. I need you to take the me. Say you took six million dors in dirty money and secretly released the kidney.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fin?novel Hugh¡¯s face flushed with anger. He¡¯d built a solid career at Sinir Group¡¯s hospital. No way he¡¯d go behind. Charles¡¯s back like that, especially since Charles trusted him more than anyone. 7:46 Thu Sep 11 ¡­ Titan 45 ¡°No way,¡± Hugh refused directly. Ynda tapped the photo with her finger. ¡°Dr. Thornton, your daughter is gifted in medicine. If her father gets exposed for a major medical scandal, she¡¯ll be cklisted from the field for sure. ¡°Dr. Thornton, do you remember those women you drugged and forced to get abortions?¡± Sweat was pouring down Hugh¡¯s face. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, you and Mr. Sinir are family. You know I only did those things because someone told me to. Sinir Group will have my back.¡± The hospital owned by Sinir Group was the go¨Cto ce for wealthy wives. If a mistress got pregnant and tried to use the child to climb her way up, they¡¯d drag her here and force an abortion to get rid of the bastard. The staff there kept their mouths shut, and those rich wives all had dirt on each other, holding leverage in their little circle. Hugh had done this countless times, but he never expected Charles¡¯s wife to threaten him with it. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, aren¡¯t you afraid Mr. Sinir will be pissed?¡± Ynda continued, ¡°Dr. Thornton, six million dors is more than enough for you to retire. I promise you, if anything ever happens to your daughter, I¡¯ll pull every string I have for her. ¡°You know how dirty these circles are. She¡¯s gorgeous, and there are plenty of people out there with their eyes. on her. ¡°You take the me this once, and you get six million and a safety for your daughter. Sounds fair, doesn¡¯t it? At worst, Charles will have you roughed up and shipped overseas. He¡¯s not going to kill you. It¡¯s your call, Dr. Thornton.¡± Hugh¡¯s hand tightened at his side. He knew better than to mess with Mrs. Sinir. Even if Hugh ratted Ynda out to Charles, those two were thick as thieves. Ynda would barely get scratched, but Hugh was just some outsider. If Ynda bounced back, she¡¯de for him and his daughter, and that would be hell for them. Ynda was gutsy enough to pull all this off behind Charles¡¯s back. She¡¯d thought of everything, even the six million. If Charles decided to follow the money trail, Hugh would be the first one he¡¯d find. His face went pale, and his shoulders slumped. Ynda stood up and slipped on her mask and hat. ¡°Dr. Thornton, the six million will hit your ount soon. ¡°When Charleses asking. I¡¯ll say you were the one who contacted me. You need to swear you had no idea. who I was. You were just in it for the cash. Understand?¡± Hugh sat there, unmoving, memories of injecting those women with anesthesia shing through his mind- their tearful begging, their desperate pleas. At first, it gnawed at his conscience, but after a while, he just got numb to it. The less guilt he felt, the fatter his 7:40 Inu, Sep wallet got. Maybe this was payback finally catching up to him. Two dayster, Charles¡¯s nended. He was nning to head straight to the hospital to check on the higher¨Cup and see how the surgery prep was going. Original content can be found at f?ndnovel But before he could, the hospital called. They told him Hugh had taken a bribe and handed off the kidney to someone else. Charles stopped in his tracks. Hugh had worked at the hospital for twenty years and he wasn¡¯t exactly strapped for cash. ¡®How could this even happen?¡® he thought. He hung up and turned to Jack. ¡°Check Hugh¡¯s bank records.¡± Less than te ten minutester, Jack sent Charles a file. ¡°Mr. Sinir, the money came from your card.¡± Charles¡¯s face darkened. He immediately thought of the card he¡¯d given Ynda, which had exactly six million dors on it. He leaned back, his voice icy. ¡°Take me to Moonbay Estate.¡± He¡¯d thought she¡¯d always y by the rules, but she¡¯d gone behind his back and pulled this little stunt. The car pulled up to Moonbay Estate. As Charles was changing his shoes in the entryway, he saw Yndaing down the stairs. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted him. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re back!¡± Seeing her dressed in something soft and rxed, Charles kept his face cold as he asked, ¡°Where are you going? ¡°William¡¯s surgery was a sess. I paid six million for the kidney. Honestly, I¡¯ve thought I was getting scammed, but it turned out to be legit.¡± She nced at his face. ¡°You¡¯ve got some serious dark circles. Did you even get any sleep while you were away?¡± Charles lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes¨Cfull of worry for him, and that secret, deep affection she always tried to hide. Charles thought, ¡®Ynda grew up under such strict rules. She¡¯s actually pretty sensitive and fragile. She¡¯d never have the guts to go behind my back like this. ¡®Maybe it was really a coincidence. He wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°That six million¨Cit was from me.¡± ¡°Yeah, I honestly thought the money was gone for good, but I never expected¡­. Her face softened with warmth. ¡°I never thought that guy would actually manage to get a kidney.¡± Out of her sight, a chilling glint shed in Charles¡¯s eyes. He let go of her waist, yanked off his tie, and turned to Jack. Tell the hospital to fire Hugh. Break his leg and ship him out of the country.¡± ¡°Yes, sir, Jack replied. 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 Ynda noticed his dark expression and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Charles reached out and gently ruffled her hair. ¡°Nothing. Aren¡¯t you heading to see William?¡± She nodded, grabbed her bag, and slipped on her shoes at the door. Just as she was about to leave, she finally asked, ¡°Did you go abroad to see her?¡± A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, but he managed a smile. ¡°It was just a work trip. That¡¯s all Ynda let out a breath, her lips curving into a relieved smile. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m heading to the hospital now.¡± As she slid into the car, her back was drenched in cold sweat. She nevermagined she could pull off a performance like this, acting her way through it all. Trying to fake it in front of someone like Charles was nerve¨Cwracking as hell. His eyes felt like they could see straight through anyone, and when he gave people that half¨Csmile, it made them want to beg for mercy, He just had that natural aristocratic vibe, and his gaze was sharp enough to slice right through a soul. Ynda steadied her pounding heart, her eyes hardening with resolve. The Grant family thought she was all sweetness and obedience, and Charles figured she was just stiff and boring. But none of them knew that deep down, she was crazy to the core. ? Titan 46 It waste at night, and Hugh was dragging his shattered leg down a filthy alley, every step a battle. The sharp click of high heels echoed behind him, making him freeze in ce. When he saw Ynda step into the light, he gave a bitter twist of his lips. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, you were right. Mr. Sinir really did let me live.¡± Ynda stood tall, her bag in hand, her back straight as a rod. ¡°Dr. Thornton, you resent me. Sure, those rich wives forced your hand, but can you swear you still have a shred ofpassion left as a doctor?¡± Her words stabbed straight into Hugh¡¯s heart. He stood there, dazed for several seconds, memories flooding back¨Chow he¡¯d once sworn to his mentor to always put saving lives first. But in the end, he¡¯d let himself get swept up by money and power. Those women who became mistresses were at fault, but he was far from cleaning hirnself. He stayed silent. dragging his injured leg onward. Ynda watched his retreating figure. ¡°If you do this, your daughter won¡¯t end up as their pawn. record, they won¡¯t dare use her. She can go abroad. With your ¡°I know you¡¯re not willing to ept this, Dr. Thornton, but if you keep sinking into this mire, it won¡¯t end well for you.¡± Hugh limped away, and after a few seconds, his voice echoed from the distance, ¡°Take care of yourself, Mrs. Sinir. Ynda stood there, letting out a soft chuckle. The moment when she started lying to Charles, she¡¯d crossed him. He would never forgive anyone for betrayal. Since she had betrayed him once, she was facing a tough choice now: either she had to keep lying forever, or she needed to face the consequences. She lowered hershes, her heels clicking as she made her way forward. Once she got in her car, she headed to the hospital to check on William. He was doing much better. Original content can be found at Find?Novel Word was that Charles had been running all over the country, hunting for a kidney donor. Things were getting messy in the Sinir family after the scandal, and his two uncles were already making moves. But none of that had anything to do with Ynda. A weekter, Charles managed to find a kidney donor by throwing money around. After the surgery was done, he finally made it home. Ynda hadn¡¯t seen Charles in a week. Her studio was finally finished, andn wasing back from the shooting set. She had to drive out to pick him up herself. She reached out to Sophie using Tessa¡¯s number. Ever since she¡¯d spilled the beans about Joelle, Sophie had 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 been constantly messaging her, desperate to know how she could make Charles hers for good. Thest time Charles left Sophie¡¯s bed, he hadn¡¯t called her once. Sophie was terrified he¡¯d already moved on, In just over two weeks, she¡¯d lost nearly ten pounds. Sophie sent: [Tessa, as long as you can help me win him over, I¡¯ll do whatever you say.] Ynda was driving to the train station when she saw the message, a sly smile curling on her lips. This was exactly what she wanted¨CSophie eating out of her hand. She replied: [Mr. Sinir is free tonight. He just got his biggest problem out of the way, so he¡¯ll be looking to rx. [Head to Muse Club. You might just bump into him. If you cry a little, he¡¯ll feel bad for you ande running back.] Sophie¡¯s eyes lit up at the message. [Okay.] After being ignored by Charles for more than two weeks, Sophie was about to lose her mind. She never imagined he could be this heartless. Ynda pulled her car into a corner spot and sentn her location. Soon enough, she spotted a figure in a ck tracksuit heading her way. He wore a hat and a mask, but his tall, lean build made him stand out in the crowd. The car door opened, letting in a rush of sunlight and fresh air.n slipped inside, closed the door, lowered hisshes, and greeted her sweetly, ¡°Hey, Yol- Ms. Grant¡± Ynda remembered howst time he¡¯d said he was hungry and she¡¯d just told him to go eat some bread. Thinking about it now, she felt a bit heartless, but she really didn¡¯t want to get involved. ¡°Mm.¡± She started driving toward his ce and asked, ¡°Did Zack give you any trouble afterward?¡± answered in a low voice, ¡°Nope.¡± The car went quiet for a moment. There was a stubborn streak in him, like he was quietly pushing back against her, an unspoken tension hanging in the air. When they pulled up outside the vi, Ynda hopped out first and unlocked the door with her fingerprint. ¡°Head upstairs and freshen up. I¡¯ll tell you about the role Ms. Sinir has for you.¡± She¡¯d promised to introduce him to Simone once he got back. Ian picked up his ck bag and headed upstairs. Half an hourter, he came back down, his hair still damp. water dripping down. He looked slim at first, but when he flexed, Ynda could tell he packed a punch. Dressed in ck silk pajamas, he dropped into the seat across from her. Ynda pushed the audition script toward him. I pulled some strings and got you a shot at the lead. If yound it, you¡¯ll be catapulted to the A¨Clist. We¡¯ll need to get you ready for the media and everything thates with it.¡± 7:46 Thu, Sep 11 She stood up. ¡°Get up; let me size you up.¡± Ian looked a little surprised but stood up anyway. Water dripped from his hair onto his chest, leaving a spreading damp patch on his shirt. Ynda circled around him. ¡°Your posture is great. No need for a movement coach. He was tall, and as he lowered hisshes, he caught her lips curving in satisfaction. She was clearly appreciating his physique. He quickly looked away, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he swallowed. Ynda stretched out his arm and gave his bicep a testing squeeze. Most guys skipped triceps at the gym, but every inch of muscle onn was just right. She said, ¡°Keep up your workout routine. The camera adds bulk, so you¡¯ll need to maintain this weight from now on, His gaze drifted back to her, and he found himself just watching her lips move, not catching a word she said. After about ten minutes of checking him over, Ynda looked up at him. ¡°Did you get everything I said:¡± He gave a quiet ¡°Yeah.¡± Ynda nodded, checked the time on her phone. ¡°I set up a meeting with Ms. Sinir at the hotel for eight. You¡¯ve got a few hours to rest,¡± she said as she walked out, already calling Megan. Megan was at the studio, doing a final walkthrough. They¡¯d hired a ton of workers for the renovation, using only the best materials to make sure it was ready to move into right away. ¡°Ynda, I checked everything. It¡¯s perfect¨Cjust like the renderings. You shoulde see your office. It¡¯s amazing! I might have to start calling you Ms. Grant from now on,¡± Megan said. ¨C A smile flickered in Ynda¡¯s eyes. ¡°What about your own office? Have you seen it yet?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, I checked it out. I¡¯m over the moon. Ynda, things are only going to get better from here, right?¡± Ynda was just about to get in her car when she heard someone call out behind her, ¡°Ms. Grant, wait up¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She turned to seen following her. She covered her phone, with a hint of confusion in her eyes. ¡°Is there something else?¡± Ian stood there in his ck silk pajamas, hair tousled, looking a bit hesitant. ¡°This script¡­ There are a lot of kissing scenes. And, uh, bed scenes, too.¡± ¡± Titan 47 Ynda read through the script. For Wayne, there were indeed many kissing and bedroom scenes, butn didn¡¯t seem to have any kissing scenes before? ¡°Yeah, you need to practice more.¡± Simone¡¯s new drama has a bold style. Once it passes censorship, it will definitely dominate this summer¡¯s prime time. The lead male role ys a street tough who grew up in the red¨Clight district and got caught up in a murder case. The investors have poured in a lot, and with many veteran actors involved, the audience will definitely be hooked. The lead male¡¯s character is a bit of a rogue. He¡¯s been involved with several women, but each female character is well developed and realistic. Ian¡¯s innate stubbornness suits this role perfectly. Just as she was about to step on the gas, she saw him still standing outside, looking as handsome as a store mannequin. She sighed and rolled up the window. ¡°Are kissing scenes challenging for you?¡± He lowered his eyshes and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a rtionship.¡± Ynda felt a bit puzzled. This person is so good¨Clooking; how could he have never been in a rtionship? She recalled how awkward he was thest time he kissed her. But that awkwardness was somehow perfectly enticing. She quickly pulled back her gaze and looked into the distance. ¡°This drama only has thirty episodes, with six kissing scenes and three bedroom scenes. Each one is crucial. If you really can¡¯t manage, watch how the veterans perform recently.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything. He turned and went inside, closing the door loudly. Ynda continued discussing the renovation with Megan over there. Megan scratched her cheek. Is this person genuinely clueless or just pretending? Ian clearly wants to practice with her. But since she¡¯s not interested, Ian will probably have a hard time ahead. At 8 p.m. 8:12 Thu, Sep 11 Simone raised an eyebrow when she saw Ynda bring a man in. 47 55 vouchers Ynda sat beside her. ¡°Aunt Simone, this is the talent from my studio. What do you think of him?¡± Simone nced up and down at Ian and nodded slightly. ¡°He looks good. I watched the clips you sent mest night¨Chis acting is solid. But I¡¯m not sure about his on¨Cscreen chemistry in the bedroom scenes. I told you, those scenes are crucial.¡± No one woulde into this private room, so Simone started the audition right here. She turned off all the lights except for a nearby floormp, leaving just a soft, dim glow. Simone sat beside Ynda with her arms crossed. ¡°Ian, right? Take off your clothes. Pants too¨Cjust leave your boxer briefs on.¡± Ian froze for a moment and looked at Ynda. Ynda cleared her throat and pretended to sip from a ss of water nearby. He said nothing further and took off his sports jacket. As he was about to pull down his pants, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at Ynda again. Simone frowned, ¡°I¡¯m the director. What are you watching your boss do?¡± Lowering his eyshes, the pants slowly slid down, revealing a beautiful mermaid line on his waist and abdomen. The inverted triangle area kept descending, and his muscles subtly rippled along with it. With the lighting and his stunning face, this scene was truly captivating and hard to look away from. A trace of satisfaction shed in Simone¡¯s eyes, but she clicked her tongue, ¡°It¡¯s good, but still a bitcking.¡± Ian¡¯s hand curled slightly. Thinking of something, he reached out, grabbed the cup of water from Ynda¡¯s hand, and poured it onto his chest. The water droplets sshed like sweat rolling down impulsively. He wiped his face and fixed his gaze on Ynda. Ynda felt dry¨Cmouthed, as if that cup of water was snatched away from her body. She struggled to look away and nced at Simone beside her. Simone still crossed her arms, a spark of light flickering in her eyes. ¡°This is fine. How about the kissing scene? Can you do it? You need to stick your tongue out because the camera will zoom in, and this shot will be very clear.¡± He froze for a moment, about to say he wasn¡¯t good at it, but Ynda interrupted, ¡°Aunt Simone, he can do it.¡± Simone chuckled. ¡°Just saying he can¡¯t cut it. Find someone to try it out. The actress I booked has someone here tonight; I¡¯ll give her a call. Ian, put your clothes on. If you can handle the kissing scene, I¡¯ll pick you.¡± 8:12 Thu, Sep 11 Ian slowly put on his clothes while Ynda turned on the lights inside the private room. The moment the lights came on, the intense surge of hormones finally began to fade. Simone was already on the phone. They said they¡¯d arrive in twenty minutes. Ynda saw Ian tensing up and poured him a ss of water. ¡°Rx¡± He didn¡¯t take it but stood up. ¡°Director Sinir, Ms. Grant, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± 47 55 vouchers Simoneughed, resting her head on one hand. ¡°Looks like this kid is about twenty¨Cthree? Not bad at all. With some good training, he could make you money.¡± Latest content published on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Ynda watched him leave the private room and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Aunt Simone, was it the same when you interviewed male actors before?¡± ¡°Hmm, I have very high standards for male actors¡® physiques. These days, many stars have been spoiled by their fans and don¡¯t like to manage their bodies. Ian¡¯s physique is pretty good, but does Charles really know you¡¯re so considerate to male talents? Personally apanying him to auditions.¡± Ynda¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but her expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Aunt Simone, please keep this a secret. I just want to earn money.¡° Simone didn¡¯t think much of it. After all, Ynda¡¯s identity as a member of the Grant family was more convincing than anything else. ¡°Then you¡¯d better keep it tight. Charles can be pretty possessive in some ways.¡± Ynda nodded and got up. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Ian. He¡¯s probably just a bit shy.¡± ¡°Go ahead. A kid who¡¯s never been tainted by the big city looks genuinely pure.¡± After Ynda left the private room, she headed to the restroom. The hotel¡¯s restrooms were all decorated with solid wood, reflecting a typical American style. She knocked on the door and called out, ¡°Ian?¡± Ian opened the door. His hair was wet, showing he had just washed his face thoroughly. She pulled out a tissue and handed it over, ¡°Are you really nervous?¡± He didn¡¯t take it, turned his head, and was about to close the door again, clearly ufortable about something. Titan 48 Ynda blocked the door with her hand and took out chewing gum for him. ¡°Calm down, the actress will be here soon. Don¡¯t let anyoneugh at you.¡± Hiding in the restroom after being startled by the kissing scene is a bit embarrassing for an actor; Ian is still too young after all. He didn¡¯t take it, and drops of water fell one by one from his hair strands. Yvonne noticed his eyes were a bit red¨Che probably cried, right? ¡°Are you really that nervous? Afraid Ms. Sinir won¡¯t be satisfied? Just act like you did that night. Even if it was awkward, Ms. Sinir will guide you on set.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, his voice sounded hoarse as he began to speak. ¡°I don¡¯t want to film the kissing scene.¡± Ynda¡¯s expression darkened as she spoke nonsense. Refusing to film a kissing scene as an actor shows apleteck of respect for this craft. To briefly immerse yourself in a role and experience the life of that character, you have to do what the role demands. If he resists this much, what is he going to do when filming starts? She said nothing, turned, and started to leave, but he quickly grabbed her wrist. Probably afraid of upsetting her, he lowered his eyshes. ¡°Ms. Grant, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t do well. Could you help me¡­?¡± He said thest sentence very softly, lowering his head like a buzzing mosquito. Ynda was stunned for a few seconds before he pulled her into the bathroom. As their lips met, a fiery sensation surged over him in an instant. She was held and ced on the washbasin, her chin gripped, unable to resist at all. She rememberedst time, he clearly acted very unfamiliar. She wanted to bite his tongue, but thinking he still had to rehearseter, she held back. She turned her head away, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to breathe, don¡¯t rush, the woman will feel ufortable.¡± He kissed her again, ¡°Like this?¡± 8:12 Thu, Sep 11 47 55 vouchers She slowly pushed him away, but he followed down and tore a button off her clothes, revealing a bit of curve. Her expression darkened as she pushed him away. ¡°Ms. Grant.¡± He clung back again. Ynda saw through it¨Cthis was definitely not apliant rabbit. Rxing even a little might leave nothing but bones. She smoothed out her clothes, stood in front of the mirror, washed her face, and pushed down all the restless feelings. ¡°Got it now?¡± He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, inching forward to kiss her ears and the back of her neck, leaving a string of wet marks. ¡°I got it.¡± Ynda held back again and again, then scooped up a handful of His chin down to his chest was wet, his chest rising and falling, a ter and sshed it backward. What ght curl on his lips. ¡°Angry?¡± For some reason, Ynda felt his vibe at this moment was a bit Only more devilish. Charles. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes. ¡°Stop fooling around. Act properlyter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still not very skilled. Could you teach me some more?¡± Ynda looked up and nced at him in the mirror. She turned around and grabbed his cor. ¡°Ian, you¡¯re like a money tree to me, so focus on doing your own job well first.¡± Read full story at findnovel He dropped his gaze onto her slightly moving lips. His lips attacked again, holding the back of her head, lingering with passion. Sensing she was on the verge of anger, he finally let her go. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll give my best performanceter.¡± Ynda said nothing and just wiped her mouth. She normally didn¡¯t wear lipstick, but now her lip corner was a bit red. She left the bathroom first. A few minutes after returning to the private room, Ian came in with that actress. E 55 vouchers Simone nced at the time, speaking seriously, ¡°Just a five¨Cminute kiss. You¡¯re both actors; you know what to do.¡± Ian¡¯s chest was still damp with water stains, just poured by Ynda. Ynda sat beside him, watching as he leaned in and kissed Natalie, her gaze falling like a gentle breeze. She was slightly startled but quickly regained herposure. Natalie blushed from his kiss until Simone shouted, ¡°Cut.¡± Ian let go, but Natalie almost dropped to her knees. Simone smiled, ¡°Not bad, just like that. The next few scenes will be a bit more intense, and the instructor will guide you on set.¡± After speaking, she looked at Ynda, who was silent beside her. ¡°Ynda, I¡¯m casting him. When does his current show wrap up?¡± Ynda ignored the look Ian gave her. ¡°Soon. He¡¯s the second lead, so the role doesn¡¯tst long.¡± ¡°Good. He¡¯ll join the crew in half a month. Once all the roles are confirmed, I¡¯ll tag you on Twitter. Ian¡¯s Twitter is managed by someone, right? We can retweet and greet the audience. His past roles haven¡¯t gone viral yet, and he has a long road ahead.¡± ¡°Aunt Simone, he¡¯s managing his own Twitter now. If he causes any trouble, I¡¯ll have the studio team take over.¡± Simone stood up and saw Natalie still there, blushing shyly. Clearing his throat, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Still acting like a lovestruck teenager.¡± Natalie quickly got up from her chair and gave Ian a flirtatious look. Only Ian and Ynda remained in the private room. Ynda finally rxed and reached out to him with a slight smile. ¡°Once Ms. Sinir¡¯s show wraps up, you should hit the top tier.¡± He stared at the hand in front of him, hesitated for a few seconds, then instead of shaking it, intertwined his fingers with hers. Ynda held back repeatedly; it seemed this trip to the mountains had made him bolder than before. She shook off his hand and headed toward the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Megan. Tonight, let¡¯s celebrate together. Once you join Ms. Sinir¡¯s team and be a star, your reputation will attract talents to the studio.¡± The studio¡¯s reputation had definitely been established. Just as her fingers gripped the door handle, an embrace came from behind. 8:12 Thu, Sep 11 His chin rested on her shoulder. ¡°How about one more kiss?¡± Ynda said nothing. She had never met a man with such contrasts before. So cold on the outside, yet able to act sweet and ask for a kiss. She also hadn¡¯t met anyone this clingy. At least Charles never acted like that. Titan 49 She was dazed for a few seconds, then pushed him away. He didn¡¯t insist and quietly followed behind her. Ynda got in the car, just about to drive to the studio when Megan had already ordered takeout there. The studio was newly renovated, and a few of them could gather in the office. But Charles¡¯s call came through at that moment. ¡°Honey, where are you?¡± His tone was calm, probably because he had a little to drink. She instinctively clenched her chest. It had been a week since the kidney issue, but every time Charles called, she wondered if she had slipped up somewhere. As it turned out, Charles could be quite arrogant at times. At least when it came to his perception of her, he was always pretty full of himself, thinking she wouldn¡¯t dare do anything reckless. ¡°I¡¯ming home right now. What¡¯s going on?¡± Wasn¡¯t Sophie looking for him? Had she not found him? Just as he was thinking this, he heard Sophie¡¯s voice, and the call quickly ended. Charles looked at the identally dropped call, then turned to see Sophie with red eyes, nervously staring at him. ¡°Charles, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± He raised his hand to rub his brow. Alex Wilson¡¯s condition had stabilized. He met with partners tonight and couldn¡¯t help but have a couple more drinks. Sophie slowly approached, linking her arm with his. ¡°I really know I was wrong. Please don¡¯t ignore me.¡± Sophie had been with him for over two years. To be honest, he was a bit tired of her. Especially this time aftering back from abroad, it felt even more meaningless. He pinched his phone between his fingers, intending to settle things with some money, but then saw her eyes sparkling like a rabbit¡¯s, staring at him. ¡°Charles, tonight I wore that purple outfit you liked before.¡± Charles slightly raised his eyebrow and used his fingers to pull open the cor in front of her. Her hand grabbed his wrist, almost pleading, ¡°I¡¯ll be very obedient from now on.¡± He remembered many years ago when a group of boys wanted to prank Ynda. he didn¡¯t stop them. As the leader of the group, he didn¡¯t 55 vouchers The charity g took ce at a countryside estate, and children their age were ying in the nearby courtyard. ¡°That¡¯s Ynda. She¡¯ll be the wife of one of you someday.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by Find¡ïNovel ¡°But she looks so old¨Cfashioned.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get it. The elders love this kind of old¨Cfashioned girl.¡± Thest sentence was said by Charles. He looked toward Ynda, standing perfectly straight while reciting poetry, and a slight smile curved his lips. ¡°Old¨Cfashioned girls can be pretty.¡± Someone nearby teased, ¡°Then maybe she should be Charles¡¯s wife.¡± Charles frowned, stretching out his long legs, ¡°I don¡¯t like that kind of old¨Cfashioned girl.¡± Several boys, usually little rascals, exchanged nces and quietly moved toward Ynda. By the time Charles heard the ssh, it was already toote. Ynda didn¡¯t know how to swim back then and was so scared she cried nonstop. He stood on the shore, thought for a moment, and still reached out his hand. The little strict one stretched out her finger and grabbed his wrist tightly, her eyes pleading, ¡°Charles, pull me up.¡± When she looked at someone with those eyes, probably no one could say no. But he didn¡¯t pull her up immediately. Instead, he stood on the shore and lowered his arm into the water, saying, ¡°Too heavy, can¡¯t pull you up.¡± She clung to his wrist even tighter, crying with tears streaming down like raindrops on plum blossoms. Not sure if it was tears or water, but his wrist stung ufortably. He finally pulled her up and tossed her aside. She just kept sitting there sobbing. At that time, she had just been brought back to the Grant residence not long ago. Malnourished, she looked much smaller than kids her age. When she cried with a hunched back, the thin fabric still showed the clear outline of her bones. 8:13 Thu, Sep 11 Timid and frail. Pointless. Titan 50 Chapter 50 He clicked his tongue, hesitated for a few seconds, then handed her a handkerchief. She was probably frightened and, having just changed her living environment, felt like walking on eggshells; her fingertips trembled as she took the handkerchief. Charles nced at her fingertips: pale, delicate, and soft. She radiated a pitiful aura from head to toe. In this circle, it was like amb walking into a wolf pack. He was too tired of hearing the crying and lifted his foot to leave. The uptight one followed but froze on the spot, feeling awkward after he gave a sharp re. Pretty cute. But goodbye, she became so proper, like a producting off the assembly line at the Grant residence. Completely boring. Back to the present, Sophie¡¯s fingertips were still wrapped around his wrist. Charles pulled at his cor and yanked her close. Excitement shed in Sophie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Charles?¡± He casually pushed aside the empty private room next to them, gripped the back of her neck, and pressed her against the door. Having followed him for so long, Sophie knew well that he liked to y with thrills. Probably because that boring old nag over there wouldn¡¯t y along with him. Charles likes to control everything, both in and out of bed. Sophie was exhausted after being tossed around for four hours; by the time it ended, it was already past midnight. Charles lit a cigarette, his peripheral vision fixed on her. She swallowed nervously, watching him blow out a smoke ring while casually draping his suit jacket over his elbow, giving off that refined rogue vibe again. ¡°Charles¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯ste. Let¡¯s go back.¡± 55 vouchers Sophie breathed a sigh of relief; this meant it wasn¡¯t over yet¨Cotherwise, he would have already sent her off with his bank card. Her heart warmed, and a smile curved at the corner of her mouth. She would rise to the top sooner orter. By then, Charles was sober. As he got into the car, he impatiently tugged off his tie. Back at Moonbay Estate, he saw Ynda asleep on the sofa in the lobby. He grabbed a nearby nket and casually covered her before heading upstairs. The next morning, Charles received a call from his sister, Renee, her voice filled with panic. ¡°Bro,e back home. Mom and Dad are fighting.¡± Charles rubbed his forehead; he had been busy all week dealing with the kidney donor issue. His parents had never had any problems in their rtionship, so why would they suddenly fight? He freshened up and asked Ynda to go with him to the Sinir manor. Renee was full of surprise when she saw him, but when her gazended on Ynda, it turned to disdain. ¡°Why are you here too?¡± Charles looked toward the living room. The coffee table was scattered with broken cups, showing that the fight was intense this time. He went upstairs and just reached the study door when he heard May¡¯s voice. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. You must have gone to see that bitch¡¯s kid! If Charles finds out, your strict father image is ruined. Dn Sinir, I¡¯ve been with you for so many years, and you¡¯re still hung up on that bitch. I won¡¯t let you off, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± Charles¡¯s hand paused at the door. Dn¡¯s tone was cold, holding back his anger, ¡°Stop acting up. What nonsense are you spouting in front of the kids?!¡± ¡°Nonsense? I¡¯ve seen that kid myself. Fine, back when I confronted him, you were the one secretly sabotaging me, weren¡¯t you? If you deny it, I¡¯ll have someone run that bastard down tomorrow!¡± ¡°p!¡± The sound of the p echoed throughout the room. Since Charles could remember, he had never heard his parents argue this seriously. They had always been a model couple admired in their circle. 8:13 Thu, Sep 11 55 vouchers The cry of May came from inside. Charles knocked on the door; the crying stopped instantly, and May wiped her tears. The study door opened. Charles looked at his father sitting in the chair and his mother standing nearby. The atmosphere around them was tense. May looked up, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Charles, when did you get here?¡± Charles suddenly chuckled, ¡°Dad, did you just have an illegitimate child?¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± Dn threw the teacup at Charles, hitting his forehead. Blood instantly started to flow down. May began to scream,¡® shielding Charles in front of her. ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± After calming down, Dn frowned and said, ¡°Call Tommy to take a look.¡± Ynda had been waiting downstairs. After Renee Sinir said a few snide remarks, the Sinir family doctor arrived. When Charles came down the stairs, his forehead was covered in blood. She was a bit surprised¨Cwas the argument really that intense? Renee Sinir was scared to tears and immediately called Wyatt Sinir. Charles kept his eyes closed and showed no expression while being bandaged. Sometimes, Ynda just can¡¯t figure this guy out. Charles seems to be gentle and cold with everyone. May kept crying by the side but refused to say a word. Ynda has been married into the Sinir manor for two years, but this is the first time she has encountered this kind of atmosphere. When Dn came down, Charles¡¯s forehead had already been bandaged. Wyatt Sinir had three sons and one daughter. The struggle among the three sons was fierce. As the eldest, Dn was very capable, and Charles, whom he raised, was also a fiercepetitor in the business world. Read full story at F¦Énd£Îovel But Dn was very cold. Unlike Charles, who used gentleness as a disguise, Dn¡¯s coldness and seriousness were ingrained in his bones. Ynda has been married here for two years but has rarely seen him. 8:13 Thu, Sep 11 47 55 vouchers May, his wife, had always been respectful and fearful toward him, but today she tantly tore their rtionship apart, which meant something serious had happened. Dn ced some documents on the coffee table. ¡°The BlueWave Shipping route is yours to handle. Once you resolve the issues, this route will be under your management from now on.¡± Wyatt Sinir¡¯s three sons held nearly equal power, and thepetition,g them was fierce. As the new heir of Sinir manor, Charles faced constant threats underfoot. He currently had the most management power but was also restrained by his two uncles, having survived hundreds of assassination attempts since childhood. Though Wyatt Sinir seemed kind, he essentially let things be. Only those who emerged victorious from the wolf pack¡¯sst fight were fit to survive in this predator¨Cfilled world. In a big family, blood ties aren¡¯t as useful as mutual interests. Sometimes, thetter proves even more reliable. Titan 51 Chapter 51 76 EL 55 vouchers The BlueWave Shipping route is a maritime line connecting to Draknd, a project currently in Dn¡¯s hands. Maybe it was to make up for today¡¯s matters. Charles slowly opened his closed eyes, his gazending on Dn¡¯s face. Dn has a typical elite appearance, sharp and heroic. He looked for a few seconds, then picked up the contract on the coffee table and smiled, ¡°Alright.¡± After speaking, he stood up and looked at Ynda. ¡°Honey, let¡¯s go.¡± Ynda felt a little uneasy. She had known Charles for many years, so she definitely knew he was angry. He rarely showed his emotions, but there¡¯s truth to the saying: a dog that doesn¡¯t bark is the most vicious when it bites. She quickly stood up as well. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ll head out first then.¡± May was worried and quickly chased after her, following all the way to the car. ¡°Charles, did you hear what they said? I was just babbling nonsense.¡± Charles grabbed Ynda¡¯s wrist, opened the car door, and pushed her inside. The car door closed, and Ynda sat inside, unable to hear what they were saying. Charles just smiled, but May¡¯s eyes were red. Ynda guessed this time the problem was probably serious. After Charles got in, he closed his eyes and let Jack drive. Ynda could still see May standing outside through the rearview mirror. This woman, who was very harsh to her, became utterly humble when facing Dn. The car stopped at Moonbay Estate, and Ynda was the first to get out. Based on her old personality, she would have tried her best to stay by Charles¡¯s side. But now she was clear¨Cheaded, knowing he had plenty of mistresses to keep himpany. She pointed to her own car nearby. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m going to the studio to check things out.¡± Charles was too busy to pay attention to her. After seeing Ynda leave, he said to Jack, ¡°Investigate my situation.¡± dad¡¯s ?0 C26 15 55 vouchers Forty minutester, just as he sat down in thepany¡¯s office, Jack brought over the information he had gathered. ¡°Mr. Sinir, Mr. Dn Sinir did have a woman he liked back then, but they broke up quickly. He married your mother since they had an engagement.¡± The information was brief. Jack tried to find more clues, but everything was too clean. Charles nced at it a few times and threw the files on the desk. ¡°You don¡¯t even know the woman¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Mr. Dn Sinir must have dealt with these leads. I even had someone subtly ask Mrs. Sinir, but she didn¡¯t know either.¡± Charles let out a sarcasticugh, something Jack rarely saw from him. His long fingers tapped on the files. ¡°In my dad¡¯s eyes, profites first.¡± Even if he really had feelings for another woman, if she ever threatened his position, he¡¯d discard her without hesitation. May had strong family support, which gave Dn a significant advantage at the time. Since he chose to marry her, the woman who caught his eye must have had a poor background. Illegitimate child¡­ The Sinir manor does not allow illegitimate children to appear. He will lean back, but idents can¡¯t be ruled out. ¡°Keep investigating.¡± Don¡¯t let him find out who that possible illegitimate child of questionable status is. Ynda didn¡¯t go to the studio; instead, she went to visit Ian¡¯s shooting set. The crew finished filming in the countryside and has now moved to the backlot. Before Jan became famous, hiring for the studio had to be put on hold. Her car had just stopped at the backlot entrance when she saw the Primecrest female CEO who had been with Charles. The female CEO was wearing sunsses today; she took them off when she saw her. No matter how strong a woman is, she bes foolish once she falls in love. A sh of jealousy passed through Vivian¡¯s eyes. Thinking of Charles¡¯s ruthlessness, her face lost its pleasant expression. 10:38 Fri, Sep 12 ¡°Mrs. Sinir, whose shift are you visiting today?¡± Could it be that she has a secret affair with some actor? 76 55 vouchers That would be hrious¨Cif a woman from the Grant family cheats, it would be big news in the circle. Ynda graciously stepped aside, ¡°Come in and take a look.¡± She didn¡¯t go inside. Vivian clearly wanted to confront her, and if the other party found out about Ian¡¯s involvement, it would cause a lot of trouble. Vivian put on her sunsses and leaned in slightly, ¡°On your wedding anniversary, Mr. Sinir left for five minutes and had a heated kiss with me outside.¡± Ynda had long known Charles was a womanizer, but it still stung her deeply. Vivian sighed and patted her shoulder, ¡°He really likes to grab a woman¡¯s neck when he kisses. I almost couldn¡¯t breathe. Mrs. Sinir, you must not be feeding him well at home¡­¡± Her tone rose at the end of herst sentence, clearly proud. ¡°By the way, the first time I was with him was at your ce. That day I wore your yellow nightgown. It was so thrilling. You even had your wedding photo on the bedside table. Seems like you really liked him.¡± Ynda¡¯s hand, hanging by her side, clenched slightly. She recalled just how foolish she had been before. She remembered one day when she came home and noticed the scent on that yellow nightgown was different. She thought she had forgotten to wash it. Then she found a strand of hair on it that wasn¡¯t her length. Charles gently tapped her nose and smiled warmly, ¡°You¡¯re just paranoid.¡± Vivian saw the change in her expression and felt much better inside. She adjusted her sunsses and said, ¡°I¡¯m definitely not the first woman she brought home. Mr. Sinir knows how to have fun, and I bet all your nightgowns have been worn by her. I even wore your high heels once. You know what? She likes women wearing heels in bed, especially your silver pair.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than she was pped hard on the cheek. Vivian was stunned; her sunsses flew off. She looked at Ynda in disbelief. Ynda still had a smile on her face as she spat out two words, ¡°Bitch!¡± After that, she turned and got into the car. Vivian stood frozen, trembling all over, her teeth clenched tightly with a terrifying look in her eyes. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find1Novel Titan 52 Chapter 52 56 vouchers Ynda returned to Moonbay Estate, opened her wardrobe, and threw all her clothes out. When she saw the yellow nightgown, her face turned pale, and a wave of nausea surged up. She quickly pushed open the bathroom door and vomited into the sink. She had long suspected Charles was cheating, but she never expected him to humiliate her like this. The maid saw the pile of clothes by the door and worriedly asked, ¡°Mrs. Sinir, do you want these clothes cleaned?¡± Ynda wiped the corner of her mouth and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked so disheveled¨Chow foolish she had been before. She feared that everyone around Charles thought she was a fool. She took a deep breath, washed her face, and said, ¡°Throw it all away. My shoes too, everything.¡± ¡°But these are all expensive¡­¡± Ynda was very frugal. In the past, whenever Charles wanted to buy her new clothes, she refused them all, thinking a piece of clothing couldst at least three years. So she doesn¡¯t have any new clothes. Saving money for him is simply the dumbest decision; there are plenty of women out there spending his money. ¡°Throw them all away.¡± She even felt disgusted with the outfit she was wearing. Charles brings his mistress home, the servants must know well, yet they keep it so well hidden. Thinking about how well she¡¯s treated every servant over the past two years, never harsh to any of them. If those servants overheard Charles with his mistress in the master bedroom, how would they see her, who knows nothing? They would definitely think she¡¯s utterly foolish and utterly pitiful. Ynda¡¯s lips were somewhat pale, her fingertips trembling slightly; she¡¯s known Charles for fifteen years, yet it¡¯s truly a mess. She held a fire inside her chest, not knowing how to vent it. By the time she came to her senses, she had already driven to the vi wheren lived. He opened the door and saw her standing outside, pale. 10:39 Fri, Sep 12 ¡°Ms. Grant¡­¡± : He called out and stepped aside, ¡°I just got back. Is something wrong?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Ynda walked inside and mmed the door shut. 76 55 vouchers The source of th?s content is find?novel She lifted her foot and stepped on his chest for a moment, and he fell backward. His eyebrows slightly raised. After a few seconds, he slowly straightened up and grasped her ankle. ¡°Here.¡± She wore straight¨Cleg pants that made her legs look long and straight. She was just upset and wanted to take it out somewhere. She suddenly hesitated, realizing what she was doing. She quickly tried to pull her foot back. Her slender ankle was firmly held in ce. ¡°Ms. Grant¡­¡± His voice was noticeably hoarse as he stared at her without blinking, his Adam¡¯s apple moving. Ynda nced sideways and felt he looked like a dog. She forced herself to pull her leg back, suppressing the panic inside. He was still sitting on the ground, eyes red and swollen, looking somewhat pitiful. Ynda looked away without meeting his eyes, unsure what to say, until the ringtone broke the tense silence. She took a deep breath, quickly turned around, and pressed the answer button. It was a call from Mrs. Grant, Ynda¡¯s mother, asking her to return to the Grant residence immediately. Feeling uneasy, she hurried to open the door but heardn say, ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re ignoring me?¡± He sat on the floor, cheeks flushed, even his neck held a slight blush; his hair fell loosely, exuding a seductive charm. ¡°I¡¯m busy right now.¡± ¡°Ynda, you¡¯re acting like a heartless woman. : 76 58 vouchers Ynda stood rooted at the doorway, thinking how her behavior wasn¡¯t much different from Charles¡¯s. ¡°1¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know what to say and, in a panic, blurted out, ¡°Let¡¯s talk another day.¡± She didn¡¯t dare look at him. When she got in the car, she still felt that strange sensation under her feet. She took a deep breath, stopped overthinking, and drove toward the Grant residence. Her intuition told her that something had happened at the Grant residence as well. She hateding to the old house, afraid of the ancestral hall where people were punished by kneeling, and also scared of entering the dark, pitch¨Cck rooms. When she finally entered the main hall, she saw Lily kneeling in the center, trembling all over, looking like she had just been released from the dark room. Anyone locked inside there for a few days would be shaken. The room was pitch ck, pitch silent, and filled with a terror like being swallowed by a monster at any moment. Ynda quietly sat down nearby. Lily Grant was the eldest daughter of Colton Grant. Years ago, she married into the Lawson residence. Ynda knew beforehand that Dominic had a tendency for domestic violence, but the Lawson residence was powerful, ranking among the top ten elite families in Beloris. When Lily married in, Samuel had not yet been born, and the Grant residence was in decline. The Grant family seemed cursed; only one male was born per generation. The previous generation was Ynda¡¯s nominal father. Her generation was Samuel. Lily knelt on the ground, her forehead hitting the floor repeatedly with a pounding sound. ¡°Dad, I beg you, please let me divorce. Let me divorce. I¡¯m begging you¨CI really can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Her cries echoed through the entire hall, but no one responded. Ynda knew that Lily was the disgrace of the Grant residence because after almost thirty years of marriage, she had no children. Lily¡¯s forehead was bleeding from the impact, and she was trembling like a leaf. 10:39 Fri, Sep 12 The living room door was kicked open rudely by someone. This is Lily¡¯s husband. 76 55¨Cvouchers. The man mmed a pile of photos onto the coffee table. They showed Lily cheating with someone¨Cthe bodyguard from the Lawson residence. Colton¡¯s expression changed instantly; he was so furious he nearly fainted. The rest of the Grant family also looked very upset. Dominic enjoyed seeing the Grant family embarrassed, then he kicked Lily over. ¡°When you married, it was your family who said if a woman ever cheats, I could deal with her however I want.¡± Lily coughed up blood from the kick, then knelt upright. ¡°Dad, please let me get a divorce. I don¡¯t love this man. I really don¡¯t.¡± Dominic grabbed her hair and said to Colton, ¡°I¡¯ll take her back first. Dad, sorry to disturb you tonight, but I won¡¯t divorce her. I won¡¯t let this slut go.¡± Actually, the rtionship between the Lawson residence and the Grant residence isn¡¯t bad. Years ago, the Grant family got some resources from the Lawsons that helped them survive. Now Samuel is the new head of the Grant family, butpared to the Lawsons, they are still at a disadvantage. Lily¡¯s face was covered in blood, dragged away by the hair, screaming all along the way. Within half an hour, photos of her with the bodyguard circted all over the group chats. To take revenge for her affair, the men of the Lawson residence even had a group of homeless men abuse her, recording the video and maliciously spreading it in these circles. In less than three hours, Lily became the subject of gossip. Ynda¡¯s palms were sweaty; she felt unable to eat at the Grant residence, and the atmosphere during dinner was heavy. AD Comment Titan 53 Chapter 53 76 55 vouchers Colton mmed the table, warning those left, ¡°Samuel isn¡¯t firmly established yet. The Lawson residence is unhappy with us right now. If any of you cause trouble for me again, Lily will be your fate.¡± Ynda¡¯s back stiffened when Colton asked, ¡°How are things between Ynda and Charles? It¡¯s time to have a child.¡± She lowered hershes, still lost in thoughts about Lily¡¯s situation and unable to snap out of it. The bloodstains on the floor had been cleaned thoroughly, as if nothing had happened. The consequence for a woman from the Grant residence cheating is this: letting her husband humiliate her at will, with no one in the family intervening. Herplexion turned pale. ¡°It¡¯s the same as always. Charles has his own ns for the child.¡± Jonathan Andrade nodded and sighed. ¡°I have the highest expectations for you. Your parents raised you well, so I¡¯m not worried about you.¡± Ynda followed behind Linda Grant. As they stepped outside to get into the car, Linda smoothed back the hair at her temples. ¡°If Lily contacts you, don¡¯t respond. There¡¯s solid evidence of her affair. Dominic is petty and will make a big fuss for a long time.¡± This was a disgrace for the Grant residence. From now on, women from the Grant family might lose their standing. Ynda lowered her eyshes, looking obedient. ¡°Mom, I understand.¡± Linda still didn¡¯t feel reassured and reminded her again, ¡°y up to Charles and act sweet in front of him. You¡¯ve known each other for years, and he has feelings for you. The Grants and the Sinir manor are tightly linked in business and can¡¯t be separated for now.¡± ¡°Okay¡± ¡°About tonight, don¡¯t say a word about it in front of your brother.¡± Ynda nodded slightly, though she couldn¡¯t truly figure out her brother Charles Grant. Maybe even if Charles knew, he wouldn¡¯t do anything. When she got back to the car, her mind was a mess, still echoing with the sound of Lily bowing and the screams she made when dragged out by her hair. The way that man treated her was like he was handling livestock. Feeling a wave of disgust, she opened the group chats she was in and saw videos of Lily being humiliated one after another by homeless men. 10:39 Fri, Sep 12 Everyone in the group was just there for the spectacle, repeating the same line over and over. ¡°This is what happens when a Grant woman cheats.¡± Like a cursed chant, it etched itself into her mind. She swallowed hard, and at that moment, her phone rang again. (76) 55 vouchers [Ynda, I beg you to save me. Please, for all the kindness I¡¯ve shown you over the years. I¡¯m losing my mind, I¡¯m really losing my mind!] Ynda knew this was sent by Aunt Lily. She wanted to ignore it, but she knew that if she didn¡¯t help Lily, in a few months, she would be mentally ill. Lily was really kind to her. Shortly after she was brought into the Grant residence, she was locked in a dark room for a week and developed post¨Ctraumatic mutism for a while. At that time, Jonathan Andrade said, ¡°If she can¡¯t speak within a month, send her back to the orphanage.¡± She couldn¡¯t go back to the orphanage; it was kept afloat by the little money the Grant residence provided. If she returned, everyone there would starve. Lily was very patient, teaching her to speak over and over again. Her marriage was already miserable then; Dominic often beat her, but she remained gentle, with a personality as soft as moonlight. Ynda pressed her lips together and drove back to Moonbay Estate. Charles arrived home an hour earlier than her and saw the servants packing up a pile of clothes. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with these clothes?¡± ¡°Mrs. Sinir said they need to be reced with new ones.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything, just told Jack to prepare some new clothes for her. While working in the study, Ynda knocked and came in. Tonight, the incident with Lily has be well known inside the circle. Charles knew it too, seeing her looking pale, he knew she had juste back from the Grant residence. ¡°Honey, Leo from the Lawson residence is your close friend. Could you possibly¡­¡± She really had no other option but toe to Charles. Charles didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids. ¡°That¡¯s Leo¡¯s uncle. Your aunt¡¯s unfaithful bodyguard is an orphan raised by the Lawson residence since childhood. This embarrassed the Lawson family a lot. That bodyguard will 10:39 Fri, Sep 12 : 55 vouchera probably be beaten to death tonight.¡± The pride of the poor is worthless; the pride of the wealthy is above all, even more valuable than human life. The one who took the photos of Lily with the bodyguard wasn¡¯t from the Lawson residence but from their rivalpany, and they used it as ckmail. That¡¯s why the Lawson family feels even more ashamed. Charles threw the file onto the desk, his tone gentle. ¡°You¡¯d better not get involved in this. Besides, when your Grant family married off the daughters, didn¡¯t they say that if someone cheated, the man could handle it however he wanted?¡± Ynda¡¯s hand hanging at her side slowly clenched. Charles stood up and wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°Honey, I saw you throw out all your clothes. Jack bought you some new ones, shoes too.¡± Mentioning this made Ynda feel a bit sick to her stomach. She turned to leave but heard him ask, ¡°You pped Vivian? Tomorrow, I¡¯ll set up a meeting, and you¡¯ll go apologize.¡± Who knows what Vivian whispered in his ear, but she definitely wouldn¡¯t admit she was the one who started the provocation. Charles cupped her face with both hands, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Just because she said a few things about your studio? Since when did you get such a bad temper?¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t apologize?¡± ¡°She took it out on your studio. I won¡¯t interfere. But if your hard work is destroyed, you¡¯ll have a tough road. ahead.¡± She still doesn¡¯t have what it takes to fight these bigpanies. ¡°Fine, I apologize.¡± Charles chuckled softly and kissed her on the lips, ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± Ynda was burning with anger inside. Back in her room, her chest heaved several times before she forced a self¨Cmocking smile. If anyone is to me, it¡¯s myself for not being capable enough. Lowering hershes, her phone rang again at that moment. It was still a message from Lily, this time an address. Looks like she escaped. Ynda thought it over for a few minutes, then decided to go out and get in the car. When she drove to the address, she saw Lily dressed like a beggar. 10:39 Fri, Sep 12 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel ¡°Aunt Lily,¡± she called out. : 76 E55 vouchers Lily looked up. Her face was bruised and swollen, making her barely recognizable. She had clearly been beaten badly. Her body was covered in marks as well, and she grabbed Ynda¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Ynda, please take me somewhere. He¡¯s going to die, he¡¯s going to die!¡± Ynda stood still, not moving. Lily pulled for a while, then hung her head in despair. ¡°Are you refusing to help me too¡­?¡± Logic told Ynda that helping would cause trouble since Lily was most likely going to meet Jasper rk. But Charles just said that Jasper rk would be killed tonight. Ìï Titan 54 Lily suddenly knelt down with a thud. Latest content published on F¦ÉndNovel 76 55 vouchers ¡°Ynda, I¡¯ve never asked you for anything before. Now I¡¯m begging you, just take me nearby. I want to see him. I heard he¡¯s going to die. I want to see him onest time! I¡¯m begging you, please!¡± Her voice was hoarse too. Even though she had just been through that kind of ordeal, all she could think about was another man. Women throw themselves into love like moths to a me. Ynda¡¯s throat was sore, but she finally gave in. ¡°Aunt Lily, I can only take you nearby.¡± ¡°Okay, the Lawson family sent someone to watch me. I don¡¯t dare ride with anyone else. I have to trust you, Ynda.¡± Ynda drove over and parked near that address, by the bridge over the river. She parked in a hidden spot under the bridge, where a bunch of cars were parked so no one would notice. After Lily got out of the car, she scrambled and crawled up onto the bridge. It waste and quiet now. Besides a shadow lying on the bridge, the only sound was Lily¡¯s piercing voice. Ynda looked under the bridge. There was a path beneath it, so she went that way and heard the voicesing from above. ¡°Lily, do you think this man is your salvation? I was the one who sent him to seduce you. I gave him money. You women of the Grant family are soughable, still believing in love¨Chow ridiculous! I¡¯ve wanted to divorce you for a long time, but I couldn¡¯t. So I had to use this method.¡± This is the voice of Lily¡¯s husband. Besides that, there was the bodyguard¡¯s voice, and he said, ¡°Mrs. Lawson, I¡¯m sorry.¡± The simple mention of Mrs. Lawson felt like a thousand arrows piercing the heart. Ynda heard a heavy object fall into the water. Her chest tightened, and she looked down toward the bridge. Lily had already sunk. Dominic spoke to his bodyguard, ¡°You¡¯ve slept with her; that¡¯s more than enough to brag about. When you were with her, she was still clean, only I had been with her before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because Mr. Dn Sinir treated me well.¡± ¡°Hahaha, but you can¡¯t stay in Beloris anymore. Take a sum of money and leave.¡± When Ynda got back into the car, she pressed her lips together, still able to recall the desperate emotion Lily showed when pleading with her. P: 76 55 vouchers Despite losing her dignity and kneeling to beg, she ended up humiliated again. This hurt even more than being toyed with by a homeless man. In a fit of anger, she jumped into the river. Ynda received notice the next day that Lily¡¯s body had been pulled from the water, hastily cremated without a proper funeral, and that her ashes had been thrown into the trash bin by Wyatt Sinir. Ynda had been running a fever sincest night, dreaming of Lily gently teaching her to speak, dreaming of her standing silently on the bridge, and after hearing those words, despairingly throwing herself into the river. She thought that if Aunt Lily could choose again, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have be a woman of the Grant residence. Ynda felt like she was trapped in a sea of fire, with someone feeding her medicine. She opened her eyes and saw Charles¡¯s face. She was leaning against him, and his other hand was holding a bowl. He had probably juste back and, hearing she had a fever, came to check on her. Her face looked pale, and her head was groggy as she slowly pushed him away. She now felt like vomiting whenever she saw a man¨Cthese men really were heartless and cruel. Charles raised an eyebrow and set the bowl aside. ¡°What tantrum are you throwing this time? I just asked you to apologize to Vivian. You haven¡¯t answered your phone or replied to messages since this morning.¡± She was too dazed to even understand what he was saying. Her chin was grabbed, and Charles looked at her face. Her face was undoubtedly beautiful; now flushed red, she looked fragile and vulnerable. For some reason, his heart softened. ¡°I¡¯ll postpone the meeting to tomorrow. You meet with her once. Primecrest is an important partner for me right now, and I still need her help with BlueWave Shipping.¡± BlueWave Shipping was a project given to him by Dn. Itster¨Cstage profits were considerable, and it involved cooperation with the government. Vivian happened to have the right background, especially in maritime transport. The Sinir family had been powerful for three generations, but few were involved in politics¨Ctoo shy and easily scrutinized. Although Vivian was a scoundrel, she had a very influential family. Ynda lowered hershes and leaned against the edge of the bed. E55 vouchers Charles looked at her, as if transported back to when she had fallen into the water¨Ca small, pitiful little thing. He chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss her, but she dodged. ¡°Careful not to catch my cold.¡± For some reason, he felt a bit uneasy inside. He had been busytely but noticed she wasn¡¯t as enthusiastic as before. Ynda had loved for fifteen years; she couldn¡¯t have stopped loving him. ¡°Honey, get some rest.¡± Ynda murmured ¡°mm¡± and closed her eyes. When Charles left the room, he called Vivian. Vivian was pleasantly surprised and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you missing me?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t ever mentioned us in front of Ynda, right?¡± Vivian startedughing. ¡°What could I say? You think I¡¯d fight with the official Mrs. Sinir out of jealousy? Mr. Sinir, you are charming, but I¡¯m not going to cling to just one man.¡± She pretended to be carefree because she knew Charles disliked emotional entanglements. Charles felt relieved. ¡°I¡¯ll organize a meeting tomorrow and have her apologize to you. Don¡¯t make things hard for her.¡± Vivianughed from the side, ¡°Is she willing?¡± ¡°She listens to me.¡± Vivian raised an eyebrow, feeling this woman was truly pitiful. Her husband slept with her, yet she still had to step forward and apologize. It was surprisingly straightforward. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just go through the motions. After all, that p was witnessed by others. If I do nothing, I lose face.¡± The incident where Ynda tried to hit her was known by a few people in the circle. As Mr. Sinir, she really couldn¡¯t afford to just stand by. Since Charles organized the event himself and gave her a way out, she wouldn¡¯t be talked about behind her back. As for Ynda, no one cared about her fate. The next morning, Ynda got up to wash up and got into Charles¡¯s car. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, ¡°Is your fever gone?¡± In the past, whenever he did this, her heart would race. 10:39 Fri, Sep 12 76 55 vouchers Now, feeling the dead silence in her heart, she suddenly realized with sadness that feelings can really vanish in an instant. She had spent fifteen years on him and recently saw clearly the rules in this circle. Survival of the fittest, the strong prey on the weak. AD Titan 55 55 vouchers Chapter 55 When they stopped outside the private room, Charles wrapped his arm around her waist, ¡°Just going through the motions.¡± The door opened, and inside sat many people who were well connected in this circle. Among them were Leo and Quinn. The video of Lily spread wildly within the circle, and now when people see Ynda, they just treat it like a joke. It turns out women from the Grant residence can cheat too. Vivian is very popr in the circle, plus she¡¯s Mr. Sinir, so she has a great reputation. Moreover, Vivian has a brother, Charles, who is extremely protective of her, and an uncle, Dominic, who¡¯s involved with the underworld. Both are like wild dogs¨Cif anyone makes Vivian ufortable in business, Charles will be the first to step in, and Dominic can quietly handle many problems behind the scenes. Because of that, few dare to offend her. And since she¡¯s a woman, it¡¯s easy to smooth things over. Vivian stood up and raised a ss. ¡°There was a bit of a misunderstanding with Mrs. Sinir that day. I raise this ss to you¨Clet¡¯s bury the hatchet with this drink.¡± Several people at the scene happened to be at the backlot that day and saw Ynda was the one who started it. Now that Vivian takes the initiative to speak about it, she seems more generous than Ynda. Charles¡¯s gazended on Vivian. She smiled generously, ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ll have plenty more chances to meet. We can¡¯t let this ruin our feelings toward each other.¡± She smiled as she ced a ss in front of Ynda, her eyes full of malice. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, drink up.¡± Only Ynda could see her malice. Ynda knew she was smugly telling everyone around that the women of the Grant residence were nothing In this circle, family influence and the power in hand matter most She took the cup and drank it all in one breath. Charles stood beside her, cupped her face, and kissed her lips twice. ¡°Alright, you made the first move; no need to keep such a serious face! His words cased the atmosphere, and Vivian siniled, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir is really gentle with Mrs. Sinir.¡± She ced the wine ss on the coffee table as she spoke of gentleness. ¡°Mrs. Sinir doesn¡¯t seem to go out much. It¡¯s crowded tonight, good thing you weren¡¯t scared¡® ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel Thatment carried malice too. Charles hadn¡¯t brought her to events like this before. This was her first time facing so many people¨Cand it was to apologize. Tonight Vivian was the star; Ynda was just a clown. 55 vouchers Vivian kept ying rock¨Cpaper¨Cscissors with people, then drinking with others, smoothly mingling all around. Her gaze kept drifting onto Charles¡¯s face from time to time. Their eyes met in the air, sparks flying. Ynda pretended not to notice, sat down next to Charles, and overheard some whispers. ¡°Lily¡¯s ashes were thrown away, so pitiful.¡± ¡°But who made her cheat? She was a woman of the Grant residence. Cheating was basically asking for trouble.¡± The Grant residence was cruel too, not even sending anyone to retrieve her. It was a good Samaritan who fished her out, and only after the police informed them to collect the body did they know.¡± Ynda felt a tightness in her chest and just happened to see Charles leaning over, shielding Vivian from a drink Vivianughed and joked with others, then patted Charles¡¯s shoulder, acting like a tough girl. In contrast, Ynda sat quietly nearby, almost invisible. She didn¡¯t really know any of the people here; the only familiar face was Quinn, but he was somewhat distant from her. Leo was sitting next to her at the moment, and because of the Lily situation, she didn¡¯t have a good impression of the Lawsons. Leo was friends with Charles, but unlike Max and Quinn, he held a strong grudge against Ynda So he leaned in close on purpose and said. ¡°Everyone here knows Charles has already slept with Vivian.¡± Ynda kept hershes lowered and stared at the drink in front of her, saying nothing in return. Leo frowned, then suddenlyughed. ¡°They say the women at the Grant residence are weak¨Cand it¡¯s true. Before you came in, some were quietly talking, saying they didn¡¯t know what sleeping with you was like. Charles obviously doesn¡¯t care¨Che¡¯d prefer to be with his side chick¡± He scanned her face with a proud tone. ¡°Ynda, oh Ynda, even giving yourself away for free, people still look down on you. If I were you, I¡¯d just jump in the river Titan 56 Ynda just took his words as nonsense; after all, Leo had always liked mocking her. Everyone here tonight had clout; she was just a small fry among them all, someone she couldn¡¯t afford to offend. The p Vivan Andrade received was because she couldn¡¯t hold back at the moment. Get full chapters from find(?)ovel It¡¯s said that a female celebrity who once offended Vivian waster rescued from Raventon. Everyone guessed it was the handiwork of Vivian¡¯s uncle, Dominic; that man dotes on her and wouldn¡¯t let anyone who upset her live. Ynda took a deep breath and felt Vivian¡¯s gaze on her. Vivian smiled slightly, put down her ss, and stood up to leave. A few minutester, Charles left as well. As soon as they reached the balcony in the hallway, they kissed. Vivian¡¯s arms wrapped around his neck. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I invited all these people tonight. You¡¯re not upset, are you?¡± Charles pushed her away gently and wiped the lipstick from his mouth. ¡°A little upset.¡±
Vivianughed and lit a cigarette. ¡°Then don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll handle the BlueWave Shipping situation for you.¡± She looked at Charles with a hint of infatuation. She had actually liked him for a long time. If he hadn¡¯t suddenly married Ynda, maybe she would have tried to be Mrs. Sinir. Anyway, the Grant residence is nothingpared to the Andrade manor. Her hand still circled Charles¡¯s neck. ¡°Your wife¡¯s inside, and there are so many people in there. Do you want to do it here?¡± Charles opened the balcony door and said gently, ¡°She¡¯s in a bad mood tonight. I¡¯ll have tofort her when I get back. Don¡¯t go too far,¡± Vivian¡¯s expression darkened, her eyes shing with fierce jealousy. But Charles had already returned to the private room. He opened the door to the room and saw everyone chatting with the people next to them. Ynda quietly kept her head down, and he felt an unexined difort. He sat back down beside her, pulled her into his arms, and tried to kiss her cheek, but she dodged away. Charles¡¯s eyes were calm and carefree. ¡°Are you mad?¡± 10:40 Fri, Sep 12 76 55 vouchere Ynda just didn¡¯t want him to have just kissed someone else and thene kiss her¨Cit made her sick. She stood up and smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯ve apologized, so I¡¯m heading out first.¡± Those words really embarrassed Charles, and the lively atmosphere instantly died down. Ynda didn¡¯t bother thinking more and just lifted her foot to leave. When she reached the main entrance, she finally caught her breath and then heard footsteps behind her¨Cit was Leo. Leo walked over with his arms crossed. ¡°You¡¯ve liked Charles for fifteen years, and you actually dodged his kiss just now. Way to go, Ynda.¡± Back then, Leo was one of the main people who pushed her into the pool. Over the years, whenever he saw her, he would always find a chance to mock her openly or in private. She had no idea what she ever did to offend him. As she was about to get into the car, Leo grabbed her shoulder. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t rush off.¡± She shook his hand off. ¡°Leo, do we have some grudge?¡± Leo, who was also tall¨Cthere was no short guy in this bunchughed. ¡°I just genuinely can¡¯t stand you, you old¨Cfashioned stick.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Ynda suddenly pulled his cor closer. ¡°I get it, you just want to get my attention. Actually, you like me, right? You¡¯re jealous seeing me chase after Charles.¡± After saying that, she casually kissed him on the cheek. That¡¯s so disgusting, it¡¯s killing me. Leo¡¯s eyes were full of shock. When he realized what was happening, his cheeks instantly flushed bright red with disgust. He scrubbed his face hard, feeling like he¡¯d swallowed a fly¨Che wanted to throw up but just couldn¡¯t. ¡°You! You, you, you!¡± He didn¡¯t expect Ynda to do that. His face heated with anger. ¡°You¡­¡± Ynda was already frustrated tonight. Vivian pissed her off even more, and she was angry at herself for feeling so powerless. She swore she wouldn¡¯t stay so weak forever. She got in the car, mmed the door shut, and walked away with purpose. 10:40 Fri, Sep 12 Titan 57 Chapter 57 55 vouchers Leo returned to the private room and saw that Charles¡¯s gentle expression had disappeared because of Ynda¡¯s departure. He was holding a drink, swirling it, lost in thought. With Ynda here earlier, no one spoke loudly about Lily. Now that she¡¯s gone, someone noticed Leo enter and asked loudly. ¡°Leo, your uncle must be furious right now. Marrying a woman from the Grant family who cheats¨Cthat¡¯s a rare kind of trouble.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I heard your uncle was so mad he wanted to bring a new wife home that very night.¡± Leo waved his hand impatiently, his handsome face full of irritation, ¡°Get lost!¡± He sat down next to Charles, pursed his lips, thought for several seconds, then said, ¡°Charles.¡± Charles slightly lifted his eyes. ¡°Hmm?¡± Leo swallowed hard, hesitated for a few seconds, unsure how to say it. Damn it, he couldn¡¯t just say he had just been kissed by your wife, right? He¡¯d get beaten up by Charles for that. Charles may not care about Ynda, but she is his possession. At least, as long as she holds the title of Mrs. Sinir, no one dares to cheat on him¨Cdoing so would be suicide. Leo felt extremely frustrated and gritted his teeth, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just warned you because I¡¯m worried Ynda might cheat too.¡± Charles squinted his eyes and chuckled lightly, ¡°Mm.¡± Leo knew he didn¡¯t take it seriously. ****** Not long after Ynda¡¯s car pulled away, she noticed two cars following behind. Thinking it might be her imagination, she nced through the rearview mirror and saw the two cars trying to trap her from both sides, seemingly forcing her onto a side road. She gritted her teeth, mmed the elerator to the floor, and sharply turned the steering wheel. The two cars scraped against each other, sparking and making harsh screeching noises. She wasn¡¯t afraid, especially after clearly understanding the rules of this circle; she only had the desire to climb higher. 10:44 Fri, Sep 12 The weak get beaten. When she wanted to climb higher, even if someone threw stones at her head, she wasn¡¯t afraid. 75 55 vouchers Readplete version only at F¦Énd£Îovel There was always a strong will deep in her bones, but because she loved Charles, she kept it down and behaved obediently until now. Her car was suddenly forced to stop by a trucking from the opposite direction. Several burly men got out of the truck, dragged her out, covered her nose with a handkerchief, and she fainted. When she woke up again, she opened her eyes and saw Vivian standing in front of her. Vivian looked down at a man beside her and said, ¡°Charles, thank you.¡± The man said nothing and just turned around, closing the door behind him. Vivian chuckled twice and then raised her hand, pping hard. Ynda¡¯s cheek instantly showed a few red marks, and blood stained the corners of her mouth. Her hair was grabbed harshly. Vivian stared at this disheveled face, eyes full of malice. ¡°You don¡¯t really think I¡¯d let you off just because you drank a ss of wine, do you? Ynda, if you can¡¯t keep a man like Charles, then you¡¯re the real disgrace.¡± Ynda said nothing, her eyes fixed on her. Vivian frowned and pped her twice more. ¡°I really hate your gaze. Keep looking at me like that and see if I don¡¯t gouge your eyes out!¡± ¡°Do you dare?¡± A sh of irritation crossed Vivian¡¯s eyes, but she definitely didn¡¯t dare. Ynda had just made her angry and got into trouble; everyone would definitely suspect her. She took a deep breath and kicked Ynda hard in the stomach. ¡°Disgrace! Remember this, Ynda¨Cyou¡¯re the real disgrace!¡± Ynda felt sweat break out on her forehead from the pain, her lips trembling as she silently counted the number of kicks. Ten times, she will repay tenfold in the future. Titan 58 : EX 55 vauchers Vivian was exhausted from kicking. Seeing her barely conscious on the ground, she felt immensely satisfied. ¡°Not only did I sleep with your husband, but I can also humiliate you like this while you can do nothing. Don¡¯t think Samuel will side with you. The entire burden of the Grant residence rests on him, and he has to carefully n every step¨Che has no time to deal with a worthless sister who married out.¡± This is the truth. Samuel¡¯s life cannot afford any mistakes, and he doesn¡¯t like to get involved in these matters. Ynda was hunched over, her mouth heavy with the taste of blood. Outside the door, a man¡¯s voice came through. It was Cedric Andrade. ¡°Don¡¯t kill her.¡± Cedric loved Vivian the most and would never allow her to suffer any injustice. There was also a shady uncle. This uncle was the most terrifying because he had been a wanted criminal for several years. Later, with the power of the Andrade manor, he cleared his name, changed his identity, and was able to appear openly in Beloris again. Once he made a move, Ynda would face the ultimate humiliation tonight. Vivian felt satisfied with her fight and waved to the people nearby, ¡°Throw her out.¡± Several men stepped forward and immediately lifted Ynda up. Ynda was like a dead dog, her mouth filled with the stench of blood, her body convulsing in pain. Her head was roaring, but her eyes remained calm. She wouldn¡¯t stay like this forever¡­ Get full chapters from find?novel She bit her lips hard until they bled, and the calmness in her eyes hid a crazed intensity. Vivian seemed unsatisfied. She took out her phone and called Charles, In front of Charles, she was sometimes poised, sometimes deeply affectionate, sometimes charming and captivating. Though they had only been together a few times, she left asting mark on his heart. ¡®Mr. Sinir, tonight you only had a few drinks with me. Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll be rude to your wife?¡± The words were flirtatious, and Charles¡¯s tone was gentle. ¡°How else do you want me to make it up to you?¡± Vivian chuckled softly, ¡°You know what I mean. Should we set a time to meet again? The bed in your master bedroom is reallyfortable.¡± 10:40 Fri, Sep 12 : As she spoke, she looked at Ynda, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth. Charles closed the documents in front of him. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about itter.¡± 76 55 vouchers Jack silently handed over another set of documents. The CEO seems to be in a bad mood tonight. Vivian hung up the phone and spitefully tapped Ynda¡¯s face with her phone. ¡°Did you hear that? You women from the Grant residence can¡¯tmand a price. If you weren¡¯t a bit like his first love back then, do you think he would have married you? Charles is not someone you can even dream about.¡± Ynda sneered, augh that only fueled Vivian¡¯s fury. She pped her hard again. ¡°You cheap woman! If you cross me again, I¡¯ll make your life miserable.¡± Jasper rk threw Ynda out onto the roadside. Ynda was in pain all over her body. She leaned against the wall to get up, coughing up a mouthful of blood, her stomach convulsing with pain. She couldn¡¯t go back to Moonbay Estate now, nor could she return to the Grant residence. She called Megan, who drove over and burst into tears the moment she saw her in such a terrible state. ¡°Ynda! Damn it, who dared to do this to you?!¡± Ynda sat in the driver¡¯s seat, a fiery ze burning in her eyes. Megan was so frightened she immediately took her to the hospital. After a thorough examination, they found several of her ribs were broken. ¡°Call Charles. You two have known each other for over ten years. He won¡¯t just stand by and let you get hurt.¡± Every breath Ynda took hurt, and her cheek was swollen up high, like a steamed bun. ¡°It was his little mistress who did this.¡± AD Comment Titan 59 : 76 Get full chapters from F?ndNovel 55 vouchers She spoke in a calm tone, leaning back, ¡°In their circle, anyone can treat me like this.¡± Megan felt a chill all over, sat by the bed, held her hand, voice trembling with tears, ¡°Ynda¡­¡­¡± Ynda wanted to smile, but the pain around her mouth and face made her frown slightly, ¡°But I won¡¯t let them bully me forever.¡± Megan poured her some water. But her mouth hurt too much to drink, and her eyes were swollen so badly they were just narrow slits. Normally, if she wasn¡¯t going back to Moonbay Estate, she should have called Charles to check in, so she wouldn¡¯t get dragged into those degrading tests again tomorrow. But she was in too much pain and curled up asleep on the hospital bed. In the middle of the night, pain woke her, and she forced herself to turn over. Megan stayed by her side, holding her hand, ¡°Ynda, if it hurts, just cry it out, it will make you feel better.¡± In the darkness, Ynda¡¯s eyes shone brightly, sparkling like gems. She said, ¡°I won¡¯t be so obedient anymore.¡± She didn¡¯t shed a single tear from beginning to end. It was as if something incredibly dark was tempting her to fall deeper and deeper into a bottomless abyss. She thought Charles would call her the next morning, but when she called back Moonbay Estate, she learned that Charles had left early that morning because of the sea route and wouldn¡¯t return for half a month. Ynda sighed in relief and spent a week resting at the hospital, repeatedly reviewing Vivian¡¯s files. As a woman, Vivian¡¯s private life was rather open; whenever a male celebrity caught her eye, she would keep him around for a while. She was truly infatuated with Charles but never dared to let him see it. As soon as Ynda put down the tablet in her hand, she sawn carrying a thermos boxing to visit her. He was so tall that standing by her hospital bed put pressure on her. Her face had already stopped swelling, but she still needed about ten more days to heal. She put down the tablet, her expression calm. ¡°Are you done filming?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± 10:40 Fri, Sep 12 76 55 vouchers He opened the nearby insted container, grabbed a spoon, scooped some out, blew on it, and held it to her lips. Ynda felt like he had a lot to say but didn¡¯t utter a word. She ate half a small bowl, then closed her eyes to rest. Ian stood up and adjusted the height of her headboard. His eyesnded on the tablet, which disyed some ns she had listed. Ynda felt his breathe very close and couldn¡¯t help but open her eyes. He was indeed looking at her, both hands ced on either side of her, seriously watching her. Just as Ynda was about to speak, he kissed her. His kiss was urgent and passionate, leaving her nowhere to escape. Megan just pushed the door open and, seeing the scene, was so shocked that the flowers in her hand fell to the ground. The noise made Ynda shove the person away and p Ian across the face. Ian said nothing. He met her fiery, angry eyes and leaned in to peck her lips twice. ¡°I¡¯lle see you tomorrow.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyshes trembled with anger. Ian stood up and walked past Megan. Megan took ten seconds to recover, then picked up the flowers from the ground. ¡°I never realized before, this guy¡¯s got quite a wild side.¡± Ynda was already feeling unwell, and now she felt even worse. Megan felt her legs going weak. She had worked with Ian for two years and always thought he was quiet and reserved¨Cnever expected he¡¯d dare to do something like this. Forcefully kissing her boss. No wonder before when Ynda didn¡¯te to the studio, he asked several times. Later, after figuring some things out, he stopped asking. Megan took a sip of water to calm her racing heart. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is¡­¡± Ynda wiped the corner of her mouth. Right now, she was only focused on how to get back at Vivian; she wasn¡¯t thinking about anything else. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± 10:40 Fri, Sep 12 76 55 vouchers Megan nodded, then asked, ¡°Do you remember when you broughtn back? Back then, he seemed to have just been expelled from school, and no one would take him in, so he started fighting in underground boxing matches. When you brought him back, he was covered in wounds, his face so swollen you couldn¡¯t even recognize him.¡± Ynda was stunned. ¡°That was him?¡± That night, Ian¡¯s face was so badly swollen that his features were unrecognizable. She saw a group of people beating him up and learned he owed money¨Cabout $10,000. That wasn¡¯t much to her, so she paid on the spot, took him to Megan, and told her to let Ian leave once he recovered. After that, she never looked back or even recognized that the nearly beaten¨Cto¨Cdeath guy was the same Ian. Later, Megan signed Ian, and after Ynda got married, she never came to visit again. Megan took another sip of water and couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°If you didn¡¯t mean anything by it, you should have made that clear earlier. That kid was beaten so badly that night. I heard he borrowed high¨Cinterest loans just to pay for his mom¡¯s medical treatment. I don¡¯t know who he offended, but nopanies¡® dared to hire him. It didn¡¯t seem like it was his fault he got expelled either. Everything just went wrong. Later, I checked out the underground boxing scene. Apparently, he fought like a maniac there¨Creckless, like a mad dog¨Cand barely spoke, as if he¡¯d never seen money before. Even so, when he came to this studio, he gave me most of his earnings, keeping very little for himself, all for his mom¡¯s treatment. Ynda, you should¡¯ve been upfront sooner. He¡¯s never been in a rtionship, and if you both get too deep, there¡¯s no way out. I could tell early on that he had feelings for you.¡± Maybe it was because she was saved by her, the fledgling felt relieved. Ynda didn¡¯t say anything; thinking about what she did that day, she wished she could p herself. Now it¡¯s toote for Megan to say anything. Whatever she should or shouldn¡¯t have done, she has already done it. Çú Titan 60 Chapter 60 : The next morning, she was discharged and returned to Moonbay Estate. 076 55 vouchers The servants saw here back and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Mrs. Sinir, you haven¡¯t been home all week. Should we notify Mr. Dn Sinir?¡± Ynda looked at them and sat down on the sofa. ¡°I know you report my whereabouts to Charles. It¡¯s true he pays you, but if I didn¡¯t want you here, you could leave anytime.¡± These servants weren¡¯t fools. They used to look down on Ynda, but after hearing her say that, their faces instantly went pale. Newest update provided by F¦ÉndNovel Someone smarter immediately lowered their head and said, ¡°From now on, unless Mr. Sinir asks, we¡¯ll act like Mrs. Sinir never left.¡± The corner of Ynda¡¯s mouth twitched. Recently, Charles has been traveling frequently because of that maritime shipping route issue. She happened to have time to take care of her own matters. The first thing she had to do was to get Vivian down. But half an hourter, Leo, who often made sarcastic remarks, called her with a probing tone, ¡°Was it you who did the Vivian thing?¡± Ynda frowned, ¡°What?¡± ¡°She was at the barst night. It seemed like she had invited several male models, but a waiter who stormed in hit her on the head with a bottle. The bottle shattered into more than a dozen pieces. Now the waiter has been sent to the emergency room and is unconscious. The entire Andrade manor is looking for that waiter. I thought it was you since you got beaten up.¡± When Ynda was taken away that day, Leo saw it and knew Vivian wouldn¡¯t let it go easily. But he hated Ynda and didn¡¯t tell anyone. Then he ran into Ynda at the hospital, bloodied and bruised, looking quite pitiful. But she got what she deserved¨Cshe actually dared to kiss him. Now hearing that Vivian is in aa and likely to be a vegetative state, he couldn¡¯t help but suspect Ynda. But does Ynda have the guts for that? He hung up the phone, thinking he must be crazy to have thought it wasn. Ynda had just returned to Moonbay Estate, feeling uneasy. She hurried out and got in the car, heading ton¡¯s residence. She had the fingerprint to this vi, so she opened the door and went in directly. There was no one on the first floor, so she went to his master bedroom. 76 55 vouchers His master bedroom wasn¡¯t locked, and the bathroom door was open. She saw him washing clothes stained with blood. He was very tall, with the sink only reaching his waist. His hair hung down, and his presence was dark and sharp, like a sharp sword. Ynda felt her vision go dark. ¡°It really is you.¡± She didn¡¯t know why her intuition was so urate¨Cshe probably already understood that Ian wasn¡¯t a tame rabbit. He didn¡¯t look up, keeping his head down as he rubbed the bloodstains on the clothes. Ynda was so furious her scalp tingled. She dragged him out, ¡°Are you crazy? Do you know how powerful the Andrade manor is? Vivian¡¯s brother won¡¯t let you off, and her uncle¨Che used to be involved with the underworld and never held back on anything!!¡± She was really panicking. Ian was her cash cow. Ian lowered his eyshes and remained silent. Ynda grabbed his cor and slowly released it, quickly thinking about what to do next. ¡°Did Vivian see your face?¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Ynda grabbed his hair in frustration, forcing him to look up. ¡°Lost your voice?¡± His Adam¡¯s apple moved as he swallowed, his eyes red¨Crimmed, longshes casting a shadow. ¡°She didn¡¯t see.¡± She breathed a sigh of relief but then remembered the bar¡¯s nearby surveince; her expression darkened again. ¡°Focus on your actingtely and don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± She lifted her foot to leave but he hugged her from behind. ¡°Ms. Grant.¡± Chen Meng¡¯s words fromst night shed through her mind, and she hurried to push him away, but his lipsnded by her ear. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you suffer. I¡¯m risking everything here, so don¡¯t be mad.¡± How could Ynda not be angry? She turned around and pped him again. He pressed his lips together, his cheek showing several finger marks. Titan 61 Chapter 61 35 vouchers Ynda felt like she had swallowed a bottle of concentrated acid; from her mouth to her throat to her stomach, it all burned fiercely, as if corroded. ¡°I¡¯ll settle this with you another day.¡± She tossed out the words and walked away, heading straight to the bar where Vivian had her ident. This bar belonged to the Lawson residence. The Lawsons and the Andrade manor didn¡¯t have a good rtionship. They hadn¡¯t obtained the surveince footage yet, as both sides were still at each other¡¯s throats. Ynda sighed in relief when she heard that the Andrade manor hadn¡¯t obtained the surveince footage yet, and immediately called Leo. ¡°Leo, about thest time I kissed you, I want to apologize. Are you free now?¡± Leo had an older brother, Charles, who was the real one in charge. Leo himself was a carefree young master living off his family, but he was spoiled by everyone at home. ¡°You want to apologize to me? Are you healed? You looked like you were bleeding that day.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep without apologizing to you.¡± That made Leo feel relieved. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send you my address. Let¡¯s see what tricks you have up your sleeve.¡± The address was Leo¡¯s home. Although Ynda had known him for many years, she had never actually been to his house. He had recently moved out of the Lawson residence, invested in several projects that made him money, and with the shares he held in the Lawsons, he could livefortably for the rest of his life. Leo had a few friends over at the moment. He waved them off, ¡°Alright, alright, all of you get out. Someone¡¯singter.¡± ¡°Leo got a girlfriend? nning to shake things up? Haha, yeah, we really don¡¯t belong here right now.¡± ¡°Get lost, get lost. What girlfriend? I¡¯m not interested in women.¡± I¡¯d rather y a few more games and have a few more drinks. The group leftughing and joking. They had just left for about ten minutes when Ynda arrived. Leo sat on the sofa like an old man, holding a game controller in one hand and resting the other casually on the sofa. ¡°Apologize. Tell me how you want to do it.¡± That kiss, although just a peck on the cheek, haunted him. He wished he could kill Ynda. 12:11 Mon, Sep 15 Disgusting. That woman and Charles must have done it countless times. He didn¡¯t want a rtionship. If he had to have one, it better be with a virgin. 43 For original chapters go to f?ndnovel 35 vouchers Ynda wore a pair of faded whitewashed jeans today, with her shirt tucked in a bit, making her waist look especially slim. She had her hair in a high ponytail. Since she¡¯d been recovering in the hospital for the past week, she looked a bit thinner, and her small, delicate face seemed even smaller. If you put her among a group of college girls now, no one would suspect she¡¯s already married. She always carries that fresh and delicate charm. Leozily held the controller, staring at the big screen in front of him. Just as he thought about switching games, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ynda quickly approach, grab his cor, and press her lips to his. She even worried about a photo being taken. ¡°Click.¡± He froze, then his cheeks flushed scarlet in an instant. ¡°Damn it! Ynda, are you crazy?!¡± ¡°You son of a bitch! I¡¯ll kill you!!¡± He rubbed his lips hard, almost making them bleed, his eyes full of shock and fury, his lips trembling with anger. Ynda stood there, face calm. ¡°Give me the footage from the bar where Vivian had that identst night, or this photo will be sent to Charles¡¯s phone. You¡¯re close with him you don¡¯t want to ruin that brotherly rtionship, right?¡± ¡ª Leo¡¯s eyes zed with anger; he had never met such a shameless scoundrel. ¡°Alright, you send it! Let¡¯s see if Charles believes you or me.¡± Ynda lowered her eyshes, her fingers tapping on the phone as if texting, while threatening, ¡°You¡¯ve known me for over ten years. If someone told you Ynda forcibly kissed a man, would you believe it?¡± Of course, he wouldn¡¯t believe it. Everyone knew over the years that Ynda was as obedient as a bunny. 55 voucher Titan 62 Chapter 62 Leo¡¯s face darkened; unlike Ian¡¯s cold and stunning looks, Leo was more of an arrogant rich kid. The Lawson residence spoiled him, as reflected even in his name. He hadn¡¯t suffered much or been threatened like this since childhood. His chest heaved several times, and he evenughed angrily, ¡°Just you wait, damn it! Just you wait¨CI won¡¯t let this go!¡± After that, he made a call and quickly got the surveince footage. Ynda sat on the sofa, watching the footage inside and out at least ten times. Ian was shrouded in darkness, only his eyes visible. He even deliberately wore severalyers of clothes, making his figure look somewhat off. If she hadn¡¯t known it was Ian, she wouldn¡¯t have recognized him either. She breathed a sigh of relief and then realized her back was covered in a cold sweat. Even if this video falls into the hands of the Andrade manor, they won¡¯t be able to link it to Ian. She stood up to leave, but a hand stopped her in her tracks. ¡°You¡¯re so eager to get the surveince footage¨Cdoes this really have something to do with you?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. The next second, her shoulder was pushed hard, and she nearly felt her arm dislocate. ¡°You little prude, I underestimated you before. You¡¯re capable of a forceful kiss. Don¡¯t think that groping me means you¡¯ll get away unscathed. Do you think I have that kind of patience?¡± ¡°Then you can kiss me back.¡± ¡°Kiss you? Damn it! Don¡¯t disgust me, Ynda. I¡¯m going to kill you today!¡± Ynda took out her phone calmly and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll text Charles right now, telling him I cheated, that I¡¯m infatuated with his brother, and want a divorce.¡± Leo broke into a sweat, and his anger instantly cooled down, like a boiling volcano doused by a heavy rain. He messed up oncest time, and now he messed up again. Fuming, he grabbed the sofa tightly, his ears flushed red. ¡°That damn kiss was my first!¡± He shouted that sentence, paused for a few seconds, then turned around abruptly, ¡°Get lost! You better pray you don¡¯t fall into my hands.¡± Ynda was a bit surprised but didn¡¯t say anything else. Newest update provided by find{n}ovel So what if it was the first kiss? Just his bad luck. The Andrade manor got the footage at noon, but the camera only showed a tall, bulky figure¡ªno clear view 12:11 Mon, Sep Chapter 62 of the person¡¯s face. E55 vouchers Cedric Andrade angrily threw his phone on the ground. ¡°Investigate! Find out who the hell it is!¡± If anyone dares to treat his sister like that, if he finds out¡­ A cold glint shed in his eyes, and his face turned ashen. It couldn¡¯t be Ynda¨Cshe was still at the hospital recently, and Charles was on a business trip. Could Vivian have offended someone in the past? He can only wait for Vivian to wake up now. If his sister ends up in a vegetative state, he will stir up all of Beloris just to find the culprit! Tommy came out from the side, took off his mask, and said, ¡°The surgery went smoothly. She won¡¯t be a vegetable and should wake up by tomorrow.¡± Cedric Andrade breathed a sigh of relief; once Vivian wakes up, she should know who it was. With more than a dozen bottles smashed on her head, she definitely saw the attacker¡¯s face clearly. Ynda was still worried and asked Ian several times, ¡°Are you sure she didn¡¯t get a good look at your face?¡± ¡°Yeah, I had my face covered.¡± She had just finished checking the surveince footage and soon heard that Vivian would wake up shortly. There were no issues with the surveince, but when it came to Vivian, she didn¡¯t dare to take any chances. She gritted her teeth, saw the sky darkening outside, and was about to leave. She had to find a way to deal with Vivian and make sure there was no chance of her waking up. She had been going through Vivian¡¯s files for a week. When Vivian previously guarded Michael Finnian, he wasn¡¯t very willing, so she ordered someone to break one of his legs. Since then, Michael Finnian¡¯s career fell apart, spending his days drowning in alcohol. Ynda found the person¡¯s current residence and was about to get in the car whenn stuck like chewing gum. ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡± Ynda looked ahead, her tone cold. ¡°Pretend nothing ever happened between us. Ian, you¡¯re still you¡¯re about to join Ms. Sinir¡¯s crew. Your future is bright. Don¡¯t do anything so risky again.¡± After saying that, she was about to hit the gas, but Ian grabbed the window and stared at her deeply. young, and She felt like a young wolf had locked its eyes on her, leaving her frozen. After a long moment, he said hoarsely, ¡°You stepped on me that day¡­¡± 43 55 vouchers ¡°That was just a spur of the moment. I was upset with my husband and needed to vent. I¡¯ve liked Charles for fifteen years, and I still do. I won¡¯t get a divorce. I love him deeply.¡± His fingertips slowly released from the window frame. He pressed his lips together and bowed his head. ¡°I understand.¡± AD Ch Titan 63 apter 63 Ynda didn¡¯t look back and floored the gas pedal. 55 vouchers When Michael Finnian was found, he was crouched in the hallway of a rundown apartment, dragging a broken leg, surrounded by people mocking him without restraint. ¡°I heard you used to be a star. Is that true? What roles did you y?¡± ¡°Say something nice for us guys. Is there anyone in your circle into guys?¡± The men burst into wildughter. But these men preyed on the weak and fled as soon as footsteps approached in the hallway. Ynda walked up to Michael Finnian. He reeked of alcohol and looked abnormally thin. She took out a sum of cash, about two hundred thousand yuan. ¡°Vivian is in trouble at the hospital right now. Do you want to get revenge?¡± The man looked up in an instant; his cheeks were sunken and thin, but hearing that name sparked a fierce fire in his eyes. ¡°Vivian¡­¡± ¡°Vivian¡­ that bitch¡­¡± It sounded like a demon¡¯s whisper. Seeing his state, Ynda knew his determination for revenge was rock solid¨Che just hadn¡¯t had the chance yet. ¡°Call 911. I¡¯ll get you into the hospital where she is now. After that, get ready. The moment to act wille.¡± The man trembled all over and pushed the money on the ground away with one hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want the money. As long as I can kill her, I¡¯m willing to risk my life!¡± Sometimes a person¡¯s hatred is so intense that nothing can stop it. Underestimating these minor yers will only cost you. A dike a thousand miles long can be destroyed by an ant hole. The hospital where Vivian works is part of the Sinir Group; besides a few public hospitals, most private hospitals in Beloris are funded by Sinir Group. Sinir Group has strong capital and uses hospital resources to build connections across generations. But the Andrade manor also has strong backers and should not be underestimated. Ynda needs to prepare for Michael Finnian¡¯s revenge and must first check out the hospital. She had just changed into her nurse¡¯s uniform when she heard Vivian had woken up. She took a deep breath and calmly carried the tray into Vivian¡¯s hospital room. 43 55 vouchers Cedric Andrade was also in the room, asking Vivian, ¡°Who exactly attacked you? Did you get a clear look at them?¡± The bar was full of all kinds of people. The man disguised as a liquor delivery person went in, acted quickly, and disappeared just as fast. The private room was in chaos; everyone else was terrified and scattered in all directions, too scared to look at the attacker¡¯s face. Vivian rubbed her forehead, her face pale. ¡°Charles, my head hurts badly right now. Have Dominice back. I¡¯m pretty sure this has something to do with Ynda. That bitch wasn¡¯t as obedient as everyone thought. When I hit her, she kept provoking me. She¡¯s not the pushover everyone sees.¡± Cedric frowned, somewhat doubtful. ¡°Are you sure? Ynda doesn¡¯t have the authority to use people from Sinir manor. Samuel wouldn¡¯t let her act recklessly. Besides, Samuel is abroad recently, and Ynda has no one around her to rely on.¡± Just a week ago, Vivian was full of confidence,ughing and chatting with a group in the private room. Now, she barely escaped with her life. There was a dark glint in her eyes. ¡°Dominic ising to Beloris soon. When he does, tell him it was Ynda who did it.¡± Cedric realized his sister was determined to eliminate Ynda once and for all. Once Dominic takes action, with Ynda¡¯s appearance, she would be sold off to Raventon, used and abused until she died. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder. ¡°What you really want is to get rid of Ynda so you can be close to Charles, aren¡¯t you? Just say it straight. No need to take such a long way around. You know I¡¯ve always got your back.¡± Vivian did have sharp business instincts. In contrast, Cedric wasn¡¯t very smart. He worked under Dominic and had a dirty past in his early years, mostly because he was ruthless. So getting rid of Ynda was nothing to them. If Dominic had stepped in, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have left any evidence. 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 Fresh chapters posted on FindN()vel Chapter 64 Titan 64 Chapter 64 ¡­ : They had no idea that Ynda was right here in this hospital room. She organized the medication on the tray, and out of the corner of her eye saw Cedric leaving. She was only here tonight to check things out, never expecting to hear so much. 43 55 vouchers No matter what she does in the future, Vivian will never let her off. She has toe up with a n. She left the hospital, worried that if Vivian runs into Ianter, she might remember his face; she was also afraid that after Vivian¡¯s Dominic came to Beloris, she would face terrifying revenge. Vivian hates her with a vengeance; even if she dodges her once, she can¡¯t avoid her twice. Ynda¡¯s eyes were dark as night, her hand hanging to one side, slowly clenching into a fist. If others don¡¯t want her to live, she has to strike first. I wish there was a drug that could be injected into Vivian¡¯s IV bag to put her into a vegetative state directly. She didn¡¯t expect the opportunity toe so soon; Hu Tong, who had gone abroad earlier, called her. Because of the kidney donor issue, Charles broke Hu Tong¡¯s leg and sent him abroad. Ynda had promised to help his daughter get into medical school. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, my daughter was harassed by her advisor. She¡¯s very talented in medicine; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have ignored your threats at the time. You promised to help her once. She hasn¡¯t replied to me for half a month. Her mother passed away early, and though I¡¯m busy with work, I left her a lot of money but never apanied her. She¡¯s quite introverted.¡± At that time, Ynda used her daughter¡¯s future as leverage. Hu Tong lost all conscience but truly loved his daughter, which is why he sent the kidney donor away. Ynda took a deep breath, got her daughter¡¯s address, and headed there immediately. But Daisy Thornton wasn¡¯t home, so she drove to her school instead. She asked around among Daisy¡¯s roommates and learned that Daisy had often been troubled by her advisor recently. Also, she didn¡¯t live on campus and didn¡¯t get along with many people in her ss. Checktest chapters at find?novel Ynda called Daisy Thornton, but no one answered. She quickly inquired about the advisor¡¯s office, took out the pepper spray from her bag, and headed straight there. The university office is empty by nightfall; teachers usually don¡¯t work overtime. As Ynda reached the door, she heard faint sounds from inside. 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 : She kicked the door open and saw a greasy Mediterranean man taking off his pants. Daisy Thornton was tied to the desk, her face covered in tears. Ynda took photos with her phone while spraying the greaseball with pepper spray. The Mediterranean man¡¯s eyes burned from the spray, and he screamed in fear. ¡°Who are you?! Who exactly are you?!¡± 43 E55 vouchers Ynda untied Daisy and noticed the messy assortment of tools nearby, realizing the man hadn¡¯t seeded yet. Daisy quickly dressed and curled up behind her, trembling with fear. The man wiped his eyes, noticed Ynda¡¯s phone still recording, and grew more frightened. ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡± ¡°Mentor, if you don¡¯t want this video to spread to every ss group, then stop making things difficult for Daisy Thornton.¡± The man¡¯s face darkened, his bby body trembling repeatedly. ¡°Get lost! All of you, get lost! If today¡¯s incident gets out, Daisy Thornton, you¡¯ll never graduate.¡± Ynda narrowed her eyes, raised her hand to spray some pepper spray, and kicked the man in the crotch. ¡°Right now, you¡¯re the prey, and we¡¯re the hunters. What are you still raging for?¡± She had been held back for too long; this kick was merciless. The man curled up on the ground, howling in pain. Ynda looked at Daisy, who was still crying while sitting on the desk, waved her over and said, ¡°Come here, smash his junk.¡± Daisy trembled all over, thinking she must have misheard. ¡°Wh¡­what?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he bullying you? Kick him hard to get back at him. We have the video, what are you afraid of?¡± Daisy Thornton trembled all over, too scared to make a move. Ynda pulled her close and cupped her face with both hands. ¡°Listen, if you don¡¯t fight back, this will keep happening. Your father ended up with a broken leg and had to leave the country because he got caught in this mess early on. If I hadn¡¯te to save you tonight, that slimy guy would keep threatening you with the video. You¡¯d be his ything for life, never able to break free.¡± 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 Titan 65 Chapter 65 ¡­ 43 55 vouchers Daisy¡¯s expression kept shifting; she¡¯d been bullied by this mentor for a long time and even developed depression. She dreamt of being pinned down every night, waking up terrified. Dominic shouted, ¡°You slut, do you think I¡¯m really scared of that video? The principal is my rtive, I¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Daisy lifted her leg and delivered a fierce kick. Dominic let out a howl of pain. For a moment, a spark lit in her eyes as if she found something amusing. She kicked even harder. The man quickly stopped moving on the ground, like a dead pig. Ynda pulled her back into the car, and Daisy trembled as she straightened her clothes. They both fell silent for a moment, and finally Ynda said, ¡°Call your dad to let him know you¡¯re safe. He¡¯s worried about you.¡± Daisy pressed her lips together and slowly took out her phone. Her wrists were covered with marks from being tied up, showing how desperately she had struggled. She lowered hershes and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to call.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t press further and took out her phone, calling Hu Tong herself. After a few seconds of silence on the other end, he suddenly spoke hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯ve let her down.¡± When their daughter confided in him about her troubles, he was always too busy with work and told her to bear it. Over time, she grew more and more withdrawn and quiet. From now on, she would never tell him about school again. He still thought she had be sensible, not realizing that as a doctor, his daughter¡¯s mental illness had already be so severe. He was only focused on making money, believing that as long as he gave her enough, it could make everything. up for After hanging up the phone, Ynda asked, ¡°Should I take you back?¡± Then she suddenly remembered that Daisy might have a way to get the type of medicine she wanted now since she was studying at medical school and was very talented. ¡°Daisy, I want to kill someone. Can you get that kind of medicine? That person is currently recovering in the hospital.¡± 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 Daisy¡¯s eyshes trembled as she calmly turned her gaze to look at Ynda. 43 55 vouchers Ynda returned her gaze gracefully, ¡°I won¡¯t let her out of the hospital. If you don¡¯t have it, I¡¯ll ask someone else.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Daisy slowly released her grip. The packet of medicine in her hand was squeezed tight, even slightly misshapen. ¡°If no one saves me tonight, I¡¯ll go down with him.¡± Ynda took the medicine, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth. ¡°So foolish. His life isn¡¯t worth as much as yours. Remember, next time you face something like this, protect yourself first, then think about how to take a piece out of him. Even if he seeds tonight, don¡¯t let this make you feel miserable or ashamed. Purity means nothingpared to life.¡± Daisy Thornton froze all over, then suddenly smiled, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ynda.¡± ¡°From the Grant family?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It seemed Hu Tong had told her some gossip. Daisy closed her eyes and said hoarsely, ¡°A woman from the Grant family swearing? My dad mentioned you¡ª gentle and poised, a truedy from a distinguished family, the epitome of high society. He wanted me to learn from you. He said you¡¯d pave the way for me, maybe even help me take a leap forward.¡± No wonder she didn¡¯t like Hu Tong. Hu Tong was too deeply involved with high society, always calcting benefits. Ynda lowered hershes, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡± After sending Daisy back, she handed the medicine to the hospitalized Michael Finnian. Now it depended on whether he could seed. But she didn¡¯t expect that Vivian¡¯s uncle, Dominic, would arrive so soon. And he acted without any hesitation. Charles was still two weeks away from returning from his business trip. Three dayster, right after Ynda escortedn into the crew, she turned around and saw a man with a scar across his face. Therge vase above shook twice, almost hitting her head. Her expression changed slightly, a lingering fear in her heart. The man wore leather shoes, his eyes looking down on her as if she were an insignificant ant. ¡°You¡¯re Ynda?¡± 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 Vivian said this woman shouldn¡¯t be allowed to live. She pressed her lips together, holding her bag, and nodded slightly. 43 E55 vouchers The man looked sturdy and tough, obviously an overweight guy who worked out. His eyes scanned her recklessly before handing her a business card. ¡°Come hang out with me tonight. If you keep me satisfied, I¡¯ll make your death a quick one.¡± That was a hotel room card. Before Ynda could reach out to take it, Dominic¡¯s calloused fingertips slowly dropped the card, which floated lightly to the floor. ¡°Ynda, to me, you¡¯re like a high¨Css prostitute. Don¡¯t be clueless.¡± Ynda had been married to Charles for two years and rarely went out. She knew no one in this circle respected her, but who was this wanted man hiding out in Raventon to judge her? She found it amusing and picked up the card from the floor. But Dominic had already turned and walked away. She took a photo of the card and sent it to Charles. Charles called back. He probably was busy over there, but his tone was still calm and indifferent. ¡°Feeling like staying in a hotel?¡± Her voice was timid and a bit hesitant. ¡°Vivian¡¯s uncle asked me to keep himpany. Honey, I¡¯m a little scared.¡± A shadow darkened Charles¡¯s eyes. Ynda knew he was angry. ¡°You go back to Moonbay Estate. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± After saying this, he added, ¡°Miss me?¡± She¡¯s been out for so long, and she hasn¡¯t called even once. Charles finally realized she wasn¡¯t as warm as before. ¡°Yes, I miss you a lot.¡± She was in the bathroom at the time. When she said this, her eyes showed no emotion. He chuckled softly, said a few sweet words, and then hung up. Discover more novels at find?novel 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 Ynda bent over and lifted water to wash her face. When she turned to leave the bathroom, she saw Ian standing outside. He had just finished the opening ceremony and arrived, but he must have heard that se Titan 66 Chapter 66 Ynda crumpled the paper in her hand and threw it into the nearby trash bin. ¡°Is the opening ceremony over?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you back.¡± 55 vouchers She was starting the shoot tomorrow, and he would get very busy. Simone was great at inspiring actors¡® potential and would definitely guide his acting well. Ian sat in the front passenger seat, wearing a ck shirt today. The buttons on his shirt caught the light, flickering on and off. Neither of them spoke; the car was silent. After Vivian received Charles¡¯s call, she raised her hand to rub her temples just as her uncle entered the room. She apologized sincerely to Charles, ¡°My uncle was just joking. Because of that p incident, he doesn¡¯t really like Ynda, so he acted that way. Sorry for causing trouble for Mrs. Sinir.¡± She said this while looking at the man standing by the bedside. She raised a finger to her lips, then smiled at the phone, ¡°Yeah, you know my uncle always takes my side. This matter is over now. Alright, you go ahead and take care of things over there.¡± After hanging up, she sighed with helplessness, ¡°Uncle, no matter how little favor Ynda has, she¡¯s still Mrs. Sinir. How can you¡­ Ah, never mind. I know you¡¯re used to being straightforward back in Raventon.¡± The man sat down and poured her a ss of water. ¡°I¡¯m interested in Ynda. I want to mess with her.¡± Vivian smiled faintly, ¡°That¡¯s fine, but take it slow. Lily just passed away, and Ynda had a pretty good rtionship with her. Right now, that guy at the Lawson residence is rushing to promote his mistress, taking advantage of Lily¡¯s death. You can start working on that angle. The guy is blinded by lust have him go after Ynda. Once he seeds, make him treat her like he did Lily, by leaking her photos. If Ynda disappears after that, people will only think she was too ashamed and brokenhearted. You can take her wherever you want.¡± This tactic is to kill with a borrowed knife; otherwise, if anything happens to Ynda, Charles would definitely suspect Dominic. Dominic should never have handed over that hotel key card, it only alerted suspicion. She closed her eyes and made a call, asking the Andrade manor to facilitate Charles¡¯s flight route. ¡°Vivian, do you really like Charles?¡± 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 43 55 vouchers Vivian nodded, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips. ¡°Yes, but Charles is a cold man. He can flirt with anyone he fancies but no one ever truly captures his heart.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that he likes that Joelle Monroe, some young star?¡± ¡°Joelle Monroe, yes.¡± Vivian¡¯s expression darkened. Knowing Charles well, she understood that he was inherently a very detached man. His willingness to marry Ynda shows he cares most about power in his hands. He observes women¡¯s feelings for him with a cold, amused detachment until those feelings fade. He and his father Dn are alike. Years ago, Dn also married a woman he didn¡¯t love for power. If she wants Charles to go crazy for her, she must first make him realize her worth. The conflict in the Sinir manor is intense; his uncles are no pushovers. Besides, his rtionship with his own father seems rather distant. ¡°Ynda¡­¡± ¡°Uncle, if you want Ynda, just do as I say. The rules in Beloris are different from where you are. You have to endure a bit. Once I¡¯m healthy, I¡¯ll personally treat you and make up for it.¡± Dominic raised his hand and patted her shoulder, ¡°No need to talk about enduring¨Conce Ynda is in hand, I¡¯ll take her to Raventon, where she¡¯ll suffer so much it¡¯s worse than death. That¡¯ll be my way of avenging you.¡± ¡°Then thank you in advance, Uncle. When you get tired of her, remember to give her to someone else.¡± ¡°Hahaha, alright, alright. I have plenty of tricks when dealing with women.¡± During the conversation, neither of them held much regard for Ynda. In the middle of the night, Vivian woke up and heard noises in her hospital room. It sounded like footsteps. She turned her head and saw a figure injecting something into her IV bag. She abruptly knocked over the IV stand and pulled the needle out of the back of her hand. The bodyguard who had been napping outside heard the noise and rushed in, ¡°Ms. Andrade!¡± Vivian¡¯s face darkened as she looked at the limping Dominic being restrained by the bodyguard. She had dealt with too many people to remember who this was. ¡°Keep him secure and find out who sent him.¡± Michael Finnian felt desperate. He had barely fooled the bodyguard at the door, but Vivian was so alert. Just a little noise and she was already awake. 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 : : 43 55 vouchers His face flushed with anger, ¡°No one sent me! Vivian, don¡¯t you remember me? You bitch! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Vivian, now apany president, only got confused when it came to Charles. She waved her hand, ¡°Take him away and hand him over to my Uncle Grady. Interrogate him thoroughly.¡± She wanted to see who was really behind this scheme. Michael Finnian¡¯s face instantly turned pale. Under Dominic¡¯s control, life would be worse than death. He crashed into the nearby wall, forehead bleeding profusely. Vivianughed, as if watching a grasshopper struggle desperately, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re aware of my uncle¡¯s methods. Yet you still dare to mess with me. If you tell me who¡¯s behind guiding you, I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡± No sooner had she spoken than Michael Finnian suddenly drew a hidden dagger and stabbed directly at her. He is Dominic, and that strike exploded forth with incredible speed. She barely avoided it, but the dagger grazed her shoulder, and her face immediately turned pale. The nearby Jasper rk was so terrified he kicked Michael Finnian away; Michael spat out blood and wiped his neck with the dagger. Vivian was already weak, and the stab nearly made her pass out. What made it worse was that the moment Michael Finnian copsed, the media swarmed in like a pack. Without any guards outside, the reporters just barged right in. With a corpse lying on the floor, the reporters started live broadcasting. Vivian¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and she spat out a mouthful of blood in anger. ¡°Who allowed you to 12:12 Mon, Sep 15 Get full chapters from ?ovelFind : Titan 67 55 vouchers This was another idea from Ynda for Michael Finnian. Today¡¯s media no longer speaks up for ordinary people. Most reporters will do anything for traffic. When he was still a star, he enjoyed a brief period of fame. As long as he let slip that he was willing to risk his life for justice, the media drawn to the scent would swarm. They love to feast on the misfortune of others, as long as there¡¯s traffic. He had sworn to Ynda that he would risk his life to take revenge on Vivian. He did not disappoint her. Ynda watched the live stream. The camera focused on the corpse on the ground. A reporter went forward to check Michael Finnian¡¯s pulse, and someone shouted out. ¡°Someone¡¯s been killed!¡± The scene instantly became chaotic, and the camera started shaking wildly. Primecrest recently won a massive contract, and photos of Vivian shaking hands with government officials stirred up a huge buzz online, full of praise. Now the bodyy in her hospital room, and she was speechless. Microphones were shoved in front of Vivian¡¯s mouth. Her face turned pale, as if she wanted to faint right then and there. She had toe up with an excuse quickly, or Primecrest would be dragged into this. But everything happened so suddenly that she spat out blood and actually passed out. The guards at the Andrade manor drove all the reporters out, and their angry faces were all caught on camera. In no time, news of Vivian, Primecrest¡¯s CEO,mitting murder trended on social media. Everyone was following the story, and at this moment, Michael Finnian¡¯s personal Twitter automatically posted a pre- written message. This was a condemnation of what Vivian had done years ago. Heined about losing a leg, about Vivian¡¯s ruthless abuse of power, and about the unfair society. He wanted to survive quietly but was thrown into the abyss without peace. He cursed Vivian and the Andrade manor with his soul, condemning them to never recover in this lifetime. The post was so tragic that some people even cried. An underdog who refuses to give up, someone once morous but ultimately fallen into ruin, always gains more sympathy. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 : : Primecrest quickly became the target of widespread criticism. Vivian was rushed into the emergency room and has not woken up yet. 43 55 vouchers Grady Andrade stood in the hospital corridor, pounding the wall in anger, ¡°Who on earth has such means!¡± If it were just sending Michael Finnian to assassinate, that would have been easy, but the follow¨Cup arrangements were so tight and interconnected that it was almost impossible to handle. What did Vivian do to offend such people? Cedric Andrade¡¯s face also looked grim. Thepany got dragged into the trending topics, and its market value kept dropping. Moreover, many members of the Andrade manor hold positions in the political circle. If this situation continues unchecked, all their statuses will be in serious jeopardy. This move is truly ruthless; it¡¯s hard to imagine just how deep the schemer¡¯s cunning is. Because Vivian hasn¡¯t woken up yet, the Andrade manor urgently held a meeting. To protect the others¡® standing in politics, they must suppress the issue with Vivian. Otherwise, ifizens keep digging, no one wille out unscathed. The elder of the Andrade manor spoke, ¡°Although Vivian is capable, she must keep a low profile for now. Also, have the hospital cooperate by releasing a report iming that Michael Finnian was the one who tried to harm Vivian and, out of fear of retaliation, shed his own throat. As for the leg injury from years ago, just find an excuse and me someone else.¡± ¡°Cedric, this position is yours. Vivian will guide you from behind the scenes. You have a quick temper andck business talent, so from now on, just do whatever she tells you.¡± Cedric Andrade breathed a sigh of relief¨Cthis meant his sister would rule from behind the scenes. That¡¯s not bad; at least their branch hasn¡¯t lost power in the Andrade manor yet. He didn¡¯t notice the grim looks on the faces of the others in the Andrade manor, especially after Jonathan Andrade said those words. When Cedric walked out of the Andrade manor, his back was drenched in sweat. He quickly asked Grady Andrade, ¡°Dominic, you need toy low too. You saw the looks on everyone¡¯s faces just now¨Ceveryone wants this position. With Vivian causing this upheaval and still getting the chance to rule behind the scenes, I bet a lot of people are unhappy.¡± If they stir up more trouble at this critical moment, their branch will bepletely out of power in the Andrade manor. Grady Andrade had been roaming around Raventon for so many years that the smell of blood on him was impossible to hide. Upon hearing this, he touched the gun hidden in his pants. ¡°Enough. I¡¯m not blind to this situation. Let¡¯s wait until Vivian wakes up before doing anything.¡± 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 43 55 vouchers At the same time, the Andrade manor issued a statement confirming that the male star, Michael Finnian, died by suicide and also removed all of Vivian¡¯s positions. Ynda read the message that popped up with a smile, doubting that the public would believe it. That evening, Charles returned. Even with Vivian in trouble, his face showed no sign of anxiety; he remained as calm as ever. Charles had always been like this¨Cunhurried and unruffled, as if nothing could shake him, except for the asional moments in bed when he showed a hint of fierceness. He casually tossed his elbow¡¯s jacket onto the sofa, leaned his neck back, his Adam¡¯s apple moving several times. Catching sight of Ynda out of the corner of his eye, he patted the space beside him. ¡°Come here.¡± This gentle yet yful gesture was more like calling over a small pet. Ynda didn¡¯t walk over but poured him a ss of water. He didn¡¯t take it; instead, he pulled her close, trapping her in his arms. ¡°Almost two weeks without seeing each other. Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± His lover was still being cursed by thousands. If people didn¡¯t know his connection with Vivian, they would really think there was nothing between them. Charles was really heartless. She sneered inwardly but lowered hershes. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with studio matterstely.¡± There was no other woman¡¯s perfume on him tonight; that was really a first. He held her in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder. ¡°Why not just rx at home? Why go out and make thingsplicated?¡± He was just stating a fact, holding her briefly before letting her go, But that brief embrace made Ynda¡¯s heartache a little. Charles was truly a master. He probably realized she¡¯d been coldtely and deliberately showed a few seconds of vulnerability. Women can¡¯t stand it when a man in a high position shows weakness; it gives them a false sense of being loved, She stood up, her tone unchanged, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs.¡± ¡°Sleeping in separate beds tonight?¡± His eyes narrowed, and he tilted his neck slightly. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 Chapter 67 ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel ¡°Don¡¯t miss me?¡± : Ynda felt a sudden shock all over, her expression instantly changing. 43 55 vouchers There was no way around it; she¡¯d been married to Charles for two years, and he had only ever given her a pitifully small amount of romance. She wasn¡¯t someone without desires in this regard. She took a deep breath and turned to go upstairs, while Charles chuckled softly on the sofa. Ynda felt inexplicably annoyed and went back to her room. She went to the bathroom and washed her face with cold water. When she heard her phone ring, she saw it was a photo sent by Ian. Not even Ynda could have imagined that the quiet and cold Ian would send something like that. And right at this critical moment. She was so mad her mind was buzzing. She immediately cklisted him. AD 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 Titan 68 E55 vouchers Her body was burning up, but no one could cool her down. She took a bath in the bathroom. After drying her hair, her phone rang. It was Megan calling. ¡°Ynda, did you cklist Ian?¡± Her tone was full of curiosity. Megan had always thought Ynda was easygoing. She wondered what Ian did to make her this mad. For some reason, the photo popped up in Ynda¡¯s mind again. Ian really has a lot going for him. Her chest felt hot, and her voice was a little strained, ¡°Tell him to act properly.¡± Megan didn¡¯t want to ask too much. After hanging up, Ynda drank a ss of cold water before the burning feeling in her body finally cooled down. But she still tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When she woke up in the morning, her throat felt ufortable. She checked the online buzz on her phone. Vivian was removed from her position, and Cedric Andrade took over. Her gaze deepened. As long as Vivian wasn¡¯t out, she wouldn¡¯t feel at ease. That person was a hidden snake in the shadows¨Cwho knew when her uncle, Dominic, who was like a mad dog, would be set off. She took a deep breath and decided to visit Simone¡¯s filming set first. Ian is the male lead now, with many scenes in the red¨Clight district during the early phase, where he ys a small¨Ctime thug. Ynda drove over there and happened to seen acting opposite someone. He was wearing ripped jeans and a floral shirt. There was a scar near the corner of his eye, which was probably makeup, giving him a fierce and sinister look. His hair had grown a bit long. Simone didn¡¯t allow cutting it yet; the early scenes had to be mostly done before he could cut his hair. The actor ying oppositen was middle¨Caged, and their characters had a heated argument in this scene. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 0:0 Ian lifted his foot and kicked the man hard in the stomach, a ruthless glint shing in his eyes. Simone made a gesture signaling to continue. He stepped forward, grabbed the middle¨Caged man¡¯s cor, and spat on him fiercely. The whole vibe was raw and intense, but it was the result of fully immersing himself in the role. Simone was very satisfied; the scene ended. Ian released him and quickly grabbed a tissue. ¡°Sorry.¡± The middle¨Caged man was a grounded actor, he just smiled and patted his shoulder. Ian originally wanted to go to Simone, but he caught sight of Yndaing. He paused, lowering his eyshes. 43 55 vouchers Simone also saw Ynda and waved her hand. ¡°That evening scene is three hours away in the mountains where there¡¯s no signal. Ynda, doesn¡¯t your studio allow assistants to go with Ian?¡± Ian¡¯s current assistant was her. She smiled. ¡°They¡¯re looking for someone.¡± Simone stared at the screen in front of her, very satisfied. ¡°You struck gold here. Your expressiveness is amazing.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Ian walked up to Ynda. ¡°Ms. Grant.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t want to acknowledge him. After sending that kind of photo, how could he still act so calm? She responded with a ¡°hm¡± and asked him, ¡°Where¡¯s your dressing room?¡± Something flickered briefly in his eyes as he softly said, ¡°Follow me.¡± He¡¯s the lead actor now, so Simone took care to arrange a nice private dressing room just for him. There was no one in the dressing room. After Ynda came in, Ian immediately locked the door behind her. She heard the lock click and furrowed her brow slightly but didn¡¯t bother to call him out. She just asked, ¡°I¡¯ll have Megane keep youpany this evening. How long will you be shooting that outdoor scene?¡± His gaze fell on her face but he didn¡¯t move. ¡°Ian?¡± 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 : She shouted, and he snapped back to reality, ¡°Shooting until five in the morning.¡± 43 55 vouchers She nodded slightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have him prepare something to keep you warm; it gets a bit chilly at night.¡± It¡¯s only April; there¡¯s a big temperature difference between noon and night. Ynda turned to leave, but one of his hands brushed her head before resting against the wall in front of her. His outfit today was very casual yet carried a kind of outward boldness. ¡°Ms. Grant, stop teasing me.¡± His voice was a bit hoarse as he slightly lowered his head, kissing her ear. Ynda tilted her head, trying to avoid it, but his free handnded on her waist, trembling slightly¡ªshowing how much he was holding back. Ynda recently felt a growing desire she couldn¡¯t satisfy, especially after Charles made that movest night; she couldn¡¯t sleep at all. Ian¡¯s kiss fell from her ear down to her neck, his eyes sparkling with light. ¡°Do you know what your face is saying today?¡± ¡°What?¡± Her tone remained calm as she noticed his body slowly drawing closer. She had long known he wasn¡¯t a obedient rabbit, but didn¡¯t expect him to reveal his true nature so quickly. Ynda trembled with anger and turned around. ¡°You!¡± Newest update provided by FindN()vel She raised her hand to p him, but he grew cold and distant again. ¡°Ms. Grant.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Charles had never treated her like this before, She had never experienced this feeling before either. The pushing motion suddenly halted, and she leaned her back against the door. In the blurry surroundings, it looked like a watercolorndscape painting spreading out. After an unknown amount of time, the door behind was suddenly knocked on. She was abruptly jolted awake. He tried to kiss her lips but she dodged him with disdain. ¡°Even this bothers you?¡± 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 After saying this, Simone¡¯s voice sounded outside, ¡°Ynda, are you done talking?¡± Ynda felt weak all over and shovedn away. ?? 43 F 55 vouchers She stood up and pulled down the skirt that had been lifted, her chest rising and falling slightly. Ian sat on the floor, his hands resting casually behind him, his cheeks flushed red. Ynda felt a shiver run through her¨CIan was too handsome, and no one could help but take a second look. Besides, he just did that a moment ago. Her heart raced. Going out looking like this, everyone would know what she was doing inside. ¡°Ynda?¡± Simone¡¯s voice came from outside again. She quickly cleared her throat. ¡°Aunt Simone, I¡¯ll be out soon. Just need to finish a fewst things.¡± ¡°Okay, the next scene starts in ten minutes. Don¡¯t let Ian keep us waiting.¡± After the footsteps faded away, Ynda finally leaned back against the door. It wasn¡¯t just Ian¡¯s effect on her, but also the forbidden thrill of acting so recklessly in front of the Sinir family. She leaned on the door, catching her breath for a long time, her eyes tinged red at the corners. Her gaze dropped down to Ian, who was still casually sitting on the floor. Though not a docile rabbit, he was a well¨Cbehaved dog. Çú AD Comment Titan 69 : Both obedient and clingy. Good¨Clooking with strong financial backing. : Ynda swallowed nervously, suddenly realizing her back was covered in a cold sweat. The romantic thrill Ian gave her was something no one else ever had. Maybe he saw through her thoughts, so he slowly straightened up. ¡°Ynda, you like it, don¡¯t you?¡± His lips were redder than usual. ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll keep doing this.¡± Ynda¡¯s body stiffened; how could she not like it? Ian lowered hisshes, and all the earlier dominance vanished. Both of them remained calm. 43 55 vouchers Ynda walked over to the mirror nearby, saw her radiant face, and quickly asked him, ¡°Do you have any bottled water?¡± She needed to cool down her cheeks; otherwise, she couldn¡¯t go out. He opened the drawer beside him and handed her a bottle. He saw her cup the water in her hands to cool her cheeks. Like this, she really was adorable. Ynda only felt it was enough before putting the bottled water down and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have Megan apany you in the evening. Don¡¯t send those kinds of pictures anymore.¡± They always cooled off quickly whenever they fell out. Jan responded with a hum and sat still in the chair. Ynda didn¡¯t see Simone again, not just because her health was off, but also because she felt guilty. As soon as she left, someone pushed open Ian¡¯s makeup room. It was the makeup artisting to touch up his makeup, who noticed the water in the trash can and couldn¡¯t help but ask. Ian, didn¡¯t you say you were thirsty? Why did you throw away the water I gave you? Ian licked the corner of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m full. The makeup artist always felt that he looked a bit enchanting at this moment, like a male fox spirite to life. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 43 E55 vouchers Her cheeks flushed bright red instantly. She quickly lowered her eyes and calmly touched up his makeup. This crew only started filming a few days ago, but everyone knows Ian is going to be a huge star. He looks great, acts well, and aside from not being very talkative, he is practically wless. Ian closed his eyes. The makeup artist then noticed that the tips of his ears were slightly red. Ynda got back into the car, closed the door, and then leaned on the steering wheel, breathing heavily. It¡¯s just¡­ I really don¡¯t know how to describe this feeling. If someone had told her before that she would do such an excessive thing with a man other than Charles, she would never have believed it. But now that it has actually happened, she even feels somewhat unsatisfied. Though this was her first time experiencing something like this. The chill on her cheek suddenly began to rise again. She forced herself to go home and took a shower. Her mind raced with all kinds of wild thoughts along the way. While wiping her hair, she checked the online discussion again. Of course, no one believed what the Andrade manor said, but the trending topic had already been paid off and taken down by them. She heard that Vivian had woken up. Ynda was a bit annoyed; that person sure had a lot of luck¨Csurviving a stabbing and waking up afterwards. The moment Vivian woke up, her mind was still echoing with the microphones reporters handed her and the fire of gossip burning in everyone¡¯s eyes. Who on earth did this to her! She was so angry she almost spat out blood when she heard Uncle Grady Andrade nearby say, ¡°Vivian, the CEO position is now your brother¡¯s. It¡¯s still your family in the end. Don¡¯t worry, focus on getting better first.¡± Vivian¡¯s mouth was full of the taste of blood. Clenching her fists, she smashed the cup beside her onto the floor. She had never fallen this hard before. It had to be Ynda¨Cit had to be that bitch! She took a deep breath. ¡°Uncle, didn¡¯t I ask you to use the Lawson residence against Ynda? Also, Ynda has a close friend. Have someone investigate and start from that friend.¡± Grady loved her most and knew she needed to vent right now. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 : : 43 EI 55 vouchers ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get in touch with the Lawson residence people immediately. I¡¯ll have your brother stay with you.¡± Vivian¡¯s breath reeked of blood, and her instinct told her Ynda was behind this. But someone as weak as Ynda couldn¡¯t have such means. Could she have a powerful backer? Who on earth is it?! ¡°Dominic, you must not let that bitch get away!¡± Only when Ynda is ruined, trampled by thousands, and ridden by millions, will she feel at ease! Grady Andrade left quickly. He had someone check with the Lawson residence and learned that Dominic, Lily¡¯s husband, has been obsessed with his new wife these past few days. Dominic, Lily¡¯s husband, has always been a womanizer, causing a lot of trouble for the Lawson family, but those in power in the Lawsons have always kept it under control. That night, Dominic sat in a private room at the bar, cursing thete Lily nonstop. Read full story at find[?]ovel ¡°She¡¯s such a bitch. The more I think about it, the more unlucky I feel. I¡¯m done with the Grant family for good!¡± Someone nearby whispered, ¡°Among the women of the Grant family, Ynda is still the most beautiful. That figure, that face¡ªI saw her once before and I was immediately affected.¡± ¡°Haha, who dares sleep with Ynda?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying, everyone says the Grant women don¡¯t cheat, but Lily was messing around like that. I bet Ynda isn¡¯t any better. Maybe with just a snap of her fingers, she¡¯de crawling over. Charles¡¯s lovers line up in a queue; I bet even his official wife hasn¡¯t been satisfied, hahaha.¡± A group of greasy middle¨Caged menughed along, and someone patted Dominic on the shoulder. ¡°The anger you feel from the Grant residence needs to be repaid by the Grant family. Otherwise, you could sleep with Ynda, hold her photo as leverage, and embarrass her so she won¡¯t dare tell Charles. If she does, she¡¯ll be kicked out. She has liked Charles for years, so she won¡¯t let go easily!¡± Dominic¡¯s anger grew stronger. Thinking of Ynda¡¯s face, all the heat from the alcohol red up in one ce. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 Chapter 70 Titan 70 Yeah, why hadn¡¯t he thought of this before? Who doesn¡¯t know Charles has a lover outside and frequently travels? That cheap woman, Ynda, is probably just like Lily¨Csexually frustrated and most likely has long been mingling with the bodyguards; Charles just doesn¡¯t know about it. His heart burned fiercely as he thought about the decent rtionship between Lily and Ynda, a determined look shing in his eyes. Heh, he would take ruthless revenge on the Grant family! ****** In the evening, Ynda just finished messaging Megan, asking her to apany Ian to the countryside. The phone suddenly rang, indicating a photo was received. She opened the photo and realized it was sent by Dominic. The photo showed Lily¡¯s keepsake. Ynda remembered it because she was the one who gave
  1. it.
She had a good rtionship with Lily and had given her a handmade rose when they did crafts together. That was shortly after she came to the Grant residence, when she was just about ten years old. The rose was made with gold foil¨Csomewhat valuable, but something Lily definitely didn¡¯tck. She thought Lily had thrown it away long ago, but it turned out she kept it at home all along. Ynda didn¡¯t want to recall things about Lily. The one who gave her warmth in the beginning ended even her ashes thrown in the trash. Dominic sent another message. [These things all belong to her. Find a time to pick them up, or I¡¯ll throw them away.] up with Dominic had never been decent; he started abusing Lily over ten years ago. There¡¯s no way he suddenly woke up with a conscience. Ynda lowered hershes. That night, she secretly took back Lily¡¯s urn, but since the Grant family considered Lily a disgrace, if Ynda went to buy a cemetery plot now, it would attract too much attention. So she had no choice but to leave the urn with Megan. Dominic sent another address¨Cthis is the location of the private room. [¡°Come here to pick up at 8 p.m. tonight.¡°] It was already 6 p.m., so she had to leave immediately. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 : She bought some pepper spray for protection and also put a fruit knife in her bag. On the way there by car, she kept wondering why Dominic suddenly set his sights on her. Although he was obsessed with women, he wasn¡¯t stupid¨Cunless someone had egged him on. The person most likely plotting against her now was Vivian. Vivian had two people she could use: Cedric Andrade and Grady Andrade. Whichever one it was, she wasn¡¯t going to just sit back and wait to be defeated. She lowered hershes and sent a text to Charles. 43 65 vouchers [Husband, Dominic invited me to this private room to collect Aunt Lily¡¯s belongings. Aunt Lily was very kind to me. If I don¡¯te out within half an hour, can youe find me?] She didn¡¯t expect Charles to reply. The message was delivered anyway, and even if he didn¡¯t see it now, he wouldter. The Andrade manor wanted to use a knife to kill with borrowed sword, so she yed their game and let Charles deal with them. Charles¡¯s pride wouldn¡¯t allow another man to disrespect his wife in name, even if he truly didn¡¯t like her. She drove near the bar, and when she pushed the door open, she indeed saw Dominic. On the coffee table were some of Lily¡¯s belongings¡ªsmall items. Dominic¡¯s gaze openly appraised Ynda, noticing her long, straight legs paired with that stunning face, it was enough to make anyone lose control. He was initially a bit afraid of Charles¡¯s revenge, but the man was right: if they could find a weakness in Ynda, they could sleep with her as many times as they wanted. ¡°Uncle.¡± She shouted once, acting as well¨Cbehaved as always. Dominic pushed a ss of wine over and sneered coldly, ¡°It¡¯s the Grant family who wronged me. Drink this, take this trash away, and never show up around me again.¡± Ynda seemed a little scared, shrinking back, ¡°I can¡¯t drink.¡± Dominic mmed the table hard, ¡°No nonsense. Say one more word and I¡¯ll burn this pile of trash to ashes!¡± After saying that, he pulled out a lighter. Ynda hurried forward and grabbed the wine ss, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drink it. Don¡¯t be angry.¡± She finished all the wine in front of her, and a flush of red immediately rose to her cheeks. 12:13 Mon, Sep 15 Dominic¡¯s eyes widened with excitement, as if he wanted to pounce right then and there. He never expected this woman to be so dumb, falling for such an obvious trap! 43 55 vouchers He wanted tough, then poured another ss, ¡°Ynda, actually I don¡¯t mean to make things hard for you. After all, I am your elder.¡± This medicine acts quickly. Within ten minutes, Ynda felt her whole body heating up. Shey face down on the coffee table, silent. Readplete version only at find?novel Dominic dropped his disguisepletely, threw her onto the sofa, and was about to press down on her. But before he could touch her body, she suddenly grabbed a bottle of pepper spray and fiercely sprayed it into his eyes. ¡°Ahhh!¡± He felt like his eyes were being burned out and cursed angrily, ¡°What the hell did you spray?!¡± Ynda took a fruit knife from her bag and stabbed her own arm; the pain helped clear her mind. Holding the pepper spray tightly, she took a deep breath and said, ¡°Charles is already on his way. Have you thought about what you¡¯ll say today?¡± Dominic covered his eyes with both hands, unable to open them at all, and cursed, ¡°You think Charles cares about a loser like you?!¡± Just then, someone knocked on the door outside the private room. But it wasn¡¯t Charles; it was Leo. Ynda was a bit surprised. Beforeing in, she had sent messages not only to Charles but also to Leo. Charles always replied to her messages slowly. She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to pin all her hopes on him. Leo was her backup n. Even a fool could see Dominic¡¯s intentions. If Dominic really slept with her, the Lawson residence and Sinir manor would end up in a huge conflict. As Charles¡¯s friend, no matter how much Leo disliked her, he wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch something like that happen. But she didn¡¯t expect Leo to arrive so quickly. She lowered hershes, took off her coat, and slid her straps down her shoulders. Titan 71 Chapter 71 43 E55 vouchers Original content can be found at F?nd-Novel up, Dominic rubbed his looked eyes, and saw this blood¨Cpumping scene. Stumbling, he lunged forward and grabbed one of her legs. ¡°You slut! Let¡¯s see where you¡¯ll hide today!¡± Ynda took a deep breath and suddenly shouted in panic, ¡°Get away, get away! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The private room door was kicked open, and Leo stood at the entrance. Seeing the chaotic scene inside, his face turned ashen. ¡°Uncle, what are you doing?¡± Dominic was just overwhelmed by desire, but when he saw Leo, he immediately snapped back to reality. Embarrassed, he quickly grabbed a pillow to cover himself. ¡°Leo, what are you doing here?¡± Leo¡¯s gaze shifted to the other side, where a woman was curled up. Her cheeks were flushed red, her jacket long gone, and her fair skin glowed with a rosy tint. Her eyes looked clean and clear like ss. It really was Ynda. He instinctively took a step back and angrily asked, ¡°Are you crazy? If this goes through today, think Charles will let off?!¡± do you you Leo had a good rtionship with Charles. From the moment Dominic saw him, he knew this was never going to happen. He awkwardly stood up, his eyes red and stinging from the pepper spray, looking rather ridiculous. ¡°Leo, listen to me, it was that bitch¡­¡± Before he could finish, Leo sneered coldly, ¡°She seduced you? She ignored Charles, ignored other handsome guys in the circle, and came after you, an old man half buried in the ground, What¡¯s she even after?¡± Dominic was so angry he wanted to curse, but the head of the Lawson residence was Leo¡¯s older brother. He took a deep breath, deted. ¡°So what do you want me to do? I was blinded for a moment.¡± Leo wanted nothing more than to p him. 10:01 Wed, Sep 17 :. He stepped quickly toward the sofa, looking at Ynda. 43 55 vouchers Ynda¡¯s forehead was drenched in sweat, her long ck hair spread out, her chest rising and falling slightly. She bit her lip tightly¨Chow was she any different from a temptress like that? His breathing caught; instinctively, he looked away and pulled her into his arms. Dominic looked at Ynda like this but couldn¡¯t touch her¡ªa deep regret washed over him. Holding her, Leo reached the private room¡¯s door and didn¡¯t forget to warn, ¡°You¡¯d bettere up with an excuse soon, or you won¡¯t be able to handle Charles¡¯s wrath.¡± Dominic tensed up and didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. Leo carried her and started going down the deserted stairs nearby. But Ynda really couldn¡¯t keep still; her little hand kept poking at his chest. He grabbed her hand angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, damn it!¡± That¡¯s disgusting. Being kissed by herst time was already gross enough, and having to endure that to save someone felt like he owed her from a past life. Damn it! Damn Ynda! Ynda¡¯s awareness wasn¡¯t so foggy now¨Cafter stabbing herself, the pain kept her somewhat conscious. But seeing Leo¡¯s disgusted expression, like he had just eaten something awful, she couldn¡¯t help but want to tease him a bit. She was thrown directly into the car, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Leo really has no pity or gentleness at all. Ynda swayed as she sat up from her seat, seeing him standing by the car, her face twisted with anger, ¡°If you don¡¯t behave, I¡¯ll throw you in the river.¡± She said no more and quietly sat in the back seat. Leo went to the front to drive; he didn¡¯t dare let Charles know about this. But Charles called, and the familiar ringtone made his fingers clutching the steering wheel 10:02 Wed, Sep 17 tremble slightly. ¡­ : 143 E55 vouchers Suddenly, a warm feeling brushed past his ear, apanied by Ynda¡¯s fresh sweet scent. ¡°Your phone¡¯s ringing.¡± ¡°Tsk!!!¡± He immediately gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling that warmth crawl from his ear through every limb, as if it was struggling to break free from his skin. He turned his head away; Ynda¡¯s cheeks were flushed, and she was extremely close to him. She smiled faintly, her eyes clearly a bit unfocused. ¡°I was telling you, your phone is ringing.¡± Leo gripped the steering wheel tightly. Once he realized, he pushed her back sharply, ¡°Get lost!¡± She was caught off guard, hitting her head against the ss with a loud bang, letting out a sharp hiss from the pain. Leo¡¯s chest trembled, but he still snapped fiercely, ¡°It serves you right if it hurts, who told you to seduce me!¡± When he said the word ¡°seduce,¡± his tone instantly dropped, his heartbeat quickened. He then pretended to reach for his phone. Ynda rubbed the spot where she was hit, lowered her eyshes, and said nothing. Leo straightened his back, hesitated a few seconds, then pressed the answer button, ¡°Charles.¡± Charles was still workingte. The shipping route at sea kept him busy, not only mediating rtions in Solvaria but also resolvingmercial disputes in Draknd. So he only just saw the message Ynda sent. His fingertips tapped lightly on the desk as he spoke calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll give you an address. Go get Ynda and bring her back.¡± Leo frowned. If he really just went now, Ynda would have been defiled by Dominic a long time ago. He swallowed hard, knowing Charles didn¡¯t like Ynda before, but he never expected him to be so heartless. ¡°Hmm.¡± Charles spoke again from over there, ¡°Have your uncle give him a couple of knocks for me.¡± 10:02 Wed, Sep 17 If that didn¡¯t work, then Dominic had no reason to stay in Beloris. This was Charles willing to handle it this way out of respect for Leo. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll go check the situation.¡± Even though Ynda was clearly in his car, he didn¡¯t dare to admit it. He felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. After hanging up, he realized cold sweat was running down his back. 43 55 vouchers He leaned back, identally catching sight of the rearview mirror, almost losing his temper. ¡°Ynda! What the hell are you doing in my car?! You! You have no shame!!¡± Dominic¡¯s medicine was not ordinary. Ynda had been conscious until just now, but once she realized she was safe, her restraint snapped, and shepletely lost control. So what she was capable of is easy to imagine. Leo trembled with anger; he had never seen such a shameless woman openly act like that in front of a man. His chest heaved violently as he pulled the car over to the side, mmed the door open re, and headed to the back seat. with a ¡°Get out of my car, you!!¡± All his words got stuck in his throat. Ynda was personally picked by the Grant residence; her figure and face spoke for themselves. Leo inevitably saw it. Titan 72 Chapter 72 Like many men, he watched those movies during his teenage years. He still vaguely remembers some of the more well¨Cknown actresses. But no one is more beautiful than Ynda. No one. 55 vouchers He crouched by the car door, feeling lost, his cheeks instantly burning so intensely it made him dizzy. His reason told him not to look any longer. He looked away, angrily mmed the door shut, and his fingertips stiffened slightly in the air. He didn¡¯t know if he was trying to escape or something else. But that nce just now¡­ he could never forget it. He lifted the partition in the back seat and pressed the elerator again. He felt that something was off about himself, an indescribable feeling. After sending Ynda to Moonbay Estate and handing her over to the servant, he didn¡¯t say a word and nearly fled the scene. Ynda¡¯s clothes had been deliberately tidied by him, but it only drew more attention. The servant was so frightened that he called Charles, but Charles was busy at the moment. In his world, work came first; only after finishing work could he spare time to mess around with those lovers. The servant called Tommy over. After a checkup, medication, and a bath for Ynda, she finallyy down and fell asleep. When she woke up, her whole body felt weak¨Cit was the aftereffect of the medicine. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find¡ïNovel She barely remembered what happenedst night. She shook her head and saw Lily¡¯s belongings just stacked on the bedside table¨Cat least they had been brought back. She heaved a sigh of relief, took another shower, and had just gotten dressed when Megan called her. 43 55 vouchers ¡°Ynda, Ian¡¯s y got postponed. He¡¯s heading out to the countryside this evening and won¡¯t be back until five in the morning. I¡¯m tied up tonight. As for my husband¡­¡± Her gambler husband kept causing her trouble, but this time it was especially bad. The man borrowed from loan sharks, and when the collectors showed up, they smashed everything in the house. But she didn¡¯t tell Ynda about it. ¡°Okay, you handle that. I¡¯ll just go with Ian.¡± She raised her hand to rub the bridge of her nose, still feeling a lingering ache deep in her bones. In the evening, Charles called her to say there was a dinner gathering at a mountain vi in the countryside tonight. The only gathering she had been part of before was the one where she apologized to Vivian. She lowered hershes, about to refuse, but Charles hung up too quickly this time. He¡¯d been incredibly busytely, barely having time for his mistress, working overtime every day at the office. Ynda decided firmly not to go. She nned to say her studio was too busy if asked. The door of Moonbay Estate was knocked on; it was Renee Sinir who came. Renee hummed a tune, having dressed up nicely today. Seeing her dressed so casually made her a bit unhappy. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go shopping together. Why are you dressed so shabby? No wonder doesn¡¯t care for you.¡± After saying this, she came over and grabbed Ynda¡¯s hand. my brother Renee spends money freely and usually needs someone to apany her shopping, actually just carrying things for this youngdy, acting asbor. Whenever Ynda went out with her, she had to carry at least ten bags with one hand, She never received any gratitude. Renee snorted coldly, taking out apact to touch up her makeup. ¡°Ynda, don¡¯t me me for saying this, but you really don¡¯t know how to dress.¡± Ynda was dressed casually today¨Csimple jeans, a white shirt tucked in at the waist, which made her look especially youthful. Rence felt very jealous; this person looks good no matter how casually she dresses. 55 vouchers Thinking about how her brother didn¡¯t like her, she felt pleased. No matter how beautiful she was, she was just a cheap vase. The car slowly moved and finally arrived at therge luxury goods center. Ynda stayed quiet the whole time. Since she was already here, she happened to have her eye on a men¡¯s watch. If she remembered correctly, wasn¡¯t Ian¡¯s birthdaying up soon? It wasn¡¯t that she cared much about him; it was just that Megan had been nagging a bit a few days ago. This watch costs around 30 grand, not too expensive, and she could afford it. After buying the watch, Renee Sinir¡¯s voice came from beside her, ¡°You can actually give away something so cheap?¡± Renee always had nothing nice to say, so Ynda just ignored her. The watch was wrapped up, and Renee took out her phone, unable to resist snapping a photo of the box and sending it to Charles. [Brother, she really isn¡¯t putting any thought into this gift. It¡¯s way too cheap.] Charles had juste out of the lounge bathroom. After a full night of meetings, a shower refreshed him a lot. Ynda had given him many gifts since they were kids, but most of them he never opened andter casually handed off to the house staff. He nced at it briefly and didn¡¯t reply to the text message. But Ynda only bought a watch and didn¡¯t buy anything else, nor did she go upstairs to help Renee Sinir carry things. Renee Sinir cursed angrily, ¡°Ynda, what kind of attitude is this? You used to act like apdog just to please me, and now you need me to ask you before you¡¯lle up and carry stuff?!¡± She didn¡¯t bring any bodyguards and was carrying seven bags herself, her wrists turning red from the strain. Seeing Ynda just carrying a single bag and standing around leisurely made her even more furious. ¡°Aren¡¯t you just our family¡¯s cheap maid? I¡¯m not in the mood to pick a fight with you today, ¡­ so don¡¯t think too highly of yourself!¡± As she spoke, she handed a bag to Ynda. 43 55 vouchers Ynda didn¡¯t take it, and the bag fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Renee looked up in disbelief and pped her hard. ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Renee was never gentle with Ynda before¨CYnda used to cling to her, coax her, and let her do whatever she wanted. Now that she was so cold, Renee just couldn¡¯t stand it. The p was caught mid¨Cair by Ynda. Renee Sinir¡¯s face flushed red with anger, her chest rising and falling, ¡°Let go! Let me go! I won¡¯t let you off.¡± Ynda released her hand, her expression calm. ¡°I¡¯m leaving first.¡± Renee¡¯s face was bright red, tears welling up instantly, with a hint of malice shing in her eyes. She no longer wanted to tolerate Ynda, that witch¨Cbesides, Charles didn¡¯t like her anyway. She took a deep breath and dialed Vivian¡¯s number. Since she and Vivian were in the same circle, she knew Vivian had recently run into trouble and that Vivian liked Charles. Charles was such a heartthrob; if Vivian became his wife, that would be nice. She poured her heart out to Vivian in tears. At that moment, Vivian was still in the hospital. Knowing Dominic had failed, she was angry, but at least the trouble with Ynda¡¯s regr friend continued. Ynda only has a few friends, and if anything happened to Megan, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be okay. If you provoke Vivian, thinking you can live peacefully, how¡¯s that possible? She wants this bitch to spend every day from now on in trouble, 10:02 Wed, Se Titan 73 55 vouchers Sheforted Renee Sinir a few times and heard her say repeatedly, ¡°I wish you were my sister¨Cinw, then we wouldn¡¯t have nothing inmon.¡± Vivian¡¯s eyes were full of amusement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t enjoy this for long. You¡¯ll happily go to the dinner soon.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks, Vivian.¡± Renee Sinir was pretty savvy; after hanging up, she looked maliciously toward the direction Ynda left. Ynda originally nned to go back to Moonbay Estate to get ready and then head to Ian¡¯s ce. But Jack, Charles¡¯s driver, suddenly appeared at Moonbay Estate. Seeing her, he immediately opened the car door on one side. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, Mr. Sinir asked me to pick you up.¡± Now she had no choice but to go. She was a bit unhappy but didn¡¯t say much, not wanting Charles to take it seriously. She took Ian off the cklist and told him to follow Simone¡¯s car first, saying she woulde get him back early in the morning. Ian responded quickly. [Got it.] She stared at the word, recalling the chaos between the two of them in the makeup room. She thought he would tone it down, but he only got worse. [Ms. Grant, you¡¯re sweet.] Ynda wasn¡¯t experienced in this; she admired Charles since she was young but rarely got any response. She instantly turned off her phone screen, her heart beating a little irregrly. She turned her head to look out the window and opened it just a crack. The cold air from outside blew in, and she suddenly felt much more awake. 43 55 vouchers She thought to herself how backwards her life had gotten, being flirted with by a man two years younger than her like this. She closed her eyes, trying to give her mind a rest. Jack nced at her through the rearview mirror and noticed her empty hands¨Cno gifts prepared¨Cwhich surprised him. He had assumed the bag she just carried was a gift for Mr. Sinir, but she casually handed it to the housekeeper and told them to put it upstairs instead. After all these years, this was the first time Ynda didn¡¯t bring a gift. The car pulled into Moonbay Estate on the outskirts of town. Surprisingly, it was only about an hour¡¯s drive from Ian¡¯s location. She raised an eyebrow slightly. What a coincidence. Now she just wondered what Charles nned to do here tonight. She followed inside and found many men and women already gathered there, all friends within Charles¡¯s circle, some of whom had brought celebrities from the entertainment industry. Ynda furrowed her brow. By the time they reached the innermost hall, Charles was already seated there, surrounded by a group at the center of the elite circle. The first to speak was Max. Max¡¯s personality was a bit reserved, and his sharp features matched his demeanor. He pulled out a contract and tossed it onto the coffee table. ¡°Here¡¯s the contract for the developmentnd in North City. It¡¯s yours.¡± Quinn, with his sly, fox¨Clike eyes twinkling, smiled, ¡°What a coincidence! We were thinking along the same lines.¡± He pulled out a contract as well. Leo threw down a card, his tone firm, ¡°My family is led by my brother, so I can only offer some spending money.¡± Quinn chuckled without holding back, swirling a ss of wine between his fingers. Leo¡¯s cheeks flushed with anger, ¡°Stopughing. I¡¯m living the good life¨Cying games, working out, rxing at home. No need to exhaust myself running around like you guys. Look at Charles; he¡¯s been so worn outtely there¡¯s hardly any sign of him left.¡± : 43 55 vouchers His voice faltered, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ynda arrive. His throat felt like it was being squeezed by a hand, and his expression instantly changed as he sat back down. Quinn waved his hand. ¡°Ynda,e over quickly. You¡¯re a bitte.¡± Ynda had a pretty good impression of Quinn, even though everyone here knew Charles didn¡¯t love her. She walked over and saw the expensive contracts and gifts on the coffee table. Then she heard Quinn ask, ¡°You¡¯rete¨Cdid you put a lot of thought into preparing a gift?¡± A gift? Confusion flickered in her eyes for a few seconds, then it was like someone pressed a pressure point on her. She suddenly remembered¨Cit was Charles¡¯s birthday today. Before, whether it was their wedding anniversary or his birthday, she would start nning a month in advance. But so much had happened in the past month that she hadn¡¯t thought about it at all. Leo noticed her confusion and scoffed, ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t Charles your favorite? You even forgot his birthday. Ynda, Ynda, you wouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± He had wanted to say, you wouldn¡¯t be like Lily, getting involved with another man behind his back, right? But halfway through, he suddenly felt uneasy and unconsciously nced at a certain spot on her. That scene kept haunting his mind. If Charles found out, he¡¯d probably pop his eyes out. He took a deep breath, feeling stifled, scoffed again, and fell silent. Charles sat in the center. As today¡¯s birthday guy, he wore a sharp suit, his long legs casually resting on the floor, looking both noble and gentle, but his eyes had grown cold just now. ¡°Ynda?¡± He called out, patting the seat beside him. 43 55 vouchers Ynda lowered hershes, speaking calmly, ¡°The gift¡¯s at home. It¡¯s not very valuable, so I didn¡¯t bring it.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Quinn said, ¡°I told you, Ynda, you like Charles the most. There¡¯s no way you didn¡¯t prepare a gift. You probably just felt bad bringing something since ours might be too expensive. It¡¯s okay, no matter what you prepared, Charles will like it.¡± His sly eyes curved, but it was a polite remark. Everyone noticed from Ynda¡¯s reaction that she hadn¡¯t even remembered Charles¡¯s birthday today. Though her face remained calm, Ynda was a bit nervous inside. Fortunately, her words gave Charles a way to save face. If she truly hadn¡¯t prepared anything, it would embarrass Charles a lot. She sat down beside Charles. He handed her a ss of fruit wine. Ynda could tell he was in a bad mood; when he was upset, his lips pressed slightly tight. Over the years, she had actually never seen Charles genuinely angry. Though the Sinir manor was full of intense power struggles, he always kept aposed and proper demeanor in front of his uncles. He leaned closer, his tone still gentle, ¡°Busytely, even more than me?¡± ¡°Sorry, I haven¡¯t been feeling well mentally because of Aunt Lily.¡± She silently apologized to Lily in her heart; only by doing this would Charles not mind. As expected, he lowered his eyshes and looked seriously into her eyes, then raised his hand and gently rubbed the corner of her lips with his fingertip. ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± She breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing how stiff her body had be. This update is avable on Find?Novel The dinner party was lively tonight. Many people came, and after sitting in the hall for a while, these few left. Ynda usually didn¡¯t fit into these kinds of gatherings. Seeing many people ying in the pool¨Cgood¨Clooking men and women¨Cwas quite a sight. She didn¡¯t join them. She walked past the pool, looking for a quiet ce. But suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from behind and pushed her straight into the Chapic ?? water. She hadn¡¯t changed into a swimsuit yet and instantly became soaked like a drenched rat. Renee Sinir¡¯s triumphantugh rang out, ¡°Serves you right for not helping me carry the bag!¡± The pool was crowded, and everyone burst intoughter instantly. In this circle, Ynda had always been at the bottom. Renee Sinir nced over at Charles¡¯s side; her brother was chatting with a few people, and no one had noticed what was happening there. So when she saw Ynda trying to climb up, she lifted her foot and kicked her away. Laughter erupted again at the scene. Ynda couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, grabbed Renee Sinir¡¯s ankle, and pulled her down forcefully. A look of shock shed through Renee Sinir¡¯s eyes, and then she started screaming, ¡°Help! Charles, help!¡± The next moment, she fainted. Suddenly, Ynda remembered that Renee Sinir almost drowned as a child, which made
  1. in. her afraid of water. That¡¯s why she always stayed by the poolside and wouldn¡¯t go
Charles was chatting about stocks with Max and a few others when he heard voices from this side and strode over. Ynda quickly pulled Renee Sinir out of the water and knelt by the pool, pressing on her chest. But Renee Sinir wasn¡¯t simply drowning; she had a psychological condition and had fainted from extreme fear. Ynda looked up, about to speak to Charles when he raised his hand and pped her. She tilted her head slightly; the p made the scenepletely silent, She sat silently nearby, watching him take off his shirt, wrap it around Renee Sinir, and stride away. Everyone at Sinir manor doted on Renee Sinir. 10:02 Wed, Sep 17 ¡­ 43 55 vauchers People at the scene whispered among themselves while Ynda sat by the pool, soaked like a drenched rat. Her cheek burned painfully¨Cthat was the first time Charles had ever hit her. AD Titan 74 The surrounding murmurs grew louder. ¡°So embarrassing. If I were her, I¡¯d leave right away.¡± 55 vouchers ¡°Charles has always been well¨Cmannered; this is the first time he¡¯s publicly hit a woman. He must have been pushed to his limit.¡± ¡°Renee is his own sister, and the Sinir manor spoils her thoroughly. Ynda really crossed the line this time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just how women from the Grant residence are.¡± Ynda touched her cheek, water droplets still trickling down her hair. She slowly stood up without looking at anyone else and headed toward a nearby trail to leave. After a few steps, she saw Leo. Leo crossed his arms, smirking, ¡°You used to be so good at charming everyone at the Sinir manor. How did you suddenly forget that Renee is afraid of water? Now look, Charles will probably hold a grudge against you for a while.¡± Ynda¡¯s cheek burned, but she stayed calm on the outside. If it were in the past, she would probably have started crying by now because of Charles¡¯s actions. After Leo spoke, he noticed she had no reaction and frowned. ¡°Ynda?¡± Ynda cut him off directly. ¡°Your lips just look so kissable. Seems like I haven¡¯t kissed enough yet.¡± you Leo looked as if he had seen a ghost, standing there stunned for several seconds, his body trembling with anger. He really didn¡¯t expect this woman to be more and more shameless! So shameless! He took a deep breath and angrily chased after her with big strides. ¡°You truly have no shame. The Grant family¡¯s upbringing must have been fed to the dogs by you!¡± : 43 55 vouchers He had nothing else to say except calling her shameless and unashamed, as if his vocabry was limited to insults. Leo was somewhat puzzled¨Cshe was far too calm. Normally, after being treated like this by someone you¡¯ve liked for over a decade, wouldn¡¯t you be crying, throwing a tantrum, or worse? Ynda¡¯s footsteps stopped, and she turned around. Leo stopped too and was about to ask what she wanted to do when her hand reached over and snagged the car keys from his grip. ¡°Ynda! Those are my damn car keys! Give them back!¡± He tried to catch up, but Ynda quickly opened the driver¡¯s door and drove away. Leo stood there, so furious he was stomping his feet. It wasn¡¯t until Quinn¡¯s car pulled up in front of him, and seeing his angry face, he rolled down the window. Quinn supported his head with one hand and looked Leo up and down. ¡°Leo, your wife ran off with someone else? And you¡¯re this mad?¡± Because Leo was the youngest and loved sports cars and games, everyone jokingly said his wife was the sports car. Leo scowled, yanked open the car door, and said, ¡°Yeah, my wife was definitely taken away by someone else. Damn it! That cursed Ynda!¡± As he said this, he mmed the car door hard, making a loud bang. Readplete version only at FindN()vel Quinn¡¯s eyes curved up slightly, surprised. ¡°Since when did you get so close with Ynda?¡± Ynda has always been a woman with great restraint. Because of her status at the Grant residence, she isn¡¯t close to any men except Charles. Not to mention provoking anyone intentionally. Leo was spoiled at home and wild, plus he had an older brother with absolute authority. There were few who could make him this angry. Leo lowered his head, afraid someone would notice anything. Quinn narrowed his eyes, sharp¨Cminded, and hit the gas again. ¡°Ynda wouldn¡¯t provoke you on purpose. It¡¯s probably unintentional.¡± Leo sneered to himself. Then, the image he saw in the car shed through his mind. : His fingers looked like two chopped spring onions, almost crushed off. He paused, closed his eyes, and fell silent. 43 55 vouchers *** Ynda drove far away but still felt a sharp pain on her cheek. Charles showed no mercy with that p; she even tasted blood in her mouth. Although she said she had let go, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel hurt. Fifteen years¨Cshe never expected to be the first woman he ever hit. She found it funny, but when she smiled faintly, it hurt the wound on her face. She took a deep breath and drove to where Ian was; going back to Moonbay Estate now would only make Charles ufortable. An hourter, she arrived at the filming location. Ynda grabbed a mask and hat, then casually asked someone nearby and learned that Ian had gone outside with a small team to reshoot some scenes. It started pouring outside. In early spring, heavy rain can appear suddenly like this. The small team all returned, but Ian was nowhere in the crowd. She adjusted the mask on her cheek and asked a nearby staff member, ¡°Where¡¯s Ian?¡± The staff cautiously nced at ra Aster beside them. This was a major production; even the third female lead was a second¨Ctier celebrity with many fans. ra Aster rolled her eyes upon hearing this, ¡°So you¡¯re Tessa Gilbert? I¡¯ve seen your photos.¡± A few hours earlier, Vivian had shared Ynda¡¯s photos with some acquaintances, ordering them to target her mercilessly whenever they encountered her. She said Ynda should face trouble every single day. She deliberately concealed Ynda¡¯s real identity to prevent any weaklings from daring to challenge the CEO¡¯s wife of Sinir Group. So those who didn¡¯t know Ynda thought she was just a minor character. Everyone wanted to make her ufortable, then cozy up to Vivian. ra was the first to dig around and soon learned this woman was Ian¡¯s manager. 43 55 vouchers This bitch must have slept with someone to get Ian the lead male role. It¡¯s disgusting. So when the team¡¯s bus was about to leave, she deliberately distracted Ian. It¡¯s pouring outside now, and no one knows where he is, probably drenched like a drowned rat. Just thinking about it gave me a rush of satisfaction. Simone is not around tonight; Tom Hayes is in charge. Tom Hayes didn¡¯t want to get involved in the actors¡® conflicts. With a wave of his hand, he tried to break up the gathering crowd. Ynda¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Where exactly did you just go?¡± Tom Hayes looked a bit impatient. ¡°Rx, ra Aster was just joking. Ian is a man; he¡¯s not that fragile. Maybe he already caught a cab and headed back.¡± ra Aster wiped the water droplets off her sleeve and chimed in, ¡°Exactly. No idea what the fuss was about. Like Ian¡¯s some big star. There¡¯s no reason to make everyone wait for him. I don¡¯t even know how hended the lead role.¡± Ìï Titan 75 : 43 55 vouchers Everyone on set knew ra Aster was involved with Tom Hayes. Now they were thick as thieves. Anyone who sided with Ynda at this point would face retaliation. After all, ra was petty, and her fans were irrational. If it escted to online harassment, the target could easily fall into depression. Ynda raised her hand and grabbed ra Aster¡¯s hair firmly, her voice ice¨Ccold. ¡°Tell me the address you just went to.¡± It¡¯s pitch dark outside right now; if anything happens to Ian¡­ ra Aster was grabbed painfully and was about to scream when Ynda pulled out a fruit knife. ¡°If you make a sound, I¡¯ll sh your face.¡± The face is the most important asset for a female celebrity. ra didn¡¯t expect this manager to be so crazy as to carry a knife with her. ¡°You¡­ are you crazy? How dare you do this to me, you¡­¡± Assistant director Tom Hayes was also stunned. The director just stepped out for a moment tonight, and now something like this happens on set. He¡¯s going to be held responsible. And the show hasn¡¯t even aired yet. If this gets out, the public bacsh will be massive. He hurried forward, his face trembling with anger. ¡°Let her go! This is nonsense! Complete nonsense!¡± But Ynda¡¯s knife tip pressed against her, as if she was about to really sh ra¡¯s face any second. ra was so scared she almost fainted, quickly saying, ¡°Drive down this narrow road for half an hour, there¡¯ll be a few forks, take the far right¡­ wooo¡­¡± She was so scared and panicked that when she was released, her legs gave out and she copsed to the ground. Ynda sheathed her dagger and looked around, ¡°Ms. Sinir is my rtive. If tonight¡¯s incident gets out, you all know the consequences.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions changed. Simone is very strict; no one dares to cause trouble on set when she¡¯s around. No one expected that the manager was Ms. Sinir¡¯s rtive. No wonder an unknown actor got cast as the lead, Wayne. 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 43 55 vouchers Tom Hayes was a bit surprised but quickly smiled and said, ¡°No problem, no problem. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll talk to ra more.¡± Ynda said nothing and headed straight out to the car. The storm outside grew heavier, and raindrops hit the car windows like a waterfall. Her mind was sharp, partly because she worried about Ian and partly because her face still hurt. Besides, she was soaked head to toe. Without the mask and hat, her fierce look just now would¡¯ve made her look like a clown to others. She drove for an hour, with her headlights shing nearby, hoping Ian would see them. There was an umbre in the car. She took it out, but in weather like this, even the best umbres would get blown away. ¡°Ian!¡± ¡°Ian!¡± She called a few more times. Ian, who was far away, heard the voice and his lowered eyshes trembled. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find1Novel He was dry and knew he had been left behind, so he found a cave, nning to wait until the rain stopped before returning. The voice belonged to Ynda. He stomped out the fire in front of him. Ynda searched outside for half an hour and finally found the person unconscious at the bottom of the hill. ¡°Ian!¡± Frightened, she hurried closer and dropped the umbre in her hand. Raindrops hit her face, stinging and blurring the nearby scene. She flipped Ian over and patted his face. ¡°Wake up.¡± She quickly checked his forehead; no fever. Just as she was getting anxious, the person in her arms slowly opened his eyes, then shut them 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 again because of the heavy rain. ¡°Ms. Grant¡­¡± Ynda helped him up and into the car. : Ian noticed it was a Rolls¨CRoyce, not the car she had driven before. 43 55 vouchers The interior was spacious. Ynda turned up the heat and grabbed a towel to wipe his hair. ¡°Where do you feel unwell? Why did you faint?¡± His lips were pale, and his gaze settled on her cheek. The five handprints are really obvious. His palm cupped her face. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Ynda pped his hand away. ¡°I¡¯m asking you¨Care you feeling unwell anywhere? With all the boxing you do, shouldn¡¯t you be in great shape?¡± A dark glint flickered in Ian¡¯s eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched. ¡°I¡¯m a bit afraid of pitch¨Cdark ces.¡± Everyone has secrets. He didn¡¯t seem like he was lying, so Ynda quickly turned on the car¡¯s interior lights. They were still dripping water all over. She took off her jacket and threw it a little farther away, or she¡¯d catch a cold like this. The car¡¯s air conditioning was running full st, but being soaked still felt ufortable. He pinched her chin, and Ian¡¯s gazended again on her cheek. ¡°Did your husband hit you?¡± Ynda met his eyes for a moment, then looked away. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have the heart to hit you so hard.¡± She tilted her head and pushed him away. ¡°I¡¯ll drive. Let¡¯s go back.¡± He lowered hisshes and said nothing. Ynda went to the driver¡¯s seat to drive. The car was silent all the way back. By the time they arrived at the filming base, it was already 1 a.m. Simone was waiting right at the gate. 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 ¡­ 43 55 vouchers Ynda was about to open the door and get out when a hand suddenly reached from behind the seat, turning her head and pressing his lips to hers. Their lips tangled, and his intensity grew stronger. Because Simone was outside, she angrily pped him. The sharp p was drowned out by the sound of rain. He tilted his head and said hoarsely, ¡°Ms. Grant, when you hit me, I only cared if your hand hurt.¡± Ynda¡¯s pupils constricted sharply as she swallowed hard. She was probably sick because she actually found Ian like this quite sexy. This kind of puppy that doesn¡¯t fight back or snap back really hits a nerve with her. Knowing she had softened, Ian seized the moment, his lips brushing against her ear. ¡°How about I take care of youter?¡± 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 Titan 76 hapter 76 : 43 E55 vouchers Simone knocked on the car window outside. Seeing Ynda get out, she sighed with relief. ¡°Are you okay? Don¡¯t worry, I already know about this, confronted them, and no one will spill the story.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t look her in the eyes but said calmly, ¡°Aunt Simone, it¡¯s a hassle, but Ian is currently my studio¡¯s only talent. Only if he bes famous can I recruit new talent. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to him.¡± What she said was really an exnation of why she was so worried about Ian¡¯s safety. After all, Simone is Charles¡¯s aunt and part of the Sinir family; she might misunderstand the rtionship between her and Ian. Simone¡¯s gaze settled on her face, then nced inside the car, smiling. ¡°This kind of thing won¡¯t happen again.¡± Ian¡¯s scenes for tonight were almost finished. After filming a few more shots, he could leave. Staff escorted him to change costumes. Ynda was right beside Simone, and the staff around her still felt a bit intimidated when they saw her. Simone patted her shoulder. ¡°Protecting your talent is a good thing, but what happened tonight went too far. If ra Aster won¡¯t let you off, and she posts your story on Twitter, then millions of loyal fans wille to curse you, make a fake memorial photo of you, and even insult your entire family. That¡¯s a terrible feeling.¡± ¡°I understand, Aunt Simone. I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± Meanwhile, Ian had already changed into new clothes, and the makeup artist was applying his makeup. Makeup takes about ten minutes, and the artist whispered gossip into his ear, ¡°Ian, your manager actually got into a fight for you tonight. It looked really scary, and we were all freaked out.¡± Another makeup artist chimed in, ¡°Yeah, ra¡¯s face was almost shed badly. We¡¯re still unsettled by it, but as long as you¡¯re okay, Ian, it¡¯s fine. The whole thing was ra¡¯s fault anyway.¡± Ian¡¯s lips curled up slightly, and he closed his eyes. ¡°Mm.¡± The makeup artist wasn¡¯t sure if he was pleased or worried. Then she added, ¡°Honestly, your 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 : 43 55 vouchers manager is a bit extreme. You should tell your boss and get a new guy as your manager.¡± ¡°She only cares about me.¡± After he said this, he stood up to reshoot the scene. Ynda, wearing a wet outfit, waited in the car. After twenty minutes, Ian opened the door and came in. She ns to drive back now, probably getting home around six in the morning. ¡°Ms. Grant, let me drive.¡± Ynda held the steering wheel with both hands and said calmly, ¡°You rest well in the passenger seat. You still have scenes to shoot tomorrow.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more and quietly sat in the passenger seat. At six in the morning, when dropping him off outside the vi where Ian currently lives, he lowered his head and coughed several times. When getting out of the car, he almost stumbled. Ynda felt a bit unwell herself and helped him up, asking, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± She lifted her hand to check his forehead, which wasn¡¯t hot to the touch. He shook his head. ¡°Just dizzy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you inside.¡± Once home, she found the medicine kit and prepared two packets of instant medicine for her. Ian went upstairs to get one of his shirts. ¡°Take a hot shower and rest for a while.¡± Ynda¡¯s head felt a bit fuzzy as well. She nodded, went upstairs to shower, and when she dried her hair and came downstairs, she saw the breakfast alreadyid out on the table, Jan was standing by the table, opening a package. ¡°Ms. Grant, eat something and get some rest.¡± Ynda was indeed a bit hungry; she had been driving for a long time and got caught in the rain, leaving her head foggy. After sitting down and finishing the soup, she settled on the living room sofa. 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 43 55 vouchers The sofa was veryfortable. After all, this was Samuel¡¯s vi, with only the finest selections throughout. Ian¡¯s shirt worn on her could cover above the knees; it easily served as a dress. As soon as shey down, Ian moved close to her. She frowned and instinctively kicked him, but his fingers gripped her ankle tightly, refusing to let go. ¡°Ms. Grant, are you having trouble sleeping?¡± Ynda said nothing. He slowly released her ankle. ¡°I heard that sweating helps you fall asleep easily.¡± Ynda remembered the scene in the makeup room. All of this, Charles might have already given to other women long ago. After a few seconds, she whispered, ¡°Go to the dining table.¡± The chair by the dining table was modest yet elegant. And there is a tablecloth here. Just as her mind was in a fog, the doorbell rang. She thought she was hearing things. But then the door was opened, as if the personing had a door card for here. Besides the code, the door can also be opened with a door card. Ynda lifted her neck like a graceful swan and, when she turned her head, met Samuel¡¯s gaze at the door. All the blood in her body rushed backward in an instant, draining the color from her face. Butn didn¡¯t give up. ¡°Charles.¡± Her voice was hoarse; she quickly lowered her head and ced one hand on the table. Samuel wore a ck suit and ck leather shoes, his hair slicked back, looking mature and steady. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡­ He didn¡¯t change his shoes, so he didn¡¯t open the shoe cab either. Ynda was on the verge of losing her mind, her fingertips clenched tightly. 55 vouch ?????? ???? FindN0vel 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 Titan 77 ¡­ 43 55 vouchers But she was also relieved thatn was a very tidy man; all his shoes were stored inside the shoe cab, with none left outside. If Samuel found shoes belonging to a man here, her life would fall apartpletely. Samuel ced a gift box on the dining table and met her gaze. Her eyes were soft like water, and her cheeks flushed as if touched by blush. This face, with such an expression, it wouldn¡¯t be unfair to call her a enchantress. His fingertips paused slightly as his gaze fell on her cheek. ¡°Did Charles hit you?¡± Ynda felt a tingling on her scalp from the provocation. Charles was a strict older brother. Though not her biological brother, he was like an elder to her. Samuel is twenty¨Cseven this year, looking more mature and steady than his peers. He always slicks his hair back. He once said that looking mature helps tomand respect. ¡°Charles¡­¡± This way of addressing him had changed tone, sounding melodious and lingering. Samuel¡¯s eyshes trembled as he looked away. ¡°Mom and Dad tried calling you but couldn¡¯t get through. Charles said you didn¡¯te homest night. I just guessed you might be here.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear what Samuel was saying. After the fear disappeared, what remained was the most primal feeling. Samuel kept talking but then saw her suddenly slump over the table like she was crying. The shoulder des on her back looked like fluttering butterflies, as if they might break through the fabric and fly away at any moment. ¡°Ynda, are you crying?¡± Samuel hesitated slightly, then rested his hand on her shoulder. Ynda looked up, her eyes hazy and clouded with drunkenness, a flush spreading across her Content originallyes from findnovel face. A different color reflected in his pupils. 10:03 Wed, Sep 17 His fingertips paused, then he withdrew his hand. 43 B55 vouchers ¡°Call Mom and Dadter. I¡¯m leaving. Since you live here, I won¡¯te around anymore.¡± After saying this, his tone grew uncertain. He took off his suit jacket and suddenly draped it over her shoulders. ¡°Even if you¡¯re home alone, you need to be careful.¡± Ynda gasped for breath, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. ¡°Charles, I know.¡± Her sweat smelled sweet. Samuel frowned, straightened up, nced at the takeout on the table, and reminded her, ¡°Eat less takeout.¡± The Grant residence has strict rules for her upbringing, forbidding takeout because it¡¯s bad for the skin. ¡°I¡¯m not eating it, sorry.¡± Her voice still trembled, but she was doing her best to hold it back. After Samuel left the vi, he got into his car, leaned back, reached to light a cigarette but stopped himself. A call came from thepany, asking him to return quickly for a meeting. His wrist tightened, he pressed the gas pedal. Inside the room. Ynda said hoarsely, ¡°Are you crazy?¡± The little dog¡¯s chin rested on herp. ¡°Do you like it?¡± She couldn¡¯t say she didn¡¯t like it; she had never experienced anything like this before. It was given to her by Ian. Onlyn, her younger brother by two years. Her whole body went limp, and she whispered hoarsely, n.¡± Ian stood up and cupped her face to kiss her. Her eyes were like they were shrouded in a fog; under such stimtion, her consciousness Chapter 77 hadn¡¯t fully returned, and she could only respond instinctively. E¨C55 vouchers After the kiss, his fingertips gently brushed her cheek. ¡°Ms. Grant, are you really not going to get a divorce?¡± Those words snapped her instantly awake from her near¨Cdrowning state, and she slowly moved his hand away. Ian¡¯s eyes darkened. Ynda stood up and heard something fall to the ground. Looking down, she saw it was Samuel¡¯s suit. She picked up the suit, and the memory of just now made her body weaken in waves. It¡¯s truly outrageous, daring beyond belief. Ian held her, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to leave, then don¡¯t. I won¡¯t say anything more.¡± His voice lowered, ¡°I won¡¯t say it again.¡± Ynda pushed him away, swallowing hard, ¡°How do I The puppy wagged its tail. ¡°I¡¯ll go dry your clothes, wait for me.¡± He went upstairs. get back?¡± Ynda rubbed her legs, feeling more and more hopeless. She nced at her phone¨Cdead battery. No wonder Samuel found his way here. She originally nned to have Ian move out, but Charles said he wouldn¡¯te back again. He always keeps his word. She sighed in relief. Even now, she thinks she must have been crazy to do that in front of Samuel¡­ If anyone found out, even dunking in a pig cage would be a light punishment. But Jan wasn¡¯t just reckless once. Once she lowered her standards, she realized how badly she could misbehave. Charles can have mistresses outside. 55 voucliers Why can¡¯t she keep a puppy? Butn doesn¡¯t listen well. There¡¯s a wild streak in his bones; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved in underground fighting. Forget it. She¡¯ll take it one step at a time. By the timen took the warm clothes down, half an hour had passed. He had ironed the clothes neatly. Standing nearby, he was still reserved, but the sparkle in his eyes was unmistakable. She smiled and put her clothes on. ¡°You still have to shoot today. Rest for a few hours before going out. If anyone bothers you, remember to call me.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He was really like two different people in daily life and during that other thing. Ynda liked this contrast. She drove back and stopped by the studio first. Megan wasn¡¯t there, and the studio was a mess, like a thief had rummaged through it. She called Megan repeatedly but got no answer. Ynda frowned deeply and drove to Megan¡¯s house. Before she got close, Megan¡¯s voice came from inside, ¡°Can you please stop borrowing from loan sharks?¡± Then came her husband¡¯s voice, ¡°You make a lot of money hanging out with that tramp, right? Where¡¯s the money? Megan, didn¡¯t you love me the most?¡± Ynda¡¯s fingertips touched the doorknob, and she heard a p and the sound of something heavy hitting the floor inside. She quickly pushed open the door. The room was in chaos; everything that could be broken was smashed, and chairs and the sofa were tipped over. Megan was sitting on the floor, crying, while the man raised his hand high. 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 Chapter 78 Titan 78 Chapter 78 : Ynda strode over and helped Megan up from the ground. 43 E55 vouchers The man¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise, clearly not expecting her toe. He sneered, ¡°This is my home. Get out.¡± Megan¡¯s face was swollen beyond recognition. She grabbed Ynda¡¯s wrist with one hand. ¡°Ynda, let¡¯s go talk outside.¡± Her eyes were full of pleading. Ynda immediately realized that Megan still loved this man. She took a deep breath and helped Megan out the door. Once in the car, she asked, ¡°Was he also the one who messed up the studio like that?¡± Megan leaned back and let out a painful ¡°hiss.¡± ¡°Is this how you¡¯re letting him treat you?¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t like this before.¡± ¡°Megan!¡± Megan blinked hershes and forced a bitter smile. ¡°You¡¯re not me, so you haven¡¯t seen his good side, only what he is now¨Cso fierce and cruel. He used to be really good.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes showed disbelief. She had been a stay¨Cat¨Chome wife for the past two years and hadn¡¯t looked deeply into Megan¡¯s marriage. This marriage had already rotted away, but Megan clung to it so tightly it would only cause her more pain. This update is avable on find?novel ¡°Megan, you¡­¡± Megan felt like even breathing hurt. She took a few shallow breaths, adjusted her position, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle this myself. Ynda, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t know what to say and gripped the steering wheel tight. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡± Megan closed her eyes. Blood stained the corners of her mouth, and her voice was hoarse. ¡°I¡¯ve known him since we were kids, both from a small town. I had no parents and was bullied by those around me. He was tall as a kid and always protected me¨Cfrom elementary school all the way through college. In college, he was my senior and the student council president, always the center of attention wherever he went. For someone like him to like me, sometimes I wake upughing from the dream. But Beloris is a ce where just having a degree won¡¯t get 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 ¡­ 43 55 vouchers you far¨Cyou have to have the right background and family support. We¡¯re both from small towns, and after many setbacks, his pride shattered. He will definitely be a better person.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t want to hear more and took her to the hospital for stitches. Megan grabbed her sleeve. ¡°I¡¯ll cover the studio¡¯s losses. Ynda, please don¡¯t call the police.¡± Ynda was silent for a few seconds. Seeing the pleading in her eyes, she sighed, ¡°If it happens again, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± Megan¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Thank you.¡± She had already taken Megan home by 2 p.m. Her phone had been ringing for a while, callsing from both Sinir manor and the Grant residence. No need to guess¨Cit was about Renee Sinir. Renee Sinir had just woken up half an hour ago after fainting in fear and had been crying while holding her family from Sinir manor. Charles adored his sister and had stayed by her hospital bed all night without resting. Renee Sinir¡¯s fear of water is rted to Charles. It is said that she could only act recklessly in front of Charles because she was trying to save him. This time, Ynda really hit a brick wall. She first went to the Grant residence. As soon as she walked in, her mother Linda Grant threw a cup at her, hitting her forehead and drawing blood. Linda mmed the table hard, her face flushed with anger. ¡°How dare you push Renee into the water? Didn¡¯t you know she¡¯s afraid of it? She was unconscious all night. So many people called you, and you didn¡¯t answer a single one! Ynda, I think you¡¯ve really lost your mind!¡± As a woman of the Grant family, such behavior is unforgivable. Ynda held her forehead, fully aware that it was useless to defend herself at this moment. A pile of expensive gifts sat on the coffee table. Linda stood up and said, ¡°You¡¯re going to the Sinir manor to apologize. If Rence forgives you, this will be over. Also, you¡¯d better tter Charles more; if you get kicked out, how will we survive in this social circle?¡± She nced at Ynda¡¯s outfit, furious, and couldn¡¯t help but p her again. 43 55 vouchers ¡°Do you want to get yourself killed? What are you wearing? All wrinkled! Change into something decent right now! We leave in ten minutes. If you¡¯rete, you¡¯ll spend five days in the ck room!¡± Ynda lowered her eyshes, her face pale; no one liked the Grant residence¡¯s little ck room. She hurried upstairs to change into clean clothes, then got into the car with Mrs. Grant. The Sinirs knew Renee Sinir woulde today. May had already been waiting in the hall, and when she saw Ynda, she sneered coldly. Feeling guilty, Linda Grant tugged Ynda¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Go apologize to your mother¨Cinw.¡± May picked up a cup of tea from the table, her tone dripping with sarcasm, ¡°No way, I can¡¯t take that apology. Ruanyuan only said a couple of things to you, and you pushed her into trouble. If I had insulted you, who knows what you¡¯d do? I think your marriage to Charles doesn¡¯t need to continue.¡± Linda Grant¡¯s expression instantly changed. She strode forward quickly, lowering her posture and speaking with a ttering tone. ¡°Oh dear, why say such things and cause trouble? This time, it¡¯s all Ynda¡¯s fault. Beforeing, I already told her to ask for Renee¡¯s forgiveness. Renee can do whatever she wants to her; our Grant residence won¡¯t say a word.¡± Thinking of Samuel, and knowing the Sinirs were still cooperating with him recently, May snorted coldly, ¡°Renee is upstairs.¡± Linda Grant turned to Ynda, her voice rising sharply, ¡°What are you standing there for? Go upstairs and apologize right now!¡± Ynda¡¯s hand, hanging to the side, curled slightly. She went upstairs. Behind her, Linda Grant¡¯s ttering voice could still be heard, ¡°These gifts are to apologize. One of them is the diamond ring you¡¯ve been searching for; it looks beautiful on your hand.¡± May¡¯s expression brightened considerably, but she still held firm, ¡°Ynda has a lot more to learn.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I will teach her more when I have time.¡± Ynda went upstairs to the room where Renee Sinir lived. Renee still lived with her parents at Sinir manor. Her room wasrge and decorated with a 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 princess¨Cstyle theme. : 43 55 Vouchers At that moment, shey in bed looking very pale, while Charles sat beside her, feeding her soup. Seeing her arrive, Renee instantly reacted with distress. ¡°Why are you here? Get out! Charles, make her leave! I don¡¯t want to see her anytime soon!¡± Charles was tall and sat straight¨Cbacked beside the bed. His slender fingers held the spoon gracefully, and with a calm tone, he said, ¡°Eat properly.¡± Renee Sinir snorted coldly, ¡°Then let her kneel in the courtyard until I¡¯m satisfied.¡± The Grant residence likes to lock people in dark rooms, while Sinir manor prefers to punish by making people kneel. Charles fed her another spoonful of soup. ¡°Ynda, go kneel now. I¡¯ll take you back tonight.¡± The implication was she needed to kneel until he decided to go back. ¡°Charles, why do you favor her so much? I almost died!¡± Ynda found it funny; she definitely couldn¡¯t handle such favoritism. Charles should understand that she never started trouble; it was his own sister who provoked first. Charles slowly put down the bowl in his hands, his eyes serious and calm. ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡± Renee Sinir suddenly fell silent, strangely afraid of this brother. She could act so coquettishly in front of her brother only because she once saved him as a child and because of their blood rtionship. In fact, she could feel that her brother¡¯s heart had grown cold and he treated everyone that way. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and her hand clenched tightly inside the nket. She would never forgive Ynda, that despicable woman! 43 Chapter 79 Titan 79 Chapter 79 E 55 vouchers Ynda knelt downstairs, while the passing servants whispered among themselves. She was never wee at Sinir manor and had been punished by kneeling many times. before. But she caught a coldst night, and her body was already weak. After kneeling for several hours, her body heat kept rising. The window upstairs suddenly mmed open; right above where she knelt was Renee Sinir¡¯s room. Renee Sinir poured a basin of water down and spoke with a triumphant tone. ¡°Take this and remember it! You worthless woman, don¡¯t ever think you¡¯re my sister¨Cinw. To me, you¡¯re no different from trash!¡± After storming off, she closed the window. Ynda was doused with cold water, and her body temperature spiked even faster. Linda had already left. She didn¡¯t care whether Ynda lived or died, nor did she respect Ynda¡¯s dignity. Ynda knelt for an unknown length of time until a pair of dress shoes stopped right in front of her. Charles reached out a hand and ced it in front of her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go back.¡± Her knees went numb and ached, but without holding his hand, she forced herself to stand
  1. up.
Charles used to think she was fragile like a clematis flower, but now he saw a tough resilience in her. He chuckled. ¡°You feeling wronged?¡± Ynda¡¯s lips cracked and dry, she said nothing, her steps unsteady as she moved forward. Original content can be found at F?ndNovel Charles watched her retreating figure and saw her stumble as she got into the car. He stepped forward and supported her waist. She pushed his hand away, and the next moment, he pinned her down on the back seat. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t make me angry.¡± B 55 vouchers He grabbed the bottled water beside him, trying to feed her, but that obedient little pet cat suddenly showed its teeth and bit hard into his tiger¡¯s mouth. The bite broke the skin and drew blood. Charles raised an eyebrow, his eyes darkening. Ynda bit her teeth so hard hers ached before letting go. The man suddenlyughed, his fingertips grinding harshly against her teeth. ¡°Since when did you learn to bite? Let daddy see¨Cthose teeth are sharp.¡± Ynda¡¯s anger made her scalp tingle. To others, the fury of the weak was just a little kitten stretching out its paws, a small squabble. She was about to bite again, but her tongue was held, and the gesture only made her secrete some saliva. She red at him angrily. Charles¡¯s face originally held a smile, but seeing her expression and the red marks at the corner of her eyes, his smile slowly faded. He pulled back his fingertip, grabbed a nearby tissue, and wiped off the saliva. ¡°Stop messing around.¡± Ynda¡¯s chin hurt a bit as she sneered, ¡°I¡¯m not messing around with you.¡± ¡°Not messing around? Then are you acting cute with me?¡± He grabbed her close, holding her tightly in his arms. His hand slipped under her hem. ¡°Like this, much more lively.¡± After saying that, he leaned down and softly whispered by her ear. ¡°More enticing than before.¡± Ynda¡¯s face instantly turnedpletely pale. Charles never acknowledged her pain. He was so aloof that he saw her only as a pet or a decorative vase in the house. Even when she yelled herself hoarse in anger, he only saw it as a spoiled pet throwing a tantrum. It was truly embarrassing. 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 For the weak, even anger looks ridiculous. She remained silent. 43 E55 vouchers The car stopped at Moonbay Estate. He, dressed in a light¨Ccolored suit, got out first and pinched her cheek. ¡°Why stop now?¡± Those words stabbed deep into her heart like a sharp knife. Her lips moved slightly but she said nothing, quietly walking inside. The servant at the door saw them and immediately asked, ¡°Mrs. Sinir, Mr. Sinir, have you had dinner?¡± Charles said ¡°hmm¡± and took off his suit jacket. He stayed by Ynda¡¯s bedsidest night and didn¡¯t go home, so he didn¡¯t know she wasn¡¯t home. When Ynda doesn¡¯te home, the servants report it to him. No one mentioned itst night, so he naturally assumed she was home. He followed her upstairs and saw that she still went to the room at the end of the hallway, which amused him. Ynda came out after showering and saw him in her room. He had also showered; his hair was damp, and he was wearing only a bathrobe. She said nothing and grabbed the hairdryer to dry her hair. Charles walked in, took the hairdryer, and said, ¡°Let me help you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± she replied. His expression darkened, but then the corners of his mouth curled up. ¡°That pst night- were you hurt?¡± ¡°No.¡± She sat in the chair, quietly blow¨Cdrying her hair. Charles stepped closer and snatched the hairdryer. ¡°There¡¯s ten million dors on that card by the bedside.¡± His fingertips ran gently through her hair. ¡°Spend it however you want, but be nicer to 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 Ynda from now on.¡± : Ynda found it amusing¨CCharles was never short of money. 43 65 vouchers If this had happened before, she would have imagined some grand love story behind his gesture. But she never realized that Charles was only offering what he had the most of¨Cand despised the most¨Cto keep her wrapped around his finger. He never stood up for her or sided with her; he just used money to settle things. Just like how he dealt with his other mistresses. Their fifteen years meant nothing. Her eyes were calm. From Charles¡¯s point of view, since he was willing to lower himself and blow her hair, she should be head over heels in love. He thought she was still the same Ynda, but she hadn¡¯t been that person for a long time. Ian was great; she had grown addicted to that feeling. The husband at home no longer seemed that charming. Thinking that way made her feel much better. Ten million dors is too good to pass up, and she could invest more resources in the puppy. ¡°Thank you, husband.¡± Charles lowered hisshes, a trace of boredom flickering in his eyes, and set the hairdryer aside. ¡°Mm, get some rest early.¡± It was just as boring as before, Ynda watched his back silently as she got into bed; she found her husband quite boring. 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 Titan 80 Chapter 80 43 55 vouchers The next morning, she went to the studio and hired several workers to restore it to its original state, then she called Megan. Megan answered, but her voice sounded weak. ¡°Ynda.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Megan covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just some pain in my body. I¡¯ll be fine after a few days of rest.¡± Ynda sighed in relief andforted her, ¡°You don¡¯t need toe to the studio these days. Ian¡¯s new TV series is about to air, and we¡¯ll be busy soon. Take care of yourself, or you won¡¯t keep up with the schedule. Megan, I have to remind you again: divorce your husband as soon as possible. He¡¯ll only hold you back like this.¡± ¡°I know.¡± After saying this, Megan hesitated, as if she had more to say. But she said nothing and hung up the phone. Ynda sat in front of her officeputer, browsing through profiles of forgotten talents in the entertainment industry to find hidden gems. Once Ian became famous, she nned to bring these hidden gems into her studio. But after seeing a promising talent like Ian, other prospects just seemed a bitcking. Her fingers swiped the mouse, and suddenly a breaking news alert popped up. It was from ra Aster, iming she was threatened with a knife by a talent¡¯s manager. She even shared a photo of the scar on her cheek, which looked quite frightening. Ynda¡¯s expression darkened immediately as she saw that the post had over ten thousandments, all asking who the attacker was. ra hesitantly revealed that the talent was in the same production crew as her. Netizens quickly dug up the crew she was in and flooded Simone¡¯s Twitter withments. Simone had already warned ra, but ra still didn¡¯t listen. 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 $43 E 55 vouchers She called ra Aster, who refused to answer and was focused on posting on Twitter, hinting that someone in the crew was protecting that talent. The public reaction became even more exaggerated. This was malicious harm, especially since ra Aster is a second¨Ctier star. That scar looked so terrible, calling it disfigurement wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. Simone couldn¡¯t get through by phone and angrily threw her phone onto the coffee table. What exactly was going on? She had been a director in the entertainment industry for so long and had clearly warned ra Aster. Why would ra suddenly go crazy? ra Aster then exposed several more insider stories online, targeting Ian. Ian¡¯s Twitter fans were only in the millions, so thements were quickly dominated. ¡°Ugly people always cause trouble. Get out of the entertainment industry now!¡± ¡°You and your manager deserve to die and make amends with your death!¡± ¡°How can a man be so vicious? I bet you¡¯re involved with that cheap manager of yours. Scum for dogs, forever!¡± ¡°Little Rookie, this is the hottest moment of your life.¡± Ian¡¯stest Twitter post was mmed with over 100,000ments and quickly topped the trending list. Even though his fans worked hard to exin below, saying Ian isn¡¯t that kind of person. But their numbers were just too few to make any waves. Even the director of the soon¨Cto¨Cair show called Ynda. The show is about tounch, and now with Ian¡¯s scandal blowing up this big, ra Aster¡¯s fans are already threatening to boycott the show. This is not a good sign. Zack White spoke seriously, ¡°Tessa, if this doesn¡¯t get resolved, we¡¯ll have no choice but to cut all his scenes overnight.¡± Ynda scrolled through the onlinements, calm in her eyes. ¡°Zack, give me five days to turn this around. Consider it free publicity.¡± Zack frowned, his rational side telling him not to trust Ynda. But he also knew this woman had some serious skills. 10:04 Wed, Sep 17 : 43 55 vouchers For original chapters go to F¦ÉndNovel He took a deep breath. ¡°Okay, five days then. This show airs in a week, and I¡¯m under a lot of pressure myself. Tessa, although we¡¯ve had our differences, we¡¯re in the same boat now. If the show doesn¡¯t air, I¡¯ll be caught up in the mess too.¡± Director Zack tried to get close to her before, but she fought back using Charles as leverage. ¡°I know.¡± After hanging up, Ynda immediately drove to the filming location where Ian was working. The crew had moved downtown, quite close to her studio. Ian seemed unaware of what had happened. He had a lot of scenes today and was performing with great focus. He portrayed the role very well. But the staff around were whispering. Even if he was slow to catch on, he knew something was wrong. By the time filming wrapped up, it was already 3 p.m. He went to the dressing room to change, and Ynda followed him in. ¡°Ian, have you checked Twitter?¡± He tugged at the hem of his clothes and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Is this ra Aster?¡± Ynda was surprised by his sharp perception. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a lot of hate online. Don¡¯t go online these days.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± He had already changed his clothes and walked straight to her side, though keeping a meter¡¯s distance. ¡°Ms. Grant, I finished my scenes today. Can you take me home?¡± She nodded and mentioned Megan while they were in the car. Butn clearly wasn¡¯t paying attention. He asked, ¡°Whose car is this?¡± That¡¯s when Ynda realized it was Leo¡¯s car. She had used it for two days, and Leo, stingy as ever, apparently hadn¡¯t called her once. ¡°A friend.¡± 43 55 vouchers After saying this, she said no more. She saw Ian fiddling with his phone through the rearview mirror. When they arrived, his mood was low. ¡°Did you check Twitter?¡± He tugged at the corner of his mouth and lowered his eyshes. ¡°So many people tagged me. I couldn¡¯t help myself.¡± Ynda snatched his phone, cupped his face, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle this. Rest assured, if I dared to do that back then, I wouldn¡¯t have left any real evidence.¡± Titan 81 Chapter St The distance between them closed instantly, but he turned his head away. ¡°I¡¯m sweaty.¡± He had been filming all day and was sweating. 100 voucher Ynda found it funny and actuallyughed out loud. ¡°Let¡¯s go in. You focus on filming well these days.¡± Ian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved as he suddenly leaned in and kissed her lips. ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± He turned and went inside. Ynda stood still, raised her hand to her lips, and lowered her eyshes. Not far away inside the vi, Leo¡¯s ss of wine fell straight to the floor. He thought his eyes were deceiving him, so he rubbed them hard. But even after rubbing until his eyes were red, it was still Ynda¨Cthe same Ynda who had sworn never to get involved with any other man. Leo was about to explode. He threw all the ss shards from the floor into the trash bin and stormed out in a fury. Especially seeing Ynda still driving his car was disgusting. He had no idea what those two had done in the car. For some reason, his face suddenly twisted oddly that day. He stopped after taking just a few steps forward. Shock and surprise lingered in his chest; he truly couldn¡¯t believe Ynda had been unfaithful. She was just kissing that man. Does Charles know? Who is the man Ynda was unfaithful with? Leo scratched his head in frustration. He had bought this vi on a whim; the location was hot at the time, with several nearby buildings already imed, but most of these properties remained unupied. He patted his cheek, took out his phone, and sent a message to Ynda. [Heh, guess what I just saw?] Ynda was already in the car. Seeing the sarcastic message, she didn¡¯t reply. 8:55 Thu, Sep 18 d Chapter St Anyway, nothing sensible everes out of Leo¡¯s mouth. Leo waited for ten minutes, watching helplessly as the car drove away. His boiling emotions hadn¡¯t settled, so he got into his other car and headed to Sinir Group. He told the receptionist who he was and then called Charles. 84 55 vouchers But when he finally reached the top floor and saw Charles sitting in Mr. Sinir¡¯s office chair, he hesitated. Charles had been busytely, gently rubbing his temples with his fingers. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Leo was the only one among them who didn¡¯t have to work and spent his days ying games and racing; when he came around, it was usually for drinks. Leo¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed several times, itching to say that Ynda was cheating, damn it, cheating and kissing some other woman! But looking at Charles¡¯s face, he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Charles was very popr in their circle; even though he was married, there were still plenty of women chasing after him. And Ynda was from the Grant residence. Everyone knew Grant women were the most enduring¨Cno matter if their husband was with other women right in front of them, they could swallow the pain and keep ying the role of a good wife. Leo¡¯s fingers hanging to one side suddenly clenched tightly, recalling Ynda kissing him, and what she did in the car, imagining her delicate fingers making those moves. His expression changed again and again, like a face¨Cchanging act in Sichuan opera. Charles leaned back and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Leo tugged at the corner of his mouth, took a deep breath, knowing this kind of secret was about to make him explode, especially since he couldn¡¯t tell anyone. ¡°I was just passing by and wanted to see you. Haha, now that I¡¯ve seen you, I¡¯m leaving. Let¡¯s grab drinks another day.¡± He was the youngest among these people, and everyone usually indulged him a bit. ¡°Leo, it¡¯s time you got some real experience at thepany.¡± Leo had already reached the door and waved, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in those colorful numbers.¡± Back in the car, he pounded the steering wheel hard, strangely angry that Ynda actually dared to cheat and betray her own brother. Just wait! He would find the evidence and throw it in everyone¡¯s face. 8:55 Thu, Sep 18 d 84 65 vouchers He took a deep breath, then immediately returned to the vi he often stayed at. He packed some things and nned to move into the neighborhood where that shameless mistress lived. As he was packing with his head down, the door to the room opened, and a man¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Leo looked up and saw that it was his brother, Xavier Lawson. He shoved some clothes into the suitcase. ¡°I¡¯m going to stay in another vi for a while to change the environment and y some games. Charles, why are you here?¡± Xavier scanned the messy room that he had already made a mess of. ¡°Are you in a rtionship?¡± Leo jumped up instantly like a mouse that had been stepped on. ¡°No way! Women are too boring. I¡¯d ratherpete in more racing events!¡± He quickly grabbed the suitcase. ¡°I¡¯m just tired of living here and want a change of scenery. Charles, I have to go now¨CI¡¯m in a hurry.¡± He grabbed the suitcase and strode out. Xavier Lawson had a strange feeling that this younger brother was out to catch someone cheating. This thought made him chuckle. No girlfriend, so what cheating is there? After Ynda returned to the studio, she called Leo and asked him to drive the car back. She expected Leo to ignore her, but he showed up quickly. Not sure if it was her imagination, but his gaze felt strange when he looked at her. Leo opened the car door and checked around to make sure nothing weird was left behind¨Cno condoms or anything like that. Seeing his disgust, Ynda couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I specially had it cleaned.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Leo sneered twice, looked her over a few times, and cursed, ¡°Shameless. A woman like you is bound to end up stewing in a pig cage one day.¡± Ynda pressed her lips together, just thinking he was losing his mind. Leo sat in the driver¡¯s seat, rolled down the window, and kept his gaze fixed on her face. ? 8:55 Thu, Sep 18 d Chapter St What expression does she have when she¡¯s seriously kissing someone? Before, her lips had only lightly touched his¨Csoft¨Cbut nothing else was felt. B84 65 20uGhets Ynda got a little creeped out by his stare and joked, ¡°You¡¯re not seriously into me, are you? You¡¯d have to get in line.¡± Leo instantly got angry, his checks slightly reddening. ¡°Gross! Disgusting! How could I possibly be into you?¡± That was a pretty harsh insult. He mmed on the gas and drove off immediately. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Ynda standing still in ce. Leo sneered coldly. He looked down on this woman, especially since she cheated. Nobody even knew how many people she had secretly slept with¨Cshe was filthy. Comment Fresh chapters posted on FindN()vel Titan 82 84 55 vouchers Ynda turned and returned to the studio, closely monitoring ra Aster¡¯s situation. ra Aster was like a gambler, betting everything just to jump from a second¨Ctier to a first¨Ctier star. Because of the scar on her face, more and more sympatheticizens rallied around her, and she conveniently released her depression diagnosis. These days, every celebrity seems to have depression, as if it¡¯s thetest fashion statement. But fans really buy into it. ¡°We have to allow a woman the right to express her pain. ra is very brave. There aren¡¯t many people like her in the entertainment industry. Support!¡± ¡°Punish the criminal as soon as possible. ra is beautiful. The courage to expose this is admirable. Before some ¡®brother¡¯s¡® show even airs, she¡¯s on the rise. People like that should be crushed before they get started.¡± ¡°Ian is still pretending not to hear? That vile agent of his doesn¡¯t have a Twitter either. These two are a perfect match in viiny.¡± ra Aster posted ten tweets in a row, thest one being a video of herself crying so hard she was gasping for breath in front of the camera. She talked about how terrified she was when she was threatened and had her face shed with a knife. By the end, her voice even started to tremble, and she turned off the camera. This made fans feel even more heartbroken, and three trending topics blew up on Twitter. Ian, with just a few million followers, had never trended before and certainly never experienced this level of heat. Director Zack White couldn¡¯t handle the pressure anymore and called Ynda again. ¡°Can you even handle this?¡± Ynda saw the heat around this issue climbing steadily, even showing signs of sparking a nationwide debate. ¡°Zack, give me two days. Just two days, and I¡¯ll turn this whole thing around by tomorrow afternoon.¡± Zack breathed a sigh of relief. He¡¯d been getting calls from all sidestely, the pressure was overwhelming. He lit a cigarette. ¡°Tessa, this mess was caused by your talent. If you can¡¯t handle it, your studio¡¯s finished. So don¡¯t hold anything back¨Cuse everything you¡¯ve got this time.¡± ¡°I know.¡± After Ynda hung up, she raised her hand to rub her forehead. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 Ian sent her a message at this moment. [There are so many people insulting me online.] This situation was actually caused by Ynda herself;n was just dragged into it. [Foster, everything will be fine.] 84 55 vouchers Ian is two years younger than her, and she tries her best to take care of him when they are together. His call came in immediately, his voice slightly hoarse, ¡°Yeah, I trust you.¡± There was a hint of trouble on his side, so Ynda asked, ¡°Are you outside?¡± ¡°Just finished dinner, came out for a walk.¡± It¡¯s already evening now. This neighborhood hasplete facilities, including a long running track. He¡¯s walking on the track right now, but ever since he started, someone has been following him. This is not just his imagination. He didn¡¯t want to alert anyone, so he continued calling Ynda, ¡°Ms. Grant, I miss you.¡± When Leo walked past him, he happened to overhear this sentence. At first, he was a bit doubtful, but now he¡¯s absolutely sure¡ªthis is the shameless homewrecker who ruined his brother¡¯s marriage! He stopped in his tracks and suddenly looked up, staring at Ian. Once he looked, damn, she¡¯s actually quite attractive. Ian pinched his phone, frowning slightly as he felt Leo¡¯s intense gaze. He walked past him and left. Leo didn¡¯t pursue him after all, but caught a phrase floating in the wind: ¡°Thirsty, wanna drink your water.¡± Leo felt as if thunder was crashing all around him, leaving him dazed and confused. He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with those films, so of course he knew what that line meant. His cheeks flushed red, then paled, then flushed red again, until finally his fingertips trembled slightly. Ian took a few steps forward, and with his peripheral vision saw that the man had already left, his lips curling into a faint smile. Leo returned to his vi, feeling an ufortable heat all over his body. He took a shower first, but still felt uneasy. * 84 55 vouchers 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d It wasn¡¯t an illness, just a general difort he couldn¡¯t shake. He wanted to find a game to y, but after browsing through options, none seemed quite right. Chapters first released on ?ovelFind Frustrated, he threw down the controller. The phrase ¡°Thirsty¡­¡± slipped into his mind unbidden. He startled all over and turned over. He couldn¡¯t control his mind and recalled the scene of Ynda doing that in the car. Thirsty¨Cdid it mean what he thought it did? Damn! Shameless! So dirty! Disgusting! Anger red up again, and he took out his phone to send Ynda a message. [You scum totally deserve a lightning strike from heaven.] Ynda was still monitoring online discussions at the studio; seeing this strange message, her anger red too. up [If you¡¯re sick, go get treated. I think you¡¯d better rinse your mouth with some water.] Your words are so poisonous, you might just poison yourself to death one day. Leo stiffened all over, his eyes fixed on that phrase-¡°I think you¡¯d better rinse your mouth with some water.¡± His expression changed instantly. He sat up straight and immediately made a phone call. ¡°Ynda, what do you mean? Are you seriously not even pretending anymore? Aren¡¯t you ashamed? Aren¡¯t you pathetic? Are you that desperate for a man?¡± Ynda was already upset from reading those nastyments, and now with Leo¡¯s sudden attack, her mood. hit rock bottom. ¡°Leo, even if I were desperate for a man, I wouldn¡¯te to you.¡± Leo immediately fell silent. She really didn¡¯t turn to him¨Cno one knew where she found that gigolo. After hanging up, he sneered coldly. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d 84 55 vouchers He¡¯s different from that kind of person. He ns to find someone clean and with a clear background in the future. Ynda tidied up her office and then nned to go back to Watermoon Bay. The coffee brand Ian had endorsed also called her. Their meaning was simr to Zack White¡¯s: if this keeps dragging on, they¡¯ll have to terminate the contract, and she¡¯ll owe a hugepensation. The fans acted like maniacs; smelling the situation, they swarmed under the coffee brand¡¯s Twitter,unching a boycott. Across the entire inte,n was probably cursed in over a million posts. Meanwhile, ra Aster was leisurely eating fruit in her room, spearing small pieces with a toothpick and popping them into her mouth. Tom Hayes was getting anxious, ¡°ra, you¡¯ve made such a big scene. How are you going to settle this? Simone called several times, but you didn¡¯t answer. She also called me multiple times, telling me not to go to the set anymore.¡± ra rolled her eyes, a smirk curling at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Who does Simone think she is? The Sinir manor doesn¡¯t even support her career. Don¡¯t you know who I¡¯m connected to this time?¡± Raising an eyebrow, she chewed the fruit thoroughly. ¡°Vivian promised me that if I could take down that bitch Tessa, I¡¯d get 30 million and be able to move abroad straight away. You know thepany I signed with now is a trap¨Cthey¡¯re holding onto my decade¨Clong contract and won¡¯t let go. If I terminate it myself, I¡¯ll lose all my savings. I¡¯ve already contacted Vivian; she¡¯ll use the Andrade manor¡¯s influence to get me out.¡± But Vivian didn¡¯t know that Ynda¡¯s nickname in the entertainment circle was Tessa Gilbert, and ra didn¡¯t know Ynda was Charles¡¯s wife. When they referred to her as ¡°that bitch,¡± they missed the crucial information. Vivian has not been paying attention to outside opinions recently. She was seriously injured this time and nearly fainted several times. It¡¯s only heard that Ynda invested in a studio, and now the studio¡¯s talent is finished. She sneered coldly, saying this is just the beginning. Megan is about to make a move too, and she will make sure Ynda can¡¯t take a single step in Beloris! Ìï Titan 83 84 55 vouchers The online insultssted for two days straight, butn¡¯s side remained silent. His Twitter had beenpletely overrun. His mother couldn¡¯t help but call him. Her health was poor; she would gasp after saying a few words, as if about to faint. ¡°Ian¡­ mom saw it. You¡­¡± Ian lowered hisshes and took off his clothes. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t care about thosements.¡± The woman¡¯s face was pale, her lips trembling. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did you run into a ruthlesspany?¡± Ian smiled. The woman was stunned. Her son had always been quiet, and the past few years had been especially hard on him. Her onlyfort in the hospital was watching the TV dramas he acted in. Although his screen time was limited, she kept reying those scenes. That was what kept her going and helped her live two more years. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really fine. What about you? Has that mane to see you again?¡± The woman fell silent instantly. After a few seconds of hesitation, she sighed, ¡°After all, he¡¯s still your¡­¡± His eyes shed sharply, and he chuckled softly, ¡°Back then, he left you when you were pregnant. In the end, he still forced you to have an abortion because he was worried. If you hadn¡¯t run away fast, I wouldn¡¯t be here today. Besides, I was kicked out because of his wife. Mom, don¡¯t be confused anymore.¡± The woman said nothing. Her breathing grew heavier, then she hung up the phone. Ian clenched his phone so tightly that the bones in his fingers turned white. Then he slowly loosened his grip, his whole body tense like a drawn bow. The crew member came in, ¡°Ian, we¡¯re about to start shooting. Are you done with your call?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He tossed the phone aside and walked out. When the filming was about to end, his hand held a dagger, which was a recently used prop. He lowered his eyshes, thought for a few seconds, and then lightly scratched himself. Soon, a shout came from nearby. ¡°Ian, you¡¯re bleeding.¡±. The crew got a bit anxious, thinking he might have been affected by the online issues. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ B 84 55 vouchers In recent days, Simone had be irritable on set, frequently shouting, and the whole crew was in a low mood. When she sawn was hurt, she clicked her tongue and immediately called Ynda. Ynda was still preparing her things, and upon hearing that Ian had identally scratched himself, she assumed he was just distracted. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Aunt Simone, please watch over him for me. I¡¯ll be done here soon.¡± She still needed two more hours. Simone rubbed her forehead, ¡°Ynda, this has gotten way out of hand.¡± She had never told Ynda about the pressure she was under; she had invested a lot in this project¨Cnot just time but also money. Now with this mess, it¡¯s uncertain if the show will even air. ¡°Aunt Simone, I¡¯m sorry, but this won¡¯t affect the show.¡± Simone sighed, ¡°Okay, hearing you say that puts me at ease. You¡¯re not an unreliable kid. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Ian. Do whatever you want.¡± Meanwhile, ra Aster lounged inside, happily browsing the online news. Every time she saw fans fiercely praising her and harshly criticizing Ian and Ynda, a smile spread across her face. She even exaggeratedly read thements aloud. ¡°ra, you¡¯re the kindest and most gentle girl I¡¯ve ever met. Those two scumbags will get theireuppance. Just focus on your recovery, and leave the rest to us. We¡¯ll make sure those two jerks quit the industry for good!¡± After reading thement, ra chuckled cheerfully, feeling refreshed. Follow current nov?ls on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel She still couldn¡¯t forget Ynda¡¯s look that night, nor the cold touch of the fruit knife pressed against her cheek. That night had left her so scared her legs went weak. She had never felt so ashamed before. Finally feeling proud and satisfied, awesome! She picked up her phone again, scrolling through messages one by one, while chatting with Tom Hayes at the same time. ¡°Anyone who messes with me, ra Aster, thinks they can walk away unscathed? Who do they think they are? Let this be a lesson for her. Oh, that brat isn¡¯t bad looking either. If she dares toe apologize, how about I make her spend a night with you?¡± Tom Hayes¡¯s eyes lit up, rubbing his hands together, ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Why lie? The worse you mess with her, the better. I won¡¯t let her off. I¡¯ll post my misery online every now 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d 84 55 vouchers and then¨Cshe¡¯ll be begging me to stop in tears. Haha, such a waste not to use that face. Later, make her sell herself to earn money for us. That¡¯s exactly what those rich guys like¨Cinnocent and graceful.¡± Tom Hayes was excited now; he had worried about any possible twists, but it¡¯s been two days with no word from Ian¡¯s side. He must be panicking. He grabbed a bottle of champagne beside him and started celebrating. ¡°Come on, ra, here¡¯s to our happy life abroad. Maybe I¡¯ll even get into Hollywood there and make you famous worldwide.¡± Though Tom Hayes was shady, he actually had some connections there, or ra wouldn¡¯t have pulled him on board her ship. She smiled confidently, her eyes gleaming with pride. ¡°You have so many fans on Twitter. It¡¯s your turn to speak up. Stir the pot a little more. After this, I¡¯ll have Vivian pay me. Once the money¡¯s in, I¡¯ll contact Tessa Gilbert and have here kneel and serve you.¡± Tom Hayes was so thrilled, he lost all sense and immediately posted on his Twitter. He has also been involved in the entertainment industry for years and has worked with Simone before. His testimony dragged Simone down too, iming the incident happened with her permission, saying that as a renowned director she failed to protect her actors, and that Ian and that despicable manager actedwlessly, often bullying others on set. Tom Hayes has over one million followers on Twitter, which is quite a lot for a director. His statement only poured fuel on the fire, instantly raising the public¡¯s anger to a new level! AD Titan 84 84 E55 vouchers Right after posting on Twitter, he sat down and drank champagne with ra Aster. The sses clinked in midair, making a satisfying sound. They drank quite a bit, and with other types of alcohol as well, they were a little tipsy. ra grabbed her phone to keep following the online discussions and saw a new post from Ian on Twitter. The post contained a video showing the events of that night. The video was clear enough to see that the woman wearing a hat and mask didn¡¯t actually strike anyone; she only pulled out a dagger to scare ra. From this angle, you can see the female agent pressing a finger between the dagger and ra Aster¡¯s face, but it¡¯s actually some distance away from her face. The reason ra Aster felt cold on her cheek at that moment was because of Ynda¡¯s fingernail. At that time, everyone was panicking and didn¡¯t notice this scene; everyone was too frightened by Ynda¡¯s ruthlessness. Now with the video angle so clear, it¡¯s obvious that the story about ra Aster¡¯s face being cut by a dagger is false. Ian also posted a statement on his Twitter. [¡°I¡¯m really sorry. That night, I was filming a night scene with senior ra. We encountered heavy rain. Because senior ra dropped a bracelet sponsored by thepany, she asked me to retrieve it. When I returned, the crew¡¯s shuttle had already left, and I was left behind. My agent sister was probably too anxious since she asked senior ra for my address, but senior ra refused to provide it.¡±] This video is so clear that even ra Aster¡¯s fear on her face is clearly visible, as well as her initial arrogance. ra Aster¡¯s blood ran cold¨Cwhose video is this anyway? Simone¡¯s crew clearly doesn¡¯t allow anyone to record videos without permission. She remembered¨CSimone wasn¡¯t there that night! ra Aster just felt her chest trembling, caught off guard by this video, and quickly posted another update. [I was the one scratched afterward. I don¡¯t know what Ian intended by posting this video. Your agent was the one who scratched my face afterward.] The hesitantizens instantly became resolute after seeing this update. Yeah, what can a random, pointless video prove? It only shows that ra Aster andn¡¯s agent did sh. If the agent then got physical, that gives a solid reason. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 The bacsh continued. ¡°Shameless. Posting a video like this now, thinking we¡¯ll all side with you?¡± * 84 E55 vouchers ¡°Your agent has a nice figure. I wonder how many people she slept with to get you these opportunities.¡± ¡°Your family is so arrogant, who would want to work with you now? Get out of the entertainment industry!¡± ¡°Get out of the entertainment industry!¡± Seeing that the video didn¡¯t turn public opinion around, ra Aster sighed in relief, almost choking on her drink. She had previously gotten Tessa Gilbert¡¯s phone number from someone and now couldn¡¯t resist calling her directly, cursing her out while drunk. ¡°Bitch! Go to hell with Ian;izens won¡¯t spare either of you!¡± ¡°Tessa, I¡¯ll make you see who really runs this entertainment industry!¡± But soon, Ian¡¯s Twitter posted a photo takenst night showing ra Aster going downstairs to throw out the trash. In the photo, her face was perfectly clean, with no scars whatsoever. Then, a video was posted where the camera zoomed in repeatedly, clearly showing ra¡¯s clean face as she sneaked around like she was hiding something shameful. Themunity¡¯srge screen nearby disyed the time¨C9 p.m.st night. Next, they released an audio clip of the exact insults ra had just shouted. The three consecutive posts all proved that ra¡¯s face wasn¡¯t injured and that she still had time to call Tessa Gilbert to provoke her verbally. Theizens were confused and didn¡¯t know who to believe. Ian mentioned ra Aster on Twitter, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve reported to the police. They are now downstairs at your apartment building. Whether you have injuries on your face or not, I believe the police will provide an official statement. If you are deliberately defaming me and my agent, I will sue you.¡± Thisst message was incredibly bold. Only then did everyone realize that if ra Aster was truly injured, it would be an intentional assault. She could just call the police instead of posting so manyints online. As soon as the police got involved, Ian would be finished. But she didn¡¯t call the police; it wasn who actually dared to report it. You can tell immediately who¡¯s innocent and who¡¯s guilty. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d¡­ 84 55 vouchers ra Aster finally sobered uppletely when she heard the doorbell outside- it was the police. She didn¡¯t dare open the door; she couldn¡¯t have really shed her cheek so deeply with a knife- that face was how she made her living. She took a deep breath, quickly opened the window, and tried to run. But the police broke in, and with them came several bold reporters who immediately livestreamed the whole scene to capitalize on the attention. On the livestream, ra¡¯s figure by the window was clearly visible. She shouted like a clown, ¡°If youe any closer, I¡¯ll jump!¡± She kept one hand over her face, especially during those shots, her expression full of panic. But everyone watching the live stream could see clearly that her face had no scars at all. This was aplete scam from start to finish! Viewers just felt the burn on their cheeks, as if ra Aster had taken a knife to them. ra Aster¡¯s fans were still fighting back. ¡°ra loves her looks; she must have used some special trick to hide those scars.¡± ¡°She¡¯s about to jump off a building, what more do you want? Are you trying to drive her to death?¡± ¡°No matter what others say, I¡¯ll always support ra.¡± Sharp¨Ceyed viewers in the live stream noticed a man in ra Aster¡¯s room. The man was now drunk and lying on the floor, with several empty bottles scattered on the table. If anyone knows the assistant director, they recognized him instantly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the assistant director who spoke up? It¡¯s sote¨Cwhy is he still in ra Aster¡¯s room? Damn! These two are definitely working together!¡± ¡°They must¡¯ve been involved for a while. Ian really hit the worst luck to get tangled up with those two.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been cursed millions of times. Honestly, I think he should be the one dealing with depression.¡± ¡°Wahhh, my underappreciated brother is finally being noticed. I don¡¯t know whether to cry orugh, but either way, he¡¯s really blown up.¡± For original chapters go to find(?)ovel 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d Titan 85 : 84 55 vouchers Thestment was right: this trending topic has stayed hot for so long and nearly dominated the top five spots.n¡¯s name exploded, but the TV show he was filming with Zack White hasn¡¯t even aired yet. Now the hype haspletely dropped. Ynda only rxed when she saw public opinion gradually shifting in her favor. In fact, she could have reported it to the police right away, but she wanted the discussion to gain more traction by posting onement at a time. She lowered hershes and smiled slightly. She had just logged into Ian¡¯s Twitter ount. Worried that the barrage of hatefulments would affect him, she hadn¡¯t let him check Twitter these past few days. Now that everything is over, she stood up, nning to check on him at the set, unsure if his injuries were serious. But just as she reached the studio door and was about to open it, a sudden force pushed against her from outside, nearly hitting her nose. She instinctively stepped back and saw Greg, Megan¡¯s husband, with a dark expression blocking the door, having locked it from the inside. He didn¡¯te with good intentions. One hand on the book on the table, she looked at him warily and asked, ¡°What are you here for?¡± Greg sneered and closed the distance step by step. ¡°I¡¯m here to get some money from Miss Grant. My wife said your husband is pretty rich.¡± His eyes were bloodshot, obviously shaken by something. The rightful source is find?novel He was on the edge of madness, and if she refused him, who knows what he might do. Ynda calmly took out her phone and asked, ¡°How much do you need? For Megan¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll pay.¡± Greg raised an eyebrow and then smiled sinisterly. ¡°Miss Grant is definitely loaded, but my business is long- term. I need to hold something over you to feel safe. How about you lie down now and let me have my way? I¡¯ll take some photos, so it¡¯ll be easier to collect money from youter.¡± He had already made up his mind, which is why he staked out here for the past few days. Ynda took a deep breath. She shouldn¡¯t have given up so easily when her studio was turned upside down like that. Greg didn¡¯t want to waste words or cause trouble. As he unsped his pants, he approached her. ¡°Stop struggling. There¡¯s no one else in the studio right now. If you behave, I might be a little nicer to you.¡± Ynda hurried to her office, where another door was locked. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d But Dominic grabbed her hair and mmed her head against the wall. ¡°You bitch, I told you to stop struggling!¡± 55 vouchers Ynda winced in pain, dizzy and dazed. She reached for the nearby vase and smashed it behind her. Dominic let out a scream. Taking advantage of him loosening his grip, she dashed into the office and locked the door behind her. Greg snapped back and started pounding on the door. ¡°Come out, you bitch! Get out here! Come out!¡± Ynda kept a straight face but calmly took out her phone to call the police. She quickly gave her address and then spoke to Greg outside the door. ¡°I¡¯ve already called the police. If you don¡¯t want to get caught, you¡¯d better leave now.¡± Greg¡¯s forehead was bleeding, surprised by how fast she reacted. He unwillingly pounded on the door again, believing that if he could just sleep with Ynda, he could threaten her! Ynda called Charles, but Jack answered, saying Charles was in a meeting. She didn¡¯t say much, hung up, and then called Ian. She was holding a chair, standing by the door. In such an extreme situation, she grew increasingly calm. Luckily, the door was made with sturdy materials and Greg couldn¡¯t break through it quickly. Her heart pounded loudly, and her palms gripping the chair leg were sweaty. Fifteen minutester, the noise outside grew louder, sounding like a window ss breaking, followed by two people struggling. Ynda Foster listened carefully, then slowly put down the stool, as if someone had arrived. She opened the door and saw Ian pinning Greg down, pounding him repeatedly. He already enjoyed boxing, and he hit Greg so hard that Greg almost passed out. When Ynda saw him, she felt relieved and quickly stepped forward, grabbing his fist. ¡°Stop, Ian, enough.¡± Jan¡¯s knuckles were covered in fresh blood. He looked at her, confirmed she was okay, and then whispered, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes welled up, and she grabbed his shirt. ¡°Get up, the police areing.¡± Just then, footsteps sounded outside, but it wasn¡¯t the police because she heard Charles and Jack¡¯s voices. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d Her heart skipped a beat, and she pushed him hurriedly. ¡°Go hide.¡± Ian suddenly leaned in and kissed her lips. Ynda¡¯s heart raced even faster than before, and she was so shocked that her mind went nk. But he only nced at the tip of her tongue before quickly leaving. The entire floor was filled with studios and many cubicles. He randomly picked one to hide in. 84 55 vouchers The studio¡¯s main door was still intact. Ian had broken the window to get in. Charles had just secured his position at the door when the police arrived. Seven or eight people quickly gathered at the entrance. Ynda wiped her lips, her face pale. She grabbed a nearby stool, ready to smash it down on Greg the moment the door opened. The police rushed forward to stop her. Seeing Greg¡¯s battered state, one quickly said, ¡°Miss Grant, if you keep hitting him, someone¡¯s going to get seriously hurt.¡± Ynda shivered, clearly frightened. A clear light appeared in her eyes as she trembled and called out, ¡°Honey.¡± Her tears fell, lips pale, hair disheveled¨Cshe looked utterly pitiful. That word, honey, made Charles¡¯s heart skip a beat. He lowered hisshes and stepped closer, pulling her into his arms. ¡°Scared, huh?¡± Ynda¡¯s tears fell harder, soaking his expensive suit fabric, leaving a wet patch. ¡°Mm, it¡¯s good that you came.¡± Charles¡¯s hand gently patted her back. She rarely showed such vulnerability; most of the time, she was as stiff as a board. Ynda¡¯s sobs were soft, her shoulders trembling lightly, whimpering like a fawn. She whispered, ¡°I want to go home.¡± He softened his tone, which was rare for him, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go back.¡± After inspecting Greg¡¯s injuries, the police frowned, ¡°Wait a moment, Miss Grant, did you do all this?¡± Some of the wounds didn¡¯t look like they were caused by a chair. ¡°Yes, it was me. I¡¯m sorry, I was really scared.¡± She spoke as she hid in Charles¡¯s arms. 8:56 Thu, Sep 18 d.. 84 55 vouchers Charles tilted his head and kissed her on the cheek. Seeing her trembling in fear, he cupped her face and kissed her deeply in front of the police, entwining his tongue with hers. Ynda made muffled sounds and pounded on his chest. He kissed her for half a minute, then told the police, ¡°I¡¯m taking my wife home.¡± The police officer looked a bit awkward. ¡°Uh, okay.¡± Ynda sniffled. ¡°Keep me updated on any progress. This man is my friend¡¯s husband. I don¡¯t want others to know. Thanks for your help.¡± After saying this, she snuggled into Charles¡¯s arms. In the next room, behind a potted nt, a pair of eyes kept watching her¨Cwatching her look so pitiful in that man¡¯s arms, watching them kiss. Watching her call him husband, watching her shy reaction when kissed. His hand hanging at his side slowly clenched. He should¡¯ve looked away, but he was watching so intently. So intently that he noticed her swallowing when she kissed the other man. AD Titan 86 Chapter 86 93 55 vouchers After Ynda got into the car with Charles, she leaned against his chest the whole time. Her eyes were closed, and she looked terrified, faintly exposing the vulnerable back of her neck. This gesture made Charles feel like he was inplete control. His fingertips pinched the back of her neck gently, casually reassuring her, ¡°It¡¯s okay now.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t respond, but her mind was racing fast. First was ra Aster, then Greg¨Cboth attacks came out of nowhere; someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes. And the only person she¡¯s gotten on the wrong side oftely is Vivian. She lowered hershes. Vivian is still in the hospital, yet she¡¯s already striking like this¨Cimagine what she might do once she¡¯s out. But the Andrade manor is huge; taking down someone like Vivian won¡¯t be easy at all. She immediately thought of Vivian¡¯s uncle, Grady; if there was a way in through Vivian¡¯s side, maybe she could try it with that man. But she had to act carefully. When the car reached Moonbay Estate, Charles tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with his fingertips. Just as she was about to open her eyes and get off, he suddenly scooped her up sideways and carried her down. She simply kept her eyes closed, but when she leaned against the bed, she realized it was Charles¡¯s room. Since they started sleeping separately, she hadn¡¯t been in this room again. Charles¡¯s fingertips grabbed her chin, pressing her down on the bed as he lowered his head to kiss her. He seemed in a good mood tonight; even with her eyes closed, his fingertips moved to the buttons on his shirt. Ynda snapped her eyes open sharply. ¡°No!¡± Her face was pale, and instinctively, she pped out. The pnded sharply on Charles¡¯s face, making a crisp sound. She frozepletely, lowering her eyshes. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m sorry.¡± 8:07 Fri, Sep 19 : ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find¡ïNovel No one had ever dared to p Charles like that before, especially not at such a moment. His expression darkened. Though he didn¡¯t get angry, his interest faded. He had finally gotten a little interested in her. Now he stood up. ¡°Take a shower and rest well.¡± After saying that, he turned and went to his study to work overtime. Ynda rxed only after he left. She didn¡¯t stay in that room but headed to her own room at the end of the hallway. After showering and lying on the bed, her mind remained clear and alert. She took out her phone and called Megan. Greg ising over tonight. Does Megan know? But before the call went through, Megan¡¯s call came in first. (93 E 55 vouchers ¡°Ynda, I¡¯ve heard everything. He just lost his head for a moment. Can you¡­ just drop it? From now on, I don¡¯t need you to pay me; I¡¯ll work for free. I really¡­ can¡¯t live without him. I¡¯m begging you.¡± Ynda thought she must have heard wrong. To her, Megan had always been a very decisive woman. How could she turn out like this? Megan didn¡¯t hear her reply, and her eyes instantly turned red. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Those four words hit Ynda like a thunderp. Megan¡¯s health hadn¡¯t been good. She couldn¡¯t get pregnant for years, and the doctor said she would never have children. ¡°Ynda, I¡¯m pregnant. The child would lose its father if born now. I know Greg¡¯s mistake this time is huge. I¡¯ll make him understand, I¡­¡± Her voice trembled as she spoke and then broke into tears. Ynda felt uneasy listening to this. She considered Megan a friend, but she knew Megan couldn¡¯t keep going like this. She took a deep breath. ¡°Megan, you can leave Greg and raise the child on your own. What kind of father is he to your child? You¡¯re trying to convince me with the child, but in the end, you just don¡¯t want to leave Greg.¡± Megan didn¡¯t respond and wiped her tears. Ynda couldn¡¯t sleep now. She got up and asked, ¡°Where are you? Not at home?¡± Megan¡¯s lips trembled, and she spoke haltingly, ¡°At the police station. He was kneeling and apologizing, saying he won¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡­ 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 ¡­ A man who kneels like that at every turn is the most terrifying¨Clike a ghost collecting debts. But Megan was soft¨Chearted. 93 55 vouchers. If she didn¡¯t love Greg, she wouldn¡¯t have hope for him even after enduring such severe domestic abuse. ¡°Ynda, you don¡¯t know, he used to be good. He always protected me. He only fell so low because life didn¡¯t go his way.¡± Ynda had heard this before, but it was all self¨Cdelusion. She didn¡¯t say anything, and Megan just cried over there. Megan knew her demands were excessive. If no one had stopped it tonight, Ynda might have really been assaulted. But she couldn¡¯t let go of Greg, the man who had protected her since they were kids. She hung up the phone and covered her mouth, crying. When she returned to the police station lobby, Greg was still kneeling right in front of her. ¡°Wife, I was just being pushed into it. Please plead with Ynda again for me. I promise I won¡¯t do this again. I beg you. Look at how badly I was beaten¨Calmost lost my life. She¡¯s fine. Why can¡¯t you forgive me?¡± Greg was already sober now and knew he was done when he saw the police. He clung to Megan¡¯s legs, eyes full of fear. ¡°Wife, I love you more than anything. For all the years we¡¯ve known each other, please help me one more time.¡± Megan pped him, but Greg didn¡¯t feel the pain and kept holding her legs, begging. Megan cried even harder. What a torment¨Chow did things end up like this? When she was bullied as a child, Greg was always the first to step up and fight for her. When she was bullied in middle school, Greg was the one who would carry the food and sit beside her, even beating up the guy who bullied her. In high school and college, throughout all her insecure years, he was always there. He should have been someone who shined brightly. So who is this man now, kneeling on the ground, crying his eyes out with snot and tears? The boy who once always wore a bright smile has unknowingly fallen apart. And she¡¯s still stuck in the past, holding on to this pile of rotten flesh, unwilling to let go. 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 Titan 87 ¡­ Chapter 87 (93 ] 55 vouchers ¡°Honey, do you really want to see me in jail? And aren¡¯t you pregnant? Are you going to let our child grow up without a father? I swear, if I had known you were pregnant, I would never have lost my mind and done something like that. I was only trying to scare Ynda; I just wanted to get some money to spend. I would never actually do anything to her!¡± ¡°Honey, for the sake of the baby! I¡¯m begging you!¡± At first, when the two were together, Megan had many expectations for having children, and they both actively and seriously tried to conceive for a while. Now, the child ising at a bad time, and maybe because of hormones, she feels ufortable just looking at Greg. She covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face in big drops. Seeing her so upset, Greg¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Honey, you can¡¯t let me go, can you?! I¡¯m begging you, from now on I¡¯ll just stay home quietly and never go out messing around again.¡± Megan didn¡¯t know what to do either. She told Ynda that she was pregnant. She knew it was despicable to use her pregnancy to pressure her own friend. After hanging up, Ynda felt a bit lost. Megan is pregnant, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable and need care. She rubbed her forehead, took a deep breath, and called the police station. Withdraw theint; no further action will be taken. She could do nothing. Shey in bed wide awake. Just before dawn, Megan sent her a message. [Thank you.] Just those two words, because beyond that, she didn¡¯t know what else to say, Both of them knew this would be a sore spot between them. When Ynda woke up, her head felt especially foggy. Zack White called her and said the drama had been released early. They wanted to take advantage of Ian¡¯s current poprity, saying releasing it now would benefit both sides. Plus, the public opinion had turned around. Ian¡¯s followers jumped from less than three million to over eight million overnight. 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 d. ¡­ A 93 255 vouchers Original content can be found at findnovel This was just the prelude to his explosive rise. Once the drama aired and Ian¡¯s acting was truly tested by the audience, he would only get more popr. Ynda breathed a sigh of relief, went downstairs, and nned to go visit Ian¡¯s filming set. But since it was Saturday, Charles was home. Seeing her about to leave, Charles furrowed his brow. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She seems really busytely, and she still hasn¡¯t given me his birthday gift. ¡°I want to go see my friend¨Cshe¡¯s pregnant.¡± Charles flipped a page of the financial newspaper in his hands. ¡°Did you forget to give me something?¡± Ynda paused, thinking carefully for a few seconds, but couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. Charles finally realized: she forgot. Ynda had loved him for fifteen years. She used to start preparing gifts a month in advance, but this time she clearly didn¡¯t put in much effort for his birthday. Did Ynda stop loving him? As soon as the thought came up, he immediately dismissed it. Even if the world exploded, Ynda would never stop loving him. ¡°Honey, you¡¯ve been going out too muchtely. Just stay home and rx for a few days.¡± That doesn¡¯t sound like a suggestion. Ynda finally caught on; he was probably asking about the birthday gift. She hadn¡¯t bought one, but that day at the mall, she got Ian a watch. Except his birthday hadn¡¯t arrived yet. She quickly went upstairs and took the watch down. ¡°Honey, I just remembered¨CI forgot to give you your birthday gift. The one Quinn and the others gave you was too expensive, so I didn¡¯t bring it that night. Please don¡¯t be mad.¡± She said this as she sat down, took out the watch, and put it on his wrist. But the watch didn¡¯t fit well; the band was a bit too loose. Ynda looked up at him and smiled. ¡°I took forever picking this watch out, specially for you.¡± Charles nced down; the style wasn¡¯t very special but stood out for its understated steadiness. 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 J. ¡­ He pinched her chin, staring carefully at her face for a few seconds. For a moment, Ynda thought she was about to be seen through. B 93 55 vouchers But he smiled and pressed a kiss to her lips. ¡°Looks good.¡± She lowered hershes, still obedient. ¡°As long as you like it.¡± It¡¯s time to buy a birthday gift for Ian again. Given his personality, it¡¯s hard to tell what he¡¯d like. When she snapped back to reality, she saw Charles frowning. ¡°Did you hear what I just said? We¡¯re going to have dinner with your brotherter.¡± Since he¡¯s recently been working with Samuel and didn¡¯t invite him to his birthday, he had to have a separate dinner. After all, he and Samuel could be considered friends. Ynda nodded and took some time to send a message to Ian. [Focus on filming. Your fans have already reached over eight million. Director Zack White¡¯s show airs tonight, and you¡¯ll get even more popr.] Ian replied instantly; he almost always did. [I miss you.] Those three words made Ynda¡¯s heart skip a beat. She found it hard to imagine why someone with such a reserved personality would speak so openly. A sudden blush touched her cheeks as she recalled the scene of him beating up Gregst night, his arm muscles flexing smoothly and beautifully. She swallowed hard, struggling to forget that moment. But Charles¡¯s embrace came suddenly, wrapping herpletely in his arms. ¡°Why the distracted look?¡± ¡°I was scared by what happenedst night, feeling a bit frightened.¡± He tilted his head and kissed her cheek, ¡°You said that was your friend¡¯s husband. Have you dealt with it?¡± She lowered hershes, looking a little disappointed. ¡°My friend is pregnant recently. I n not to pursue this matter.¡± Charles¡¯s eyes darkened as he pinched her chin, ¡°That kind of person won¡¯t change. When they hit rock bottom, they¡¯lle back to find you.¡± 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 J ¡­ Z.(92 E55 vouchers Ynda tugged at the corner of her mouth and nestled into his arms. Every time she showed vulnerability on her own, Charles would be somewhat indulgent. But she knew clearly this didn¡¯t mean he had a ce for her in his heart. Charles was cold and ruthless¨Che simply didn¡¯t love anyone. Fortunately, she learned to y along with his act. Titan 88 : 92 55 vouchers At lunch with Samuel, we chose a very special restaurant that was extremely quiet, with a courtyard featuring extensive Chinese gardenndscaping. Ynda felt uneasy and flushed whenever she thought about the day he caught her. In Samuel¡¯s eyes, she had always been the obedient girl who strictly followed the rules of the Grant residence. He never imagined that this obedient girl would reach the peak of passion in front of him under another man¡¯s teasing. Just the thought of it made Ynda¡¯s face flush. So when Samuel entered dressed in a ck suit, she lowered her head to drink coffee to hide it, her smile a bit stiff. Samuel¡¯s hair was intentionally styled with gel, slicked back, giving him a very mature look. His aura was naturally serious, and when he sat down, the atmosphere in the room seemed to be much more formal. He ced a gift box beside her; he always brought her a small gift whenever he went on a business trip. ¡°Thanks, Charles.¡± She didn¡¯t dare look into his eyes and silently put away the gift box. Samuel sat down and nodded at Charles. Charles pushed a cup of coffee over and asked him, ¡°Is the negotiation abroad going smoothly?¡± Official source is find?novel Recently, Samuel has been handling a project overseas, having to travel back and forth between home and abroad, sometimes without even time to adjust to the time difference. ¡°Yeah, I consulted experts to estimate our project this time; the projections look good, but all parties need to arrange their cash flow within two weeks. Thend profit sharing will follow what we agreed on earlier.¡± Even when they ate privately, their conversation was entirely in the tone of negotiation. Ynda wasn¡¯t involved until someone knocked on the private room¡¯s door and entered with a look of surprise in their eyes. ¡°I thought I saw things wrong just now; it really is Mr. Grant and Mr. Sinir.¡± The personing in was a famous director who often coborated with Simone and is now one of the most renowned directors in the country. Because of Simone, Charles was somewhat familiar with him. But when Ynda saw the person standing behind the director, her heart tightened¨Chow could Ian be standing behind this director? 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 d. ¡­ :.. (9? EL 55 vouchers She swallowed, feeling inexplicably guilty. Just the thought of what she did with Ian in front of Samuel made her body flush with heat. The director patted Ian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ian, you go ahead and wait. I¡¯ll chat with them for a bit.¡± Ian nodded but didn¡¯t look at Ynda, as if he didn¡¯t know her. Ynda exhaled with relief and stared down, fiddling with her cup. The director walked into the private room with a smile. He knew Charles and had met Samuel, so he had to exchange some small talk. During their conversation, Xavier Lawson passed by the private room door with Leo. These few were acquaintances as well. Leo had just spotted the people on this side, including Ian¨Cthe one Ynda was cheating with. Now, walking over with his brother Charles, Leo nced into the private room and saw that it was quite lively today. After exchanging a few words, the director left. Xavier Lawson sat down at the table with Leo. These people all belong to the same circle, and Leo is especially close friends with Charles. As soon as Leo sat down, he snorted coldly. Xavier Lawson¡¯s expression darkened, and his tone turned serious. ¡°I only asked you out to socialize with me. You¡¯re acting all high and mighty¨Cif you don¡¯t want to sit here, just go back and y your game.¡± Leo took a hard gulp of water and sat across from Ynda. Xavier Lawson rubbed his forehead, looking at Charles and Samuel. ¡°I happen to have something to discuss with both of you. Thend development n is finalized, with little change from before, but the original official who signed the deal has been reced. The new guy is tough, and the three of us will have to take turns negotiating with him. I¡¯m worried he¡¯ll stir things up, and construction may be dyed.¡± The three present all had a stake in thatnd. Initially, thatnd was handed to Samuel, but as a neer, his resources were not as abundant as the other two. After Charles took a share, he still had to cooperate with the Lawson residence on the government side. Xavier Lawson, the head of the Lawson residence, always maintained close ties with the government. He could smooth things over there. Samuel still received thergest portion of thend profits, and all three parties were pleased. But there¡¯s a problem right now, and Xavier Lawson has informed these two people of their rights. 8:08 Fri, Sep 19 J ¡­ : 92 55 vouchers Samuel picked up a dish for Ynda with chopsticks, acting naturally. ¡°I¡¯ve checked his background. We can investigate through his most trusted subordinate. That subordinate bought a house in the suburbs. A woman currently lives there, but he¡¯s on good terms with his wife. It¡¯s possible the house is just under his name on paper.¡± In other words, the subordinate is definitely covering up the boss¡¯s scandal. The house is under someone else¡¯s name, so even if things go wrongter, someone else takes the me. Xavier Lawson and Charles exchanged a nce. They only learned about the personnel change at that spot in thest few days, but Samuel had already thoroughly investigated the person¡¯s background before that. This guy really shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. Ynda heard all their conversations but couldn¡¯t ignore the gazeing from across the room. She looked up and met Leo¡¯s eyes. Leo wasn¡¯t listening to what those people were saying; he was just staring fixedly at Ynda. The person he was having an affair with was just by the private room door. She wasn¡¯t nervous at all¨Ctruly shameless. Ynda¡¯s phone buzzed just then. She looked down and saw a message from Ian. It¡¯s a photo taken in the restroom. This restaurant is very elegant and clean, and even the restroom features a Chinese¨Cstyle design. The scene is unbearable to look at. She felt a sudden sting in her pupils, quickly turned off her phone screen, her heart pounding wildly. Hasn gone crazy?! É« Titan 89 Ynda made such amotion that Charles nced over and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her mouth was parched and her heart was pounding so fast that she ducked her head and drank some water. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said with a forced smile. ¡°Just got a peppercorn stuck in my throat.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Charles replied. He grabbed a napkin and gently dabbed at the corner of her mouth. Charles always wore his best mask in front of others. Ynda smiled at him, her cheeks turning pink. Charles¡¯s eyes darkened with emotion. She¡¯s still just like she always was. Had he really questioned her feelings for him this morning? There¡¯s no way Ynda doesn¡¯t love him. He tossed the napkin aside and gave her cheek a gentle squeeze. ¡°Eat slowly.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± Ynda murmured, her cheeks still flushed as she nodded. Her face still burning, she quietly took another sip of water. Just thinking about that photo, about Ian Foster sneaking off to the bathroom just to take it, made her feel all hot and restless inside. She¡¯d never thought of herself as someone with much of a drive in that department, but ever since he introduced her to a whole new world, she couldn¡¯t help but imagine going even further with him. She looked up and caught Leo giving her a mocking look. Ynda frowned, thinking, ¡®This guy is seriously messed up.¡® Leo let out a quiet scoff, thinking, ¡°That shameless bitch is definitely flirting with her lover again. Ynda subtly drew her legs together, listening as the others kept chatting about thend and business deals. She got up and quietly told Charles, ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡± Charles nodded. She kept her head down as she headed out, careful to keep her steps light. Leo suddenly stood up, startling Xavier beside him. Xavier took a deep breath, ready to scold him, but Leo was already heading out. ¡°You guys are talking about way over my head. I¡¯m outta here to mess around.¡± stuff Xavier rubbed his temples, thinking, ¡®This kid is hopeless.¡¯ Charles found it amusing. Seeing Xavier so troubled, he said, ¡°With you holding down the fort at the Lawson residence, Leo really doesn¡¯t need to worry about understanding all this business talk.¡± Xavier gave a wry smile. ¡°It¡¯s for his own good. Even if he¡¯s not interested in business, he should at least get out and meet people. Besides the asional drink with you guys, he just stays home gaming or goes off racing his car. Every time Mom hears he¡¯s going racing, she gets so anxious she has to take her heart meds. Last time he got hurt, he was in the hospital for a whole month and didn¡¯t let any of us know.¡± It¡¯s dangerous, you know. Honestly, I¡¯d rather have Leo just sit around at thepany¨Cat least he¡¯d be safe. Samuelughed too. ¡°He¡¯s just so genuine and true to himself.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°He¡¯s such an idiot. Good thing you guys always include him¨CI¡¯m honestly worried he¡¯ll get yed by some girl if he goes out on his own.¡± Ynda reached the restroom and was just about to ssh some water on her face when someone knocked softly at the door. She nced up at the mirror¨Cjust as she expected, it was Ian Foster. She frowned, quickly shut off the faucet, and wiped her fingertips with a paper towel. ¡°Don¡¯t mess around like that next time,¡± she said. Ian moved in close, his chining to rest on her shoulder as he met her gaze in the mirror. ¡°When will you be finished eating?¡± Ynda was about to push his head off her shoulder when he said, ¡°Ms. Sinir sent me over. She said this director has another project and wanted me to try out for it.¡± Her fingers paused. ¡°So, how did it go?¡± ¡°He was really impressed,¡± Ian replied. After saying that, he looked at her in the mirror, wrapped his arms around her waist, and grinned. ¡°Aren¡¯t I being good? I even went and talked to the director all by myself.¡± Ynda thought, ¡®He really is being good. If only he didn¡¯t act out so much! His breath brushed against Ynda¡¯s ear, sending shivers down her spine and making her go weak at the knees. They¡¯d already crossed that line, so there was no point pretending anymore. But with Charles¡¯s private room just around the corner, she was too timid to risk getting caught. She tried to push him away, but Ian just clung to her, nuzzling and kissing at her neck. ¡°You weren¡¯t scaredst night, were you?¡± he whispered. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Ynda murmured. 10:32 Sat, Sep 20 :.. : 78 E55 vouchers She tried to dodge, but he pinned her against the wall, trailing kisses from her ear down to her chin. Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel Suddenly, she heard voicesing from the men¡¯s room next door. Startled, she quickly shoved him away, her heart pounding in her chest. Ian watched her, noticing her flushed cheeks as she fixed her clothes. With a teasing grin, he said, ¡°I just gained a bunch of new fans, Ynda. Shouldn¡¯t you celebrate with me?¡± ¡°Maybe another time,¡± she replied, trying to sound casual. ¡°I¡¯m swamped these next couple of days.¡± He just grunted, knowing there¡¯s no way he could show his face out there right now. Ynda noticed too. She took a steadying breath and turned her back to him. ¡°Ian, you¡¯re nothing like the guy I first met.¡± Ian leaned against the wall, tilting his head back. ¡°You don¡¯t even realize how irresistible you are. Anyone in my shoes would feel the same.¡± She¡¯d never heard him say anything like that before, and she hurried out, mumbling, ¡°Sort yourself out, will you?¡± Plus, this was thedies¡® room¨Csomeone could walk in any second. ¡°Ynda, just give me a hand. I promise I¡¯ll be quick,¡± Ian pleaded. Ynda thought he was crazy and jerked her hand free. He lowered his head, his tone tight and barely restrained. ¡°I swear, I¡¯ll be done in five minutes.¡± Ynda looked up at him, her eyes skeptical. Ian turned his head away, the tips of his ears flushing red. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m really capable of.¡± No man likes having his skills questioned, especially about something like that. Ynda lifted her hand, her fingertips drawingzy circles on his chest. ¡°Only five minutes?¡± Ian lowered hisshes, his gaze growing darker. ¡°If you want, I couldst five hours.¡± He dipped his head, his breath hot against her ear. ¡°Or, if you¡¯re up for it¡­ five days?¡± She pushed him away, shooting a look at the private room down the hall. ¡°Five minutes. If you¡¯re not done by then, you¡¯ll have to deal with it yourself.¡± The words were barely out of her mouth whenn grabbed her and dragged her into one of the stalls. Leo thought, ¡®I must be crazy! He knew there was something shady going on in that restroom, but he just couldn¡¯t stay away¨Che had to see it for himself. ¡®Maybe I should just drag Charles over here and let him see with his own eyes what his goody¨Ctwo¨Cshoes wife is really like behind that innocent act, Leo sneered to himself. Titan 90 Leo stood outside the women¡¯s restroom, listening for any sounds. When he heard nothing, he quietly walked
  1. in.
Suddenly, a man¡¯s voice echoed inside. Leo froze, his mind nk. Before he could react, a strange woman appeared at the entrance. She looked up at the sign above the door, her face instantly darkening. ¡°Are you a pervert or something? Trying to take pictures in here? I¡¯m calling security!¡± Leo had never been this embarrassed in his life. It was all that damn Ynda¡¯s fault. He kept his head down and hurried out, but he could still hear the woman cursing behind him. ¡°I just don¡¯t get what kind of sick thrill you get from spying on women in the bathroom. Why can¡¯t creeps like you just disappear already?¡± Leo¡¯s face was dark with anger. By the time he got back to the private room, he was in a foul mood. He saw Charles still chatting andughing with Samuel, the whole group looking like business elites. Leo couldn¡¯t help but feel a stab of jealousy and think bitterly, ¡®Your wife¡¯s off in the bathroom with some pretty boy, and here you are, chatting away like nothing¡¯s wrong.¡® He hated Ynda. He should¡¯ve just dragged Charles over there and ruined her reputationpletely, show her what happens when you stab Charles in the back. But instead, he just sat there quietly, his heart pounding like he was the one sneaking around. He grabbed a ss of water from the table and took a couple of sips, trying to hide how rattled he was. But his mind kept spinning. What the hell were Ynda and that pretty boy doing in the bathroom? ¡®Did they kiss?¡® Leo wondered, jealousy gnawing at him. ¡®Or did they do something else?¡® The thought made his chest tighten. ¡®No way she¡¯d go that far, not with everyone else on the same floor. That kind of thing takes time, Leo thought bitterly. At most, maybe it was just a quick hand job.¡® ¡®Her hands are definitely soft enough for that,¡® Leo couldn¡¯t help but think. He wanted to smack himself. ¡®What the fuck am I even thinking?¡® Leo cursed himself, feeling like a total idiot. He chugged the rest of his water, his heart racing so fast he could barely catch his breath. Five minutester, Ynda walked back in. Her makeup was still untouched, and her hair was perfectly neat¨Cshe looked exactly the same as when she left. Vouchers She sat down next to Charles, hershes lowered as she quietly ate her food, asionally listening in on the men¡¯s conversation. No one would ever suspect she¡¯d just been messing around with another man. Leo felt off, a weird restlessness gnawing at him, and he couldn¡¯t even figure out why. When he left the private room again, he thought to himself, ¡®Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?¡® He walked into the men¡¯s restroom and saw that pretty boy standing at the sink, washing his hands. Leo had moved into the same apartmentplex as Ian, but thest few times they¡¯d run into each other, the lighting had been dim, and he hadn¡¯t really gotten a good look at the guy¡¯s face. Now, with the bright lights, he could see him clearly. The guy was young, probably just in his early twenties, with this weird mix of innocence and maturity that was kind of charming. His face was seriously good¨Clooking¨Ceasily on par with Charles, maybe even better. No wonder Ynda was sopletely taken with him. Ian could feel Leo staring at him. He finished washing his hands slowly, then grabbed a paper towel to dry them. Leo scoffed, crossing his arms. ¡°Looking all put together, but you¡¯re just another loser chasing after a married woman. Seriously, don¡¯t you know she¡¯s already taken?¡± Ian tossed the paper towel into the trash can and replied coolly, ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Quit pretending. I saw you two kissing in the women¡¯s restroom,¡± Leo said, his toneced with disdain. Ian looked up, his face still cold, but there was a mocking glint in his eyes. ¡°Is she your wife?¡± Leo stiffened, then snapped back, ¡°She¡¯s not my wife! I just can¡¯t stand watching you two. You and her? That¡¯s never gonna end well. Do yourselves a favor and break it off now.¡± Leo had no idea what got into him, but he suddenly stepped forward and blockedn¡¯s path. They were about the same height, but Leo carried this unique, almost regal arrogance from a lifetime of being pampered. But somehow, it just made him more intriguing instead of annoying. Ian¡¯s eyes darkened, but Leo held his gaze. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re not gonna break up with her? Don¡¯te crying to me when you regret it.¡± ¡°Not breaking up, not regretting it. You done here?¡±n shot back, his voice icy. Leo was suddenly at a loss for words¨Cthis guy was really something else. 10:32 Sat, Sep 20 55 vouchers ¡®Ynda¡¯s nothing special. I honestly don¡¯t get what kind of spell she¡¯s put on this guy, Leo thought bitterly. ¡°Look, man, I¡¯m telling you this for your own good. She¡¯s got a husband, and he¡¯s seriously top¨Ctier. She¡¯s probably just messing around with you for a thrill. Don¡¯t fall too deep, or you¡¯ll be the one left in the dust when she goes running back to her husband. She¡¯s been into him for fifteen years, you know? Bet you didn¡¯t know that, huh?¡± Leo said, trying to knock some sense into him. ¡°Are you finished?¡± Ian said, his brows drawing together, a rare edge of impatience in his voice. ¡°You-¡± Leo blurted out, about to say more. Butn interrupted him. ¡°I was the one who went after her. I made the first move. I¡¯m not expecting anything in return.¡± With that, Ian stepped around him and walked out. Leo lingered for a moment before heading back to the private room. By the time he returned, the group was nearly finished with their conversation. Charles was dressed in a sharp gray suit, exuding both elegance and warmth. He leaned in close to Ynda, whispered something in her ear, and then gently bit her lips, the gesture intimate and unmistakable. Leo sat across from them, hisshes lowered, staring absentmindedly at his ss, lost in his own thoughts. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Charles has no idea those pretty lips were just bitten by another man.¡® Leo knew deep down that no guy would ever be cool with that. But the more he dwelled on it, the hotter his chest felt, like ants crawling all over him. He swallowed hard, and then he heard Xavier¡¯s voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go. What are you still doing sitting there?¡± Leo looked up and saw that everyone had already stood up. He quickly got to his feet. As they stepped into the elevator, Charles had Ynda tucked under his arm. Just as the doors were about to close, they suddenly slid open again. Standing outside was the director from earlier, with Ian right behind him. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel The director¡¯s face lit up with surprise. ¡°Small world! Mr. Sinir, Ms. Grant, Mr. Lawson, you guys finished eating too?¡± Charles nodded, and everyone shuffled aside to make room for them. The director and Ian joined them in the elevator. Ynda felt her heart pounding so hard it was practically in her throat. With Charles on her right and Ian on her left, it felt like she was smack in the middle of an emotional warzone. She could even feeln¡¯s fingertips graze hers in a teasing way, right under Charles¡¯s nose. Ynda quickly pulled her hand back and clung to Charles¡¯s arm with both hands. Charles nced down at her and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Cold?¡± 78 55 vouchers Ynda looked uneasy, and just as she was about to make up an excuse, the elevator suddenly jolted. The lights overhead flickered twice, then went out all of a sudden. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡® Ynda thought, her heart pounding. She squeezed her eyes shut, and in the confusion, she suddenly felt two hands on her waist. She couldn¡¯t tell which one belonged to Charles and which to Ian. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Titan 91 Both of them seemed to sense each other at the same time, and they froze. 55 vouchers Just then, the elevator lights flickered back on. Charles nced over at Ynda and saw Samuel standing beside her. Samuel was looking down at his phone, trying to call someone outside. He nced up when he noticed Charles staring at him, his expression puzzled. Charles quickly looked away, tightening his grip around Ynda¡¯s waist. Ynda let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding, catching a glimpse of Ian, who had somehow slipped quietly to stand just behind her. She felt her whole body flush with heat, lowered her head, and even the tips of her ears were burning. Everything that had happened between her and Ian went against all the rules she¡¯d grown up with. It was the first time she¡¯d ever felt this kind of betrayal, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. She wasn¡¯t like Charles, who could cheat and still flirt with his wife at home without a care in the world. Ynda was so tense, Charles assumed she was just frightened. He reassured her in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll be out of here soon.¡± Ynda swallowed hard and gently rested against his chest. Sure enough, the maintenance crew showed up in no time. They apologized to those stuck inside, then quickly pried open the elevator doors with their tools. Ynda stuck to Charles like glue the entire time. The director chatted briefly with the group, then left with Ian in tow. Charles pulled out a cigarette and lit it, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Samuel, I¡¯ll get Ynda home first, alright?¡± Samuel looked over at Ynda and offered her a tissue. She pressed her lips together and murmured a quiet thank you. Charles saw the exchange, his brows knitting together. Once they were back in the car, Ynda checked her phone, but Ian still hadn¡¯t messaged her. Her heart was hanging in suspense, both thrilled and uneasy. Charles sat down beside her, about to say something when his phone rang. It was Vivian. Vivian was about to get out of the hospital. She was still pissed that she hadn¡¯t managed to destroy Ynda¡¯s 10:32 Sat, Sep 20 Chapter 91 Readplete version only at f?ndnovel 55 vouchers studio, but with all the online drama still raging, she couldn¡¯t do much else¨Cso she set her sights on Megan next. One way or another, she was hell¨Cbent on making sure that bitch Ynda never got a moment¡¯s peace. And besides that, she was determined to keep hooking up with Ynda¡¯s man. But what she didn¡¯t expect was for Charles to actually turn her down. ¡°Ynda had a scare today. Let¡¯s talk about it another time.¡± After ending the call, he drew Ynda close. ¡°You and Samuel have always been that close?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but recall how Samuel had put his arm around Ynda¡¯s waist in the elevator. Sure, it was an emergency, but those two had spent so many years together. Ynda didn¡¯t really think much about it and just answered honestly, ¡°Samuel¡¯s always swamped, and we barely talk. Plus, he¡¯s way too uptight.¡± Honestly, Samuel had this kind of maturity that was way beyond his years¨Cit made people feel kind of pressured around him. Besides, if there was ever anything between those two, Ynda wouldn¡¯t have had feelings for Charles for fifteen years straight. Charles knew he was just overthinking things. After dropping Ynda off at Moonbay Estate, Charles left right away, saying he was heading over to Sinir manor to see Renee. Ever since she fell into the pool, Renee hadn¡¯t set foot outside Sinir manor, and May was furious with Ynda, ming her for it all. Renee had always been pampered, and this time she just couldn¡¯t swallow her pride. She started raising hell at home, cursing Ynda every single day. May was already pissed off, and seeing her daughter like this thanks to Ynda just pushed her over the edge. ¡°Mom, I swear, every time I close my eyes, I feel like the pool water ising for me. You have no idea how terrified I am. That bitch Ynda! Why does Charles keep her around if he doesn¡¯t even care about her?¡± May reached out and gave her daughter aforting pat on the head. ¡°If you really can¡¯t stand her, then start thinking about how to get your brother to divorce her. Samuel¡¯s project is locked in with our family this time -he¡¯s not about to blow it all just for Ynda.¡± Renee¡¯s eyes darted as she started scheming. She¡¯d called Vivian earlier, but it looked like Vivian hadn¡¯t managed to get the job done. A sly smile tugged at her lips as she grabbed some gifts and made her way to visit Vivian. Vivian¡¯s brain just short¨Ccircuits whenever Charles is involved. 10:32 Sat, Sep 20 55 vouchers Renee sat beside her on the hospital bed, grabbing her hand and putting on her cutest, most innocent act. ¡°Vivian, you don¡¯t know how bad Ynda really is. She¡¯s always talking trash about you to my brother. I never thought she was that kind of person.¡± Vivian couldn¡¯t help but think about how Charles had just rejected her, and it made her blood boil. Charles was always sweet to everyone¨Cthere¡¯s no way he¡¯d turn her down unless Ynda was messing things up. That bitch! Vivian¡¯s chest heaved with anger, her eyes zing with fury. Renee felt a surge of pride seeing Vivian like that. ¡°You¡¯re honestly my top pick for sister¨Cinw. I¡¯m going to find a way to split up my brother and Ynda¨CI¡¯m on your side.¡± Vivian was thoroughly pleased, gripping Renee¡¯s hand in return. ¡°No need for you to step in. If I can¡¯t deal with something this trivial, how could I ever help your brother run thepany?¡± ¡°Alright, Vivian, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Renee hade to pick Vivian up from the hospital today. Once Vivian was settled in the car, Renee stood outside and called out, ¡°Take care, Vivian. If you ever need anything, just let me know.¡± Vivian nodded, watching her head off with a spring in her step. Inside the car, her uncle Grady Andrade noticed her sour expression and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Vivian took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat. ¡°Greg screwed up again. Get someone to put the squeeze on him. If he can¡¯t cough up the money, break his legs. Corner a guy like that, and he¡¯ll be desperate enough to do anything we want.¡± Grady nodded. Greg had gotten himself into debt because of their scheme. Now, Greg waspletely trapped in their web. 44444 Ynda called in a cleaning crew to give the studio a thorough once¨Cover. She was worried Greg mighte back around, so she called Megan to ask where he was. Megan was at the hospital for a prenatal checkup, and Greg was there with her. It had been a long time since he¡¯d stayed by her side like this, and she hadn¡¯t felt this happy in ages. ¡°He¡¯s here with me for the checkup. This baby was such a surprise, and I¡¯m really anxious about it. Ynda, he really has changed. I¡¯ll make sure he stays on the right path.¡± Greg knew it was Ynda calling, and just thinking about how close he¡¯de to getting what he wanted made his heart race with excitement. Ynda was drop¨Cdead gorgeous, filthy rich too¨Cif he could ever get her into bed, man, that¡¯d be the score of a lifetime. 10:32 Sat, Sep 20 78 55 vouchers He was still lost in those thoughts when his phone suddenly rang. The moment he saw the caller ID, the color drained from his face. Megan caught the look on his face and frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to change your number? You need to cut off contact with those people. I¡¯ve already paid off all your debts for you.¡± Pretty much everything she made these past few years went straight to paying off Greg¡¯s debts. She just wanted Greg to break away from that crowd and for the two of them to live a normal life together. As long as they worked hard, they¡¯d be fine. Greg just brushed her off. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know. I haven¡¯t talked to any of them. Babe, go get your checkup.¡± As soon as Megan disappeared inside, Greg checked his messages right away. It was a hospital address. William Bet, the orphanage director, had just undergone a kidney transnt and was still recovering in the hospital. Ynda would probablye visit him, and if Greg hung around long enough, he was bound to run into her. Greg swallowed hard, quickly hiding his phone when he saw Meganing back out. Even though Megan was pregnant and it hadn¡¯t been easy for her, they were t broke. He had to figure out a way to get some money¨Cotherwise, the kid would just end up suffering as soon as he was born. Plus, he had a mountain of debts Megan didn¡¯t even know about. There was no way she could cover them, and if he didn¡¯t pay up, those guys would have no problem breaking his legs. He helped Megan into the car, and while she was asleep, he took her phone and pulled out cash advances on every credit card she had. Then he made sure to delete every single verification code text so she wouldn¡¯t notice a thing. Ìï Titan 92 Ian Foster¡¯s follower count was on firetely, and Ynda worried he¡¯d freak out with all the attention. So, while the online buzz was still raging, she was the one logging in and handling everything on his Twitter ount. The inte was still obsessed with the whole thing. With a bunch of directors and actors caught up in it, people couldn¡¯t get enough of the drama, and Ian¡¯s name was still all over the trending lists. Thanks to all this, Ian¡¯s personal Twitter was blowing up with new followers every day. Plus, Zack White¡¯s show had just started airing, and with Ian¡¯s looks and acting chops, the show¡¯s poprity shot up several times over. The first day¡¯s ratings broke all previous records, and Zack White, who¡¯d been on edge, finally let out a huge sigh of relief. As soon as he saw the numbers, he called up Ynda. ¡°Ynda, I really have you to thank for this. How about I treat you and Ian to dinner sometime? Let¡¯s put all the past drama behind us and look forward to working together again.¡± Zack said warmly. He was callingn ¡°Ian¡± now, since even a fool could see Ian Foster was clearly on the rise. Ynda smiled as she cleared out all the private messages from Ian¡¯s Twitter ount. ¡°Sure thing, Zack. I¡¯ll check in with Ms. Sinir and see whenn¡¯s avable.¡± After hanging up, Ynda thought about bringing someone new on board. She¡¯d been going through candidates these past few days, but none of them felt like the right fit. And with Megan Carter expecting, Ynda was left juggling everything herself and was totally swamped. Guess the hiring would have to wait a little longer. She got up, figuring she¡¯d drop by the hospital to see William Bet today. William had been in the hospital ever since his kidney transnt, but he was getting stronger every day. Soon, he¡¯d be able to go home. She grabbed some fruit and was just turning the corner when she spotted Charles. Her steps halted and she instinctively backed away. Standing beside Charles was May Sinir, who was holding her forehead, looking like she wasn¡¯t feeling well at all. Charles helped her to a seat, his tone t. ¡°Mom, are you feeling any better?¡± May sighed. ¡°Thank goodness you picked up.¡± She hadn¡¯t been able to reach Dn Sinir, who hadn¡¯t been home in ages. Ever since theirst fight, he hadn¡¯t set foot in the Sinir manor. May¡¯s hand slowly curled into a fist at her side, her lips pressed into a hard line. ¡®I have to find out who that bitch is. After all these years, why the hell is she still trying to get in touch with Dn?¡® she fumed inwardly. §³§á§Ñ§â?§ã§ä §µZ 55 vouchers y ¡°Charles, all this stress from your father is what made me sick in the first ce. You¡¯re handling thepany well, but your uncles are still lurking around. You really need to have a child soon¨Cotherwise, how are you going to exin yourself to your grandfather?¡± May pressed, her tone full of anxious insistence. Charles¡¯s uncles were all a handful¨Cnone of them were easy to deal with. Jonathan Andrade had been asking about grandkidstely, but Charles had zero intention of having a child with Ynda. She was never the one he wanted for that. May grabbed his hand, her face clouded with worry. ¡°If you¡¯re still waiting for that woman, then just go and bring her back. I heard she¡¯s a big star now. If she really loves you, maybe she¡¯d be willing to give up the entertainment industry for you. But our family can¡¯t have a woman from showbiz.¡± ¡®We¡¯d be aughingstock among all those society wives,¡® May thought bitterly. Sure, there are celebrities who marry into wealthy families, but as soon as they tie the knot, they quit acting for good. And honestly, those women are always the lowest rung in the industry anyway. Ynda stood just around the corner, listening in on their conversation, her eyes dropping as she took it all in. She¡¯d been part of the Sinir family for two years now, but not a single one of them had ever truly epted her. They were still hung up on Joelle Monroe¨Cthe woman who ditched Charles and ran off back then. She didn¡¯t expect anything from Charles anymore, but honestly, it still stung. Joelle really had it easy¨Cshe didn¡¯t have to lift a finger, and Charles was still hopelessly in love with her. Ynda stood frozen, listening as May pressed on, ¡°You really need to think about having a kid soon. If it doesn¡¯t work out, just go abroad and meet that woman¨Cget her pregnant. Once shees back with the baby, it¡¯ll be easier for her to move up in the family. Otherwise, how are you going to exin things to the Grant residence?¡± Ynda closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What May meant by ¡°exining¡± was basically throwing Ynda under the bus, saying she couldn¡¯t have kids, so Charles had to find someone else to do it. Not being able to have children was a huge deal. Especially for a woman from the Grant family¨Cit was practically a joke. Lily Grant was a perfect example. Ynda tuned them out and headed straight for William Bet¡¯s hospital room. Right then, a doctor who knew her called out, ¡°Hey, Miss Grant! Haven¡¯t seen you in a while. Mr. Bet¡¯s doing great these days. Her heart gave a jolt, and almost on instinct, she reached for the door to William¡¯s room, about to slip inside -when Charles¡¯s voice suddenly called out. ¡°Ynda?¡± Charles called out. 10:33 Sat, Sep 20 Her hand froze, and she slowly let go of the door, pulling it back. ¡°Charles, what are you doing here?¡± she asked, trying to sound casual. 55 vouchers She really didn¡¯t want Charles paying too much attention to William Bet¨Cif he started digging, the truth about the kidney donor mighte out. Charles walked over, peeking inside. ¡°Mr. Bet still hasn¡¯t been discharged?¡± ¡°No, but he should be out in a few days,¡± Ynda replied quickly. ¡°Let me go in with you and check on him,¡± Charles offered, stepping forward. William always kept Charles in his thoughts. There was a time when Charles would go with Ynda to visit the orphanage, but honestly, that was only when he had nothing better to do. ¡°No need, Mr. Bet¡¯s resting. I don¡¯t want to bother him,¡± Ynda replied, keeping her tone light as she tried to deflect Charles. She was about to loop her arm through his and lead him away when a familiar voice called out from behind them. ¡°Ms. Grant?¡± Daisy Thornton called out. Ynda turned around and saw Daisy holding a bag of medicine, her eyes wide with surprise. ¡°Ms. Grant, are you not feeling well? What brings you to the hospital?¡± Charles¡¯s brows knitted as his gazended on Daisy. He paused for a few seconds before asking, ¡°Are you Hugh Thornton¡¯s daughter?¡± Hugh had illegally tried to trade a kidney, so Charles had his leg broken and shipped him overseas. ¡®How does Ynda even know his daughter?¡® Charles thought, baffled. Daisy¡¯s face was all innocence as she smiled. ¡°Yeah, I met Ms. Grant before. My dad used to mention her a lot -he always said she was really kind. But I haven¡¯t been in touch with him for a long time.¡± As she said this, she lowered her eyes, looking quietly forlorn. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Charles replied, his voice cool and unreadable. He nced back at Ynda. ¡°I¡¯ve got stuff to deal with at the office this afternoon, so I¡¯m heading out. Take care on your way home.¡± Ynda nodded, forcing a small smile. ¡°Alright.¡± As soon as he walked away, Ynda finally let herself breathe, her whole body loosening up atst. Once Charles got in the car, Daisy was still on his mind. He offhandedly remarked to Jack Nn in the front seat, ¡°Look into how Daisy Thornton and Ynda know each other.¡± 10:33 Sat, Sep 20 : (78) 55 vouchers Jack looked puzzled for a moment, trying to ce Hugh Thornton. When it finally clicked, he blurted out, ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you suspecting Mrs. Sinir of something?¡± Hugh had worked at the hospital for years¨Che shouldn¡¯t have been strapped for cash. So why would he suddenly risk everything like that? Something was seriously off about this. But that six million dors really didnd in his ount, and Ynda was never the type to pull something that bold. Charles knew Ynda inside out¨Cshe¡¯d always put him first, no matter what. For more chapters visit Find?Novel He rubbed his brow, and when he saw Jack about to make the call, he just sighed. ¡°Forget it,¡± he muttered, letting it go. Titan 93 Ynda looked at Daisy, who was standing there, and took a deep breath. ¡°What brings you to the hospital?¡± Daisy shook the medication in her hand. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up some prescriptions. Remember I had some mental health issues before? I¡¯m doing much better now.¡± Ynda reached out and ruffled Daisy¡¯s hair, treating her like a little sister. ¡°Daisy, do you have any drugs that can amplify emotions? Like something that could make an angry person lose control?¡± Daisy narrowed her eyes, recalling that Ynda had asked her for medication once before. Noticing her hesitation, Ynda shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not a good person, and I¡¯ve told you that before. If someone hits me, I¡¯m going to hit back.¡± Daisy nced around and whispered, ¡°Yeah, I have a close senior who works here at the hospital¨Cshe studied pharmacology. I¡¯ll go find her and get it for you, but keep this between us. If anyone finds out, she could lose her job.¡± Fresh chapters posted on F¦ÉndNovel Stuff like that isn¡¯t supposed to be out on the market. Every gram is carefully tracked, and sneaking them out isn¡¯t easy. Ynda hugged her, her tone calm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if my life depended on it, I wouldn¡¯t tell.¡± Daisy trusted her. She wasn¡¯t sure why¨Cmaybe it was the way Ynda looked at her, so honest and stubborn. It felt like if Ynda wanted something done, she¡¯d make it happen no matter what. That kind of energy just rubbed off on people. Once Ynda got the meds, she jumped in her car. She just had a feeling this stuff woulde in handy someday. She headed straight for Ian¡¯s set. He¡¯d been trending non¨Cstoptely, and as her only talent, she couldn¡¯t afford to take her eyes off him. Even now, she still couldn¡¯t figure Ian out. He acted all cold in public, but when it was just the two of them, he burned hot as magma. She just couldn¡¯t read him at all. When she got to the set, Simone was busy coaching two actors through their scene, whilen sat off to the side, quietly resting. Most of the other talents had assistants buzzing around them, but as Ian¡¯s assistant, Ynda was rarely glued to his side. So, on set, Ian usually ended up flying solo. Whenever Ynda came to the set, she¡¯d throw on a mask and a hat¨Cno way was she letting anyone recognize her. She walked up behind Ian and tapped him gently on the shoulder. 10:33 Sat, Sep 20 78 55 vouchers Ian was tall, with striking features and a strong presence. He turned around with his usual cool expression, but the moment he saw her, his eyes lit up and he looked like a puppy wagging its tail. ¡°Ms. Grant,¡± he called out softly. She pressed a finger to her lips. ¡°On set, call me Tessa. Now that you¡¯re getting more famous, people are watching you. In public, you need to keep your distance from your assistant¨Csh¨Cmanager.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple visibly bobbed as he swallowed, his voice husky. ¡°What about when it¡¯s not in public?¡± Ynda was at a loss for words for a moment, her cheeks growing warm. She quickly grabbed a bottle of ice water and set it in front of him. ¡°Here, drink this.¡¯ I feel like I¡¯ve been neglecting you. Look at everyone else¡ªthey¡¯ve got assistants all over them. You¡¯re out here on your own, no one to cool you off when it¡¯s hot or toss you a nket when it¡¯s chilly. I guess I should think about bringing in more help. Plus, Megan¡¯s pregnant, so she probably won¡¯t being to the studio for a while.¡± ¡°Megan¡¯s pregnant?¡± His eyes widened in surprise, but he just quietly twisted open the water bottle. ¡°I can handle it. I¡¯m tougher than that.¡± Ynda watched him tilt his head back to drink, his Adam¡¯s apple moving up and down. She quickly looked away. ¡°I¡¯ll try to be around more until we get someone else on board. Before I came, I had a van ordered for you. That way, when you get tired between scenes, you can rest in the car.¡± Anyway, Charles had just handed her ten million dors, which was more than enough to keepn well taken care of. Ian¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile as he nodded. ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± It was Ian¡¯s turn for the next scene. He set his water bottle aside, touched up his makeup, and got ready to go
  1. on.
He was ying a street thug, and when he gripped the steel pipe, his face was all menace. The vivid red scar shed across his cheek, and there was a savage beauty in his brutality. Ynda stood there with her arms crossed, watching, when she heard the leadingdy talking nearby. ¡°He¡¯s got some serious acting chops. Hand him my hotel cardter,¡± she said, twirling her hair. Her name was Raelyn Cullen, a rarebination of talent and beauty. No wonder Simone had picked her. Simone had always had high standards, especially when it came to the leads. Raelyn had just snagged an award recently, and if some tabloid rumors linked her with Ian, it would only boost his career. Ynda sat quietly to the side, saying nothing. By the time Ian finished his scene and came back, Ynda was already holding the hotel key card Raelyn¡¯s 10:33 Sat, Sep 20 agent had handed her. 0: The agent¡¯s tone was cool and all business. ¡°As a fellow manager, you know what this is about.¡± Ynda nodded. She knew. Raelyn was clearly trying to get Ian into her bed¨Cand maybe get some headlines out of it too. Hookups like this were just another day in showbiz¨Ctotally normal in the industry. Raelyn adjusted her sunsses, a sly smile on her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for him tonight.¡± With that, she left with her agent, even her back giving off major boss vibes. Ian came over to Ynda, noticing the card in her hand but having no idea what it was. Ynda tucked the card away, a faint smile on her lips. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll give you a ride home.¡± 7) 55 vouchers When they stepped outside the set, the six¨Chundred¨Cthousand¨Cdor van she¡¯d ordered was already waiting. She opened the door and peeked inside. She¡¯d picked out every detail herself, and everything was made from the best materials. There was no strong leather smell¨Cjust a light touch of perfume lingering in the air. She nced at Ian. ¡°So, what do you think? You like it?¡± Ian climbed in, and the next second, he reached out and dragged her in too. Titan 94 The car door mmed shut, and Ynda was pulled tightly into Ian¡¯s arms. Ian buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply, as if trying to memorize her scent. Outside, people were bustling around the set,ing and going. Ynda felt a bit uneasy and raised her hand to gently push Ian away. But Ian was already tracing her neck with his teeth, slowly and deliberately, his touch lingering on her skin. ¡°Ian Foster!¡± Ynda snapped, her voice sharp with embarrassment. Ynda snapped, her voice tight with embarrassment. Ian quickly let go, looking up at her, his eyes burning with longing¨Cthere was no way to hide how he felt. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel Ynda straightened her clothes, then asked with a teasing smile, ¡°Do you like it? The studio put this look together just for you. I¡¯ll be spending a lot more time with you from now on, so just focus on your acting for now. Your fame is growing, but you still need some real work to back it up¨Cit¡¯s just hype for now.¡± Ian pulled her into his arms again, holding her close. ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± he murmured, not wanting to let go. Ynda reached up and gently pinched his ear. ¡°Alright, Zack White¡¯s show is already airing, and the ratings are looking good. The photos from that coffeemercial you did just came out too. For your next endorsements, I¡¯ll help you pick carefully¨Cwe¡¯re aiming for you to be seen as a real actor, not just a pretty face. I don¡¯t want you to burn through your hype too soon.¡± If Ian got lumped in with the idol actors, his poprity would run out sooner orter, and it¡¯d be tough for him to switch gears and be a serious actor down the line. Right now, Ian was juggling two roles with totally different personalities, and he was pulling off both with ease. The sky was the limit for him now. ¡°Ynda, I just got a flood of new fans all of a sudden. Shouldn¡¯t we celebrate?¡± Ian said, his voice low and yful. He¡¯d brought it up yesterday too, and today Ynda finally had some free time, so she whipped out her phone and started searching for somewhere good to eat nearby. But Ian leaned in, his lips almost brushing her ear as he whispered, ¡°Does that spot down there miss me?¡± Ynda¡¯s hand trembled, and she almost dropped her phone, but Ian was quick and caught it before it could fall. His long fingers curled around the phone, and he fixed her with those dark, starry eyes. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty,¡± he murmured, his tone full of mischief. Ynda¡¯s cheeks went scarlet. She still wasn¡¯t used to sneaking around with Ian like this, especially behind Charles¡¯s back and out in public. ¡®Honestly,n makes a pretty damn good side guy,¡® Ynda thought to herself. E55 vouchers Ynda felt her whole body flush with heat. She shoved Ian away, got out, and marched straight to the driver¡¯s seat. Without another word, she mmed her foot on the gas. Ian caught a glimpse of her through the gap in the seat, then leaned back, closed his eyes, and let a small smile tug at his lips. Ynda pulled up to Ian¡¯s ce and grabbed a stack of scripts she¡¯d gotten over the past couple of days. These were all small¨Ctime projects, the kind that came in when the public opinion was still against Ian. The directors were just trying to cash in on his controversial reputation¨Cgood or bad, fame was still fame. Ynda wasn¡¯t impressed with any of them, but her studio was still small, and she didn¡¯t want to burn any bridges. So she¡¯d taken them all, figuring she might as well sift through them and see if anything stood out. Ian watched as Ynda carefully sorted through the scripts. He crouched down beside her, looking up at her with a soft, almost needy gaze. Ynda frowned, feeling his stare was a little tooplicated. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± she asked. Ian rested his hand on her knee. ¡°How about we stop hiring new people? Let me be the one to make money for you.¡± Guys in their twenties were always so damn possessive. Ynda hadn¡¯t really noticed it before, but now she finally saw it for what it was. She held the script in her hand, her expression calm. ¡°Say something like that again and I¡¯ll just hire a new agent to keep you in line.¡± Ian¡¯s fingers tightened on her knee, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He knew he was asking for too much. ¡®Ynda¡¯s just in this for fun,¡¯ he thought to himself. His gaze darkened. ¡®Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be the sweet, innocent type? Guess she can be pretty damn ruthless when she¡¯s just ying around,¡¯ he thought bitterly. Ynda spent half an hour going through the scripts. When she noticedn had gone quiet, she could tell she¡¯d hit a nerve with what she said. But honestly, she just wasn¡¯t in the mood for any of that right now. Ynda stood up and set the room key on the table. ¡°Raclyn¡¯s agent gave me this¨Cit¡¯s her idea. You can decide if you want to go. As your boss, I¡¯m not going to force you to cozy up to anyone, but I also don¡¯t want to keep you on such a tight leash that you never get to socialize with other women. Raelyn¡¯s pretty picky¡ªI checked, and there aren¡¯t many guys she¡¯d actually make a move on. So, think it over.¡± After that, Ynda pulled out another card¨Cit was her bank card. 10:33 Sat, Sep 20 ¡­ : ¨C 78 55 vouchers ¡°There¡¯s two million dors in there. I¡¯ll handle all your living expenses¨Cfood, clothes, rent, you name it. You¡¯ve been rocking that all¨Cck looktely, and it suits you. Stick with the bad boy vibe it¡¯ll save you from those awkward moments with the press when you don¡¯t know what to say.¡± With his killer looks and solid acting,n could just stand there and the public would already forgive him for anything. He didn¡¯t even have to sweet¨Ctalk anyone¨Cfans would flock to him no matter what. Ian stared at the two cards on the table and didn¡¯t say a word. Ynda wasn¡¯t expecting an answer from him just yet. She nced at her phone and said, ¡°Raelyn¡¯s waiting for you tonight. I¡¯m in touch with her agent on WhatsApp¨Cif you¡¯re not nning to go, just give me a heads- up so I can let them know.¡± Ian picked up the room key, his tone cool. ¡°If I go sleep with someone else, I won¡¯t really belong to you anymore. Would you still want me then?¡± Ynda felt her throat tighten. Whenever the topic turned to men and women, Ian always made himself sound so unworthy. Sometimes, she almost believed he actually cared about her. But how could that be? Before she decided to get back to work, she¡¯d only met Ian once¨Cand she could barely even remember his face. They hadn¡¯t even been in touch during their two¨Cyear marriage. There was no way he could actually have feelings for her. She¡¯d long since stopped expecting anything from men. Her career was all that mattered now. But Ian was young, and he needed a straight answer. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to be my first?¡± he asked, his voice low and direct. Even when Ynda was crazy about Charles, she never dared to be this blunt. She pressed her lips together, saying nothing. Ian set the room key down on the table and slowly pushed it back to her. ¡°I¡¯m not taking this,¡± he said, his voice low but firm. Then he grabbed her bank card. ¡°But this two million? Guess that makes me your kept man now.¡± Ynda nearly forgot how to breathe. Titan 95 Chapter 95 Ian took the card and headed upstairs. Ynda stood alone in the living room, feeling like she was just some heartless yer. 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 nced 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¨Cterm? It¡¯s all upside for him, no downside. Go check¨Cevery guy who¡¯s ever been linked to her has seen his career skyrocket.] Ynda 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¨Cway 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¡¯ting 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¨Ckey¨Cif 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 nce. She was always the one calling the shots in situations like this. It wasn¡¯t about trading her body for favors or career moves¨Cshe 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¨Can A¨Clist actress with real talent. Any guy she picked was usually more than happy to say yes. Butn 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 Read full story at find?novel : (78) 55 vouchers even expensive, and before all this online buzz, he was practically a nobody¡ªthose guys barely scrape by. Dig up anything that could be his Achilles¡® heel.¡± Now she just had to have him¨Cher pride wouldn¡¯t let her back down, and the thrill of the chase was too tempting. Who knows, maybe after just one night,n would be the one hooked and begging for more. Brittany didn¡¯t mess around¨Cshe went out and followed Ian herself, and actually managed to find the care facility where his mom was staying. 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 worktely? Why¡¯d you suddenlye 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¨Cshe 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 be, 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¨Che 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 78 55 vouchers After a long silence, she finally spoke. ¡°If he everes looking for you, just try to be polite, okay? Ian, you¡¯re his son too¨Cyou deserve a share of thatpany. 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¨Clied 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¨Che 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 Ie to, I¡¯m scared out of my mind. Ian, it¡¯s not that I still hope for anything from him¨CI 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.¡± Ìï Titan 96 When Ynda returned to Moonbay Estate, she didn¡¯t ask when Charles would be home. She ate alone at the table. After just a few bites, Charles came back. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was just her imagination, buttely, he seemed to be traveling less and less. ¡®Where are Sophie Sutton and Vivian?¡® she wondered. She frowned, but when she looked up, her expression had already softened into a sweet smile. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re home so early tonight? How¡¯s your mom doing?¡± she asked. Charles handed his coat to the servant and replied tly, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t care about her.¡± She didn¡¯t, but she had to put on a show. Charles nced at the table loaded with food, lowered his eyes, and sat down beside her. ¡°You don¡¯t wait for me to eat anymore?¡± Back then, no matter howte he came home, Ynda would always foolishly wait up for him. Sometimes, he¡¯d be out with his mistresses, having so much fun he¡¯d forget all about home¨Cand her. He wouldn¡¯t even bother to call. When he finally dragged himself back in the morning to wash up, he¡¯d always find her curled up alone on the couch. The servants would say she¡¯d waited until midnight, refusing to eat a single bite by herself. Charles never felt guilty about it. He never asked Ynda to wait¨Cit was all her own doing. When ites to love, the one who cares more is always the one who gets hurt. Somehow, Ynda had stopped waiting up for him. She actually seemed morefortable just being home by herself. That thought unsettled him. They had known each other for fifteen years. Ever since Ynda was brought back to the Grant residence, she¡¯d been just an essory in his life. Checktest chapters at findnovel He gripped her chin, making her look at him. ¡°You can eat even when your husband isn¡¯t home?¡± Ynda had no idea what was up with him. She just smiled and served him some food. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, right? Eat up.¡± Charles lowered his eyes and ate the piece of meat she¡¯d given him. Ynda asked the servant to bring another te and fork, but she passed her used fork to Charles and took a fresh one for herself. Charles couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was somehow put off by him. ¡®How could Ynda possibly be put off by me?¡® he thought. 55 vouchers They¡¯d been married for two years, but they barely slept together. Every time, she had to quietly ask if he wanted to, and only then would he agree. Ynda was always reserved about this kind of thing, too shy to make the first move. The only time you¡¯d see any real emotion on her face was when she finally managed to ask. Once every two months, like clockwork. Now, though, it¡¯s been almost three months¨Cand she hasn¡¯t said a word. He took a few bites and then stopped. Ynda sat beside him, her head down, attention glued to her phone as she quietly messaged someone. He was hardly ever home, but whenever he was, she always sat quietly beside him, never making a fuss. Charles frowned, turned to see her still messaging, and asked, unable to hold back, ¡°Who are you chatting with?¡± Without even looking up, she replied, ¡°Megan Carter. You¡¯ve met her before, right? She¡¯s pregnant, and her husband¡¯s totally unreliable. I¡¯m just worried about her.¡± He took her phone and nced at the screen. Sure enough, it was Megan Carter. He didn¡¯t even know why he was doing it. Ynda finally looked up at him, smiling as she slipped her arm around his. ¡°Babe, can you make me president of Starlight Entertainment?¡± she asked with a sweet smile. To Charles, Starlight Entertainment was just a tiny piece of his whole business. He didn¡¯t really care about it, but parachuting someone in like that would definitely piss off the people over there. Business stuff just wasn¡¯t Ynda¡¯s thing. She was better off staying at home, looking pretty and keeping quiet. He stayed silent, but she tugged at his sleeve, her voice sweet and coaxing. ¡°Can¡¯t you let me? Your family¡¯s business empire is massive, and Starlight Entertainment is just a small part of it. My studio hasn¡¯t really taken off yet, so let me work there for a while. I want to pick out a few promising talents.¡± He found her request amusing and kept his tone soft. If you didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think they were the perfect couple. ¡°You want to steal my talent away?¡± he said. : 78 E55 vouchers She lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together. ¡°I heard some gossip that the higher¨Cups at Starlight Entertainment have been giving the talent a really hard time.¡± ¡°Trying to be the savior now?¡± he teased. Ynda hated the way he acted so above it all, like nothing ever touched him and everyone else was just beneath his notice. She stood up, about to head upstairs, but Charles grabbed her and pulled her right back into his arms. ¡°Well, look at you¨Cfinally got some attitude. Who¡¯s been teaching you to talk back?¡± Her heart gave a little jump, and she turned her gaze away. ¡°I can¡¯t always be the way I was before. You never liked that, did you?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, keeping her pressed against him. For the first time in ages, he actually felt that old urge stirring inside. ¡°Honestly, I like you better this way,¡± he murmured. Ynda felt a little sour inside. Charles¡¯s sweet talk could melt any woman, not just her. With a face and background like his, who could me her for falling so hard? It was just too easy to think it was love. Charles loosened his tie and cupped her face, leaning in for a kiss, but she turned her head away. His expression darkened, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°You in a bad moodtely?¡± Actually, she¡¯d just been texting Sophie Sutton. With Charlesing home so often these days, she really didn¡¯t want him hovering over her all the time. If Charles ever caught wind of Ian Foster, she couldn¡¯t even imagine what he¡¯d do to her. A golden boy like him could never tolerate betrayal¨Che¡¯d ruin her without a second thought. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s that time of the month,¡± she said. Charles never bothered to keep track of her cycle. Even if she used that excuse three times a month, he¡¯d never notice. Right then, his phone buzzed¨Cit was Sophie Sutton, calling toin that she¡¯d hurt her hand and it was killing her. Charles was already irritated and needed an outlet. If his wife wasn¡¯t interested, he¡¯d just turn to someone else. He got up, falling back on his usual excuse. ¡°I¡¯ve got some work to do at the office.¡± He leaned in and nipped at her lips. ¡°Finish eating and get some rest. Don¡¯t stay upte when it¡¯s that time of the month.¡± 10:34 Sat, Sep 20 ¡­ She hummed in response. 7) 55 vouchers Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed he was actually wearing that watch. He¡¯d swapped out the old strap for a new one since the original didn¡¯t fit. Charles took a few steps, then suddenly turned back. ¡°I¡¯m off to workte at the office. You know, you could¡¯ve just acted cute and made me stay.¡± Ynda turned back to the table, her face nk. ¡°Go focus on your work. As your wife, I wouldn¡¯t want to be a burden to you.¡± Charles¡¯s expression darkened. Later that night, even as he tried to lose himself with Sophie Sutton, nothing felt right¨Cno matter what he did, there was this lingering difort he just couldn¡¯t shake. Ynda¡¯s words stuck with him, pricking at his mind like a thorn. 10:34 Sat, Sep 20 Titan 97 Z?(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¨Cat 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 respondedzily, ¡°Yeah.¡± Sensing Charles was in a funk, Sophie snuggled into his arms. ¡°Is your wife getting on your nerves again?¡± She¡¯d thrown out slyments like that before¨CCharles 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 wasid¨Cback, 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 voicezy. 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, shing him a coy grin. ¡°All I need to do is keep you happy, Charles.¡± Charles appreciated her tactful attitude¨Cit 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¨Cclearly the kidnapper. ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ve got your sister. If you want her back in one piece, you better trade her for your wife,¡± the voice threatened. 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¨CI don¡¯t even know where I am! I think they¡¯re after Ynda; it¡¯s gotta be something she did, and now I¡¯m the one getting dragged into this. Charles, you have to help me, please¨CI¡¯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 chillingugh. ¡°We don¡¯t want your money, Mr. Sinir. You have two hours to deliver Ynda 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. ***** Ynda 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¨Cnighter at work tonight?¡± Charles fixed his gaze on her face for a second, blinked, then reached out and took her wrist. ¡°Come with me,¡± Charlesmanded¨Cno room for argument in his tone. Ynda struggled by reflex. ¡°Let me change my clothes.¡± ¡°No,¡± he said tly, his grip unyielding. She was still in a nightgown¨Cso thin and flimsy, she felt totally exposed. Charles pulled her straight into the car. Seeing Jack in the front, just as silent and grim, Ynda 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.¡± Ynda¡¯s movements froze. She stared up at him,pletely stunned. ¡°What did you just say?¡± 10:34 Sat, Sep 20 73 EL 55 vouchers Charles¡¯s fingertips traced her cheek, his voice soft but totally cold¨Cblooded. ¡°Ynda, the guys we¡¯re dealing with are extreme. Renee¡¯s my own sister. I can¡¯t risk anything happening to her.¡± Ynda 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, Ynda fixed her gaze on him, voice trembling with anger. ¡°Charles, we¡¯ve known each other for fifteen years¨Cnot 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 p him, but her fingers were shaking so badly the blow barelynded, her anger and fear making her weak. Charles gripped her shoulder firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Ynda 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¨Ccounting 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. Official source is FindN0vel Ynda couldn¡¯t believe just how badly Charles had let her down. All those feelings she¡¯d had for him turned into the cruelest p¨Cand 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¨CCharles 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¨Calways picking fights, always out to make her life miserable. Back when Ynda 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¨Clearning 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¨Crelentless sniping, barbed words at every turn. She¡¯d bent over backwards for Renee, May, even Grandma Flora¨Cended up being a total joke herself. She thought, ¡®If you keep putting yourself down, you can bet everyone else will too.¡® Ynda wiped at her eyes¨Cno tears, just this sour, furious ache twisting inside. Charles pulled her in tight, his tone calm butmanding. ¡°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 After a long while, she finally looked up; her eyes were just nk. ¡°Fine.¡± Titan 98 Charles couldn¡¯t stand the look in her eyes¨Cit was an icy indifference, the kind thates 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 isted stretch outside the city. A couple of headlights lit the ce up, with only a single road leading in¨Cand 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. Sinir, we got a lookout on the road you came in. If you brought anybody else, your sister dies right here¨Cno bluffing. Let¡¯s not y 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¨Cit hurts so much I could die!¡® Renee thought, pain and panic flooding her senses. Ynda had been on her way, still half¨Cconvinced 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?¡® Ynda 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,¡± Ynda 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. 55 vouchers She wasn¡¯t made of stone¨Chow could she not feel hurt and wronged by all this? Charles looked down, hisshes 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¨Clike 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. ¡®Bute on¡­ Ynda 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¨Cthere 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. Ynda walked right up to the kidnappers. The one in charge had a wedge¨Cshaped, unsettling face, cold gleam in the whites of his eyes, and lines on his face carved deep as scars. Heughed like a fiend and yanked Ynda over, locking her in his iron grip. Renee was finally released, and she nearly copsed as she crawled toward Charles, tears streaming down her face. The kidnapper dragged Ynda into the car parked behind the trucks¨Cnow the road was totally blocked off, so Charles couldn¡¯t get through. Ynda 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¨Cone 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¨Cthose two were her only hope. She had no one else to call for help. Th?s chapter is updated by F¦Énd£Îovel 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¨Cjust handed his wife over. Tell you what, in your next life, don¡¯t marry someone like him.¡± The kidnappers burst into cold, nastyughter, but that quickly turned to brutal seriousness. ¡°Call that guy- tell him Ynda¡¯s in our hands. Let¡¯s see if he falls for it. Damn, we finally got some leverage!¡± Ynda 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¨Cfast. Or we¡¯ll take turns with her and tear her to pieces. What was her name again? Oh yeah, Ynda! And let me tell you, she¡¯s fucking gorgeous!¡± 10:34 Sat, Sep 20 It was on speakerphone, so Ynda heard every word. 4778 55 vouchers Normally,n¡¯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 Ynda.¡± He hung up instantly, utterly decisive. The kidnappers all whipped their heads toward Ynda, and the tall,nky one snapped a p right across her face. ¡°Hell no, that¡¯s impossible! We saw those two making out in the car¨Cno 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!¡± Ynda reeled from the p, her mind numb and unable to make sense of anything. She¡¯d wondered about just about everyone¡ªmaybe some old enemy from the Grant family¡ªbut 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¡ªmaybe 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 des 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¨Cits view blocked by the tangled trees. Ynda rattled around in the backseat, every bump making her want to puke¨Cher 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¨Ceyes locked on her like she was next on the chopping block. ¡®God, I swear if one of those deses near my neck, it¡¯s over for me,¡® she thought, heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe. Ynda took a shaky breath, forcing herself not to cry. ¡°Seriously, you guys have got it all wrongn 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 p 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!¡± Ynda mped her mouth shut, realizing these guys hatedn with a passion. Every extra word out of her mouth was just another p waiting to happen. Titan 99 The real destinationy beyond this forest¨Ca second stretch of woods where, back in the day, there was an abandoned factory. Charles¡¯s helicopter circled overhead, but thanks to the thick canopy and the darkness of night, there was no way to spot the car below. Charles sat in the car, with Renee sobbing uncontrobly beside him. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that bitch! I won¡¯t let her get away with this! Charles, please, just divorce her! Just do it!¡± she wailed. ¡®She¡¯s so noisy.¡¯ Charles thought, his tone airy and indifferent as he snapped, ¡°Shut up.¡± He turned to Jack, his voice t. ¡°Take her to get bandaged. Stop the bleeding.¡± Jack wasted no time getting Renee into another car and speeding her off to the hospital, the severed finger thrown into a bag with them¨Choping the docs might be able to reattach it. Pressing his fingers to his temple, Charles calmly radioed the helicopter team to send in more reinforcements. These people came seriously prepared¨Ceven the helicopter couldn¡¯t catch them. This was no ordinary kidnapping crew. When Ynda was taken to the destination, she noticed the men in the back had all swallowed something- who knew what kind of drugs those were? But she knew one thing for sure: tonight, she¡¯d have to fend for herself. She didn¡¯t get what kind of beef these guys had with Ian. Still, one thing she was sure of¨Cshe had never seen who Ian really was. ¡®I¡¯d never truly understood what Ian was like,¡® Ynda thought, her mind racing. In the beginning, when they¡¯d first started out, he¡¯d always held himself back,pletely innocent when it came to anything intimate. But then, she became so straightforward, almost overwhelming¨Ceven a bit possessive, if she was being honest. But just now, he¡¯d been so cold, so distant. He was a walking contradiction, like every side of him was just an act. Oh, right. She¡¯d almost forgotten¨Cshe was born to be an actress, after all. She scoffed at herself internally. ¡®Ynda, how did you forget something this important?¡® Ian¡¯s acting skills could put most of today¡¯s so¨Ccalled ¡°method actors¡± to shame. E55 vouchers Ynda barely had time to shut her eyes before someone hurled her down¨Cthe roughnding almost sent a jagged rock slicing across her cheek. Once those guys popped the pills, their tempers red¨Csuddenly, everyone was wound way too tight, like they were about to explode. ¡°I don¡¯t believe for a second thatn doesn¡¯t care about that bitch! He¡¯s totally faking it¨Cacting like he doesn¡¯t give a damn. Fuck! We¡¯re gonna record every second of this. If he so much as lets slip that he cares, he¡¯ll fall apart. I¡¯ll make him pay for everything he did in the past!¡± one of the men spat out. Ynda clung to a rock, ying up her vulnerability. ¡°Come on, guys, I just kissed Ian ¡®cause I kind of had to -work reasons, you know? I¡¯ve already got a husband, and he tossed me into this mess. Life¡¯s been rough, trust me. If you¡¯re gonna do me in here, could you at least clue me in first? Ian screwed you over, he¡¯s messed with me too. Can¡¯t we at least have some honesty before the end?¡± The men traded looks before the leader snorted, yanking up his shirt to show off a nasty scar. ¡°See this? That rabid bastard did it. Guy¡¯s totally unhinged¨Cheard his mom was some trash everyone slept with. I never understood why he¡¯s so damn intense. Said a couple things about his mom, and he went at me with a knife like a mad dog. Shit! If I hadn¡¯t ducked, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here.¡± Just talking about Ian had the guy looking sickly pale, like the memory genuinely haunted him. Another thug kicked at a stone and snarled, resentment etched all over his face. ¡°Makes no sense¨Chow could that psycho ever care about women? No matter how hot you are, you¡¯re not his type. When he fought underground, tons of girls chased after him, and he didn¡¯t sleep with a single one. Always acted broke, too. All we wanted was to team up, split the take after each job, but that lunatic refused, wanted the whole thing for himself. My brother mouthed off and called him a bastard, and that¡¯s when things went south.¡± This was a version of Ian she¡¯d never even imagined. Ynda almost started to think these guys were just making stuff up. Ian was no docile little rabbit¨Csure, he had his stubborn side. But he¡¯d never cross the line and treat someone¡¯s life like it meant nothing. Ynda swallowed hard and gave a crooked smile. ¡°I just thought he was hot, figured maybe I¡¯d keep him as a boy toy for a few days. Turns out he¡¯s way crazier than I guessed.¡± The men cracked up, and the tall, skinny guy stepped forward. ¡°You wanted to taken for yourself? Any idea what happened to thest woman who tried to make him her personal ything?¡± Ynda shook her head, looking genuinely scared. The man sneered. ¡°Her face gotpletely ruined. Nobody ever figured out who did it, but right before it happened, she¡¯d just tried druggingn¨Cwanted to have her way with him. Makes you wonder who did it, huh?¡± ¡®Goosebumps shot up my arms, Ynda thought, suddenly creeped out to the core. Seeing that Ynda genuinely had no clue, the guy was just about to dish out more secrets when suddenly, gunshots echoed through the night. 10:35 Sat, Sep 20 :. 78 55 vouchers. The group turned sheet¨Cwhite and scrambled to grab Ynda and run, but a bullet mmed into the dirt right in front of their feet. He froze, jolted by the shot, his eyes frantically scanning the shadows. n Foster, is that you?! Fuck! You psycho, are you seriously shooting at us?!¡± he screamed. Before he could move, another bullet tore into his leg¨Ca deliberate warning, not meant to kill. He shut up real fast. When there was a gun in y, numbers didn¡¯t mean shit. The instant those gunshots erupted, Ynda scrambled to her feet and dashed straight into the forest, heading the opposite way from the men. She wasn¡¯t about to wait around like some damsel in distress¨Cnobody wasing to save her. But those guys weren¡¯t about to let her get away. They split up, two of them got shot, and thest one went charging straight after Ynda. Ynda barely made it ten steps before someone viciously grabbed her by the hair, jerking her backwards. ¡°You bitch! Still got the nerve to run? Try that again and I¡¯ll cut your throat open right now!¡± the guy spat. The cold edge of a knife pressed against her neck, and his eyes were wild¨Ctotally on the edge. He whipped out a pill bottle, face twisted and nasty. ¡°Swallow this shit. I¡¯m gonna use you right in front of Ian. If he doesn¡¯t give a damn, he won¡¯t bother showing up. I bet he¡¯s just pretending not to know you¨Che¡¯s full of shit! Fucking psycho!¡± Ynda¡¯s mouth was pried open, and the bottle of drugged water was forced down her throat. The guy freaked at the sound of more gunshots and, acting on pure panic, tackled her without thinking. Ynda snatched up a rock and cracked him across the head, her eyes icy and unflinching. He reeled from the blow, tried to p her, but she drove her foot right into his stomach. Ynda scrambled up and bolted, but her whole body started going numb. After running maybe ten meters, her knees buckled and she had to lean against a tree, almost dropping to the ground. A hand suddenly grabbed her by the waist¨CYnda went rigid, heart pounding, but then she recognized Ian¡¯s voice. ¡°Ms. Grant.¡± His tone was low, almost gentle. To Ynda¡¯s ears, his voice sounded no different from the devil¡¯s. ¡°Let go of me! Get off!¡± she screamed. Her hand flew up,nding a sharp p right across his cheek. 78 55 vouchers Ynda sat there on the ground, watching as Ian just froze for a few seconds before finally reaching out to steady her. Ian¡¯s voice was low but urgent. ¡°Did they talk shit to you? Ignore everything they say. Those guys have been after me forever, just babbling crazy garbage. I¡¯ve already called the cops¨Cthey¡¯re legit insane. If you don¡¯t believe me,e to the police station yourself. It¡¯s not the first time they¡¯ve done this, trust me. Back then¡­ years ago, they went after my mom. I was so pissed, I snapped and ended up hurting them.¡± He let his eyelids fall, looking pretty hurt. ¡°It¡¯s just me and my mom¨Cwe¡¯ve always only had each other.¡± Ynda¡¯s rage slowly ebbed away. Hugging her knees, she felt her whole body burning up. Ian gently pulled her into his arms, his tone soft. ¡°I promise you, I never lied. Whatever they told you¨Cdon¡¯t believe them.¡± Ynda¡¯s mind went hazy. Nestling into his neck, she mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m burning up¡­¡± This content belongs to f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Titan 100 ¡®ll take you home,¡±n said softly. Ynda murmured her agreement, settlingfortably into his arms. 55 vouchers Ian held her close, about to lead her away, when the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. His gaze grew cold as he looked up and saw Samuel Grant. Samuel was still in his suit, almost merging with the darkness around him. He approached slowly, concern shing in his eyes as he saw Ynda nearly losing control. ¡°Yoyo?¡± he called out. At the sound of her brother¡¯s voice, Ynda¡¯s body tensed, and she slowly lifted her gaze. ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m not feeling so well,¡± she murmured. Samuel¡¯s gaze lingered on Ian, as if he wanted to say something but held back. Without another word, he said sternly, ¡°Come with me.¡± Ian stood his ground, holding Ynda even closer. Samuel took a few steps forward, and when he still didn¡¯t hear anything, he slowly turned back. ¡°Just bring her ande with me. I¡¯m her brother.¡± Ian¡¯sshes fell as he nced over at Ynda, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Ynda suddenly reached up, cradling his face with both hands, and pulled him into a heated kiss, her tongue slipping past his lips without warning. Samuel, lurking a short distance away, caught sight of them and nearly winced¨Chis eye actually twitched in shock. Ian jerked his head away at first, but something shed across his mind; a beatter, he leaned right back in and kissed her fiercely. Samuel just stood there, lit up a cigarette, and after ten long, awkward minutes, finally blurted out, ¡°Maybe I should just¡­ head out?¡± For a guy as self¨Cassured as him, even saying that was way out of character¨Cit was obvious he genuinely had no idea how to deal with this. His disciplined, usually reserved little sister was getting all passionate with another man right under his nose, and he honestly had no clue whether he was supposed to put a stop to it or just turn a blind eye. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦Énd£Îovel Ian kept Ynda firmly in his arms and obediently trailed after Samuel. Samuel seemed perfectlyposed at first nce, but if you looked closer, you¡¯d notice his steps were a bit stiff. His car was parked a short distance away, tucked away in a secluded spot. 55 vouchers Ian lifted Ynda into the car, holding her tight in his arms the whole time. She was practically falling apart, arms locked desperately around his neck, sobbing as she pleaded for him not to leave her. Ian kissed her again, softly reassuring her, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about everything when we get home, alright?¡± Samuel, still dressed in his suit, stood outside the car, unable to resist the urge to smoke. He almost never smoked. Lighting up was the only thing that seemed to calm him down. He hesitated for a moment, then after sparking up, finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ian. I¡¯m her talent,¡± Ian replied. ¡°Oh,¡± Samuel said. He took a slow drag from his cigarette. The sound of their kissing was still ringing in Samuel¡¯s ears, grating on him like nails scraping a chalkboard. After thinking for a moment, he gave in, climbed into the back seat, and told his assistant up front, ¡°Drive.¡± The car started moving slowly. The back seat was spacious, but with three people squeezed in, it felt way too small¨Cespecially since one of them was totally out of it. Ian held Ynda in his arms, whispering gently and doing his best to calm her down. Ynda, though, couldn¡¯t sit still. She lifted her leg and let it sprawl right across Samuel¡¯sp. Samuel, cigarette pinched between his fingers, felt his leg twitch and quietly, without a word, slid it away. Ian and Ynda were practically hogging most of the back seat. Ynda was a handful¨Ccrying, with her shoulder still streaked with blood from that fall, looking like aplete wreck. Ian suddenly nced over at Samuel. Their gazes collided in the air: Samuel¡¯s was serious, tinged with confusion, whilen¡¯s was dark and almost savage. ¡°Just turn around, man. You really shouldn¡¯t be watching.¡±n said. Samuel tried to say something, but honestly, he had no idea what to say¨Che couldn¡¯t even put this feeling into words. 55 vouchers Samuel turned to stare out the window, pulling out his phone to call his team, quietly telling them to get Charles¡¯s guys out of the way. If Charles were the one sitting here right now, he¡¯d probably have already lost it and be out for blood. But Samuel didn¡¯t feel like actually killing anyone¨Cwhat he felt was this weird, ufortable mix of emotions he couldn¡¯t even put into words. It was just¡­ awkward. He just gave up and shut his eyes, trying to tune everything out. A few minutes went by like that before Ynda¡¯s voice snapped him out of it. ¡°Ian, you¡¯re just the best,¡± Ynda blurted out, her voice thick with adoration. Samuel¡¯sshes quivered; he wanted to open his eyes, but honestly¨Che just couldn¡¯t make himself do it. ¡®Seriously, what am I even supposed to do right now?¡® he thought. He¡¯d never felt anything like this before; it was impossible to even put a name to it. Suddenly, a hand yanked at his suit. He looked down¨Cit was just Ynda. She was clutching the hem of his suit in a death grip, creasing it up. He turned away, looking out the window, all the while catching snippets of her voice¨Csometimes gushing overn, sometimes whining about how miserable she was. By the time the car finally pulled up to Samuel¡¯s ce, two hours had passed. Ynda was starting toe to her senses, but honestly, she¡¯d rather just smash her head against something and knock herself out instead of being awake right now. Ian finally let out a dramatic sigh of relief, whining, ¡°Come on, if you¡¯d stayed out any longer, my arms would¡¯ve turned into stone from holding you!¡± The words were barely out of his mouth before Yndanded a solid p across his cheek. Samuel, at this point, had lost track of how many cigarettes he¡¯d chain¨Csmoked, and honestly, he didn¡¯t even know what to say anymore. Ian crouched down in front of Ynda like a scolded puppy, rubbing his cheek with pitiful eyes. ¡°Why¡¯d you just hit me outta nowhere?¡± ¡®Honestly, Ynda thought, if the heavens could just open up and smite me right now, that¡¯d be perfect- anything to escape this mortifying disaster! She raked her fingers through her hair nervously, there was no way she could even nce at Samuel¨Cher face was burning with embarrassment. The car was dead silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Samuel opened the car door with a stern look, hesitated for a few seconds, then finally said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we get out first?¡± 10:35 Sat, Sep 20 ¡­ :. Ian tried to help Ynda out, but she pushed him away. Undeterred, he leaned over again. Samuel didn¡¯t even bother looking back, just walked straight into the house. If Ynda didn¡¯t have nerves of steel, she probably would¡¯ve fainted from all this right now. (78) 55 vouchers Ian didn¡¯t back off, just kept holding her, teasing, ¡°Seriously, what are you so scared of? He¡¯s not gonna eat you.¡± Ynda just yed dead, honestly wishing she could drop dead for real. Ian swept Ynda into his arms and strolled right inside, acting like her panic didn¡¯t bother him one bit. In the living room, Samuel was seated on the couch, tapping the cigarette ash aside with controlled calm. He set the cigarette down and spoke a single word. ¡°Sit,¡± he instructed, his tone steady and unmistakably in charge. The living room lights were zing, making it impossible to hide anything¨Cevery emotion on their faces was out in the open. After how dark and cramped the car had been, now it felt like someone had thrown on a floodlight and exposed all the awkward secrets. Ynda lookedpletely disheveled, her clothes rumpled, her whole vibe a wreck. Samuel motioned for someone to bring over some coffee. None of them said a word. AD Titan 101 Ynda kept her head bowed, feeling the weight on her shoulders like a sword about to drop. ¡®I just hope I don¡¯t mess up, she thought nervously. After ten long minutes, Samuel finally spoke. ¡°Ian, I¡¯ve been searching for you for ages.¡± ¡°Mr. Grant, you must be joking,¡± Ian responded calmly. Ian¡¯s reply was crisp and confident; he showed no sign of backing down in front of Samuel. It was as if the two of them stood on perfectly equal ground. Ynda kept her head down, but she was all ears, catching every word. Samuel set his cup down and shot Ian a look. ¡°So, you wanna be a star now? Chasing fame, huh?¡± Ian grinned mischievously and leaned against Ynda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d rather be her secret lover. Is that allowed?¡± Ynda stiffened all over, almost tempted to drop to her knees before Samuel in sheer embarrassment. Samuel let out a soft ¡°hmm,¡± as if he didn¡¯t know how to respond. After another half¨Cminute of silence, Samuel finally said, ¡°You won a ton of cash from my gambling house back then. Never thought your real name wasn.¡± ¡°Spent it all ages ago,¡±n answered with a carefree shrug. Samuel leaned back, giving a thoughtful hum. ¡°Want to have this chat upstairs?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Ian replied, getting up and shooting a look at Ynda, who was still keeping her head down. Ian got to his feet and nced over at Ynda, who remained silent with her head bowed. He crouched down next to her and said, ¡°Ms. Grant, just sit tight. I¡¯ll be back down in half an hour.¡± Ynda¡¯s mind was in total chaos; she couldn¡¯t even bring herself to look at Samuel. All she could do was give a dazed nod, feeling lost and anxious. In the study, Samuel idly turned the ring on his thumb, his presence radiating a calm maturity that maden¡¯s wild streak stand out even more. Ian was like a wolf who¡¯d grown up in the untamed wilds¨Che desperately tried to hide the feral instincts beneath the surface, but the little things always betrayed him. Neither of them said a word, the silence stretching out like a tug¨Cof¨Cwar that neither side wanted to lose. 12:13 Sun, Sep 21 ¹«ˆ@ Finally, Samuel spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll hand over Crimson Gallery to you. Think you can handle it?¡± Crimson Gallery was wheren used to fight underground. But it wasn¡¯t just about bare¨Cknuckle brawls¨Cthe ce had a whole gambling operation too. The club was massive and famous all across Beloris, but nobody ever knew who actually called the shots behind the scenes. Once you stepped inside, even the big shots had to y by the rules. And when you got into the ring, it was kill or be killed¨Cnobody cared about anything but surviving. Samuel ended up with this headache by chance, but he still hadn¡¯t found anyone up to the job of running it. They called it a hot potato for a reason¨Cthe ce drew people from every walk of life, most of them up to no good. Only someone ruthless enough could keep it under control. The Grant Family was all about running respectable businesses in public, so Samuel couldn¡¯t afford to be associated with a shady operation like this. But Crimson Gallery was a goldmine, and Samuel was reluctant to let it go. Samuel was ambitious¨Chungry for power above all. Ian was silent for a moment, his tone even. ¡°I want an even split. Fifty¨Cfifty.¡± ¡°Forty¨Csixty. Plus, you get Yoyo,¡± Samuel shot back. ¡°Deal.¡± Ian didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Just make sure Charles stays in the dark about this. If he goes off the rails, trust me¨Cnobody can rein him in,¡± Samuel warned. Charles hadn¡¯t noticed a thing yet. He was only acting on what he¡¯d picked up after fifteen years of knowing Ynda. He thought he was always one step ahead, but now the tables had turned¨Cthe hunter had be the hunted. Ynda had no idea what those two were plotting upstairs. She was restless, barely able to sit still¨Cespecially with this being Samuel¡¯s ce. She swallowed hard, feeling so nervous it was like all the water in her body might just evaporate. Sure enough, half an hourter Ian came down. He walked up to her and said, ¡°Ms. Grant, let¡¯s go.¡± Ynda felt a wave of relief when she saw Samuel hadn¡¯te down. She pulled her coat tighter around herself and was about to leave when Samuel¡¯s voice stopped her. He stood at the top of the stairs, his expression serious. ¡°Yoyo, Charles will be here any minute.¡± 12:13 Sun, Sep 21 ??? youchers Ynda froze. After everything that had happened tonight, just hearing Charles¡¯s name made her heart ache. It was clear¨Cshe couldn¡¯t leave with Ian. Ian had to go first. Ynda bit her lip and sat back down. Ian brushed a kiss across Ynda¡¯s check before heading out, leaving her heart pounding. Samuel watched everything unfold, then, aftering downstairs, took off the coatn had given Ynda and draped his own over her shoulders instead¨Ciming her without saying a word. Ynda¡¯s whole body grew rigid, bracing herself in case Samuel started interrogating her. But Samuel didn¡¯t ask anything at all. The silence between them was thick and electric. Five minutester, the doorbell chimed. It was Charles¨CYnda instinctively straightened, nerves on edge. Samuel¡¯s voice was chill, seasoned with a mature edge. ¡°You can¡¯t hide the truth forever.¡± Charles would figure it out sooner orter. Ynda spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯m going to grow my studio, save up some cash, and figure out my exit n.¡± ¡®I¡¯ll just head overseas, anywhere really¨Cthere¡¯s no way Charles can reach me out there,¡® Ynda thought. Samuel shot her a look, and for a moment, it hit him¨CYnda was the most innocent soul in this whole scene. She¡¯d gone and tangled with Charles, and now she had the guts to poke at Ian¨Ca total mad dog if there ever was one. If she kept ying with monsters like this, one day they¡¯d chew her up and spit out the bones, and there¡¯d be nothing left of her. Samuel muttered inwardly, ¡®Just how on earth would she ever get herself out of this mess?¡® Official source is fin?novel He rubbed his temples, kept his silence, and simply told the servant to open the door. When Charles stepped in, his whole vibe was heavy and brooding. He locked eyes with Samuel for half a minute, then let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Well, Samuel, looks like you¡¯re quicker than me this time.¡± Samuel¡¯s people had managed to hold him off for forty minutes¨Cthey¡¯d done their best. Charles yanked Ynda over with possessive urgency, swept his gaze along every inch of her, finally zeroing. in on her lips. Her lips were a little swollen. Charles wasn¡¯t blind¨Cdangerous anger red in him, his stare slicing through the room and locking cold and deadly on Samuel. Samuel curled his lips in a bitter half¨Csmile. ¡°This is how I got Yoyo back.¡± 12:13 Sun, Sep 21 Charles¡¯s grip tightened for a split second, then he pulled Ynda into his arms and growled out, ¡°Mine ¡°Thanks,¡± he said coolly, not bothering to hide the edge in his voice. Back in the car, Charles shoved Ynda hard into the seat. Her face burned, scrambling with hands and feet to push him away. His gaze was cold as ice. He mped her chin between his fingers. ¡°Who touched you?¡± Ynda felt nothing but disgust at that moment; she just looked away without answering him. The air inside the car grew icy and oppressive. Charles¡¯s face was dark and menacing, and you could see the chaos roiling in his eyes¨Clike any second he might just snap. As soon as the car rolled to a stop outside Moonbay Estate, he grabbed Ynda and pulled her roughly into his arms. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Ynda blurted out, panic trembling in her voice. But she was so weak, she couldn¡¯t put up much of a fight. Charles set her down in the bathtub, then cranked the cold water on full st, sending chills through her until she was shaking all over. Just then, his phone buzzed¨CVivian was calling. He didn¡¯t even nce at it, just kept dousing Ynda¡¯s face with cold water, relentless and merciless. Ynda couldn¡¯t open her eyes, blindly iling; in her panic, her handnded against his cheek in a weak p. Charles pressed his thumb rough against her lips, eyes zing red with fury. ¡°Where else did he touch you? Say it!¡± Ynda wiped cold water off her face, her heart thumping with fear¨Che was terrifying now, savage violent. and She knew Charles¡¯s gentle side was nothing but a front. If he wasn¡¯t ruthless to the core, there¡¯s no way he could keep those scheming Sinir uncles in line. Ynda just felt so cold, her whole body starting to tremble, weak and helpless. ¡°Hubby, I¡¯m cold,¡± she whispered, her voice quivering with desperation. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her face ashen and drained. Charles stiffened¨Clike her words had cut straight through all his anger. Instantly, the fury melted away. Without another word, he switched the water to hot. 12:13 Sun, Sep 21 Titan 102 Ynda¡¯s hands grabbed hold of his cor, hershes lowering as she buried her face in his neck. ¡°You didn¡¯t want me.¡± The droplets clinging to her skin soaked through Charles¡¯s clothes. A strange ache tightened in his chest. He lifted a hand and gently patted her back. ¡°Were you scared?¡± ¡°Yeah, if it hadn¡¯t been for my brother, who knows what would¡¯ve happened¡­ I kept struggling and they couldn¡¯t do anything to me, just stole a kiss,¡± she said, her voice rough, her eyes hazy with fear. But really, her thoughts were drifting to those kisses with Ian, wondering what he was truly like underneath it all. She reminded herself¨CIan¡¯s acting skills were something even she and Simone Sinir agreed were unmatched. She¡¯d have to watch her back with him. Still, there was no denying it. The guy just knew how to get under a woman¡¯s skin. ¡°Tsk, dangerous men are always like this. Once they start flirting around, it¡¯s hard to tell what they¡¯re really thinking.¡® Ynda mused to herself, her guard instinctively rising as she recalled Ian¡¯s charms. ¡®Well, goes to show¨Conce people start ying around outside, they can¡¯t help but resent the ones waiting at home. No wonder Charles finds the temptation of wildflowers too hard to resist,¡® Ynda thought to herself. ¡®Can¡¯t really me Charles for getting lost in all those outside attractions, can I?¡® she mused. ¡°Charles, I¡¯m so scared,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling. Charles gently patted her back in a reassuring way, trying to ease her fears. Ynda wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d really managed to soothe him. Charles could be a real piece of work, but whenever she acted all fragile and scared, his temper would melt away, and he¡¯d toss out a line like, ¡°Ynda, you¡¯re pretty adorable when you¡¯re like this.¡± Charles used to get a kick out of seeing her afraid, messing with her just to watch her fluster and freak out. But once she caught on to his game, she worried that showing him her messy side would make him lose interest, so she put on a brave face and swallowed it all down, refusing to let him see her fall apart. She kept bottling up those feelings, until one day, there was nothing left¨Cjust numbed out, totally empty inside. And that¡¯s when Charles would get bored of her, just like that¨Close interest and move on. He tossed the showerhead aside and cradled her face in his hands, his voice soft and teasing, ¡°Look at your lips, all swollen from my kisses.¡± He¡¯d been so rough just now, kissing her until her lips were nearly rubbed raw. 12:13 Sun, Sep 21 She looked so small and helpless, her pitiful expression could melt even the hardest heart. And as heartbreak washed over him, something hotter and deeper started to stir underneath. There was a reason the Grant family chose Ynda¨Cshe just had that irresistible aura about her. With that look in her eyes, she was basically begging for trouble. Charles scooped her up and dropped her onto the bed. Ynda instantly turned white, her whole body twisting as she fought to break free. ¡°Let me go! Get your hands off me!¡± 2633 Charles pinned her wrists above her head, his voice full of teasing provocation. ¡°So you won¡¯t let me kiss you, huh? Or did you enjoy someone else¡¯s lips more?¡± ¡®Shit, this guy is such an asshole!¡® Ynda fumed inwardly. Huge tears streamed down her cheeks, one after another. Charles froze instantly. If any of his other flings had dared to say no to him like this, he would¡¯ve kicked them out of bed without a second thought. But Ynda was crying, and that pissed him off. What pissed him off even more was himself¨Cbecause those few tears had somehow softened his heart. He stopped moving and let go of her wrists. Her lips were even more swollen now. Charles looked smug, giving her cheek a teasing squeeze. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Starlight Entertainment what you wantedst time? Take it¨Cconsider it a littlepensation.¡± Ynda¡¯s mouth hurt like hell, and she wanted nothing more than to p him across the face. But she held back. After all, she¡¯d won Starlight Entertainment out of it. Charles might be a cold¨Chearted bastard, but when it came to throwing money around, he was generous as hell. ¡°Thanks, hubby,¡± Ynda muttered, a hint of forced sweetness in her voice. ¡°You¡¯re really thanking me for something so trivial?¡± Charles teased with a chuckle. With a satisfied littleugh, he figured that settled everything. He pulled the nket over them both and held her close, as if locking the moment in. Ynda turned over to face away from him. Truly worn out, she quickly slipped into sleep. 12:13 Sun, Sep 21 (63 Vouchers When she woke up, there was a brand¨Cnew phone on the nightstand, SIM already swapped out¨CCharles must¡¯ve had Jack Nn handle it. She rubbed her eyes, powered it on, and spotted a message from Ian. [Ms. Grant, the guys fromst night have been taken in by the police. Do you need toe down to the station?] She freshened up, then just stared at the message, zoning out for a while. After what happenedst night, Ynda just couldn¡¯t treat Ian like some regr guy anymore. Megan had said before that Ian used to throw himself into bare¨Cknuckle underground brawls, like he didn¡¯t care if he lived or died. And from the way Samuel actedst night, it seemed he definitely knew more about Ian than he¡¯d ever let on. ¡®Seriously, though¡­ how did I just happen to pick up a guy like him off the street and take him home?¡® Ynda thought, a little freaked out. She knew she had to head down to the station. After a quick bite, she made her way there. Those guys had been handed over to the police by Samuel. If Charles had gotten his hands on them, he wouldn¡¯t have yed nice¨Che¡¯d go to any lengths to force out why they¡¯d really gone after Renee, and the truth about Ian would¡¯ve spilled whether anyone liked it or not. But Samuel had gotten to them first, and even with all his power, Charles couldn¡¯t risk crossing the government. Plus, this wasn¡¯t just any police station¡ªSamuel had friends in high ces there. So whatever came up during questioning, you could bet it¡¯d all get spun so the kidnappers just looked like they had beef with Samuel and wanted to mess with the Grant family, nothing more. As soon as Ynda walked into the room, she heard a bunch of guys confessing and cursing the whole time. ¡°It¡¯s all Ian¡¯s fault! That bastard¡¯s twisted, actually pulled a gun on us! You gotta lock him up¨Cguns are illegal here, and that lunatic¡¯s just dangerous!¡± ¡°His mom¡¯s a bitch, and he¡¯s no better¨Ca total piece of trash, rotten to the core!¡± ¡°Shit! Next time we get the chance, we¡¯reing after him again!¡± The cops listened to all their cussing and mouthing off, frowning and looking pretty pissed. Ynda walked in and politely asked the interrogating officer, ¡°Hi, officer, did you get anything out of them about Ian?¡± The cop shook his head, sighing. ¡°Nope. These guys, it¡¯s not their first rodeo¨Cthey¡¯ve been after Ian plenty of times and done more than a dozen stints behind bars. No matter what we ask, they just keep cursing their heads off, actingpletely unhinged. Honestly, they¡¯re probably nuts.¡± : 10 vouchers Ynda nodded to herself. ¡®Let¡¯s be real, nobody in their right mind would ever go after Renee Sinir like that,¡® she thought. The guys being interrogated suddenly caught sight of Ynda and their eyes nearly popped out of their heads. ¡°Holy shit! There¡¯s actually someone who survivedn? No freakin¡® way! That rabid dog would never care about anyone¨Che has to be faking it! Dammit! Ian, I¡¯ll never forgive you, not as long as I live! Damn it! Waaa-¡± Their words dissolved into panicked sobbing. By the end of their cursing, these grown men actually burst into tears, AD ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?ndnovel Comment Titan 103 Chapter 103 ¡°Megan, how are you feelingtely?¡± Ynda asked. 12 10 vouchers She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Greg had really stopped causing trouble. Guys like him don¡¯t change overnight. But now that Megan was pregnant¨Cand with hormones in the mix¨Cshe was even more glued to him than before. Megan was quiet for a few seconds before she replied, sounding totally content. ¡°He¡¯s been home with me. every day. Is the studio giving you any trouble?¡± ¡°Not really. Ian isn¡¯t blowing up yet, so it¡¯s not like there¡¯s a ton happening. Charles handed me Starlight Entertainment, so I¡¯ll go over and take charge when I get the chance. Is Greg with you right now?¡± ¡°Nope, he went out to get me some tofu pudding. I just suddenly had a craving for it.¡± ¡°Okay, just make sure to look after yourself. By the time your babyes, I¡¯m sure our studio will be running like clockwork,¡± Ynda said. Starlight Entertainment might not be much in the eyes of the Sinir Group, but in the entertainment scene, it was far from a nobody. Back in the day, they helped turn unknowns into movie kings and queens. But over the past five years, the instant. After hanging up, Ynda decided to head to the hospital to bring William back to the orphanage. His health was slowly improving, but staying at the hospital while worrying about the kids was actually slowing down his recovery. She drove into the parking lot, but before she could even get out of her car, she spotted a man wearing a mask lurking nearby, looking suspicious. Thest argument she¡¯d had with Greg was still fresh in her mind. She was almost sure it was him. Her heart tightened. There was no way Greg showing up here was just a coincidence¨Che was probably waiting on purpose. She lowered hershes, and as a thought crossed her mind, a cold glint shed in her eyes. Greg was still lurking, scoping out the parking lot with that sketchy, stakeout vibe, when¨Cwham!-something mmed into the back of his head. ckness crashed over him, and he dropped t, unconscious. When he finally came around, the reek of gasoline filled his nostrils. He nced down in panic¨Che was drenched in the stuff. Ynda was standing right beside him, gripping his lighter tight. Greg¡¯s pupils contracted in raw terror. He reflexively parted his lips for a scream, but before any sound escaped, Ynda¡¯s voice cut in cold: ¡°You so much as make a noise, I¡¯ll set you on fire.¡± 12:14 Sun, Sep 21 10 Vouchers The lighter flicked on with a snap, and a tiny me sprang to life, hovering dangerously close to his gasoline- soaked clothes. His face turned ghostly pale, and he trembled, not daring to utter a single word. The wound on his head was still throbbing, but he kept his mouth shut, not daring to say anything that might piss Ynda off. He swallowed nervously, worried that me woulde for him at any moment. Ynda stared him down. ¡°Greg, I¡¯m going to ask, you answer. If Megan hadn¡¯t begged mest time, I swear you wouldn¡¯t be standing here now. This is your final warning.¡± Greg¡¯s reply was barely more than a breath, afraid even a hint of loudness would piss her off. Ynda was even crazier than those loan sharks. He was genuinely scared stiff. ¡°Who put you up toing after mest time?¡± Ynda¡¯s voice was cold. Greg¡¯s lips quivered. For a second, he thought about sticking to his denial¨Cbut then he saw her chilling smile. ¡°How much are you into those people for? I¡¯ll bail you out, but don¡¯t kid yourself. If they set you up once, they¡¯ll do it again. I¡¯ll pay for you this time, but next time? You think you¡¯re gonna get a second chance, but from the beginning, you were just their prey. To them, you¡¯re beneath notice¨Cjust a disposable pawn to mess with me.¡± Ynda flicked the lighter in her hand, her eyes steady as ice. ¡°Megan¡¯s carrying your baby. I called her just now¨Cshe said you went out for tofu pudding. She keeps reminiscing about how good you used to be. Makes me wonder: how does someone who was once so decent turn into this? Was it gambling that ruined you, or were you always this kind of person and just kept your real self hidden all along?¡± Greg started struggling, shouting, ¡°What the hell would you know?! Maybe I¡¯m trash to Megan now, but I was genuine as hell before! If I¡¯m lying, let lightning strike me! Who the hell are you to erase my past¡ªwho hasn¡¯t been proud, or na?ve, once in their life?!¡± His cheeks burned with humiliation. He¡¯d taken plenty of shame as a gambler, but somehow, right now, it stung worse than ever. Ynda pped him¨Ctwice, sharp and loud. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t tied you up today, let me guess¨Cyou were gonna do the same to me, pull the same sick stunt you triedst time?¡± Greg bit back his words, jaw clenched, eyes burning red. ¡°Just you wait!¡± Smack! Another p, echoing through the room. Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel Ynda sneered, ¡°You only know how to bully women. If anything happens to Megan one day, it¡¯ll be all on you¨Cyou¡¯ll be the one who ruins her.¡± She kicked the chair over with a crash and stomped her foot hard on his chest, holding him down. Greg started out yelling a couple of times, but soon he just curled up, shivering and barely making a sound. His resistance all but vanished, and he stayed silent, just hunched over, not daring to speak. 12:14 Sun, Sep 21 Ynda lost her patience. ¡°Spit it out¨Cwho put you up toing after me?¡± 20 ¡°Say it!¡± Ynda snapped. ¡°Boss Sheng¡­ I heard them call him that on the phone. I still owe them three million. Don¡¯t let Megan find out¡­¡± Greg finally muttered. ¡°Card number,¡± Ynda demanded. She sent the money right away. ¡°This is thest shot you¡¯re ever getting. If there¡¯s even a shred of decency left in you, think about your kid. If not, I¡¯ll make sure you vanish from Megan¡¯s life¨Cand your kid will grow up calling someone else ¡®dad.¡± Greg curled up on the ground, jaw locked in silence, trembling uncontrobly. Ynda walked out, not bothering to check his restraints. She hadn¡¯t tied them tight¨Che¡¯d be able to get free after a bit of squirming. She went upstairs to sign William out of the hospital, only to see an iing call from May on her phone. May was probably calling about Renee Sinir. Who knows what kind of trouble she was getting into back at the Sinir mansion¨Cendless scolding and, most likely, another round of getting forced to kneel as punishment. Ynda was just over it. She used to bend over backwards for the Sinir family because she was into Charles, but now she couldn¡¯t care less, so why keep letting them walk all over her? She set her phone to mute. If anyone asked, she¡¯d just shrug and say she never even heard it. AD Comment Send gift No Titan 104 ¡­ : E55 vouchers After handling William¡¯s discharge from the hospital, Ynda personally drove him back to the orphanage. As she was about to leave, William held her hand tight and said, ¡°Ynda, is everything okay between you and Charles? You two hardly spend any time together these days. If anything¡¯s making you unhappy, just let me know. If it gets too much, we can call it quits¨Cit¡¯s perfectly fine to live on your own. Don¡¯t feel like you have to stay with a man just for the sake of it.¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes grew red on the spot. Living in this circle, she¡¯d felt all too clearly the malice toward women- especially since she was a Grant. William had devoted most of his life to the orphanage and never really understood how women thought. Back when Athena was still around, she¡¯d be the one Ynda confided in. Athena had plenty of her own ideas. Back then, Ynda was always chasing after Charles, never trying to hide the way she looked at him¨Cso obviously in love. Athena would hold her hand and say seriously, ¡°That boy doesn¡¯t seem the type to settle down with anyone. Ynda, you have to look out for yourself. Love isn¡¯t always enough. If something ever feels wrong, it¡¯s best to get out while you still can.¡± The elders always had razor¨Csharp insight into people¨Ca talent that meant Ynda and Charles¡¯s fate was sealed long before they even realized it. But at the time, Ynda didn¡¯t buy it. She thought that marrying Charles would mean he¡¯d be hers, but he kept chasing women outside their marriage, one after another. He wouldn¡¯t even let her nurse her heartbreak -just ruthlessly tore away fifteen years of love without a second thought. All those years of Athena¡¯s guidance, and she¡¯d let her down in the end. Ynda dropped hershes, schooling her face into a perfect, unbreakable smile¨Cno cracks, no hint of pain. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, William. The minute everything¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll file for divorce,¡± she promised, resolute on the inside though calm on the surface. If she tried to break free now, the Grant family would never let her go. The pressure from them was suffocating. Renee and the Andrade manor would be just as ruthless. For now, being Charles¡¯s wife was the only shield she had¨Cno matter how flimsy, it was all that stood between her and a storm. As she was about to leave, Ynda noticed Joey peeking out timidly from behind a tree. He called out in a small, shy voice, ¡°Aunt Ynda, thank you for bringing Grandpa William back.¡± A smile tugged at Ynda¡¯s lips, her heart nearly melting from the sweetness. ¡°No need to thank me, Joey. You must¡¯ve really missed Grandpa William, right? Come on, go join everyone inside,¡± she replied warmly. Just as she was about to get in the car, she spotted a vehicle in the distance suddenly floor it¨Clike a maniac- ande barreling straight for her. Bang! 55 vouchers The car must¡¯ve lost control, because it crushed half her front bumper, then veered off crazily in Joey¡¯s direction. The edge of the car mmed into her thigh, blood blossoming instantly¨Cbut Ynda didn¡¯t have a second to care. Her eyes darted to where Joey was standing. The car crashed straight into the orphanage wall. Ynda went paper¨Cwhite and hurried over, only to see Renee mber out of the car, barely keeping her footing. Her face was twisted in a harsh snarl, eyes shing with a toxic hatred. Renee spat, ¡°Ynda, if it hadn¡¯t been for you, I never would¡¯ve lost a finger! Now everyone¡¯s going to mock me¨Call because of you. I swear, I won¡¯t ever forgive you for this!¡± Renee was clearly losing it. Ynda rushed over to Joey, who¡¯d just been knocked aside by the crash, scooped him up, and hurried him into the car. Her hands were shaking badly as she tried to start the engine. Renee, still decked out in her high¨Cend dress, scrambled onto the hood, blocking Ynda from leaving. She shrieked, ¡°If that kid dies, so what? I wish it had been you instead!¡± ¡°Ynda, why did you have to marry into our family? You made my brother sick of me, made me a cripple! I swear, I really hate you!¡± She still obsessed over the finger she¡¯d lost because of Ynda, desperate to ruin anyone connected with her. Ynda cradled Joey in her arms and mmed a hand down on the horn, her voice shaking: ¡°Renee, move it! Let me get Joey to the hospital, now!¡± Renee arched an eyebrow, all smug and defiant. ¡°Go ahead, hit me if you dare! I¡¯d love to see if the Sinirs or Grants let you walk out of that mess alive.¡± Renee only got cockier, like she basically owned the world¨Cshe¡¯d never had to eat defeat twice from anyone. And now this humiliation wasing from some girl who used to moon over her brother? ¡®No way am I swallowing this. Not ever,¡¯ she seethed to herself. Ynda threw the car in reverse, then mmed forward, sideswiping Renee with a brutal crunch before tearing out of there. Renee¡¯s leg broke with a sickening snap, but she stayed on her feet, standing there and screaming curses at Ynda. Ynda¡¯s mind was eerily calm as she rushed into the hospital with Joey in her arms. But Joey never even made it into the emergency room. The nurse took one look, barely hesitated, and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. Start making arrangements for him,¡± she said, voice t. Ynda just froze, mindpletely nk, unable to say a word. This update is avable on find?novel 56 EX 55 vouchers She sank into a chair, her clothes stained with blood, while her phone just kept ringing and ringing. Ynda stayed there until nightfall, totally lost, not sure what to do with herself. Her phone was blowing up, practically ready to shut off from all the calls. She blinked away the sting in her eyes and picked up when William finally called. His voice trembled on the other end. ¡°How¡¯s Joey?¡± Ynda tried to speak, but her throat was so tight, she couldn¡¯t get a word out. William was silent for a long time on the other end¨Cfinally, his voice came through, soft and shaky: ¡°I know, Ynda. I know.¡± Ynda shut her eyes and let herself slump back into the chair. The blood on her hands was dry now, leaving only the sharp, coppery tang clinging to her skin. Joey¡¯s body was taken to the morgue, and as Ynda walked out of the hospital, she spotted Charles and May stepping out of a luxury car. May was trembling with rage, her hand raised toward Ynda¡¯s face, ready to p her. Ynda, who would never have defended herself before, grabbed May¡¯s wrist before she could strike. May¡¯s chest heaved with anger. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, breaking Renee¡¯s leg! You and Charles are getting a divorce¨Cright now!¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes lingered on Charles, exhaustion and determination mingling in her gaze. Charles stepped forward, gently cing his hands on May¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go check on Renee first,¡± he said, trying to calm her down. May red at Ynda like she was her worst enemy. ¡°Wife, go home,¡± Charles said, his voice cold as ice. He still used the word ¡°wife,¡± but there was zero warmth in his tone. Ynda could tell he was truly angry now. Back at Moonbay Estate, Ynda took a shower, but when everything went quiet, she couldn¡¯t sleep. Shey there, nerves still raw, haunted as if the blood refused to wash off her skin. She scrubbed herself three separate times, but the sticky, metallic stench of blood just wouldn¡¯t let go. The scrape on her thigh burned fiercer with the hot water, the pain sharp, like acid biting into her skin. 56 E55 vouchers Her mind was numb, struggling to ept how Joey¡¯s body had slowly grown cold in her arms. She lost track of time, only to notice someone quietly standing at the doorway. Charles turned on the bedroom light and slowly sat down at the edge of the bed. He reached over, letting his fingertips brush her cheek¨C¡®She must¡¯ve cried herself raw, he thought, feeling at stab of sympathy. Then, softly, he asked, ¡°Have you been crying?¡± Ynda stayed quiet, listening as he said, ¡°The Sinir family gave the orphanage 600 thousand. That kid had no parents, so I tried to convince William to handle things privately.¡± There was a mark on his face, like he¡¯d been hit¨Cprobably from his meeting with William, which clearly hadn¡¯t gone well. William had always been good to every kid at the orphanage. If it weren¡¯t for him and Athena¡¯s protection, none of those children would¡¯ve grown up safe. During the holidays, he¡¯d always bring presents, and everyone would get together to make dumplings. Charles had evene with Ynda once, back when Joey gave him a handmade puzzle as a gift. But Charles probably never gave it a second thought¨Che couldn¡¯t even remember Joey if you asked him. That kid was just background noise to him. After all, even ying the loving couple with her was nothing but a performance. Everything between them was strictly for show. I Ìï Titan 105 Chapter 105 Ynda¡¯s throat was burning, so sore that she couldn¡¯t even get a word out. 55 vouchers Charles stood in front of her, gently ruffling her hair. ¡°Tell William there¡¯s no need to call the police. Let¡¯s not make a big scene out of this.¡± She found it almost hrious, but just as she was about to reply, Charles spoke again. ¡°The orphanage has been in that part of town for years. Truth is, the lease on thatnd expired six months ago¨Cit was supposed to go up for auction, but I bought the rights. It¡¯s pretty remote, and I haven¡¯t figured out what to do with it, so it¡¯s just sitting there.¡± That statement was a in threat. Charles held the rights to thatnd, and if he wanted, he could kick the orphanage out any time. Right now, there were more than thirty kids living in the orphanage, plus William, the director. Finding a ce for all of them would be tough. Even if she had cash, it was Charles¡¯s money anyway. If he wanted to, he could freeze her ount in a heartbeat. The Sinir family was just too big and powerful. Ynda and William together were nothing more than a drop in the oceanpared to them. Charles¡¯s fingers gently gripped her chin, tilting her face up. ¡°Renee hasn¡¯t been doing welltely. I¡¯ll have someone keep an eye on her so she doesn¡¯t sneak out again. Ynda, talk to William about this, okay?¡± Ynda looked up at him. Charles thought he caught a faint trace of hatred flicker in her eyes¡ªas if he might be imagining things. He froze, wondering if he¡¯d imagined it. ¡°Charles, don¡¯t you think this kind of move is messed up?¡± she asked. ¡°Are you saying this is my fault?¡± he replied. ¡°How could I dare?¡± she muttered. He pulled her close and kissed her hair. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll have Jack pick out some new bags for you. If you¡¯re feeling down, just head out and go shopping or something.¡± Ynda just felt powerless. She forced a half¨Csmile, turning her back to him. ¡°600 grand to buy a life¡ªif Renee can finally sleep, I guess that¡¯s worth it.¡± Charles¡¯s face turned grim. ¡°So what do you want from me? She¡¯s the Sinir family¡¯s daughter, you know that. I can¡¯t just trade one life for another.¡± ¡°How could I even dare ask that, Charles? I¡¯m just exhausted. I just want to sleep,¡± she muttered. 13:32 Mon, Sep 22 N : Charles looked at her for a long moment, then simply turned and walked out. As soon as the door closed, Ynda¡¯s phone started ringing. It was William. She really didn¡¯t want to pick up, but she had no choice. 56 E65 vouchers ¡°Ynda, Mr. Sinir came to talk to me. He wanted to settle this off the books¨CI told him to beat it. But after thinking it over, maybe this is all we can do. You¡¯re caught in the middle, and there¡¯s no way we can win against him. I refused the 600 grand. I just can¡¯t stand the thought of Joey crying in my dreams at night. That¡¯s it, Ynda. Let¡¯s just leave it,¡± William said, sounding tired. Ynda opened her mouth, but in the end, she couldn¡¯t say a word. William sighed on the other end and hung up. Shey in bed, utterly exhausted and drifted off, only to wake up the next day to find several new messages from Renee on her phone. Renee had sent over photos¨Cincluding shots of Charles sitting by her bedside, taking care of herst night. May was in the pictures, too. But that¡¯s just how the Sinir family was with Renee¨Cspoiling her from a young age, never letting anything bad happen to her. [Ynda, too bad I didn¡¯t finish you off¨Cnow that pathetic kid paid the price instead. Heard you knew him. I hope he haunts your dreams! Get this straight: no matter what I do, the Sinir family¡¯s always on my side. My brother would never fall for you. Ever.] Ynda stared at the screen, feeling nothing at all. She shut off the disy, letting the phone drop onto the bed. She got up, got ready, and went with William to the hospital to retrieve Joey¡¯s body. They took him for cremation, then went out to pick a grave. William looked like he¡¯d aged ten years in just a few days. Standing at Joey¡¯s gravestone, his back was hunched, and his hair was now all white. Back then, he didn¡¯t have this much white hair. Ynda ced some snacks at the grave, then set the flowers down beside them. William touched the stone, wanting to say something, but ended up just sighing and waving her off. ¡°Ynda, I watched you grow up all the way to ten years old. I know exactly what kind of child you are. Let it go this time, okay? Don¡¯t make me worry about you, please,¡± William said, unable to hide his concern. Ynda pressed her lips together and forced a smile. ¡°William, I won¡¯t do anything. You have my word.¡± ¡°Maybe not now, but sooner orter, you will. I know you too well. Back when my wife was on her deathbed, I tried to visit you at the Grant family¡¯s mansion, but Mrs. Grant blocked me at the door. She wanted you to just forget about the orphanage. Life here has always been tough¨Cmy wife and I truly cared about you, but we barely had enough to eat, splitting a single bun between us. Most kids who get adopted by a rich family 13:32 Mon, Sep 22 N ¡­ : 56 55 vouchers would¡¯ve cut us out for good, but you, you kepting back. You¡¯ve got stubbornness deep in your bones. Even after the Grant family paid us to stay away, you sent gifts here over and over. My wife always brought you up, saying you were the only one she couldn¡¯t stop worrying about.¡± Out of all these children, Ynda was the most sensible¨Cnever crying, never causing trouble. William took her hand and gripped it tight. ¡°Take my advice. Live your own life. If things ever get too hard for you, just get a divorce. From now on, just bring some flowers here every year. Joey was a good kid¨Che wouldn¡¯t ever me you for it.¡± Ynda managed a weary smile, taking his arm gently. ¡°Come on, William. I¡¯ll drive you back to the orphanage.¡± William just couldn¡¯t tell if she¡¯d truly taken his words to heart. As he settled into the car, he turned his back and quietly wiped away his tears, hoping Ynda wouldn¡¯t notice. Ynda drove him back to the orphanage, then called someone in to fix up the marks left by the car crash. Some of the kids who¡¯d witnessed Joey¡¯s death that day hade down with fevers and still needed extra care. By the time she made it back to Moonbay Estate, Ynda was absolutely wiped out, but she couldn¡¯t force herself to go inside. So she headed straight for Ian¡¯s ce instead. Tonight, Ian still wasn¡¯t home¨Che was probably stuck at work, shooting a scene somewhere. This content belongs to F¦ÉndNovel Ynda copsed onto the couch. When Ynda woke up, her head was resting in someone¡¯sp. She blinked sleepily, only to catch a glimpse of Ian¡¯s impossibly handsome jawline above her. He had a script in one hand, while the other was gently massaging her scalp, his touch soothing. Ynda tried to sit up, but Ian softly pushed her back down. ¡°Just rx for a while. You were having a bad dream,¡± he murmured. Ian grabbed a tissue from the side table and wiped away the sweat on her forehead, his movements tender. ¡°You didn¡¯t just have a nightmare¨Cyou were talking in your sleep, too,¡± he said, concern in his voice. Ynda kept her eyes closed, her lips feeling dry. Ian picked up a ss from the table, took a sip of water, then leaned down and passed the water to Ynda mouth to mouth, letting it flow softly between their lips. He didn¡¯t move away immediately, lingering to trace her lips with his own, letting the moment stretch out with gentle intimacy. Ynda didn¡¯t resist. ¡­ 56 E55 vouchers The kiss was soft and tender. After they parted, Ynda sat up slowly. Ian set the ss down and went back to flipping through his script. ¡°Your husband called earlier,¡± he said casually. Ynda nced at her phone¨CCharles had indeed called twice. She didn¡¯t call him back, just leaned back against the couch. It was already midnight. Ian leaned in, set his script aside, and gently rubbed her temples. ¡°Got a headache?¡± ¡°A bit,¡± Ynda mumbled. ¡°Want me to kiss it better?¡± he teased, still massaging her head. But just as he was about to get closer, Ynda stopped him. ¡°Ian, let me just be quiet for a bit.¡± Ian paused and pulled back fast. ¡°Did Charles give you a hard time?¡± AD Titan 106 ¡°What did you say to my brother that day?n, was it really just a coincidence that I picked you up?¡± Ynda pressed him. Ynda wondered what kind of personn really was. Was he the sullen, cold guy she met at first, the daring and reckless man he¡¯d shownter, or was he the one right now¨Ctrying to stir up trouble between her and Charles? She wasn¡¯t stupid; she knew exactly what he was up to. ¡°Ms. Grant, do you really think I approached you on purpose?¡±n asked. She didn¡¯t have the energy to dwell on it. Closing her eyes, she said, ¡°I¡¯m tired. Let me sleep here for a bit.¡± She let herself fall onto the couch, and in the next moment, his lips pressed softly against hers. He gently parted her lips and explored with careful tenderness. She kept her eyes closed, offering only a vague, indifferent response, before he pulled away. Ian got up, grabbed a nket, and draped it over her. The phone next to her rang again, probably Charles calling. But he never really had much patience for her; it barely rang twice before he hung up. Charles set his phone down, the private room thick with the scent of expensive liquor. Quinn Cooper leaned in with a sly grin, his fox¨Clike eyes glinting mischievously. Quinn said, ¡°Calling Ynda, huh? Did you two have a fight or something? No way¨Cwith how soft she is, she¡¯d never have it in her to argue with you.¡± Quinn slouched back with a sigh, saying, ¡°Honestly, she hates going out. If she showed up with you more often, she¡¯d totally catch on to all those girls you¡¯re seeing on the sly.¡± Quinn was a real flirt, from looks to personality¨Ca ssic yboy. That tiny mole on his nose only made his fox¨Clike charm stand out even more, making him look like he¡¯d break a heart or two without trying Charles rubbed his brow, that gentle smile never leaving his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s probably just pissed at me. Trust me, she never stays mad for long.¡± Quinn smirked. ¡°Seriously, seeing you always soid¨Cback, almost makes me wish you¡¯d finally trip over a girl one day. With all the womening and going around you, not even one¡¯s ever made you lose it?¡± Everyone in the scene knew Charles was proud, ruthless, and could charm just about any woman he set his sights on. But with so many flings, he never got stuck¨Cjust dropped them and moved on, barely missing a beat. 55 vouchers Honestly, people say he doesn¡¯t care much for Ynda, but the truth is, Charles never once considered divorcing her. ¡°Lose it? Me?¡± Charles lifted an eyebrow, a faint smirk appearing as something shed through his mind. ¡°They¡¯re just not quite it,¡± he replied, lips curling up. ¡°Tsk, poor Ynda¨Cshe¡¯s the innocent one here,¡± Quinn said. Leo sat quietly off to the side, just focused on a game on his phone, not saying a word. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find1Novel The private room door swung open as Samuel walked in. Quinn, quick as ever, changed the subject right away. Samuel was the same as always¨Cserious, never cracking a smile, shirt buttoned all the way to the top. He never joined in any girl talk; everyone knew he was a total workaholic, the sort who¡¯d crash at the office for a month without going home, almost freakishly strict about his job. But tonight, when the business talk ended and everyone started chatting about women, Samuel¡¯sshes barely lifted as he shot a nce at Charles. He only nced for a moment before lowering his eyes to his drink, that wild thought echoing in his mind: ¡°What if I became her side piece? Think she¡¯d let me?¡± Leo¡¯s voice came cold and mocking. ¡°You know, the ones who look all innocent are usually the wildest behind closed doors. Seriously, you guys better not get yed. Next time you pick a girlfriend, keep your eyes wide open, or you¡¯ll end up with someone who¡¯s been passed around way more than you¡¯d think.¡± Quinn pped Leo¡¯s phone with augh. ¡°Dude, why are you talking like you¡¯ve got a grudge against good girls? You sneak off, find a girlfriend, and she dumps you or something? Is that why you¡¯re so saltytely?¡± Someone jumped in, ¡°Maybe Leo just didn¡¯t find a real Miss Perfect. In all of Beloris, the only true goody two- shoes is Ynda.¡± Leo¡¯s face flushed crimson, lips thinned as he shoved his phone into his pocket and sneered, ¡°Heh, just you wait. I¡¯ll be watching.¡± He was just waiting for the day Ynda got caught in the act¨Cso he could make this whole crowd eat their words. Samuel shot Charles another look. Charles stayed out of the banter, eyes glued to his phone, nobody knowing what was running through his head. Ynda slumped onto the couch, refusing to budge. Ian was just about to scoop her up and take her upstairs when his phone suddenly rang. He stiffened for a moment, then carried Ynda up before answering the call. Whatever he heard on the other end made his expression sink. ¡°Wait for me,¡± he said. After Ian left, Ynda woke up, her head still pounding. She massaged her forehead and saw a string of snarky messages from Renee. E55 vouchers [Ynda, seriously, you can sleep through this? Everyone says you and that kid are tight, but I just don¡¯t see it. You¡¯re not even gonna shed a tear?] [Pathetic. Kids from the orphanage are never worth anything¡ªjust like you. Think about the life you lead. No matter how much the Grant Family tries to pretty you up, you¡¯ll never be good enough to step into the real world.] After firing off those messages, Renee was still fuming. She snatched up the vase in front of her and smashed it against the wall. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she just dropped dead yet?¡± Renee spat. May heard the noise from the doorway, heart hurting for her. ¡°Renee, don¡¯t let yourself get sick over this.¡± Reneeughed and cried at the same time. ¡°I lost a freaking finger, and my brother still won¡¯t dump that bitch! I can¡¯t take this. She¡¯s not getting away with it.¡± May sighed, pushed the door open, and pulled Renee into her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s just get you feeling better first,¡± May said softly. Renee¡¯s tears fell in heavy drops, her jaw clenched like she wanted to tear Ynda apart. Then a sharp gleam flickered in her eyes. With a cold sneer, she shot off a message to Grady. Thest time Renee went to see Vivian at the hospital, she snagged Grady¡¯s WhatsApp. Grady was trouble, and everyone knew it¨Chis reputation was all bad. He and Cedric were Vivian¡¯s muscle, ruthless through and through. But Renee didn¡¯t care at all. As long as Grady could get rid of Ynda for good, nothing else mattered to her. May kept patting Renee¡¯s back¨Cher hatred for Ynda ran deep. Buttely, what really weighed on her was Dn. He hadn¡¯t been home for ages, too busy keeping that woman under his protection. She pressed her lips tightly, unable to stop herself from trembling all over. Renee was in tears, but she noticed her mom¡¯s strange state and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Mom, are you okay?¡± May looked pale, waving her hand as if to brush it all away. ¡°I¡¯m just worn out. I worry about you, and now Charles is running thepany, things are still unstable. Let¡¯s not add to his troubles, okay? We¡¯ll deal with everythingter, alright?¡± Renee couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitterugh. Sure, she was showered with affection at home, but in the end, everyone knew this family always sided with her brother. ¡­ : : 56 55 vouchers She lowered her gaze, thinking, ¡®As long as Charles doesn¡¯t want Ynda gone, she gets to stay in the Sinir family as Mrs. Sinir¡® Heh, why her?¡® Renee sneered. Titan 107 Chapter 107 :.. Ynda returned to Moonbay Estate that night, but it was already two in the morning. When she got home, she ran into Charles, who smelled faintly of alcohol. 56 55 vouchers She took his coat and hung it on the nearby rack, her tone indifferent. ¡°I spoke to William. He won¡¯t press charges.¡± Charles reached out and ruffled her hair. ¡°You came back thiste just to handle that?¡± ¡°William cares a lot about that kid. It took me some time to convince him,¡± she replied. He swept her into his arms, a yful smile on his lips. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re really my perfect wife.¡± His sweet words didn¡¯t work on Ynda anymore. She nudged him upstairs. ¡°Go hit the shower, you reek of booze.¡± While Charles was taking a shower, he casually left his phone on the table. He never bothered to guard himself around Ynda. As she listened to the water running in the bathroom, Ynda picked up his phone and scrolled through the contacts. Just as she expected, ke Alston¡¯s number was right there. ke Alston was a street racer and total troublemaker. After he and Renee met, the gap between their backgrounds couldn¡¯t have been wider, but Renee was totally obsessed with him. That got Charles¡¯s attention ¨Che stepped right in, broke them up, and had ke sent away for good. Girls like Renee, raised with everyfort, always went for the wild types. And ke was exactly her kind of bad news: the fast cars, that face¨Che had more than enough to make anyone fall hard. Renee was just twenty at the time. After Charles split them up three years ago, ke vanished from the picture. No one knew where he¡¯d ended up, and Charles wasn¡¯t about to waste any effort worrying about him. Ynda memorized the number, then tucked the phone right back where Charles had left it. Just as she was about to step out, Charles came out, still rubbing a towel over his wet hair. With a towel slung low around his waist and water dripping from his hair, he caught her by the arm and pulled her back to him. ¡°Hey babe, if you¡¯re feeling down, how about we head out tomorrow, just us two?¡± Charles suggested yfully. ¡°You¡¯re actually free?¡± Ynda shot back, genuinely surprised. It was pretty rare for Charles to have any time off. 56 55 vouchers ¡°Yeah, the shipping project¡¯s nearly wrapped up. I¡¯ve got some free timetely. So¨Cwhere do you want to go? Your man¡¯s all yours,¡± he grinned. Ynda still couldn¡¯t tell what Charles was really up to. Whenever he went out of town for work, he¡¯d always invite his side piece along¨Cnever the wife stuck at home. She just pushed him away. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Charles picked up on her resistance, eyes narrowing with a hint of emotion as he let her go. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re not gonna stay in bed with me tonight?¡± ¡°Nope¨CI¡¯ll just end up kicking the covers off all night,¡± Ynda teased. He let out a softugh, guiding her hand to rest on his abs, her cool fingertips lingering against his warm skin. Ynda¡¯s fingers curled away, reluctant to make contact. Without warning, Charles pulled her into his arms and pressed her down onto the bed, his lips seeking hers with a burning heat. Ynda turned away, and his kiss brushed her cheek instead. Charles leaned over her, his eyes dark and intense, the air between them changing. He was like a velvet de -gentle enough to tease, but sharp and dangerous when he wanted to be. ¡°So, you¡¯re really gonna keep me at arm¡¯s length?¡± he murmured, voice low and raspy. ¡°I¡¯m on my period,¡± Ynda shot back, totally unfazed. Charles couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief, teasing as his hand wandered to test her im. ¡°Your period? Nine days and it¡¯s still hanging around?¡± His fingertips found her, and he let out a sly chuckle. ¡°Period, huh? You sure about that?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t look the least bit embarrassed to be caught lying. Instead, her eyes reddened and her voice trembled, ¡°I¡¯m just feeling awful inside¡­ I really don¡¯t want to. Is that okay?¡± Charles paused, then slowly pulled his hand away and hugged her, resting his chin on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re upset¡­ this is about that kid, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she murmured, her voice thick. ¡°Just send me a list of ces you want to go, whenever. I¡¯ll take you,¡± he offered gently. ¡°Okay,¡± she said softly. He held Ynda¡¯s face in his hands, his lips still trailing gentle kisses. ¡°Alright, no need to cry¨Cit¡¯s not like I¡¯m forcing you.¡± Charles couldn¡¯t shake off a wave of irritation that had no real reason behind it. 13:32 Mon, Sep 22 N : Ynda lowered hershes, looking every bit the wounded girl. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room.¡± EX 55 vouchers Charles pulled out a cigarette, watching her retreating figure. He ended up letting out a dry chuckle. ¡°Howe I¡¯ve never noticed you¡¯re such a crybaby?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t say a word. She just opened the door and left. Once the door was shut behind her, Ynda¡¯s tears vanished in an instant. She brushed her cheeks dry, her face cool and unreadable as she slipped back into her room. She picked up her phone and dialed ke Alston¡¯s number. The line rang, and soon a low, rough voice answered, ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wire you two million dors, all you have to do ise back and start messing with Renee again. Get her pregnant, make her toss the Sinir family and choose you. If she dumps everything for you, I¡¯ll give you another four million,¡± Ynda said with a cold, businesslike tone, not a hint of emotion. There was a long pause before ke finally spoke, his voice low and wary. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Buy your ticket now. I¡¯ll transfer you 600 thousand dors as a deposit. You weren¡¯t exactly happy when Charles had you sent away, right? Back then, you had a sick brother¨Chow¡¯s he doing now?¡± Ynda¡¯s voice was cool and matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ke was silent for a few seconds before letting out a dry chuckle. ¡°I only got close to Renee for the cash¡ªto pay for my brother¡¯s hospital bills.¡± ¡°What, you mean you don¡¯t need the money now?¡± Ynda pressed. ¡°Of course I need it,¡± ke snorted. ¡°Ever since I left the country, I¡¯ve needed cash more than ever. They don¡¯t do health insurance over here.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°If Ie back, Charles¡¯s gonna destroy me. You have no idea what that man is capable of.¡± He once shoved a gun right in my face. Didn¡¯t even need to say a word¨Cjust that look in his eyes was enough to freeze your soul.¡± ¡°ke, Renee just lost a finger. She¡¯s broken right now, desperate forfort. Six million dors¨Cyou just have to decide if you¡¯re willing to take it,¡± Ynda said coldly, no room for doubt in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m booking my flight as we speak, Miss Grant,¡± ke replied, no hesitation at all. ¡°Figured out it¡¯s me already?¡± Ynda asked, sounding a little amused. ¡°I¡¯d never forget your voice,¡± ke replied, voice husky with the weight of memory. Ynda frowned, thinking back. She¡¯d only ever met ke once¨Cback before she married Charles. That day, she¡¯d just happened to stumble upon ke and Renee together on a date, and Renee instantly panicked, threatening her to keep her mouth shut. Back then, ke was the picture of a reckless bad boy¨Cripped jeans hanging off his hips, bleached hair B ?¡¢(6) 55 vouchers spiked up, oozing rebellious vibes from every pore. Ynda, still believing that loving Charles meant looking out for his entire family, tried persuading Renee to make better choices. Renee just shot back a string of sarcastic jabs right in front of ke, who found the whole thing amusing. Then, not missing a beat, ke swung a leg over his motorcycle and pulled Renee up behind him. The good¨Clooking pair sped off,ughing like they owned the world and didn¡¯t care what anyone thought. The next evening, Charles took Ynda to the Sinir family home for dinner. Dn was still out of town, and May couldn¡¯t hide her disdain for Ynda, her face a storm cloud the whole time. Renee, on the other hand, lost her temperpletely¨Cshe smashed a te right on the table, jabbed a finger practically at Ynda¡¯s nose, and yelled, ¡°Get the hell out of here!¡± Just as Renee was about to unleash another round of insults, her phone rang. ¡°Charles! If you bring her here again, I¡¯m out¨CI¡¯ll run away and you won¡¯t see me back in this house!¡± Renee yelled, voice trembling with rage. Spitting out those words, she grabbed her phone and stormed out of the room. Ynda was the one who¡¯d asked toe tonight, and Charles would never turn her down for things like this. Just like she wanted, Renee stormed out. May mmed her fork down, her voice icy. ¡°You know Renee¡¯s a wrecktely. Why¡¯d you have to bring her here?¡± Charles just sat there, calm as ever. ¡°She¡¯s my wife. If she wants toe, it¡¯s not like I can stop her¨Cwe¡¯re still married.¡± May¡¯s chest rose and fell with anger, but deep down she knew Charles was a man of principle. She took a long breath, gave a cold smile. ¡°Enjoy your meal.¡± Ynda calmly picked up a rib and ced it in Charles¡¯s bowl. ¡°Here you go, hubby¨Chave some.¡± Charles shot her a quick look, grabbing his fork. ¡°Did that cheer you up?¡± He¡¯d already seen through her: Ynda came here on purpose, just so Renee would flip out the second she Updates are released by Find?Novel saw her. Ynda didn¡¯t say a word, so Charles grabbed her chin and made her look at him. ¡°So, did you figure out where you want to travel yet?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do the Middle East this time,¡± Ynda said, not missing a beat. Charles raised his eyebrows, not having expected that answer. 13:32 Mon, Sep 22 N : (56) 55 vouchers ¡°You realize it¡¯s zing hot there, and it¡¯s definitely not luxury resort territory,¡± he said, a little skeptical. ¡°I want to stay for ten days. That cool with you?¡± Ynda asked, totally unfazed. ¡°Ten days should be more than enough for ke to win Renee over, Ynda mused to herself. Titan 108 Seeing that Charles showed no reaction, Ynda lowered her head. ¡°Or we could just head to the neighboring city. I checked with Jack about your travel ns, and I saw that you¡¯ve got a business triping up there. There¡¯s this famous temple fair happening right now, and I¡¯m really interested in it.¡± She knew for sure Charles wouldn¡¯t want to go abroad with her, so she pivoted tactically. Charles just grunted, swiping his phone. ¡°We¡¯ll leave soon.¡± He really did have a meeting scheduled in the neighboring city, a coboration with the Andrade family¨Cand Vivian would be there too. As Ynda got into the car with him, she got a text message from Ian. [¡°I¡¯m heading out tonight too. I¡¯ll be filming in the neighboring city, and Ms. Sinir will be there.¡±] ¡®Well, isn¡¯t that perfect timing, Ynda thought. Ynda texted back, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s the Starlight Hotel.¡± Ian replied, [¡°You got it. Am I interrupting you and your husband?¡°] Ynda couldn¡¯t help but smile. When she looked up, she noticed Charles watching her. Her smile faded a bit, and she turned to look out the window. If she tried to exin who she was texting now, it would just make her look guilty, so she stayed quiet. Charles kept his cool, eyes still on hisptop as he spoke gently. ¡°You¡¯ve been pretty glued to your phely, haven¡¯t you?¡± Ynda replied smoothly, ¡°Just work stuff.¡± She let out a tired yawn, faint dark circles under her eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t started at Starlight Entertainment yet, so I¡¯m just trying to get a sense of how things work over there.¡± Charles scooped her into his arms and teasingly pinched her waist. ¡°Look at you, all serious about this.¡± ¡®Seriously? He always acts like everything I do is just some little game,¡® Ynda grumbled to herself. ¡®And the worst part is¡­ he¡¯s not wrong.¡¯ She lowered her head and closed her eyes. ¡°Not like you, always busy running the world.¡± Four hourster, the car pulled up to the city¡¯s best hotel. But when Ynda saw who was waiting outside, her mood soured¨Cit was Vivian. Vivian probably hadn¡¯t expected Ynda toe along. She tucked her hair behind her ear and started toward Charles¡¯s car, but when she saw Ynda get out with him, she stopped short, her eyes shing with hostility. 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N :. Charles had never brought Ynda on a business trip before. ?. 56 55 vouchers Vivian quickly put on a smile and walked up to Charles. ¡°Well, Mr. Sinir, bringing your wife along this time? That¡¯s pretty rare.¡± Charles¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile as he looked her over and then nced away. ¡°All healed up?¡± ¡°All recovered, thanks for your concern. The meeting room¡¯s set up¨Clet¡¯s go,¡± Vivian said. Ynda deliberately fell a step behind, watching Vivian stand close to Charles, talking to him with her head tipped up, her eyes full of obvious longing she couldn¡¯t hide. ¡®No way Charles missed that, Ynda thought. ¡®He¡¯s such a smooth operator when ites to women¨Che¡¯s seen that look a thousand times.¡® But when Vivian called, he always came running. Still, when it came to all his lovers, he treated them better than he ever treated me, his own wife. As the group crowded into the elevator, along with a few executives from both sides, it quickly got cramped. Vivian squeezed in next to Charles, ncing at Ynda, who was still outside. ¡°No room left. Mrs. Sinir, why don¡¯t you wait for the next one?¡± Vivian said. Ynda just smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, Vivian let out a mockingugh. ¡°Such a goody two¨Cshoes, huh? Mr. Sinir, did you bring her along just for a little entertainment when you¡¯re tired?¡± Charles¡¯s expression clouded over, his gaze turning icy. Vivian instantly realized she¡¯d gone too far and rushed to apologize, her tone a little nervous. ¡°Hey,e on, don¡¯t take it so seriously. I was just joking, okay?¡± Everyone headed off to their own rooms. There were two conference rooms on this floor for everyone to use -the meeting would be starting soon. Naturally, Charles and Ynda were sharing a room. Jack dropped off their luggage and heard Charles say, ¡°When Yndaes in, make sure she gets a room key.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Sinir,¡± Jack said. Charles changed into a new suit and made his way toward the conference room. But as he passed Vivian¡¯s room, she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. Rising up on her toes, she gave him a quick, heated kiss. ¡°You really are so cold¨Chearted! I was stuck in the hospital forever, and not once did youe see me.¡± Charles slipped a hand around her waist and gave it a teasing pinch. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re still alive, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ve definitely gotten skinnier.¡± 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N 56 55 vouchers Vivian tried to go in for another kiss, but Charles stepped back and gently pushed her away, checked his watch, and said coolly, ¡°Meeting time.¡± Vivian¡¯s face fell, but she knew better than to overstep. Charles hated drama from his lovers¨Ceverything had to go ording to his rules and timing. She¡¯d known Charles for years and understood exactly how he operated. She flipped her hair and said, ¡°Alright, I know how much this project means to you. Let¡¯s go.¡± Charles opened the door and saw Simone Sinir standing outside. He stopped in his tracks. ¡°Aunt Simone.¡± With so many people from both Simone¡¯s side and Charles¡¯s, the whole floor felt like their territory. She hadn¡¯t expected to bump into Charles here. ¡°Charles, are you here on business?¡± Simone asked. She looked Vivian up and down, not hiding her annoyance. ¡°Whose room is this, anyway?¡± Charles noticed a faint lipstick stain on his lips and brushed it off with barely a care. ¡°Vivian¡¯s room,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting now¨Clet¡¯s meet up downstairs for dinnerter?¡± Simone wanted to say something, but with Vivian standing right there, she thought better of it. ¡®No point causing a scene when both families are watching,¡¯ she mused to herself. She shed a polite, but clearly strained, smile. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll bring along the main actors from the new project¡ªif that¡¯s alright with you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Charles said. As soon as Charles and Vivian left, Simone ran a hand through her hair in exasperation. ¡®He¡¯s being so reckless, getting mixed up with a girl from the Andrade family. What is he even thinking?¡® Simone never liked Vivian. At the core of it, she thought Vivian¡¯s methods were just too morally dubious. And with Grady and Cedric behind her¨Cboth of them more ruthless than thest¨CVivian was trouble, in and simple. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find?Novel Simone lit up a cigarette, feeling restless and annoyed. As she walked down the hallway, she came face to face with Ynda stepping out of the elevator. Simone was visibly startled, ¡°Ynda? You¡¯re here too?¡± Ynda called out sweetly, ¡°Aunt Simone.¡± Simone was so shocked she nearly choked on her cigarette. She grabbed her phone and fired off a text to Charles on the spot. [You brought Ynda with you on this trip, then came strolling out of a room with Vivian? Do you really think Ynda¡¯s that oblivious? Charles, I¡¯m telling you¨Cyou¡¯re ying with fire here. Don¡¯t let this kind of thing blow up out in the open. Ynda¡¯s a good kid. Even if you don¡¯t care about her, don¡¯t treat her like this!] 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N 55 vouchers She¡¯d said the same things to him before, but Charles always just brushed her off, never giving a real reply. Sometimes it drove her crazy. ¡®Why did the Sinir family make Charles so handsome but give him a heart that just can¡¯t settle down?¡® she grumbled to herself. Ynda wasn¡¯t clueless; she could pretty much guess what had happened, but she just shed a carefree smile and said, ¡°Aunt Simone, Charles brought me over for a ten¨Cday getaway. I heard there¡¯s this temple fair happening, so that¡¯s really what I¡¯m here for¨CI couldn¡¯t pass that up.¡± Simone gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. ¡°Well, when you¡¯ve got some free time, go check on Ian. Honestly, you should hire a few more people for your studio. Ian¡¯s always stuck there by himself¨Cit breaks my heart to see him like that.¡± ¡°Yeah, but let¡¯s keep that between us,¡± Ynda replied. AD Titan 109 Ynda stepped into the room, holding onto the key card Jack had given her. 56 55 vouchers As she entered, she was greeted by a spacious living room. Her luggage had already been taken to the bedroom. She pulled out her phone and messaged ke for an update. ke replied with a single message: [Just met. Ten days should be enough. Just keep your husband out of the way.] Ynda quickly deleted the message¨Cno trace left behind. She never bothered saving ke¡¯s number on her phone; she just kept it in her head. There were only four presidential suites on this floor¨Cone for Charles, one for Vivian, one for Simone, and one for Raelyn, the female lead. Ynda wasn¡¯t really here for the so¨Ccalled temple fair; her real goal was to get Charles out of her hair. She sent Charles a message, telling him she¡¯d be wandering around nearby. Charles didn¡¯t respond¨Che was tied up in a meeting. It was already evening, and thest rays of sunlight spilled gold and red across the revolving ss doors. Just as Ynda turned the corner, Ian¡¯s arms slid around her waist. ¡°Let me go with you,¡± he said. Ynda sent a guilty nce at the security cameras and patted his hand. ¡°Let go.¡± Ian let go and stood quietly by her side. Ynda rubbed her temples, thinking, ¡®Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be busy with filming?¡® Ian shrugged and said, ¡°Filming doesn¡¯t start till tomorrow. It¡¯s not like Ms. Sinir¡¯s some kind of ve driver.¡± Everyone had spent over four hours in the car today; nobody had the energy to do anything else. Ian had a hat and a mask on, and Ynda had switched into something more low¨Ckey. Figuring Charles was still stuck in a meeting, and with the temple fair kicking off tonight for a whole week, she saw no reason to wait around¨Cso she stepped right out. Ian fell in step behind her in silence as they headed out along the hotel drive. The hotel had a prime location, barely a ten¨Cminute walk from the biggest festival in town. Crowds were already starting to gather. Ynda kept quiet, but her gaze sparkled with curiosity every time she glimpsed those odd and quirky stalls 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 along the way. 55 vouchers Rednterns hung overhead, colorful gs fluttering, with vendors shouting and the lively bustle of street food all around¨Cthe whole ce was practically buzzing. For Ynda, this was her very first time experiencing such a festival, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little exhrated. Before she turned ten, she¡¯d been cooped up in the orphanage; after that, life with the Grant Family kept her mostly inside¨Cshe¡¯d hardly gone anywhere at all. As Ynda zoned out, a skewer of candied hawthorn suddenly appeared in front of her, offered by a slender, graceful hand. She looked up along the hand and met Ian¡¯s smiling face. The candied hawthorn was already unwrapped; Ian gently held it up to her lips. Ian said softly, ¡°Go ahead, try it.¡± Ynda took a bite, and as the glossy syrupy shell cracked, a burst of sweet and sour vor filled her mouth. She rarely indulged in treats like this. As a kid, money was always tight, and a single skewer of candied hawthorn had to be split between a bunch of children. Ynda, ever the considerate one, always let the younger kids take the first bite. Later, with keeping herplexion wless as a priority, sweets were absolutely out, and spicy food was forbidden too. Her meals were strictly clean and in¡ªshe¡¯d always held herself back, even when she really wanted a taste. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Ian asked, leaning in close. He took a bite from the skewer, right where Ynda¡¯s teeth had just left their mark. Ynda worried that his good looks would draw a crowd¨Che¡¯d been all over trending topics not long ago. She quickly pushed him away and fixed his mask back in ce, whispering, ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t take it off again.¡± Ian¡¯s cap was pulled low, showing off his elegant jaw and the angle of his throat. Hearing her, he smiled and replied softly, ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Ynda snacked her way through the fair with Ian, picking out little treats from the stalls. By the time they made it all the way through, she had a lotusntern dangling from her hand. Ian stayed glued to her side, leaning in close and murmuring right by her ear with yful warmth, ¡°Ms. Grant, I¡¯m spending the night alone. Why don¡¯t you keep mepany?¡± As he spoke, his arm quietly wrapped around her waist, a gentle and secretive gesture. It was pitch dark, with no one else around¨Cthe fair¡¯s noisy calls echoed faintly from a distance, leaving them wrapped in their own little bubble. Ynda nced at him, then shoved him up against the wall and kissed him hard. 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N 55 vouchers The bag slipped from Ynda¡¯s hand and hit the ground as Ian scooped her right up, pressing her between himself and the wall. In the gloom, there was a predatory gleam in his eyes¨Cso different from the withdrawn, brooding man he¡¯d been when they first met. The kisssted a long, long time. Eventually, Ynda turned her head away, catching her breath. ¡°We should really head back,¡± she said. Ian was tense, every muscle wound tight. ¡°When can I finally taste you?¡± His voice was low and husky, whispered right against her skin. He gently nuzzled at her neck, leaving no trace behind. Ynda¡¯s legs were left dangling as she gave a little wriggle. But even that small movement was enough to make her feel something¡­ waking up underneath her. She let hershes drop and tugged his mask back into ce. Ynda whispered, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about itter.¡± Ian dropped his gaze, longshes shadowing his eyes. Something flickered there before it faded. He smirked and teased, ¡°You know, I¡¯m starting to think you¡¯re trying to train me like a dog.¡± Ynda burst outughing, grabbed his hat from the ground, and set it back on his head herself. They headed back to the hotel with Ian close behind Ynda. She had just finished getting ready for bed when her phone buzzed¨CSimone was calling, saying they needed one more for mahjong and asked her toe fill in. No way she could refuse, so Ynda headed over. When she walked in, she found herself face to face with Charles, Ian, and Simone already gathered at the table. Ynda paused, tempted to turn and run for it. But Simone waved her over. ¡°Come on, Ynda! Tonight I¡¯ll help you clean up¨Cbesides, your hubby¡¯s loaded anyway!¡± The mahjong table was top¨Cshelf, made of rich walnut wood. Ynda took a deep breath, stered on a smile, and slid into her seat. To her left was Ian, to her right was Charles, and across from her was Simone. Just as they were about to start, the doorbell rang. Ynda went to answer the door, only to find Vivian standing right outside. This was Simone¡¯s suite¨CVivian wouldn¡¯t just drop by out of the blue unless she¡¯d already found out where 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N ¡­ :0 (56 E 55 vouchers Charles was hanging around. She gave the room an easygoing grin and called out, ¡°Mahjong night? Count me in, I¡¯m no rookie.¡± Simone¡¯s expression darkened. Vivian was thirty¨Cone, three years older than Charles. Back when they were kids, this whole group used to hang out together all the time, and Vivian had always been the outgoing, bold type¨Cpopr with the boys, never shy, and totally up for any game, even those forfeit games where you¡¯d have to take off a piece of clothing if you lost. Vivian didn¡¯t even bother acknowledging Ynda at the door, striding straight over to the mahjong table and taking Ynda¡¯s seat like she owned the ce. With a smirk, Vivian challenged, ¡°Mrs. Sinir, you don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find[?]ovel Their feud was no secret¨CYnda was done ying nice. She stormed over and shot back, ¡°Actually, I do mind. Move.¡± Vivian¡¯s smile was all teeth, no warmth. ¡°The Sinir family and the Andrade family are working together now. Mrs. Sinir, you really don¡¯t seem to understand how the business world works.¡± you think?¡± Then she turned to Charles, her voice sweet but sharp. ¡°Mr. Sinir, what do Charles never nced up from his cards. ¡°Whoever wants to y, go ahead.¡± Before Charles had even finished talking, Ian got to his feet and grinned, ¡°Mrs. Sinir, you can have my seat.¡± Ynda shot Vivian a quick look as she caught that faint, totally mocking chuckle. ¡®Whatever,¡® she thought, pressing her lips together before scooting into Ian¡¯s seat. Simone snorted, sarcasm dripping from her voice. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really not lifting a finger for your wife, huh?¡± Charles set down his tile, sounding utterly rxed. ¡°Ynda¡¯s at the table now, isn¡¯t she?¡± Simone seethed inside, ¡®Whatever, keep acting like you don¡¯t care!¡¯ Titan 110 A ER 55 vouchers As the director, Simone couldn¡¯t hand over her spot to Ian, and he wouldn¡¯t have taken it anyway. He sat up straight, keeping his distance from Ynda as much as possible, but with a mahjong table this small. he couldn¡¯t avoid getting close anyway. Charles nced up, his eyesnding onn for just a moment before looking away. Just some rookie in showbiz he¡¯d never heard of. The game started in earnest. Ynda wasn¡¯t very good at mahjong. Just as she was about to toss out a tile, a hand suddenly slid onto her thigh, the fingertips slowly and deliberately tracing over her skin. She¡¯d just taken a shower beforeing over, wearing a dress with a tightly cinched waist. But once she sat down, the hem crept up, leaving her knees and a sliver of thigh exposed. Now, that hand was brushing lightly against that bare skin. moving upward under the silk of her dress, inching higher with a mischievous insistence. She didn¡¯t nce atn, pretending to focus intently on her tiles. Ian didn¡¯t look at her either, even reaching down to pick up a tile that had fallen to the floor. Vivian, clearly trying to get under Ynda¡¯s skin, kept chatting with Charles about the project, monopolizing the conversation and making the atmosphere feel tense. Simone tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. ¡°Ynda, you were talking about kids earlier. Have you thought about when you might want one?¡± Ynda¡¯sshes fluttered as she discarded a tile, and she slowly shifted her hand to snatch the unruly one on her thigh. ¡°Charles isn¡¯t ready for that yet,¡± she said. Charles picked up the tile Ynda discarded, the corners of his mouth curving into a warm, gentle smile. ¡°I just can¡¯t bear to let you go through all that trouble.¡± Ynda won the round, scoring nearly ten grand. She stood up. ¡°I¡¯m gonna hit the restroom.¡± That hand next to her had seriously crossed the line. As soon as she left, Ian didn¡¯t move to take her seat until Simone nudged him. ¡°Ian, why don¡¯t you take over for her?¡± n her wannin still lingered between them. Three rounds had flown by; now it was down to just Ian and Charles. ¡­.. wody neat mingled strangely, as Simone Sinir chimed in deliberately, half¨Cjoking but strategic. ¡°Ian, he¡¯s got deep pockets. Bet he¡¯s trying to score big this round. Don¡¯t let him win, or you¡¯re gonna take a serious hit.¡± Charles snorted in amusement, his rxed vibe making it clear he wasn¡¯t worried about Ian at all. ¡°Aunt Simone, you¡¯re really siding with outsiders over your own nephew?¡± Simone Sinir shot back with a cold smirk. ¡°Like you¡¯re any different?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a business partner, and Ynda knows how to handle things way better than you,¡± Charles said. ¡°You-!¡± Simone snapped. Fuming, Simone leaned over to Ian¡¯s side and when she caught sight of his tiles, everything went dark for a second. ¡°Whoa, you two are after the same win? One tile left¨Clet¡¯s see who¡¯s lucky now.¡± That was when Ynda came back. Instead of immediately making Ian leave the table, she leaned in, teasing, ¡°Going for a clean sweep? That¡¯s pretty bold.¡± Ian, eyes downcast, long fingers picking up thest tile, murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve always been greedy.¡± Official source is f?ndnovel The final tile was a seven¨CIan drew it himself, clinching a self¨Cdraw victory with a pure suit and even snagging thatst lucky tile from the wall. A grin lit up Ynda¡¯s face. ¡°Wow, you really know your stuff.¡± Her praise made the whole room go silent for a beat. Charles, barely bothered, revealed his own hand¨Che¡¯d been chasing the same seven, trying for a pure suit himself. For him, it wasn¡¯t about the money; it was something else entirely¡­. With a knit brow, Charles watched Ian rise and slip back to his original seat, while Ynda slid smoothly back into the game, as if nothing had happened at all. Nothing Ian did was out of line, but somehow he just made everyone feel on edge. For the rest of the game, Ian kept his cool and never once paid extra attention to Ynda. He just talked shop with Simone here and there, keeping things perfectly professional. Charles tossed out a tile, sounding almost bored. ¡°Aunt Simone, is romance in the air these days?¡± Simone shot him a re, itching to yank his ear. ¡°Say that again and I¡¯ll cut your ear off. Ian¡¯s the lead actor in my show¨Ctalented, respectable, and I brought him along to give him some real world experience. Not everyone is like you¡ª¡± She trailed off, remembering that Ynda still had no clue about Charles¡¯s affair. 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N Charles leaned back out of reach, tossing her a smirk. ¡°What are you trying to say about me?¡± Charles shot Simone a warning look¨Ctelling her to watch her mouth. A IT 55 MOUchers Simone pulled her hand back, and while they were messing around, neither of them noticed Ynda lean forward a bit, trying not to draw attention to herself. She sat there clutching her tiles, cheeks warming with embarrassment. Simone made a few more grabs for his ear, but Charles was too quick. Huffing, she finally dered, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for tonight.¡± Charles stood up and dropped his chips onto the table, eachnding with a sharp click. He¡¯d lost a cool hundred and ten grand¨Call of itnding right in Ynda¡¯s pocket. He wrapped an arm around Ynda. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to head back.¡± Seeing everyone getting ready to leave, Simone asked. ¡°The temple fair¡¯s in full swing outside. You guys aren¡¯t gonna check it out?¡± Ynda faked a yawn. ¡°I¡¯m beat. Just wanna crash.¡± Out of the corner of her eye, Ynda saw Vivian tugging on Charles¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mr. Sinir, wanna check it out?¡± Charles nced at Ynda. Ynda waved him off, looking totally wiped. ¡°I¡¯m really beat. You guys go ahead.¡± Charles¡¯s face fell, clearly not thrilled. Ynda didn¡¯t linger; she just turned and headed straight back to her room. In the end, Charles headed off with Vivian, and Ynda couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. She was just about to copse onto the bed when the doorbell suddenly rang. She opened up to find Ian waiting right outside. Ian let himself in, not hesitating for a second before pulling her into a deep kiss. Ynda¡¯s heart nearly burst out of her chest; she shoved him away, breathless. ¡°Don¡¯t lose your mind,¡± she hissed. This was Charles¡¯s room¨Che could walk in at any moment. But Ian wasn¡¯t having it. His lips drifted down from her earlobe, tracing hot, insistent kisses along her neck, refusing to stop even as she tried to push him away. Ynda¡¯s knees nearly buckled, and she let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°You know, you¡¯re really pushing your luck these days.¡± 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N 55 vouchers Ian¡¯s eyes brightened, and he gently bit her earlobe, leaning in close. ¡°I realized you don¡¯t have any piercings. Tomorrow I¡¯ve gotta wear a couple of studs¨CAunt Simone insisted I get three done. How about you get your ears pierced with me? I saw a shop on the way back,¡± he murmured right next to her ear. ¡°No chance,¡± Ynda cut in, sounding impatient. ¡°Oh,e on, Ynda. Just do it,¡± Ian teased, voice low and coaxing. Ian brushed a quick kiss against the corner of her lips, his gaze shimmering with yful light. Ynda¡¯s heart gave a little flutter. Without thinking, she reached up and brushed her fingers over his throat, lingering on the hollow of his Adam¡¯s apple¨Cher way of agreeing, even if she didn¡¯t say a word. Honestly, she¡¯d never nned to get her ears pierced¨Cneedles totally terrified her, and her phobia of anything sharp was no joke. The mere idea of a needle was enough to set off a wave of nerves through her whole body. Sitting inside the shop, her face was noticeably pale. They were both still wearing hats and masks, but Ian saw the anxiety in her eyes. He gently cradled her face, asking softly, ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Ian already had his three studs done¨Cnow it was Ynda¡¯s turn. Ynda¡¯sshes trembled as she nced away, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of needles.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Ian said, reassuring her. He grabbed the piercing gun from the shop assistant. ¡°She¡¯s nervous about the pain¨Clet me take care of it, okay?¡± Ian¡¯s voice was so smooth and easy on the ears that the shop assistant couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu- where had she heard it before? Without thinking, she just handed him the piercing gun. Ynda¡¯s heart was pounding, and little beads of sweat gathered at the tip of her nose¨Cshe was legit scared out of her mind about this. Ian finished cleaning up and carefully marked the spot, then gently tipped her chin up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got you. I¡¯ll do it,¡± Ynda squeezed her eyes shut tight, bracing herself for the sting. But¡­ nothing. She peeked through hershes, only to catch fan snapping a photo of her face with his phone, grinning like he¡¯d just pulled a prank. Her chest rose and fell in flustered anger. ¡°Ian!¡± The next moment, the sharp pain hit her car. She jolted in surprise, and before she could react,n tugged down her mask and kissed her full on the lips. 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 Titan 111 The shop was tiny, with just one staff member and not a single customer in sight. # 55 vouchers The clerk took the piercing gun from Ian, then immediately avoided looking in their direction, clearly too embarrassed to watch. Ynda sat on the stool, forced to crane her neck. Right now, all she could focus on was holding still¨Cher usual fear of needles slipped to the back of her mind. Ian prepared to pierce her other ear, coaxing gently, ¡°See? Didn¡¯t hurt at all, right?¡± When Ynda stayed silent, Ian squatted down so they were eye¨Clevel and asked softly, ¡°Are you upset?¡± He quietly pinched her untouched earlobe. ¡°If you keep ignoring me, I might just pierce it wherever I feel like,¡± Ian teased. ¡°I¡¯m not mad,¡± Ynda blurted out, her heartbeat pounding in her chest from nerves. Ynda thought, ¡®God, my heart¡¯s about to leap out of my throat.¡® Ian locked eyes with her, his gaze deep and swirling with unspoken emotion. Suddenly, he broke into a smile. ¡°Let me give you a kiss first, then I¡¯ll do this one.¡± Ynda rxed a bit, though sweat still dotted her nose. ¡°Just¡­ just tell me when you¡¯re about to¡ª¡± Before she could finish, the second earring was already in. The pain caught her by surprise,ing a momentte. ¡°You-!¡± Ynda burst out, startled. Ian set the piercing gun aside, gently cupping her face in his hands. He wiped the sweat from her nose with a tissue, his touch soft and careful. Ynda¡¯s scolding died in her throat, leaving her speechless. She got up to leave in a hurry, but overheard Ian paying the clerk; then, chuckling under his breath, he hurried after her. Ynda couldn¡¯t help but feel she¡¯d been tricked. ¡®So annoying,¡® she grumbled to herself. ¡°Ms. Grant,¡± Ian called out, catching up to her. He pulled her close, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve got two on this side, one on the other. What kind of earrings do you like on men? I¡¯ll go buy some.¡± Ynda stopped in her tracks. Honestly, she really liked guys with earrings¨Cespecially someone as attractive as Ian. There was just something sexy about it. But she was still a bit annoyed, so she decided to mess with him. ¡°I like guys with tongue piercings. Pretty 55 Vouchers useful, you know.¡± Ian¡¯s smile froze, caught off guard for a split second. Recovering, he replied in a husky tone, ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, I might actually take you seriously.¡± Ynda instantly regretted what she¡¯d just said. She gave a little cough and hurried onward, trying to hide her embarrassment. Ian followed right on her heels, his voice trailing after her¨Cseductive and haunting. ¡°If you really want it, I¡¯ll get my tongue pierced right now.¡± ¡°I was just messing with you. Don¡¯t actually do it¨Cit¡¯s enough for you to fake it. If someone finds out, it won¡¯t end well,¡± Ynda replied quickly. Ian tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers gentle. ¡°Keep them dry for three days, or they¡¯ll get infected.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Ynda replied. Back in the room, Charles still hadn¡¯t returned. Ynda had never really done anything this new before. She¡¯d been fighting the urge to check them out earlier, but now she was glued to the mirror, admiring her fresh piercings with the clear starter studs gleaming at her earlobes. Her eyes were full of wonder, like she¡¯d just leveled up her whole reality¨Ctotally fascinated by this tiny change. While she was still inspecting herself, the bathroom door was pushed open. Charles was standing there in just a shirt, lingering in the doorway as he spotted her new piercings and slowly came closer. He slipped his arms around her from behind, fingers itching to touch, but he pped his own hand away. ¡°Better not, too many germs,¡± he murmured. He let out a smallugh and dropped a soft kiss on top of her head. ¡°So what got you in the mood for new ear holes all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I saw the piercing shop downstairs, and after putting it off for years, I finally decided to go for it,¡± Ynda exined. ¡°So why didn¡¯t you get it done before?¡± Charles asked. He rested his chin on top of her head, both hands holding her waist. Ynda lowered hershes, memories shing back to her days at the orphanage. There was this man who came by to donate supplies once¨CWilliam couldn¡¯t have been more weing, practically rolling out the red carpet. The guy scanned the crowd of kids, his gaze locking onto her, and asked to speak with her privately. What happened next still haunted her¨Che¡¯d jab needles into her fingers, warning her not to shed a single tear, 13:33 Mon, Sep 22 N : or he¡¯d snatch back all those treats he¡¯d promised the other kids. 56 55 vouchers He brought a whole truck full of snacks, but his business life was falling apart. He just needed someone vulnerable to vent his twisted frustrations on. Biting her lip, Ynda forced herself not to cry. All ten fingers were nearly ruined, but she couldn¡¯t tell William¨Cif she did and the man stopped donating, everyone might go hungry that winter. The man only stuck around for a month. Back then, even Athena was suspicious, worried he might have other shady interests. She asked Ynda a lot of questions and checked her for any harm¨Cbut never thought to look at her battered fingertips. A whole month of that, and Ynda ended up with a real phobia of anything sharp. Yearster, when she took Charles back to the orphanage, she¡¯d told him about it in a whisper, like sharing a secret she wished she could forget. Too bad, he¡¯d never really cared much. ¡°Never really got the chance before,¡± Ynda replied, her tone breezy, but there was a shadow in her eyes. She was bored out of her mind, so she stripped down, hopped into the shower to wash off the h feeling, and then slipped into her nightgown. She curled up on her bed and started ying games on her tablet. Charles came out of the shower and sank down onto the edge of the bed. Ynda didn¡¯t spare him a single nce. He frowned and snatched the tablet from her hands. She shot up instantly. ¡°Hey! I was just about to beat this level!¡± Charles took a quick look at the screen, then smoothly pulled her into his arms. ¡°So I¡¯m lying here with you, and you¡¯re just gonna y games?¡± For original chapters go to findnovel Ynda helplessly watched as her character on the screen fell to its death. She pressed her lips together in frustration, then looked up at him. It felt like something stabbed at Charles¡¯s heart. He set his hand on the back of her head and leaned in close. He leaned in for a kiss, but Ynda dodged him, turning her face away at thest second. ¡°Babe, don¡¯t test me. You¡¯re gonna make me mad,¡± Charles murmured, a teasing threat in his voice. Ynda brushed his hand aside, flopped down on the bed, and squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. Just gonna crash.¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, swooped closer, and caught her chin in his hand, refusing to let her escape his lips. He kissed her deeply, lingering for more than a moment. She didn¡¯t feel a thing. 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N : Charles¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Babe, are you trying to be a nun or something?¡± 55 vouchers Ynda kept her eyes closed, pretending to be dead asleep. She thought, ¡°The women in his bed are all gorgeous and know exactly how to make a guy tick. Why would he ever go for someone like me, just lying here like a clueless cker?¡® Sure enough, Charles got pissed off and stormed out, the door mming hard behind him. Ynda grabbed her tablet again and jumped right back into her game, like nothing had happened at all. Normally, Charles would¡¯ve just hit up Vivian, but not tonight. Instead, he stepped out onto the balcony and lit up a cigarette. The noise from the temple fair across town was just background hum out here¡ªhe propped himself up on the railing, and felt his frustration finally clear out. Charles thought, ¡®Ynda¡¯s probably still stewing over what happened at the orphanage. ¡®If she were just yelling and making a scene, it¡¯d blow over fast. But when she goes quiet like this, that¡¯s when it really lingers.¡¯ ¡®Just like always. He flicked ash from his cigarette, something amusing crossing his mind, and he ducked his head with a quiet smile. Charles had an elegant, well¨Cproportioned figure¨Cevery gesture radiated a calm self¨Cassurance, the kind of unppable grace that onlyes from growing up in an old¨Cmoney family. He was halfway done with his cigarette when he felt a pair of arms snake around his waist. Instantly, a sly smile crept onto his lips. ¡°Regretting it already?¡± Vivian pressed her cheek to his back, sounding a little triumphant. ¡°Regretting what, exactly? Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s such a perfect night and you¡¯re out here sulking with a smoke instead of keeping your wifepany. What gives? Is being alone with her really that unbearable for you?¡± Charles¡¯s smile faded a little, but he still didn¡¯t push her away. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Titan 112 The balcony wasn¡¯t really secluded¨Csure, there was a door, but it was just closed at the moment. Hardly anyone ever came out here. Charles was the kind of man who kept his distance, proud and untouchable. Taking the initiative in bed just wasn¡¯t his style¨Csharing a kiss was about as much as he¡¯d ever offer a woman. Anything beyond that? Forget it. He flicked the ash from his cigarette, not even a hint of interest in his eyes tonight. Vivian looked embarrassed, slowly rising to her feet. ¡°Is it about work? Or is it those uncles of yours¡­?¡± Charles¡® brow furrowed a little, his patience clearly running thin. ¡°Don¡¯t you realize how annoying you are?¡± Vivian¡¯s face went pale as a ghost, so humiliated she couldn¡¯t even lift her head. She was older than Charles, and she¡¯d been crushing on him for ages. But Charles was way too proud; trying to get him to bow his head was harder than climbing Everest. She¡¯d confessed once before, but he¡¯d shot her down¨Cnot because of her, but because her uncle yed dirty. Being with her would¡¯ve just stained his reputation. She bit her lip, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. ¡°Charles, you¡¯re scared I¡¯ll ruin your ce in the Sinir family, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ve been acting like we don¡¯t even know each other for years, just to keep your reputation safe. But now we¡¯ve slept together, and this is how you treat me? I always thought you¡¯d dump Ynda and get a divorce¨Cshe¡¯s not worthy of you.¡± Charles hardly ever lost his cool, but now he let out a mockingugh and crushed his cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but a fling, Ms. Andrade. I told you already¨CI¡¯m not getting a divorce. Ynda is far more suitable to be my wife than you¨Cat least she doesn¡¯t go around trying to stake her im or start pointless drama.¡± Vivian felt as if her whole world was tilting. ¡®So he¡¯s ming me for making it so obvious at the mahjong table tonight, she thought, biting back the humiliation. He lit up another cigarette, his gaze still gentle on the surface, but his words were ice¨Ccold. ¡°If Ynda wasn¡¯t so naive, do you really think she wouldn¡¯t have caught on by now?¡± Vivian forced a bitter smile and tried to move in for a hug. ¡°It¡¯s on me. I promise I won¡¯t mess up like this next time.¡± Charles could be gentle and charming when he wanted, but when he shut down, it was like dealing with a total stranger. He took a long drag of his cigarette, blowing out a perfect smoke ring. ¡°From now on, let¡¯s keep it strictly business.¡± It¡¯s not like he was running short on lovers anyway. 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N 56 55 vouchers A glint of fierceness shed in Vivian¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d humbled herself this much already, and yet Charles was still treating her like she was nothing. ¡®Why is he always this way?¡® Vivian thought bitterly. After all these years of knowing each other, if Ynda hadn¡¯te in and thrown a wrench into everything, she¡¯d have had Charles wrapped around her finger by now. Vivian was shaking all over from anger, but all she could do was stare helplessly as he walked away. Vivian kicked the balcony door with all her might, her chest trembling with rage and frustration. She couldn¡¯t wait a second longer¨Cright now, she just wanted to end Ynda for good. ¡®If I could get my hands on her, I¡¯d make sure she never stood in my way again,¡® Vivian thought furiously. When Charles got back to the room, he saw Ynda already fast asleep, and his chest tightened again. He yanked the nket off her and nudged her roughly. ¡°Wake up.¡± Ynda blinked awake, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Charles jerked her toward him, scrubbing at her lips with his thumb, rough enough that she almost started bleeding. Ynda frowned, confused and hurting. One moment she¡¯d been sound asleep, now she was wide awake with her lips smarting from his rough treatment. Charles locked eyes with her, his gaze zing. ¡°Do you even know how to use these?¡± Ynda finally got what he meant and back down, clutching the nket protectively around herself. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do that. Never learned.¡± She honestly had never tried anything like that for someone before. And in the few, pitifully rare times she¡¯d been intimate with Charles, he was always blunt about what he wanted¨Cno beating around the bush, just straight to the point. Charles stood there for a moment, watching as she turned away¨Cthen all that pent¨Cup frustration inside him just faded. He reached out and pulled her close from behind. ¡°Ynda, maybe you ought to take a few pointers from other women,¡± he said with a teasing edge in his voice. ¡®Not like you¨Cback then, you¡¯d get all flustered just from a kiss,¡® Charles thought, the memory bringing a faint smile to his lips. Ynda kept her eyes shut, wondering if he was actually crazy. She gave a couple of half¨Chearted replies, then heard him add, ¡°Let me know when you figure it out.¡± She threw out another indifferent ¡°mmhmm,¡± not taking it seriously at all. Charles smiled to himself, pulling her into his arms. A sigh escaped him¨Cequal parts helplessness and affection. 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N 55 vouchers The next morning, Ynda woke up to find Charles nowhere in sight. As usual, she checked in with ke about thetest updates. When she heard that Renee and herpanion had already checked into the hotel, her spirits soared. Ynda felt absolutely zero guilt about what she was putting Renee through. As far as she was concerned, Renee totally had iting. Ian was off shooting his scenes, leaving her alone in the hotel. With nothing better to do, she just headed downstairs, nning to swing by the nearby set. Whenever she dropped by the set, she always disguised herself¨Chat, sunsses, you name it. Just as she was about to walk into the pop¨Cup makeup station, she caught Raelyn¡¯s voice cutting through the air. ¡°You sure you won¡¯t regret this? Do you even know what getting mixed up with me means?¡± Ian stood tall, his long legs lean and powerful, his silhouette clean and sharp¨Cso well¨Cdefined it was almost like a de. For the shoot, he¡¯d gone all out¨Cbright red hair and three ruby earrings made his whole look bold and shy. He looked so good, people would absolutely stop and stare if he walked down the street like this. He had a can of Coke in his hand, set to be his prop for the uing scene. Raelyn had been messaging him non¨Cstoptely, always trying to get his attention. At first, Ian was nice about it, but now he was really starting to lose patience. ¡°Raelyn, I¡¯ve already turned you down more than ten times,¡± Ian said tly. Raelyn bit her lip, irritation flickering in her eyes. Sure, she¡¯d been shut down time after time, but deep down, she refused to give up. ¡°Ian, you broke or what? I checked up on your mom at the hospital¨Cword is, she¡¯s in pretty rough shape.¡± Raelyn¡¯s tone was sharp, almost taunting, like she was daring him to deny it. In the next moment, Ian¡¯s whole face twisted into a snarl as he mped his hand around her throat. His eyes were ice¨Ccold and merciless. ¡°Do you seriously have a death wish?¡± Raelyn struggled for breath, chest burning as if he was sucking the very life out of her lungs. Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, a vicious red mark blooming on her neck right where his fingers bit in. Ynda, her hat and mask pulled low to hide her face, hurried in and grabbed Ian¡¯s arm. ¡°Calm down!¡± Ian¡¯s hand loosened immediately. When he saw her, he looked a bit lost for a moment. ¡°Ms. Gilbert.¡± He still remembered their deal¨Con set, he had to stick to calling her Ms. Gilbert. 56 55 vouchers 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N Raelyn staggered backward, fear written all over her face. She rubbed her neck, her fingers shaking uncontrobly. Her voice quivered as she shot back, ¡°Just you wait.¡± With that, she hurried out of the room. Ynda nced at Ian, his bold red hair making him impossible to miss. He lowered his gaze, his arms rigid with tension. ¡°Did I get you into trouble?¡± His mother was his bottom line¨Cmessing with her was unforgivable. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Ynda gave his hand a reassuring pat, signaling for him to rx. Ian pressed his lips into a thin line, then guided her hand to his earring. ¡°Pretty cool, huh?¡± The sparkle was so intense, it was like his earrings lit up the entire room. Ynda gave his earring a gentle squeeze, and Ian let out a yful hiss. ¡°I¡¯m getting my tongue pierced in a couple days.¡± ? Titan 113 Chapter 113 65 vouchers ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to contact her?¡± Ynda said calmly as she closed the door to the dressing room. ¡°Is Raelyn harassing you?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ian replied, ¡°she keeps pestering me¨CI¡¯ve turned her down so many times, but it doesn¡¯t help.¡± Raelyn rarely set her sights on a guy¨Cshe was far too proud to chase after anyone. Ynda nced Ian up and down, teasing, ¡°Ever considered giving her a shot? Like she said, you¡¯de out ahead.¡± Ian¡¯s usual warmth vanished; his lips thinned into a tight line. Just as Ynda was sure he¡¯d leave without another word, Ian suddenly broke into a confident grin and pulled her into his arms. ¡°What if I dated you instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m married,¡± Ynda replied firmly. ¡°So you told me to get that tongue piercing, huh?¡± Ian retorted with a yful glint in his eyes. Ynda was at a total loss for words¨Cthere was simply no winning this round. ¡°So you¡¯re really not interested in dating her?¡± Ynda teased, a half¨Csmile ying at her lips. ¡°Not at all,¡± Ian shot back without hesitation. Ynda gave his head a light, teasing tap. ¡°Alright, let me go talk to her, see if she¡¯s willing to settle this quietly. You were a little too intense just now.¡± Ian caught the subtle scent that lingered around her, and something intense flickered in his eyes. When it was Ian¡¯s turn for his scene, Ynda headed off to look for Raelyn. The red mark on Raelyn¡¯s neck was sticking out like a sore thumb. Even the makeup artist couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Ms. Cullen, what¡¯s up with your neck?¡± Raelyn was already wearing a frosty scowl, but the moment she spotted Ynda, her temper exploded. ¡°Get out!¡± Ynda smiled, offering her a bottle of water. n doesn¡¯t really know how to handle these things. I hope you¡¯re not upset, Ms. Cullen¨CI¡¯ve already talked to him about it.¡± Raelyn let out a coldugh, refusing the water outright. Ynda leaned in, lowering her voice. ¡°By the way, I still have those texts your agent sent me. Trust me, I could go public, but I¡¯d rather keep things private. I broughtn here so he could apologize to you himself. There are plenty of guys in this business¨Che¡¯s just not that lucky, and honestly, he¡¯s a bit clueless. No need to get worked up over him. Plus, his mom¡¯s seriously ill, that¡¯s the real reason he came into this industry. He¡¯s 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N 56 365 vouchers been pretty sensitive about everything.¡± Raelyn shot Ynda a chilly look and stood up, practically sneering. ¡°Seriously, you think I¡¯m dying for some guy with an ice cube for a face? Bet he¡¯s boring in bed, too. And as for him grabbing me¨CI¡¯m not forgetting that, and I¡¯m definitely not letting it slide. Right now, he¡¯s nowhere near my level, but if you dare leak those texts, let¡¯s see who gets dragged through the mud online. Oh, and just so you know? I¡¯ve had ties with the Andrade family before. Mess with me, and trust me¨Cyou¡¯re gonna wish you hadn¡¯t.¡± Raelyn didn¡¯t even pretend to be nice. She pped Ynda¡¯s cheek with a smirk. ¡°He¡¯s clueless, and you¡¯re not much better. Threaten me? Please, who do you think you are? Don¡¯t tell me you two haven¡¯t already hooked up¨Cthat boy¡¯s probably head over heels for you. Just wait till he gets famous. Watch how I tear him down in front of everyone.¡± Ynda wondered to herself, ¡®Who did Raelyn actually get involved with from the Andrade family?¡® ¡®Vivian¡¯s brother¨CCedric?¡® ¡®No way it was Grady. His status in Beloris was way too hush¨Chush. Getting anywhere near him would be nearly impossible.¡® ¡®Cedric was famous for being petty¨Ceveryone knew how short¨Ctempered he was with women. ¡®Raelyn probably got with him back when she wasn¡¯t famous yet!¡¯ ¡°Ms. Cullen, are you getting all worked up just because nobody wants to sleep with you?¡± Ynda shot back, her words loaded with mockery. ¡°You-!¡± Raelyn snarled, and raised her hand to p Ynda. But Ynda reacted instantly, catching Raelyn¡¯s wrist before it could connect. ¡°Oh, really? How dare you as a manager talk to me like that. Just wait¨CI¡¯ll make sure you two get kicked out of the entertainment industry for good!¡± Raelyn hissed, face twisted in fury. She ripped her hand out of Ynda¡¯s grip and stormed out of the dressing room. Ynda had herself wrapped up tight, with only her eyes showing¨Clike she was ready to go full ninja mode. Later that evening, the two of them ran into each other again in the hotel restaurant. Since Ynda ditched the hat and mask and swapped outfits, Raelyn didn¡¯t put two and two together¨Cshe had no clue this was Ian¡¯s manager right away. Ynda happened to sit nearby, catching Raelyn giving her agent an order. ¡°Go tell Cedric to haven cklisted.¡± Brittany Carpenter nodded, keeping her voice low. ¡°Raelyn, weren¡¯t you and Cedric done a long time ago?¡± ¡°We just started talking again,¡± Raelyn shrugged, flipping her hair back. ¡°The Andrade family¡¯s backing is no joke.¡± 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N This update is avable on find?novel Ynda kept her eyes lowered, focusing on her te as she quietly finished her food. That was when Charles showed up, sliding into the seat next to her. 65 55 vouchers Ynda coughed lightly, ncing his way before speaking. ¡°Pretty sure I¡¯m catching a cold. I¡¯ll go upstairs and grab some medicine¨Cdon¡¯t want youing down with it too.¡± She got up and stepped away, picking the perfect angle to snap a photo that made Charles and Raelyn look suspiciously close¨Clike they were sharing an intimate dinner together. Then she had someone send the picture to Cedric anonymously. Cedric didn¡¯t care for Charles one bit, even if he kept it to himself. He was fiercely protective of his sister Vivian, and whenever he saw her suffering because of Charles, it just fueled his dislike. If a woman he¡¯d ever hooked up with was getting close to Charles, Cedric would see it as a p in the face. Above all, it was a matter of pride for him. Sure enough, just a few minutes after the image leaked out, Cedric couldn¡¯t wait to call Raelyn. Raelyn finally noticed Charles sitting not far away¨Cher face grew warm in embarrassment as she picked up the call. Cedric¡¯s voice, icy and full of suspicion, sliced through the line. ¡°Who are you having dinner with?¡± ¡°Cedric, I¡¯m on my own, but I¡¯m in the next city, so I can¡¯te over tonight,¡± Raelyn said, carefully trying to keep her tone light. Cedric always demanded she spend two days with him every month¨Cand she never dared refuse. Cedric gave a chillyugh. ¡°On your own? You really want me to believe that?¡± Raelyn¡¯s brow furrowed as she nodded. ¡°I swear, I¡¯d never lie to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bullshit me, Raelyn! Who the hell do you think you are, sneaking around with some guy back? You think you¡¯re special or something?¡± Cedric spat, venomcing every word. behind my Raelyn¡¯s face went ghost¨Cwhite as she hurried to speak in a low voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t, Cedric¨CI swear, I really didn¡¯t ¡°You¡¯ve got six hours to drag yourself back here. And if you don¡¯t, I¡¯m telling you¨Cthis time I won¡¯t let you off easy¡± Cedric snarled, his threat clear as day. Raelyn shot up from her seat, her face drained of all color. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of Cedric¡¯s fury¨Che¡¯dpletely ruined more than a few women for less. Back when she hadn¡¯t made it big yet, Raelyn had pulled every trick in the book to get on his good side, hoping the shortcut would lead her straight to the top. 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 55 55 vouchers Now that she had fame, that shortcut felt more like dancing with a ticking bomb. She¡¯d managed to cut ties for two years, but now that Cedric wanted her back, saying no just wasn¡¯t an option. She hurried into the car, barely pausing to think. She was supposed to be filming a scene tonight, but with everything blowing up, she could only call Simone and ask for time off. Simone sounded annoyed. ¡°You seemed totally fine at lunch, and now you¡¯re leaving all of a sudden? The set we built for your scene this afternoon now has to wait. We¡¯re only sticking around for like ten days, so when do you n to make it back?¡± Raelyn¡¯s lips were parched¨Cshe honestly couldn¡¯t give a straight answer. Who knew what Cedric might do to her this time? Raelyn didn¡¯t even know what had set Cedric off this time¨Chis anger made no sense to her. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Sinir,¡± Raelyn mumbled, her voice thin and apologetic. Simone¡¯s voice was tight with frustration, but she clearly suspected the reason. ¡°Raelyn, I¡¯ve been telling you to break things off with him for ages. You never listen, and now the whole crew has to put filming on hold because of your drama.¡± Simone knew all about Raelyn¡¯s history with Cedric¡ªand she¡¯d heard all the horror stories about his infamous exploits. She was well aware of what kind of trouble he could stir up. Which was exactly why she hated dealing with the Andrade family. Every single one of them was ruthless, and their name was pure poison in the business¨Cnobody wanted to get on their bad side. Raelyn wasn¡¯t about to sic Cedric on Ian right now¨Cif she could walk away from Cedric in one piece, she¡¯d count herself lucky. Her whole body trembled; she honestly couldn¡¯t fathom how things had spun sopletely out of control. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N Titan 114 Chapter 114 ¡­ : Five hourster, Raelyn arrived at Cedric¡¯s ce. Two hours after that, she waspletely worn out, barely hanging on. 55 55 vouchers Cedric pped her across the face several times. ¡°You slut! Cheating on me with Charles? Haven¡¯t I warned you before? I can¡¯t stand that guy!¡± Raelyn¡¯s face was so swollen she was unrecognizable. There was no way she¡¯d be working on set anytime soon. She fell to her knees, crying desperately. ¡°Cedric, I swear, I have no idea who Charles even is.¡± ¡°Drop the act! I saw the damn photos myself!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t! I swear, Cedric, you¡¯ve got to believe me!¡± Cedric kicked her hard, sending her sprawling. His eyes were cold and cruel. ¡°Believe you? Are you really saying you haven¡¯t been seeing other men?¡± Raelyn¡¯s eyes betrayed her guilt. She¡¯d actually been meeting someone else. Cedric caught it right away. He grabbed a stool and smashed it down onto her back. ¡°Just die already!¡± Raelyn cked out instantly. Cedric still wasn¡¯t satisfied. He walked over and kicked her a few more times before his rage finally eased up a bit. He lit up a cigarette, scoffing as he called outside, ¡°Drag her out¡ªtake her to the hospital, and make sure she doesn¡¯t die.¡± The people waiting just outside came in to deal with her, looking like this was routine for them. Cedric was halfway through his smoke when his phone rang. It was Vivian. Vivian had been put through the wringer by Charlesst night, and this morning, he wouldn¡¯t even look her way at the meeting¨Cshe totally snapped. ¡°Cedric, I want you to get rid of Ynda in three days! I can¡¯t wait any longer. Didn¡¯t Grady say he was interested in her before? Get him to take her to Raventon¨CI want her to never know a moment¡¯s peace for Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find¡¤novel the rest of her life.¡± Cedric raised an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t we already taking care of it? I¡¯ll go light a fire under Greg.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too damn slow! I want her gone¨Cnow! Just the sight of her makes me want to gag!¡± Cedric rubbed his temples, a vicious glint shing in his eyes as he sneered, ¡°Then that¡¯s perfect¨CYnda¡¯s in the next city. Charles is only there for work, so once Ynda¡¯s out on her own, that¡¯s when I¡¯ll strike. She won¡¯t being back.¡± 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 : Relief washed over Vivian after hearing that. 55 EZ 55 vouchers Ynda had been in town for four days now, mostly hanging around the set or asionally dropping by, or just sitting in on Charles¡¯s meetings. Charles had been fairly nice to her these past couple of days¨Cespecially since he¡¯d publicly said he was only here to keep herpany. But when she caught the raw hatred in Vivian¡¯s eyes, Ynda immediately knew she was about to make a move. Right now, Ynda was powerless against the Andrade family¨Cher only option was to find a way to deflect. the danger onto someone else. Ynda nced at Charles walking beside her, lowered her eyes thoughtfully, then hooked her arm right around his. ¡°Hey, babe, can we go up the mountain tonight? I heard there¡¯s this ce nearby where they hang papernterns all along the path¨Cit looks absolutely stunning.¡± Charles caught the sparkle in her eyes and, remembering what happened with Renee, figured he owed her one and just couldn¡¯t say no. ¡°What time?¡± ¡°Eight. You head over first, okay? I¡¯ve got a surprise nned for youter.¡± For all the years they¡¯d been married, Ynda had always been so quiet and withdrawn¨Che¡¯d hardly ever seen her act so girly before. ¡®Is she actually in a better mood these days?¡® Charles wondered. ¡®Or am I just imagining it?¡® he mused to himself. ¡°What¡¯s the surprise?¡± he asked. ¡°If I tell you, it won¡¯t be a surprise! I¡¯m heading out to pick it up now.¡± Charles let out a softugh. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Ynda went out and bought two sets of workout clothes, then wandered the mall for ages before finally finding what she needed. When she handed the clothes to Charles, he frowned. Casual outfits were reserved for workouts or golf- never any other time. He pinched the fabric critically between his fingers, then watched as she put something that looked like a digital watch onto his wrist. He was already wearing a watch¨Cthe one she¡¯d given him for his birthday. He didn¡¯t really know why he let her put it on him, almost like he was on autopilot. 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N ¡­ : 55 155 vouchers. Ynda slipped a stic wristband onto her arm, earnest as she exined, ¡°Supposedly if we¡¯re within twenty meters, it¡¯ll start beeping. I want to use it to track you down when we¡¯re on the mountain.¡± Her voice was gentle, her eyes clear. As she lowered her head, a lock of hair brushed her ear. Charles gave her ear a yful pinch. ¡°Since when are you into this kind of thing?¡± Ynda looked up, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who called me boring?¡± ¡®She got me there, Charles thought, left speechless. Instead, he just gave her cheek a teasing squeeze. ¡°Alright, whatever you say, honey. I¡¯m all yours.¡± Ynda gave him a half¨Csmile and nudged him out the door. ¡°Go on, you and Jack head out first. I¡¯ll catch up soon¨CI wanna find you myself, just like when we yed hide¨Cand¨Cseek as kids.¡± Hide¨Cand¨Cseek had been their thing when she was eleven. At some fancy party, all the other kids ignored her, but her one little victory was finding Charles hidden behind a fake rock feature. She was tiny back then, all big eyes and fragile limbs. Charles, worried she¡¯d spoil his hiding spot, just lifted her right off the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t say a word,¡± he ordered. She was so frightened she barely dared to breathe, struggling to hold back sobs as tears silently streamed down her cheeks, her whole body trembling. Back then, Ynda was so timid¨Cterrified of the Grant family, scared of everyone else. She really was as fragile as ss. Charles hardly ever looked back on his time with her; he had plenty of childhood buddies, and with his rxed, gentle nature, he could be friends with anyone. So now, when these memories surfaced, it surprised him¨Che hadn¡¯t realized just how much they¡¯d been through together. ¡°Sure thing, baby. I¡¯ll be waiting for you toe find me,¡± Charles teased. He always knew how to say all the right things, but Ynda had built up a total immunity to his smooth talk. She just grinned at him in response. Charles suddenly felt his heart skip a beat, his eyes lingering on her face as he pulled her into his arms. ¡°Getting out seems to have done wonders for your mood,¡± he said, noticing the change in her, He dipped his head and pressed two quick kisses to her lips, then turned and walked away, The smile in Ynda¡¯s eyes vanished right away. She purposefully wandered downstairs to the restaurant, where she ¡°bumped into¡± Vivian Andrade. Pulling out her phone, she put on an act, pretending she was chatting with someone. ¡°Yeah, Golden Peak. I¡¯ll head up there in a bit for a climb¨Cthey say at night the view¡¯s unreal, whole city sparkling! Just me, all by myself,¡± Ynda said, her voice light and breezy as if she genuinely didn¡¯t have a 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 N care. 55 55 vouchers Shezily stirred her juice, barely ncing at it, then got up to leave. Vivian, who was sitting close enough to catch every word, nearly burst with excitement at what she overheard. She didn¡¯t waste a second before firing off a message to Cedric. Ynda changed into her workout gear, and just as she heard a knock, she walked over to open the door- there was Ian standing right there. ¡®Seriously, did he bug the ce or something?¡® Ynda thought to herself with a hint of exasperation. ¡®How does he always manage to show up when Charles isn¡¯t around?¡® Ian had just finished a full day of filming. With his hat pulled low and a mask covering his face, he looked all mysterious and effortlessly cool. He stepped inside without saying a word, shut the door behind him, grabbed her face, and kissed her fiercely. Ynda was pressed back until she copsed onto the couch, lying back as he crowded in. Ian followed her down, his kisses messy and desperate against her lips. 13:34 Mon, Sep 22 Titan 115 ? 1355 vouchers: Ynda¡¯s tight workout clothes showed off every curve to perfection, her waist¨Cto¨Chip ratio was simply unreal, and the way her hips dipped and swayed could make anyone¡¯s pulse skyrocket after just one look. Chapters first released on FindN()vel Ian caught her firmly by the waist, his fingers gripping her with unmistakable intent. Ynda jerked her head away, a hint of annoyance in her voice. ¡°Quit fooling around.¡± He lowered his gaze, quietly watching her stubborn profile¨Cher chin lifted, refusing to back down, clearly a bit ticked off. ¡°You called Charles to go hiking but didn¡¯t invite me. Are you guys back together?¡± Ian¡¯s voice was low, edged with obsessive jealousy. His grip on her waist turned almost possessive, tightening so much it felt like he might snap her in two as he spoke. Ynda nced at the clock on the wall, then pushed him away again. Ian looked hurt, burying his face against her neck. ¡°Not stringing me along anymore?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s stringing you along?¡± Ynda shot back, her voice sharp. Ian swallowed hard, his lips tightening in frustration. He just couldn¡¯t handle how Ynda suddenly seemed so close to Charles. His eyes rimmed red as he jumped to his feet. ¡°Fine, go ahead and be with him if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Saying nothing more, he threw on his mask and walked out. ¡®Ynda couldn¡¯t figure it out at all.¡® she thought, ¡®All I did was go hiking with Charles¨Cwhy is Ian losing his mind over this?¡® She brushed off her lips, then quickly grabbed a cab and left. The driver nced in the rearview mirror, sounding a bit confused. ¡°Is the car behind us your friend? Looks like they¡¯ve been tailing us for a while.¡± Ynda breathed a quiet sigh of relief¨Csomeone from the Andrade family really did show up. ¡°Nah, probably just some folks out for a night hike,¡± she answered, acting casual. The driver dropped it after that. There weren¡¯t a lot of people hiking at night. Ynda had already checked with Jack about which trail Charles was taking, so she just followed his route. She wasn¡¯t worried about getting separated¨Cnone of the trails had any forks, so she knew she wouldn¡¯t end up losing Charles along the way. 13:35 Mon, Sep 22 N 55 E55 vouchers After half an hour of walking, she caught footsteps closing in behind her. Right then, her cheap stic locator beeped, showing she was within twenty meters of Charles. She nced forward and hurriedly started running. This stretch of road was deserted, with only a few scattered streetlights casting dim pools of light. Even in this sparse lighting, Charles was all dangerous allure¨Che had that bad boy vibe going for him, and somehow even those hastily bought gym clothes now looked downright stylish and suave on him. Ynda heard the footsteps behind her speeding up. With a quick nce, she caught sight of seven or eight men closing in¨Cno mistake about it, the Andrade family was truly out for blood tonight. She hurried forward and grabbed Charles¡¯s hand without hesitation. ¡°Found you.¡± Charles pulled her in by the waist and kissed her on the cheek. ¡°Impressive.¡± Just as Ynda was about to speak, the clubs came crashing down¨Cthe men were attacking head¨Con, not holding back at all. Charles reacted in a heartbeat, yanking her behind him and sending one of the thugs flying with a quick, brutal kick. He was the heir of the Sinir family; after surviving countless assassination attempts, hisbat skills were dangerous as hell. These guys didn¡¯t have a clue who Charles was, and they all looked ready to kill. ¡°F*ck off, you pretty boy! Hand over that woman¨Cnow!¡± one of them spat, eyes full of hate. Charles shot them a cold, predatory look, then turned and asked Ynda softly, ¡°Do you know any of these bastards?¡± Fear flickered across Ynda¡¯s face. She shook her head slowly. ¡°Stay back,¡± Charles said in a low, protective tone. Seeing that Charles refused to back down, the seven men started swinging their steel pipes at him without hesitation. Ynda had never witnessed Charles like this before. In the past, all those punks and troublemakers were dealt with by his own men¨Cthis was the first time she¡¯d actually seen him handle things himself. He was brutal and deadly, striking without hesitation and not uttering a single word to the enemies. He grabbed a steel pipe right out of one thug¡¯s grip and drove a powerful kick straight into the guy¡¯s stomach. Most of the thugs were already on the ground, but just when it seemed clear, one guy whipped out a knife. ¡°Watch out!¡± Ynda yelled. 13:35 Mon, Sep 22 N : Charles couldn¡¯t dodge in time¨Cthe de plunged straight into his shoulder. The thugs picked themselves up, now attacking with even more reckless abandon. 1689 EZ 55 vouchers Ynda rushed forward, snatched a steel pipe off the ground to parry a blow, then threw herself in front of Charles, determined to protect him. The de shed her arm, but Charles seized the moment, delivering a swift, savage kick that sent the attacker sprawling. Seeing they were no match, the thugs stumbled back, hurling curses as they scrambled away. Ynda clutched her arm, her face pale. Charles squatted down in front of her, his voice light and caring. ¡°Come on, get up here.¡± ¡°My legs are fine, you know,¡± she muttered in protest. ¡°Quit acting tough,¡± he shot back, sounding a little exasperated. Reluctantly, she climbed onto his back. Jack was waiting outside. When he saw them both hurt, he was shocked but quickly rushed them to the hospital. Ynda ended up with eighteen stitches in her arm, while Charles¡¯s shoulder wound wasn¡¯t too deep¨Cjust a bit of ointment and he¡¯d be fine. Charles nced at Jack, his gaze steady and voice cutting through the air. ¡°Hunt those bastards down and get to the bottom of this. I want everything uncovered.¡± Ynda heard him and let hershes fall, eyes drifting shut from exhaustion andplicated emotions. ¡®Dragging trouble to someone else¡¯s door¨Cguess that¡¯s exactly what he came for tonight, she thought. Charles was way too proud to ever ditch her in a moment like that¨Cand with this messnding right in hisp, there¡¯s no way he wasn¡¯t getting to the bottom of it. The Andrade family didn¡¯t even need to get fancy toe after her. They¡¯d be careless, leaving a mess of clues behind. All she had to do was sit tight and wait. Eyes closed, deep in thought, Ynda suddenly sensed someone¡¯s gaze on her. She looked up, her eyes meeting Charles¡¯s. Charles reached over and gave her cheek a yful pinch, smugly thinking to himself, ¡®She¡¯s totally head over heels for me.¡® On the way back to the hotel, Ynda wasn¡¯t sure if she was imagining things, but Charles gently held her injured arm and even blew softly over her wound, like he was trying to soothe away the pain. 13:35 Mon, Sep 22 N : ¡­ 55 55¨Cvouchers His warm breathnded on her skin, but it barely registered¨CYnda just tilted her head and pretended to bepletely worn out, hoping he wouldn¡¯t notice how awkward she felt. When they finally made it back to the hotel, they bumped into Vivian in the elevator¨Ctalk about bad timing. Vivian spotted Ynda first, surprise shing in her eyes. She started to say something, but Ynda jumped in, all casual: ¡°Ms. Andrade, what¡¯s the matter¨Ccounting sheep tonight?¡± Vivian¡¯s lips thinned as she nced at Charles, swallowing back whatever she¡¯d wanted to say, the awkward silence stretching between them. Vivian was getting anxious. ¡®Seriously, what gives? Ynda¡¯s still in one piece after I sent seven guys out?¡® she grumbled to herself. Her eyes shot straight to Charles¡¯s shoulder, going wide with shock before narrowing suspiciously. ¡°How did you end up up hurt?¡± Charles didn¡¯t even bother answering. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, Charles took hold of Ynda¡¯s uninjured hand and led her straight out, heading quietly back to their room without another word. Standing there by herself, Vivian¡¯s face alternated between pale and livid, then back again¨Cshe looked downright awful. Ynda grabbed her pajamas and was about to head for the bathroom when Charles pulled her back in a quick, possessive motion. He pressed a kiss to her neck and murmured against her skin, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± She shoved him away and clutched her pajamas, determined to head inside. Worried about pulling at her injury, Charles didn¡¯t reach for her again and just let her go. Ynda was careful not to get her stitches wet in the shower. By the time she got back to bed, Jack called to let her know they¡¯d already tracked down where those guys were staying. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Titan 116 Chapter 116 640 : A 93 35 vouchers Charles lounged casually on the bed, his slender, graceful fingers reaching for a cigarette. Remembering something, he changed his mind and put it back. Ynday back, clearly still unsettled by what had just happened. ¡°Did you catch them?¡± Ynda asked. ¡°Yeah. Wannae take a look?¡± Charles replied. ¡°Sure,¡± Ynda said. Charles expected her to refuse, but to his surprise, Ynda sat up. ¡®Guess I got her all wrong, he thought. Charles had houses everywhere¨Cno matter which city you named, he probably owned a ce there. Right now, that bunch of guys was kneeling in his local vi, looking totally pathetic. Their hands were tied behind their backs and their legs were bound like prisoners. Surrounded by Charles¡¯s ck¨Cd bodyguards, they instantly realized they¡¯d seriously messed with someone way out of their league. The guy with the crew cut stuck out his neck, his voice shaky. ¡°We swear we had no idea who that woman was! Somebody just threw cash at us! If we¡¯d known she was untouchable, we wouldn¡¯t haveid a finger on her- no matter how gutsy we thought we were.¡± They were all a mess, battered and bruised, faces swollen and bloodied¡ªa clear sign they¡¯d gotten the beating of their lives. Charles walked in slowly and settled into a nearby chair, his every move full of unforced grace and calm assurance that came naturally to him. The crew cut guy¡¯s eyes contracted in fright when he saw Charles, and his whole body started trembling. Charles found the sight amusing, propping his chin up with one hand. ¡°Who sent you?¡± he asked. The crew cut guy¡¯s face turned ghostly white, a cold chill crawling up his spine until his scalp prickled. Even though Charles hadn¡¯t uttered a single threat, the guy felt as if a de was quietly suspended right above his head. His lips quivered and he started bowing his head frantically. ¡°It was Cedric! We were just following orders and taking money, that¡¯s all! Please, don¡¯t hold it against us!¡± Charles lookedpletely indifferent, lowering his gaze. He and Cedric definitely had bad blood, but Cedric wouldn¡¯t go out of his way to make trouble for him like this. ¡®Was this aimed at Ynda?¡® Charles wondered. Ynda had never really crossed the Andrade family. That p she¡¯d given Vivian was ages ago¡ªno way Cedric would suddenlye after her now, and travel all the way here just for that. Chapters first released on find?novel 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ : So, when ites down to it, this was aimed at him all along. E 35 vouchers Charles¡¯s face grew cold. He took the dagger Jack handed over and traced the de with his thumb, his movements slow and deliberate. His words came out quiet but carried a deadly chill. ¡°Make sure they¡¯re barely breathing. Then toss them out.¡± The crew cut guy banged his head on the floor even harder, scrambling to beg for mercy¨Cuntil Charles added, ¡°Or would you rather leave here in one piece?¡± The guy stiffened, instantly too terrified to bow again. Not a word more¨Cthey were hauled out in total silence. Ynda was just a spectator in all this¨Cshe only needed to look a bit scared now and then, clutching her sleeve and keeping quiet in the background. Charles stuck around with her, brushed a tender kiss on her forehead, and whispered for her to get some sleep. ¡®All this chaos¡­ She needs to rest,¡® he thought. Once she was settled, Charles headed out to strategize with Jack, already nning his next move. Someone like Charles would never tolerate this kind of challenge to his authority¨Che made sure everyone knew where the line was. While Ynda was lying in bed, her phone buzzed with a message from Ian. [¡°Such a loving couple, huh.¡°] Just four words, but the jealous undertone was so obvious, it almost made herugh out loud. Ynda just snorted at his jealousy and didn¡¯t even bother to reply. After two days of resting her injured arm at the vi, Ynda heard raised voicesing from downstairs¡ªit was Vivian Andrade causing a stir. ¡°Charles, are you really going to pull this at the eleventh hour? We¡¯ve always treated this project as a partnership¨Cour families working together. And now you¡¯re ditching me to sign a government contract behind my back? Is that how little you trust me now?¡± Vivian snapped, Charles had a choice on this deal: either sign straight with the government or go through the Andrade family as a middleman, The profits were basically the same, though going with the government meant payment would be held up for a few construction phases. He¡¯d just dropped the Andrade family right at the finish line, choosing the government instead¨Cand Vivian stormed in to demand answers. Charles sat on the sofa, contract held firmly in both hands. He raised an eyebrow, the smile in his eyes barely noticeable. ¡°As long as there¡¯s no signature, Vivian, you have no say in what I do.¡± Vivian¡¯s face went from pale to flushed, her eyes instantly red. ¡°I dragged so many of the Andrade Group¡¯s 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d ¡­ (93 E35 vouchers execs here, made such a scene¡ªand now you turn around and sign with someone else? How do you expect me to face them?¡± ¡°Vivian, I¡¯m a businessman. Your reputation isn¡¯t even on my radar,¡± Charles replied coolly. Vivian started shaking all over, her nails digging deep into her palms. She¡¯d actually fallen for his bedtime sweet nothings, thought he might care for her a little. Turns out, he was cold as ice. She bit her lip so hard she tasted iron. ¡°Do we really have to turn this into a mess? You break the contract now, and there¡¯ll be noing back from this between us and the Andrade Group,¡± Vivian said. ¡°So?¡± Charles replied. Charles couldn¡¯t care less about losing the Andrade Group. Vivian almostughed¨Cit just hit her how ridiculous it was, all that running around she did to get that shipping line set up for him. What a joke. ¡°Is this about Ynda? Did that woman say something to you?¡± Vivian shot back, her tone sharp and using. Ynda, listening from upstairs, just shook her head. ¡®This¡¯ll only make Charles think even less of her,¡¯ she thought dryly. Sure enough, Charles¡¯s face grew tense. ¡°What does she have to do with any of this?¡± ¡°If she wasn¡¯t clinging to the Mrs. Sinir spot, you¡¯d never treat me like this! Charles, after all these years- don¡¯t tell me you never cared about me!¡± Vivian insisted. With that, she slid straight onto hisp, trying to steal a kiss. At that exact moment, Ynda came downstairs¨Cand when she saw what was happening, all the color drained from her face. ¡°You¡­¡± Ynda¡¯s voice shook, unable to finish her sentence. Charles immediately pushed Vivian away, his eyes goingpletely cold. Vivian¡¯s humiliation was almost palpable, but she forced out a mockingugh. ¡°Oh, cut the act, Ynda! Don¡¯t pretend you didn¡¯t know about Charles and me. I¡¯ve been to your wedding suite with him plenty of times- we¡¯ve hooked up there more than you think. Haven¡¯t I told you all this before?¡± Ynda¡¯s face wentpletely pale, and she looked like she might copse. She turned to Charles, her eyes started to redden, threatening to spill tears. Ynda choked, her voice trembling. ¡°Is what she¡¯s saying true?¡± Charles¡¯s features turned steely, and a dangerous glint shed in his pitch¨Cck eyes. His voice was cold as steel as he told the nearby Jasper, ¡°Throw her out.¡± 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d. Vivian had never been humiliated like this¨Cshe waspletely shattered. A 93. 35 vouchers ¡°Charles! I¡¯m the CEO of the Andrade Group¨Care you seriously going to treat me like this?¡± Vivian called out indignantly. But Jasper had already thrown her out. Vivian had never been so humiliated in her entire life, and her eyes zed with humiliation and hatred for Ynda. Ynda stood there, head down, silent. Charles softened his voice and reached out for her, but she jerked away hard. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± A sly, irresistible smile spread across Charles¡¯s face as he yanked her straight into his arms, holding her withmanding force. ¡°You actually buy into her crap? Hm? Is your trust in your husband that shaky?¡± Ynda found herself genuinely impressed by how this man could keep his cool no matter what drama was thrown at him. ¡®If I didn¡¯t already know the truth¡­ Maybe I¡¯d actually start thinking I¡¯d wrongly used him,¡® Ynda mused, a tinge of doubt flickering in her heart. She tried to wriggle free, but he just tightened his grip around her waist. ¡°Quit squirming. Your arm¡¯s still injured,¡± Charles said, concernced with authority. Her eyes reddened even more, lips pressed together, looking as if she¡¯d been seriously wronged. Her looks were all soft grace and quiet fragility¨Cbeautiful in a way that made people want to protect her the second they saw her. Charles brushed a gentle kiss against her cheek. ¡°She¡¯s just making stuff up. She couldn¡¯t win me over, so now she¡¯s trying toe between us.¡± Ynda¡¯s voice shook as she stared at him, hurt shing in her eyes. ¡°Did you two just kiss?¡± ¡°No,¡± Charles said calmly. He grabbed her fingers and pressed them to his corbone, a teasing glint in his eye. ¡°Wanna double check?¡± Ynda¡¯s hand tightened as she drew a shaky breath. ¡°I believe you,¡± she murmured. Charles¡¯s gaze grew gentle, and he quietly wrapped her in his arms, letting out a soft, weary sigh. 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d Titan 117 ¡­ Ynda spent the next few days at the vi here. :. B 35 vouchers Charles finalized the government project, always leaving early anding homete. It wasn¡¯t until thest night that he finally had her get in the car with him. Ynda had already checked in with Ian and knew he¡¯d headed back with the crew a day ahead of schedule. Plus, Ian was still sulking about it. Even though he didn¡¯t say a word, Ynda could tell from his whole vibe. ¡®He acts all normal, but I can totally feel he¡¯s got a grudge, Ynda thought to herself. With Ian¡¯s birthday pretty much here, Ynda totally nned to pick up a present for him and cheer him up once they were back in Beloris. Ynda leaned against Charles¡¯s shoulder, half-dozing with her eyes closed. Her face was delicately oval, her skin so pale it pretty much glowed. Curled up against his shoulder, she looked just like a little bird, super adorable and fragile. Jack caught a glimpse in the rearview mirror-he swore something was definitely different about the way Charles was acting around Ynda. He kept quiet, hands steady on the wheel. When they arrived at Moonbay Estate, Ynda was just about to open her eyes when Charles scooped her up, carrying her in his arms before she knew it. Heid her down on the bed, and the next thing she knew, his lips were on hers, waking her up with a kiss. Ynda couldn¡¯t help but feel that Charles was way more into it tonight than usual. She pushed him away and tugged the nket over herself. ¡°I¡¯m tired, and my arm hurts.¡± ¡°Rx, sweetheart. I won¡¯t touch your arm,¡± Charles murmured. But he leaned in again, and Ynda instantly buried herself even deeper under the nket. Charles tried to coax her out, but she was mmed up tight like a locked shell. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he held himself back. In the end, he snatched up his pajamas and quietly left the room, frustration simmering beneath his calm. Ynda waited until she heard the door click shut before she shot up in bed. ¡®This is weird,¡¯ she thought to herself. ¡®Charles used to act all distant, barely ever touching me, but now he¡¯s suddenly so into me-like, what changed?¡¯ ¡®Seriously, what¡¯s going on here?¡¯ 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 .. : (93) 35 vouchers After chasing after him for all these years-and considering everything that¡¯s happenedtely¡ªit just didn¡¯t make sense. No way would Charles, that charming but unreliable heartbreaker, suddenly have real feelings for her¡­ right? Unable to make sense of it, and wiped out from a whole day on the road, she quickly drifted off to sleep. In the middle of the night, she was woken up yet again by Charles¡¯s kiss-he felt as if he was burning up with desire right next to her. Groggy and half-awake, she curled up instinctively, trying to wriggle away from his lips. But she just couldn¡¯t take his intensity anymore. She opened her eyes, and tears started rolling down her cheeks. Readplete version only at f?ndnovel Charles stiffened, grabbing her chin, surprise shing across his face. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± ¡°The thing between you and Vivian¡­ it¡¯s real, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ynda asked, her voice trembling. He stayed silent, just brushed her tears away with his finger, aplicated look in his eyes. Ynda turned her head, her voice wavering, barely making a sound. Charles didn¡¯t admit or deny anything, but deep down, he was honestly getting fed up with Vivian. He hated when Vivian started drama and made his life harder. Ynda burrowed deeper into the nket, not saying another word. Charles didn¡¯t say anything else, just pressed a gentle kiss to her hair. The next morning, after getting ready, Ynda headed downstairs alone for breakfast. All the staff in the vi were loyal to Charles. Even though she¡¯did down thew before, now they just made sure not to rat out her whereabouts to him-everything else was still all about his preferences. Seeing a table full of Charles¡¯s favorite dishes, Ynda lost her appetite. She grabbed a couple slices of bread to fill up and didn¡¯t bother sparring with the staff anymore. For the next couple of days, Ynda wasn¡¯t nning to go to Starlight Entertainment. She needed to act like she was still shaken up from the attack. When Charles got home that evening, he handed off his suit jacket to one of the staff and overheard someone say, ¡°Mrs. Sinir seemed a little out of it today. She didn¡¯t go out even once.¡± Charles stopped mid-movement, ncing over at Ynda. She sat quietly on the couch, curled up with a throw pillow in her arms, her eyes zed over as she stared at the screen. Charles gently loosened his tie, stepped over, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ynda bowed her head, her vulnerable nape showing. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said softly. 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d. ¡­ 93 35 vouchers Charles, who¡¯d never shown this kind of patience before, crouched down beside her, reached out and softly pinched her cheek-almost awkward in his gentleness, like he was trying tofort but not knowing how. ¡°Nothing? It¡¯s written all over your face,¡± he murmured. Ynda dropped her chin onto the pillow and let hershes fall softly. From where Charles knelt, he could see her petite lips, her straight, upturned nose, and those delicateshes quivering against her cheeks. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he asked, ¡°Are you still scared about what happened that night?¡± Ynda stiffened, staying silent. ¡°I¡¯ve handled everything. What are you still worried about? You can tell your husband,¡± Charles said gently. ¡°I¡¯m scared of Cedric,¡± she whispered. She shot him a quick nce, then dropped hershes again. ¡°I¡¯m scared of Grady too. When he handed me that room key, the way he looked at me still gives me chills.¡± All Ynda needed to do now was to let her fear show; as long as she remained Mrs. Sinir, any man who showed interest in her would be seen by Charles as a threat to his authority. Sure enough, the smile in his eyes slowly faded. Ynda knew Charles had this set system for weighing things. Like, between her and Renee, he¡¯d always choose Renee. And between her and thepany, it was always thepany over her. But when it came to the little things that didn¡¯t really matter, Charles never minded looking out for her in those minor ways. So before that smile vanished fully, she leaned in and let her head rest on his shoulder. ¡°Vivian¡¯s words really stuck with me. I even had a nightmare about itst night.¡± Charles¡¯s irritation toward Vivian hit a whole new level. In Charles¡¯s mind, Ynda was the most well-behaved, easygoing woman in all of Beloris. If she wasn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have agreed to marry her in the first ce. For her to say something like that meant Vivian must¡¯ve talked crap to her before. Ynda didn¡¯t let on because she trusted him. Charles narrowed his eyes, thinking, ¡®Maybe she did, but I was too oblivious back then to notice. Like when she made the staff toss her clothes out, or switched to sleeping in a separate bed. Now, as all those little things finally clicked into ce, he understood she¡¯d been quietly resisting him this whole time. ¡­ 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d.. : 93 55 vouchers He always thought women throwing tantrums were just annoying, but someone who swallowed their pain, kept it bottled up, and still came to him so fragile, seeking his protection¡­ Even he couldn¡¯t help but feel a rare trace of softness in his heart. He lifted his hand and gently patted her back. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Jack will get you a ck card-go spoil yourself a bit tomorrow, alright?¡± Hershes trembled, and she just mumbled an ¡°Okay¡± from beneath her breath. Charles chuckled and patted her on the head. ¡°Gotta get back to work.¡± **** The next morning, when Ynda opened her door, she found Jack standing respectfully outside, holding out the ck card. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, the CEO asked me to give you this,¡± Jack said. No limit this time-she could spend however much she wanted. Before, Charles only gave her 60 thousand a month. Most of it went straight to the orphanage, and she had to put some away for maintaining rtionships, leaving her with barely a couple bucks at the end of each month. Sure, he¡¯d been a bit more generoustely, but even then, there was always a cap. Now, he was handing her the ck card. Ynda took the card and murmured a quiet thanks. She wasn¡¯t about to turn down money just to prove some point. In this business, without cash, you can¡¯t get anywhere. She threw on some simple jeans and a white silk blouse, pulled her hair up into a ponytail, and got ready to hit the mall. She needed to find a birthday present for Ian-his birthday wasing up in two days. Just before heading out, Ynda paused for a moment, then fired off a quick update on Twitter. [Out shopping!] Ynda hardly ever posted on Twitter. When she first married Charles two years ago, a bunch of people had added her just to get close to him. But once they realized she wasn¡¯t exactly in his good graces, they stopped reaching out. The few posts she did make were always about Charles¡¯s birthday or their wedding anniversary, But this year, she skipped the anniversary post. Now, this shopping post got a ton of likes-mostly from people in Charles¡¯s circle. Everyone was all smiles and support on the surface. 93 : But Ynda wasn¡¯t trying to put on a show for that crowd-her post was aimed straight at Vivian. 55 vouchers Rumor had it, after Charles dropped the partnership, Vivian caught hell for days. You could bet she was fuming and just itching to find someone to blow off steam on. To Vivian, Ynda was nothing but her punching bag¡ªan easy target, a nobody she could mess with whenever she felt like it. Titan 118 ¡­ Z (93) 55 vouchers Ynda wandered casually through the luxury mall, browsing without a goal until her eyesnded on a pair of silver¨Cblue stud earrings. They were perfect for Ian¨Cjust the right mix of cool elegance and understated edge. Ian always looked reserved and a bit frosty, but he had those eyes that, when he yed the innocent, could melt anyone¡¯s heart or switch on the sad puppy look in an instant. These earrings matched him to a tee. They cost over a hundred grand, but Ynda didn¡¯t bat an eye. It was Charles¡¯s money, after all. Next, she treated herself to a pair of emerald stud earrings, a little over eighty grand. The emeralds were wless, surrounded by a halo of diamonds that sparkled like stars. They screamed luxury. She put them on right then and there, snapped a close¨Cup of her ear, and posted it on Twitter with a caption: [Spending someone else¡¯s money? No regrets.] Vivian had just gotten chewed out by Charles, and now, seeing Ynda showing off like she owned the ce, it was more than she could take. The whole thing felt like a taunt, and her irritation hit its peak. She stormed across the mall floor, barely giving Ynda time to react, and pped her hard across the face. Ynda¡¯s hand flew to her cheek, her lips tightening into a thin line as she held back any words. Vivian sneered, her eyes burning red with jealousy as she stared at Ynda¡¯s new earrings. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? Showing off on Twitter just to get under my skin? Trying to rub it in, huh? You don¡¯t even deserve to wear something like that!¡± Before Ynda could move, Vivian reached out and yanked one of the earrings straight out. Blood welled from Ynda¡¯s earlobe, running down her neck¡ªit was enough to make anyone flinch. Ynda¡¯s face turned ghostly pale as she felt all eyes on her. She ducked her head, her eyes rimmed red with unshed tears, and, keeping her gaze down, hurried to her car. Once inside the car, she didn¡¯t try to stop the bleeding. She just sat there, staring nkly into space, letting the silence and numbness wash over her. Vivian, clutching the bloodstained earring in her hand, finally felt her anger and jealousy subside a little. When Ynda got home, Charles was already there. These days, he¡¯d beening back home right around six, punctual as always. She silently changed her shoes by the door, not making a sound. Charles had seen her Twitter posts and knew she¡¯d been in a pretty good mood today. The corners of his mouth quirked up. ¡°Come here, let your husband check out what you bought.¡± Ynda stiffened, standing frozen in the entryway. She kept her head down and made to head upstairs. Charles¡¯s brow furrowed, wondering if she was throwing a fit again. ¡°Ynda,¡± he called out. 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 J ¡­ : 93 55 vouchers He¡¯d been bending over backwards to keep her happy these days¨Cshe really ought to appreciate it by now. Ynda didn¡¯t even bother to answer, just headed straight upstairs without a word. The smile vanished from Charles¡¯s face, reced by a colder, darker look. He was done ying nice. Just then, Sophie called. His bad mood hadn¡¯t faded, so he just went over to see her. After he was done with Sophie, irritation was all over his face. He stepped out onto the hotel balcony and stared at the city lights. Sophie had been extra obedienttely, barely daring to act cute or say much. Whenever she was with him, she was super cautious, afraid she¡¯d set him off. Now, seeing him stand there in silence, she wondered if she¡¯d screwed something up. ¡°Charles, are you upset?¡± she asked softly, hesitation in her voice. Charles leaned against the balcony railing, the night breeze tossing his hair around. His lips were a touch red, and those long, elegant fingers kept casually turning a lighter, but he didn¡¯t say a word. Sophie was jittery, heart pounding¨Cpart of her was addicted to his wild, seductive side, the other half just anxious about how unpredictable he seemed tonight. Charles looked down, flicked his lighter, lighting a cigarette. ¡°Afraid of me?¡± he asked, voice low. Sophie¡¯s eyes instantly brimmed with tears. God knew how hard she¡¯d been trying not to step out of lely, always careful, worried she¡¯d do something wrong. She sniffled. ¡°You being upset¡­ it¡¯s honestly scary,¡± she said, voice barely above a whisper. He let out a low chuckle, his hair getting even messier in the wind. ¡°Is that so? Maybe I haven¡¯t spoiled you enough yet.¡± Charles was always generous with women, but his affection was a switch¨Che could flip it off without a second thought. He could lift you to the skies one moment, then throw you to the ground the next. Being loved by Charles was never real¨Cit was all just smoke and mirrors. Sophie nervously fidgeted with her shirt, guessing Charles was probably annoyed with that nagging wife of his again. She tried to win him over, voice extra sweet: ¡°Is it that woman at home stirring up trouble for you? Charles, you shouldn¡¯t have to put up with this.¡± Charles held his cigarette between his fingers, letting out a low chuckle. ¡°Anything else?¡± Sophie tried desperately to think of something more to soothe him, but she just couldn¡¯t get a read on his mood tonight. Being with Charles was like serving an unpredictable king¨Cyou never knew when he¡¯d grace you with favor 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d. or turn icy in an instant. ¡­ : She swallowed nervously, about to say something more, when his phone suddenly rang. Charles picked up. It was Jack. ¡°CEO, Mrs. Sinir is trending on Twitter,¡± Jack said. Charles frowned, thinking he must¡¯ve misheard. Ynda trending? Z (93 ) 55 vouchers He hung up and opened Twitter. The video was grainy, but there was no mistaking it¡ªit was Ynda. The other person caught in the video was Vivian. Right now, the clip was buried at the bottom of the trending page, but if it gained traction, it could quickly end up front and center¨Cfor everyone in their social circle to see. Vivian¡¯s p, and the way she ripped Ynda¡¯s earring out, were clear as day in the footage. Ynda was covering her face, her expression hidden, but her palm was unmistakably streaked with blood. Charles rarely lost his temper, but his eyes now were icy cold, a chill glint shing through the darkness. He headed straight back to his room, grabbed his coat, and left. On the way out, he called Jack back. ¡°Get that trending post off Twitter,¡± he ordered. No way he¡¯d let the whole worldugh at Ynda. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel Charles rushed back to Moonbay Estate. He walked into the master bedroom, but it was empty. Without missing a beat, he turned and headed to the room at the end of the hallway. The lights were off, and Ynda was already asleep. Charles walked over to the bed and noticed five obvious red handprints bright on her cheek. The blood on her ear had dried, but it still looked pretty gruesome. He hauled her upright, voice edged with fury. ¡°You let someone bully you this bad ande home without a word? Don¡¯t you know how to stand up for yourself? You just stay quiet and let it happen? Ynda, are you fucking mute?¡± Ynda¡¯s eyes fluttered open, still dazed. She pressed her lips together, turning her face away from him. She blinked, her longshes trembling, while tears glistened and threatened to fall. Her beauty had always been striking, but usually, she was stoic to the point of numbness. Now, with her eyes red from crying and her lip bitten back against tears, she looked every inch the siren¨Cirresistible and heartbreakingly beautiful. Charles wasn¡¯t even sure why he was so pissed. He gripped her shoulders, sighed deep and heavy, then barked 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d.. A 93 55 vouchers at the housekeeper to fetch some antiseptic. Her ear was throbbing, and just his slightest touch made her shrink away fast, as if she might fold in on herself at any moment. The Grant Family definitely made the right call adopting Ynda¨Cwhen she cried, even the toughest heart would go soft. Charles cleaned up her ear, then had someone bring over a hard¨Cboiled egg to gently roll across her cheek to help with the swelling. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ynda? You forget how to talk? Or did a cat really steal your tongue?¡± he snapped. 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 d.. Titan 119 Z93) 55 vouchers Ynda murmured, ¡°Vivian is your business partner.¡± Hershes were lowered, her tone steady and matter- of¨Cfact, like she was simply stating the truth. ¡°But you¡¯re my wife,¡± Charles replied firmly. ¡°Charles, I know thepany is always your top priority. I don¡¯t want to put you in a tough spot,¡± Ynda said, her voice barely above a whisper. Charles paused, then pulled her into his arms, saying nothing. Ynda caught a faint whiff of another woman¡¯s perfume lingering on Charles. She didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, tears slid silently down her cheeks, soaking through the fabric of his shoulder. Charles gently cleaned up her wounds, then reached out to softly ruffle her hair. ¡°Get some rest,¡± he said. ¡°Okay,¡± Ynda replied quietly. Shey down slowly, hershes still wet with tears. Charles watched her for a few seconds before finally leaving the room. ¡®Whatever he¡¯s up to, doesn¡¯t matter to me,¡® Ynda thought, turning over and falling asleep without another word. When Vivian got Charles¡¯s message that he wasing over, she could barely hide her delight¨Cher eyes sparkled with surprise and anticipation. It was already past eleven at night, but she quickly did her makeup and sat waiting for him in the living room, nerves buzzing in her chest. Charles arrived in no time. The moment she opened the door, Vivian was so excited she almost leapt into his arms. ¡°I knew it! You still care about me,¡± she blurted out, hope shining in her voice. But in the next second, Charles shoved her aside and brushed off his suit jacket, as if trying to wipe away something unpleasant. Vivian¡¯s face instantly turned pale, ¡°Charles, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± she demanded, her voice shaking. ¡°Where¡¯s Ynda¡¯s earring?¡± Charles asked, his tone cold and unwavering. Vivian couldn¡¯t believe her ears. ¡®Is Charles actually backing Ynda up?¡® she thought, totally stunned. She let out a scoff, her scalp prickling with anger. ¡°Do you really think Ynda is any better? I told her right to her face¨CI slept with her husband¨Cand she just pretended like nothing ever happened! Charles, you never used to take her side! You must¡¯ve totally fallen for her tricks.¡± 11:03 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ Charles knew all too well that what Vivian was saying was the truth. 93 55 vouchers I¡¯ve heard all that before, but I never let myself believe it, Ynda thought. She was always the quiet, obedient type¨Cshe just chucked the clothes away, started sleeping alone, and kept all her pain bottled up inside. Charles¡¯s eyes grew frosty, but no matter how mad he got, he¡¯d never let himself explode in front of someone like Vivian. He just gave a quietugh. ¡°The carring.¡± Vivian was shaking all over. Even though Charles hadn¡¯t said anything cruel, she still felt gutted inside, like his coldness was cutting her to pieces¨Cit hurt so much she could barely breathe. ¡°I threw it out! Why would I hang on to some worthless, filthy thing like that?¡± Vivian shot back, her voice full of contempt. She was openly provoking Charles now. Charles locked his gaze on her for a few seconds, his lips curled into a cold, distant smirk. ¡°Funny I never realized it before¨Cwomen like you make me sick.¡± Vivian¡¯s eyes shot up inplete shock. Seeing the sheer disgust in his eyes, she felt dizzy¨Clike she might just ck out right then and there. Charles had always been a gentleman, a bit of adies¡® man. Saying something this harsh to a woman? Unthinkable. That is, unless he hated her so much, he didn¡¯t care about hiding it anymore. ¡°You¡­ what did you just say?¡± Vivian gasped, her voice trembling. Charles sneered, ¡°Are you deaf or something?¡± Vivian snapped, totally losing control. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Ynda! I swear I¡¯ll ruin her! Charles, you won¡¯t be able to protect her. Just wait¨CI¡¯ll make that bitch wish she was dead!¡± Vivian, the CEO of the Andrade Group, had never suffered a setback like this in all these years. In her mind, it was all Ynda¨Cshe was the one who¡¯d wrecked everything and stirred up all this trouble. When a woman loses her head over love, you can forget about her ying it smart¨Cshe¡¯ll burn it all down if she has to. Vivian screamed, lunged for Charles, grabbed his cor and tried to kiss him. Charles¡¯s eyes grew icier by the second. He sidestepped her kiss, then peeled off his suit jacket with a look of utter disgust and tossed it straight into the trash like it was contaminated. That was the moment Vivianpletely lost it. Vivian snapped, tears streaming down her face, her features twisted with fury. ¡°Fine, just great! Watch me¡ªI¡¯ll make sure that bitch Ynda disappears from this world!¡± 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 d For original chapters go to find[?]ovel : 93 55 vouchers What Vivian didn¡¯t get was that every word she screamed out was goading Charles¨Cand she was even challenging the entire Sinir family without realizing it. Charles undid the top button of his shirt, letting out a cold, dismissiveugh. ¡°You can try.¡± With that, he left without looking back. Once he got in the car, Charles rubbed his temples and spoke to Jack up front. ¡°Order ten more pairs of emerald earrings Jack felt even stranger now. The CEO really is acting different toward his wifetely, he thought. He just kept quiet and nodded. The next morning. Ynda was still curled up in bed, refusing to get up. Charles pushed open her bedroom door, walked over to her side, and asked softly, ¡°Still feeling down?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t answer. Charles strode over and gently pulled Ynda up from bed. ¡°I got you some new earrings. As soon as your ear heals, you can wear them.¡± Ynda responded with a soft ¡°Mm,¡± then wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. ¡°Baby, you¡¯re the best.¡± Charles stiffened for a moment. To be honest, he¡¯d always treated his lovers better than Ynda. But Ynda never wanted much¨Cso it took very little to make her happy. His heart fluttered a little. He gave her cheek a light squeeze. ¡°You¡¯re so silly.¡± Charles thought. With all the resources and connections I have, she never even tries to take advantage of any of it¡® Ynda got up, had breakfast, and noticed Charles was still around. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you headed to work today?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t spending more time with you a good thing?¡± Charles teased. Ynda didn¡¯t respond, but in her head she was thinking, Wish he¡¯d leave already, I¡¯ve got to get over to Starlight Entertainment soon. Starlight Entertainment¡¯s upper management was in chaos. Word had gotten out there was a new CEO parachuting in, so everyone had been on high alert for half a month, ready to put up a fight and see who¡¯de out on top. But the new boss never showed. The ones itching to give their new CEO a hard time were starting to think maybe the whole thing was just corporate gossip gone wild. Ynda knew exactly what she was doing¨Clet them burn through all that bluster, chip away at their confidence, and then stroll in on some random day when nobody¡¯s expecting it. She thrived on psychological warfare. 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 d. : ¡°But I¡¯ve got ns at Starlight Entertainment today,¡± Ynda chimed in. 93 55 vouchers She¡¯d been married to Charles for two years, but out in the real world, no one had any clue who his wife even was. Sure, the inner circle knew her name, but almost nobody had seen her up close¨Cshe pretty much kept to herself, living the stay¨Cat¨Chome life and rarely going out. Rumor had it she was a in Jane, not exactly memorable or fun to be around¨Cno wonder Charles barely paid her any attention. Charles slid a ss of fresh juice over to her, a little smirk flickering at his lips. ¡°Wow, really all about your career these days?¡± Ynda lowered hershes, hesitated for a long moment, then finally asked, ¡°If anyone from upper management tries to bad¨Cmouth me to you, would you do anything about it?¡± ¡°You want me to step in?¡± Charles teased. Ynda nced up at him, her cheeks going bright red. ¡°I want you to just ignore them, don¡¯t meet with anyone, don¡¯t even look at the newsing out of Starlight Entertainment. Just let me make my own mess and figure it out myself.¡± She was clearly trying to work up her nerve, but her voice still shook a little. ¡°If I totally screw up and run the whole thing into the ground, would you¡­¡± Before she could finish, Charles caught her lips between his fingers. ¡°Starlight is barely even a blip for me. If keeping out of it makes my wife happy, I¡¯ll pretend I don¡¯t see a thing. Sound fair?¡± His eyes were overflowing with warmth as he pinched her lips and gave them a yful tug. ¡°You¡¯ve got that mouth for a reason, you know? Those other folks can¡¯te griping to me, but you can always tell me anything, okay?¡± No wonder every woman who ever tangled with Charles ended up crazy about him¨Cwhen he decided to spoil someone, he¡¯d say whatever sweet things it took. Ynda nodded, then picked up a little bun and ced it on his te. ¡°Baby, you really are good to me.¡± Charles looked at her with that gentle, adorable look on her face and let out a softugh. Ynda¡¯s mature, level¨Cheaded ways were a world apart from Vivian¡¯s hysterical outbursts. Honestly, what guy would ever pick someone like Vivian over her? Men¨Cyeah, they¡¯re just that practical in the end. 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 Titan 120 Chapter 120 93 55 vouchers Ynda watched Ian drive off before heading back inside to change into a professional outfit. She then drove herself to Starlight Entertainment. She had done her research on thepany. Starlight Entertainment had a dozen or so executives, most of whom owed their position to family connections. The ce was infamous for squeezing everyst drop out of their talent, and its reputation in the entertainment world was practically toxic. Their talents were all at the perfect age to shine, yet many were stuck in contractssting ten, sometimes even twenty years. ¡®All that youth and potential, just drained away here,¡® Ynda thought to herself, feeling a sh of pity. And if any of the talents happened to be especially good¨Clooking, they¡¯d be pushed to attend events and drink with business partners¨Clike they were nothing more than eye candy. Ynda¡¯s mission was clear¨Cshe was here to shake things up and overhaul the entire system. Just as Ynda pulled up outside Starlight Entertainment, her screen lit up with a message from Ian. [Got hurt.] He¡¯d attached a photo of his calf¨Cthere was a fresh scratch along it, probably where he¡¯d scraped it on something. It had been two days since they¡¯d returned to Beloris, and Ian hadn¡¯t reached out once. He was still clearly upset. Fresh chapters posted on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? But now, here he was, sending her a message. He wanted to make
  1. up.
¡®That little puppy always overthinks everything,¡® Ynda thought to herself with a fond smile. Ynda was in a good mood and perfectly willing tofort him, so she picked up her phone and gaven a call. ¡°How did you get hurt?¡± Ynda asked gently, her voice full of concern. ¡°Oh, just scratched my leg while filming. It¡¯s no big deal,¡± Ian replied, making it sound like nothing had happened at all. But even though Jan said he was fine, Ynda knew he actually wanted her toe check up on him. She nced at the Starlight Entertainment building right in front of her, figuring, ¡®It won¡¯t hurt to put this off for a bit¨Cno rush¡® With a smile, Ynda asked, ¡°When do you think you¡¯ll be done filming today?¡± ¡°No idea. It¡¯s gonna bete¨Cmight even have to pull an all¨Cnighter. Raelyn got kicked off the project. She¡¯s seriously injured, and the hospital says she won¡¯t be out for at least two months. Ms. Sinir couldn¡¯t wait, so 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ 55 vouchers she reced the lead actress. Now I have to reshoot some scenes,¡± Ian exined, his voice sounding tired. Ynda raised an eyebrow. ¡®Looks like Cedric didn¡¯t hold back at all, she thought. She wasn¡¯t going to feel guilty about it¨Cif she hadn¡¯t made the first move, Raelyn would¡¯ve set Cedric on her andn, and neither of them would¡¯ve made it out alive. ¡®I don¡¯t mess with anyone unless they mess with me first,¡® Ynda told herself. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve got a lot going on. Will you have time for a birthday celebration after midnight? I got you something,¡± Ynda said, her voice warm and teasing. Even though Ian wasn¡¯t in front of her, Ynda could practically see his ears perk up and his tail start wagging. He was silent for a few seconds before finally asking, his voice barely above a whisper, ¡°You know my birthday?¡± ¡°Huh? Shouldn¡¯t I know? You¡¯re my talent, after all. All your info is right there in your file,¡± Ynda replied breezily. His throat went dry and his voice came out hoarse. ¡°Ms. Grant¡­ are you saying this just to mess with me?¡± He knew she was teasing him on purpose, just to throw his heart into chaos. Ynda smiled, sneaking a look at the clock. ¡°Honestly, I was gonna report in at Starlight Entertainment today, but those execs are probably itching to pull some power moves on me. No harm letting them stew a little longer. How about Ie by your ce first, slip into something more chill, and then head over to find you?¡± This outfit¡¯s way too stiff for the set¨CI¡¯d totally stick out. Besides, whenever she hung out with Ian, she always yed it cool, keeping it casual with a hat and mask to dodge the spotlight. Ian¡¯s voice came out hoarse. ¡°Okay.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t even hesitate¨Cshe swung her car around, hit up the mall for some everyday outfits, and made a quick stop at Ian¡¯s ce to slip into somethingfortable. She grabbed a whole stack of hats and masks too¨Csome went straight into her car for emergencies, while the rest she tucked away in the guest room at the vi. While she was chilling at the vi, Ynda didn¡¯t just sit around¨Cshe gave ke a call. ke¡¯s voice came through, that signaturezy, street¨Csmart tone of his. ¡°Charles is back, so me and her gotta keep it on the down low. But I think the n went through.¡± Ynda nodded, even though ke couldn¡¯t see it. ¡°Stick close to her for now. Don¡¯t draw too much attention.¡± ke took a drag from his cigarette. ¡°When do I get paid the rest?¡± 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ : 93 55 vouchers ¡°Once the morning sickness kicks in and the Sinir family finds out, you grab the cash and disappear,¡± Ynda said coolly. ¡°Sounds good,¡± ke replied, casual as ever. No fuss, no drama¨Cke was straight¨Cup, and so was Ynda. Feeling a little more at ease, Ynda¡¯s phone buzzed with a few messages from Vivian. There were a few haunting pictures attached, along with a nasty threat. [Bitch, you won¡¯t make it to the end of the month.] Ynda took screenshots of the threatening messages and sent them to Charles. [Honey, can I stay home?] Her message sounded meek and desperate. Charles¡¯s expression darkened as he scrolled through the screenshots. His fingers drummed lightly on the desk, lost in thought. He knew exactly what Vivian was like¡ªshe¡¯d pulled stunts like this before to mess with Ynda, only Ynda had never bothered toin until now. Now she was reaching out, definitely scared. After that p and having her earring yanked out, it was only natural she¡¯d still be jumpy. ¡®Guess my advice finally worked¨Cshe¡¯s actually asking for help now,¡® Charles thought, a hint of amusement in his mind. ¡®And her message sounded so meek and kinda adorable, too.¡® Jack, standing nearby, caught a glimpse of the message too. ¡°CEO, Vivian can be pretty extreme. If she gets Grady to make a move¡­¡± Jack said, letting the implication hang in the air. If Grady got involved, Ynda would be in for it. Charles grabbed the contract and signed his name with a flourish. ¡°Let¡¯s get Grady booted out of the country. If I remember right, he¡¯s not even a Solvarian citizen anymore.¡± That was Grady¡¯s Achilles¡® heel¨Che didn¡¯t have Solvarian citizenship. If he messed up here, he¡¯d be sent packing for good, banned from stepping foot in Solvaria for life. Charles leaned back, the hint of a grin on his face. ¡°Find out Grady¡¯s recent stomping grounds and get me a meeting with some government folks.¡± Jack knew Charles was about to make his move. It really looked like the CEO actually cared about his wife. ¡­ 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 .. : Without wasting a second, Jack got to work making the arrangements. 93 55 vouchers Meanwhile, Vivian gave her uncle Grady an ultimatum: Ynda needed to be dealt with permanently¨Cno mercy, no second chances. Vivian was Grady¡¯s favorite, so he¡¯d bend over backwards to satisfy her. He med his own carelessness for letting Ynda survivest time, and this time, he was determined to make sure nothing was left to chance. He¡¯d reserved a private room at an upscale restaurant for himself and his team¨Cnever imagining Charles would show up right there. Grady¡¯s expression soured, but he pped on a fake smile. ¡°Mr. Sinir, long time no see.¡± His gaze shifted to Charles¡¯spanion. ¡°Who¡¯s your friend?¡± The man gave a polite nod, introducing himself with quiet confidence. Grady frowned, feeling instantly annoyed¨Che never got along with government guys, and he definitely wasn¡¯t happy to see one tagging along. With a cold scoff, he brushed past them and strode forward, making it clear he wasn¡¯t interested in making small talk. As a waiter walked by carrying a tray, it suddenly tipped, sending hot soup sshing all over Grady. Grady¡¯s face darkened, a vein throbbing at his temple. ¡°Are you looking for trouble?!¡± As he lifted his arm in anger, a gun slipped from beneath his jacket and hit the floor with a loud tter, drawing everyone¡¯s startled gazes. Gasps and screams erupted around them; someone quickly called the police. Grady was stunned. He hadn¡¯t brought a gun today¨Cno way that was his. But the moment the waitress caught sight of the gun, she shrieked in terror¨Cbefore she knew it, the tray slipped from her hands and crashed onto the floor. Grady was already losing his patience, and her scream pushed him over the edge. ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± The waitress fell to her knees, sobbing. ¡°Please, don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m begging you!¡± Grady was shaking all over, practically ready to blow¨Che looked like he could snap and fire off a shot right then and there. Charles observed the chaos from a distance, a trace of amusement glinting in his eyes as he nced over at the man beside him. The man was drenched in sweat, his lips drained of color, frozen in fear. Titan 121 (93 ) 55 vouchers In Beloris, if you were one of the big shots, guns were nothing new¨Cbut you never, ever shed them in front of regr folks. Solvaria was dead serious about gun control, and Grady had made such a scene that even the government people saw it. Now that the officials caught him in the act, there was no easy way out of this mess. Soon enough, the cops arrived, packing bulletproof shields and live firearms. One of the officers shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Grady quickly realized he¡¯d been set up¨Csomeone had slipped that gun on him on purpose. The only person who¡¯d gotten close to him was that waitress. He wasn¡¯t used to being treated like this¨Cback in Raventon, nobody dared mess with him. ¡°Damn it! You bitch! You think you can y me?¡± he yelled. He raised his gun, but the cops were quicker. The ordinary folks at the scene were screaming in terror¨Cmost of them had only seen gunfights on TV before, never in real life. Those with nerves of steel didn¡¯t waste any time, they whipped out their phones and started filming, then sted the footage all over online tforms. Grady took a bullet to the shoulder, but he refused to back down. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to aim and fired straight at the waitress. The waitress was so terrified she passed out cold, and by pure luck, the bullet missed her. Seeing Grady still firing, the cops didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªthey unleashed a barrage of bullets. When someone was waving a gun around and threatening people¡¯s lives, there was no time for questions¨Cthe police just pulled the trigger and ended it right there. Grady was hit by over a dozen rounds, shock and disbelief swirling in his eyes as he slowly copsed to the floor. The government official next to Charles let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Thank God he¡¯s dead. Imagine if a guy like that was still loose¨Cwho knows what kind of chaos he¡¯d bring. Mr. Sinir, are you alright?¡± Charles chuckled quietly, catching Grady¡¯s lifeless, wide¨Ceyed stare out of the corner of his eye¨Cclearly, the man hadn¡¯t gone peacefully. Charles¡¯s lips tilted in a faint, almost ironic smile. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m a little shaken. In broad daylight, out in the open, someone actually had the guts to pull a gun.¡± The official gave a weary sigh. ¡°He got what wasing to him. Let the cops take it from here. This way.¡± The group slowly walked away. 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 .. (93) 55 vouchers Thest spark in Grady¡¯s eyes faded away, and even as he died, his eyes never left Charles¨Cthey were locked on him until the very end. Maybe he realized what had really happened, but at that point, nothing he said could have changed a thing. News of Grady¡¯s death spread like wildfire, and it didn¡¯t take long for Vivian to hear about it. She¡¯d been getting chewed out by the higher¨Cupstely over thatst project, and now, all of a sudden, someone nearby told her that her uncle Grady had just been shot dead right there. She was stunned. ¡®No way!¡® Vivian thought, her mind reeling. ¡®Grady was untouchable. How could those cops dare make a move against him?¡® she wondered, still in shock. Her face went pale as a ghost, and when she sat down, her nails dug deep into her palms. Cedric stormed in, his face twisted with rage. Vivian shot up from her seat, her voice trembling with urgency. ¡°Cedric, what¡¯s going on? Did you find out anything?¡± Cedric mmed his hand down on the table, ring furiously. ¡°Word is, he opened fire on a civilian, and the cops just put him down on the spot.¡± Vivian was on the verge of breaking down, slumping hard into her seat. ¡°No way. Uncle Grady can be clueless sometimes, but he¡¯d never be dumb enough to show up with a gun in a ce like that.¡± Even if Grady never thinks before acting, he still wouldn¡¯t do something that stupid. Cedric rubbed at his brow, his frustration in. ¡°I¡¯ve already checked the security feeds. Now that Grady¡¯s been caught shooting a civilian, the higher¨Cups are all watching closely. We need toy low for a while¨Cdon¡¯t stir up any trouble, especially now.¡± Vivian swallowed, forcing herself to calm down. ¡°Think we can pay someone hush money? We can¡¯t let this blow up.¡± If word gets out, the whole Andrade family will be put under a microscope, and we¡¯d be looking at an even bigger mess. Cedric wed at his hair, practically vibrating with anxiety. ¡°If the witnesses were just regr people, we could probably buy our way out. But Charles was there, and so was that newly appointed Minister Howard- he¡¯s got a rep for being a total straight arrow, won¡¯t take a cent. Throw Charles into the mix and this is pretty much impossible.¡± Vivian¡¯s pupils contracted, her lips quivering. ¡°You mean¡­ Charles was there too?¡± Cedric tilted his head back, looking utterly defeated. ¡°Yeah. He was having dinner with Minister Howard. They were pretty far from Uncle Grady, just made a bit of small talk.¡± Vivian swallowed, suddenly ovee by a sixth sense¨Cwas Charles really behind all this? 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ A 93 55 vouchers But she instantly dismissed the thought. ¡°The Andrade family¡¯s always been an asset to Charles¨Cwhy would he go so far? Why use such brutal means?¡® ¡®Is he really doing all this just for Ynda?¡® Vivian¡¯s mind raced, trying to grasp the real reason. ¡®No way. Charles would never do something this insane. To him, women are just background decoration,¡® Vivian thought. She shook her head, murmuring softly, ¡°No, it definitely wasn¡¯t him.¡± Cedric shot upright, tension shing across his face. ¡°Who?¡± Chapters first released on F?nd-Novel Vivian went paper¨Cwhite, forcing a shaky smile. ¡°No one.¡± Cedric narrowed his eyes, his stare turning fierce. ¡°Are you saying Charles did this?¡± ¡°No way! Cedric, sure, Charles ditched the deal this time, but with the way things are between us, there¡¯s still plenty of ways for us to team up. Why would he cut himself off for good?¡± she insisted. Vivian¡¯s heart hammered in her chest, and a tiny voice inside her kept wavering, crying out warnings she tried to ignore. But she refused to believe it. Cedric felt a wave of relief wash over him¨Che¡¯d been on edge the whole time. If Charles really was the one who set this up, they¡¯d be looking at a world of trouble. ***** Ynda arrived at the set around 8 PM. The scene tonight was set in a shadowy alley. Ian was in the middle of a fight; his character¡¯s shirt was ripped open by a knife, showing off those sculpted V- lines on his abs. Some of the girls on set looked ready to scream, but managed to hold it in, cheeks flushing red as they mped their hands over their mouths. Ian¡¯s moves were ridiculously smooth¨Calmost unreal. Even Simone couldn¡¯t hide her surprise. After the scene wrapped up, Simone turned to Ynda. ¡°Did you ever get him a professional fight coach?¡± Ynda shook her head, her eyes full of admiration. Simone clicked her tongue twice. ¡°Wow, you lucked out¨Chis moves are sharper than the coaches themselves.¡± Ynda thought for a moment, guessing it was probably becausen used to do underground fighting. When the fight scene wrapped up, the set erupted in apuse. Ian bowed, then made his way over to Ynda. 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ Ynda was wearing a hat, her face still covered up. Simone stood up and called out to the crew, ¡°Alright, take a break! Bring out the cake!¡± Soon enough, a cart rolled in, and the set erupted in birthday wishes. ¡°Happy birthday, Ian!¡± ¡°Thanks for all your hard work, Ian!¡± Ian looked surprised, ncing at Simone and nodding slightly. ¡°Thanks, Ms. Sinir.¡± Then he nced over at Ynda. Ynda naturally stood beside him and said, ¡°Make a wish.¡± Most of the time, Ian kept to himself, just quietly sitting alone, always looking a little distant. But now, he put his hands together and made his wish, looking totally focused. Seeing how seriously Ian was taking it, Simone grinned. ¡°So, what did you wish for?¡± 93 55 vouchers Ian shot a quick sidelong nce at Ynda, but kept it cool as he blew out the candles. ¡°If I say it out loud, it won¡¯te true.¡± Everyone started passing out slices of cake, and the set buzzed with a warm, friendly vibe. Ian had a few more scenes to shoot that night, so he was stuck on set for now. Still, it was impossible not to notice the barely concealed anticipation flickering in his eyes. He nced over at Ynda and lightly tugged her sleeve. ¡°Come to my dressing room.¡± Ynda arched an eyebrow at him, then headed over to Simone instead, throwing back a casual, ¡°Give me a minute.¡± Ian just stood there, a flicker of something deeper in his eyes as he pressed his lips together. Ynda made her way over to Simone, seeking her advice on a couple of things, and soon the two were deep in conversation. They shot a few more scenes, and before anyone realized it, it was already 11:30 PM. Ian couldn¡¯t help stealing nces at Ynda¨Csometimes standing, sometimes sitting¨Cclearly having a hard time keeping his cool as he watched her from across the set. After Ynda finally finished chatting with Simone, she headed straight forn¡¯s dressing room. Since his scenes were all set forte at night, the moment she stepped inside, Ian didn¡¯t hesitate¨Che shut the door, pinned her against it, and kissed her like he¡¯d been dying to all day. ¡°Did you do that on purpose?¡± Ian murmured in a low voice, not bothering to hide his frustration. 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 J. 93 55 vouchers ¡®Seriously, she waited until the middle of the night to show up?¡® Ian thought, a mix of annoyance and longing swirling inside him. Titan 122 :¨C It was almost midnight; his birthday was just half an hour away. 93 55 vouchers Ynda turned away, her smooth hand pressed lightly against his chest, gently pushing him back. ¡°I¡¯ve got something for you,¡± she said. She took out the gift box with the ear studs and set it down in front of him. ¡°Open it and see.¡± Instantly, Ian¡¯s eyes lit up and a small smile curved his lips. He opened the box, saw the ear studs, and handed it over to her. ¡°Put them on for me,¡± he said, leaning closer. ¡°I¡¯ve got another scene in an hour and a half.¡± A bold red like his could totally pull off these studs. The act of putting the ear studs on was practically electric¨Che sat in the chair, watching his own reflection in the mirror. Ynda opened the box and set it aside. She carefully removed his old studs and reced them with the new ones she¡¯d bought. Her scent drifted over, and it sent heat coursing through him. She handled him with such care, like she was afraid of hurting him. Ian kept quiet, his gaze fixed on Ynda¡¯s fingers, and didn¡¯t move a muscle until she¡¯d fastened both studs. He took a quick look in the mirror¨Csitting there with that wild red hair and the silver¨Cblue studs, his face looked sharper, even more unforgettable. The new essories just made him pop. Ynda leaned in from behind, her breath warm by his ear. ¡°Well? Pretty handsome, right?¡± The studs might¡¯ve been icy and cool, but they shimmered with a luxury vibe. On someone this good- looking, they couldn¡¯t steal the spotlight¨Cthey simply made him stand out even more. Ian leaned back in his chair, lifting his chin up in that teasing way, and tugged Ynda down toward him. Ynda, standing behind him, was gently pulled forward, and just like that, she found herself swept into a tender kiss. When it was over, she checked her phone¨Cit was midnight. ¡°Happy birthday, Jan,¡± she whispered, her words melting with affection. Ian spun his chair around, his eyes tracing a slow path from her neck down to her waist, then lingering on her legs hidden beneath her casual pants. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he reached out, his hand settling gently on her thigh. ¡°I¡¯ve got a gift for you too, but you¡¯ll have to wait until I get home.¡± 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ He was sure she¡¯d love it. But he still had a shoot to finish, and it wouldn¡¯t wrap up until around five in the morning. ¡°Ms. Grant, could you wait for me at the vi?¡± he asked, his voice low, tinged with hope. The vi he mentioned was the ce he¡¯s staying at now. Ynda nodded, noticing Charles had already called twice, but she didn¡¯t pick up. 93 55 vouchers She gently patted Ian¡¯s head. ¡°Alright, just focus on filming. Once I join Starlight, I¡¯ll find you an assistant.¡± Letting him handle everything alone was never a good idea¨Che¡¯d get hurt too easily. Ian wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. ¡°I don¡¯t want an assistant.¡± He just wanted her. She could tell now¨Cthe more she spoiled him, the more he asked for. It was like he was constantly pushing, seeing how far she¡¯d let him go. His chin pressed against her, gaze sliding upward, a teasing glint in his eyes. ¡°Not allowed?¡± Ynda tweaked his ear. ¡°Ian, are you hiding something from me?¡± Ian stiffened for a moment, a subtle pause betraying him. ¡°No,¡± he replied quickly. Ynda let out a light, teasing sound, brushing a gentle kiss against his ear stud. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at your ce,¡± she promised. Ian¡¯s hand drifted downward, his fingertipszily drawing circles over the curves of her body, his Adam¡¯s apple working as he swallowed¨Ctwice. He carried a kind of rare, youthful vibe¨Calmost pure, like he hadn¡¯t been tainted by the world yet. Ynda turned away, letting out a soft yawn. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. I need to set aside some time for Starlight soon. If anythinges up, just message me.¡± ¡°Ms. Grant, kiss me again, please?¡± Ian pleaded, his voice soft and just a little bit whiny. Ynda thought to herself, I¡¯ve never met a guy who could act this cute¨Cespecially with that ice¨Ccold, arrogant face of his. The contrast is unreal.¡® She ended up pressed against the door, locked in another ten minutes of kisses before she finally managed to break free, slipped on her mask, and drove off. Once she got in the car, she finally called Charles back. Charles¡¯s voice was chill, almost distant. ¡°Where are you?¡± 11:04 Wed, Sep 24 J ¡­ ¡°I¡¯m at Aunt Simone¡¯s, picking her brain about a few things,¡± she replied smoothly. With Simone as her witness, Charles wouldn¡¯t worry she was up to anything. Plus, since she was about to start at Starlight, it made sense to learn a thing or two from Simone. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m crashing at Aunt Simone¡¯s set tonight. I¡¯ll be back in the morning,¡± she added. ¡°Working that hard, huh?¡± Charles asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you looking down on me,¡± she shot back, her tone yful. Charles gave a lowugh and ended the call. B 993 55 vouchers Ynda made her way to the vi. She¡¯d already stashed a bunch of clothes in the guest room that morning, so after a quick shower, she crashed on the bed. She¡¯d been deep into Starlight¡¯s materials these past few days, and tonight was no exception¨Cshe dug through files for another half hour before finally falling asleep. She wasn¡¯t sure how long she¡¯d been out when someone started nudging her awake. She opened her eyes to find Ian sprawled at her bedside, the ear studs she gave him glinting on his ears, wild red hair vibrant as ever. His face was so wless and sharp, he looked less like a man and more like a devilish fox spirit who only showed up after dark. Just as she tried to fall back asleep, he caught her hand and brought it to his lips. He nipped gently at her fingertips, and in that instant, she snapped wide awake¡ªthere was no way her nerves could ignore that. Readplete version only at Seriously, who could keep sleeping in this situation? Especially with this guy¨Ca fox demon disguised as a man, pure trouble and impossible to resist. Ynda was about to ask what he was trying to do, but with the bedsidemp throwing warm light over everything, the whole vibe was way too suggestive¨Cshe could practically feel the tension in the air. Ian cupped her wrist, slowly guiding her hand from his own lips, down to his chest. He kept moving, letting her fingertips trace down over his chest, all the way to his waist and abs, where she could feel the taut lines and the faint pulse of veins beneath his skin. It was only then that Ynda realized there was something encircling his waist. Her eyes flew wide open when she saw a silver chain hanging low across his hips, glinting in the softmplight. With that killer body and the sultry chain wrapped around his waist, any normal woman would¡¯ve had a nosebleed on the spot¨Cthis was just too much to handle. Ian¡¯s gaze burned into her, hungry and a little dangerous. ¡°Do you like it?¡± he murmured, his voice a teasing hook. : 93 55 vouchers Ynda¡¯s fingers instinctively drew back, but ended up flicking the warm chain¨Cshe hadn¡¯t even meant to, it just happened. The chain fell back into ce, leaving a lingering, shivery trace across his bare skin. ¡°Heard some folks in the crew saying girls totally lose it over stuff like this,¡± Ian tossed out, eyes locked on her, shameless and self¨Cassured. Ynda was a woman, after all¨Cwho wouldn¡¯t go crazy for a sight like that? Her heart thudded, and she suddenly felt a wave of heat¨Call flustered and way too warm to be normal. Ian¡¯s abs and that sharp Adonis belt flexed with every slow breath, the dim light making those lines look even sexier, almost unreal. Seriously, this was enough to make anyone lose control. She finally gave in and reached out to touch him, letting herself get swept away. There was a sly glint of triumph in Ian¡¯s eyes, the look of someone who¡¯d just gotten exactly what he wanted. ¡°I knew you¡¯d like it,¡± he said, his voice low and yful. Titan 123 Chapter 123 Ian¡¯s puppy¨Clike devotion to pleasing her was almost too much¨Che¡¯d gone all out with his look, all just to win her over, and wow, was it working. Ynda had never been intentionally teased or flirted with like this before, and honestly, she couldn¡¯t handle
  1. it.
Thenn leaned in, the soft, hazy light making his intentions Crustal clear. ¡°Shall I?¡± he murmured. Ynda swallowed, and honestly, there was no way she could say no to that. Time seemed to blur into one big, hazy mess. After it was all over. Ian nced over and asked, ¡°Did you like it?¡± Ynda felt like she was about to lose herselfpletely, as if he¡¯d stolen her soul. Her vision was hazy, as if she were a kite lost in a sea of clouds, drifting aimlessly with nowhere to focus. Ian¡¯s fingers yed with her hair,zily twirling stray locks¨Ceach touch making her heart skip. Ynday there for ages, struggling just to steady her breath. Their eyes locked, and the air between them grew heavy, sparking with something electric. Ynda¡¯s face red red, embarrassment and irritation mixing as she instinctively tried to shove him away. Ian nuzzled deeper into her neck, whining softly, ¡°Come on, cut me some ck. Just stay put.¡± Ynda froze, her mind racing as she realized what he meant. The bedsidemp was still on, casting a gentle light. Ian stayed quiet for a long moment before finally whispering, ¡°So¡­ did you like it?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± she answered, her voice barely audible as she buried half her face in the nkets, cheeks on fire. Ian let out a low chuckle, his chest trembling withughter. Ynda was all flustered and a tiny bit annoyed, but the exhaustion hit her hard. With half her face tucked in the nkets, she dozed off, cheeks still burning. Ian settled in next to her, letting his eyes drink in every delicate detail of her face. He reached over to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She was unbelievably cute and downright gorgeous¨Cand even when she got mad, she couldn¡¯t utter a mean word. 7:50 Fri, Sep 26 When Ynda woke up,n was already gone¨Coff to shoot his scenes, no doubt She felt totally refreshed, like she¡¯d just stepped out of a spa or something:n probably made sure the was all cleaned up before slipping out. She¡¯d slept like a rock, and now it was already ten in the morning. She picked up her phone and dialed ke. ke was out on a date with Renee today. Ever since he¡¯d dropped to his knees, begging her not to leave him, Rence hadpletely melted. Their rtionship was stronger than ever. These days, ke was practically glued to Renee¡¯s side, taking her out all over the ce. Renee hadn¡¯t been home in over two weeks. She¡¯d been in a pretty dark ce after losing her finger, but with ke by her side, she was slowly starting to pull herself out of it. The Sinir family had no idea she was out having fun with someone else, but whenever they called and heard her happy, upbeat voice, they felt a little more at ease. ke nced at Renee waiting in the distance for him to deliver her snacks, his voice rxed and a bit teasing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just wait till the morning sickness kicks in.¡± Ynda hung up the phone and picked up the Starlight files, getting right back to her reading. Half an hourter, she got word about Grady¡¯s passing. Grady used to be a force to be reckoned with in Beloris¨Cno one dared mess with him. Now that he was gone, rumors were swirling everywhere. Ynda¡¯s fingers gripped the files tight, and she just knew in her gut this was Charles¡¯s handiwork. In Charles¡¯s world, challenging his authority only led to one oue¨Cthis. Even the mighty Andrade family couldn¡¯t escape his wrath. Ynda drew in a deep breath, any trace ofst night¡¯s heat wiped clean. She really had to keep Ian out of sight otherwise, she¡¯d be done for before she even realized it. Charles would make sure she was wiped off the face of the earth. With Grady gone, Vivian wouldn¡¯t be able to give her any grief for the next few days¨Cbut that wasn¡¯t Ynda¡¯s ultimate goal. Pain didn¡¯t scare her, but even so, there was no way she could stand against the Grant, Sinir, or Andrade families now. In a city ruled by families like these, she was just an insignificant ant. All she could do was attack their hearts. 7:50 Fri, Sep 26 When it came to dealing with someone like Vivian, Ynda knew she couldn¡¯t let up for a second¨Cthe timing was everything if she wanted to really mess with her head. Feeling smug, she fired off another tweet. [Just picked up some interesting news¨Cmood¡¯s on point! Time to treat myself and hit the shops!] After firing off that tweet, she sent Charles a message without a second thought. [Got a bunch of juicy details from Aunt Simonest night. Feeling seriously good about Starlight now.] She even tossed in a heart emoji at the end, just to mess with him a bit. Back in the day, she would¡¯ve never dared to send something like that¨Cshe was always so worried about upsetting Charles. But now that she waspletely over him, she could say¨Cand send¨Cwhatever she damn well pleased. Charles just stared at that little heart emoji, totally stunned. For the first time ever, he actually went and liked one of Ynda¡¯s Moments. Back then, out of the handful of posts she¡¯d ever made, Charles hadn¡¯t liked a single one¨Cnot even those about his own birthday or their anniversary. Word spread fast; everyone knew she¡¯d been chasing after him for years. Folks always thought she was way too hung up on him. But now? The moment her friends saw Charles give her post a like, her notifications blew up¨Clikes poured in and it hit a new record high. Ynda strolled back to Moonbay Estate, took her time with breakfast, then changed into a fresh outfit¨Cshe was really heading out to hit the shops. But to Vivian, that post was a straight¨Cup smack to the face¨Clike Ynda was deliberately rubbing it in. Vivian had always thought Ynda wasn¡¯t worth her attention, but after getting hit with jab after jab¨Cand losing Grady on top of it¨Cseeing that Twitter update nearly set her on fire inside. She sent all the files on her desk flying, her teeth practically rattling with fury. ¡°Ynda! Bitch! Total bitch!¡± Vivian yelled, her voice trembling. Cedric burst in, his brow furrowing as he took in the chaos. ¡°Vivian, calm down,¡± he said, his voice steady. By rights, Vivian was always the cool¨Cheaded one¨Cway moreposed than Cedric. But the moment Charles came up, it was like she lost all sense, turning totally obsessed and unhinged. No one ever realized just how much she adored Charles. All those years, she kept her feelings locked so deep, she was terrified to even admit she liked him, desperate to cling to any fragile thread tying them together. Vivian¡¯s chest rose and fell rapidly as she sank into her chair, feeling utterly drained. ¡°Cedric, did you find out 7:50 Fri, Sep 26 anything?¡± she asked, her voice trembling. She pressed on, unable to hide her anxiety. ¡°Was that gun really Grady¡¯s?¡± Cedric shook his head, gathering up the mess on the floor. ¡°Grady¡¯s gone, and with no proof left, there¡¯s nothing we can do. The way he always handled things, no one¡¯s going to buy that he was set up. With Minister Howard in charge, there¡¯s zero wiggle room. For now, we have to keep it low key. Grandpa Jonathan wants you home tonight¨Che¡¯s not happy.¡± Back in the day, Vivian managed to be CEO of the Andrade Group¨Ca tough spot for any woman. It was Grandpa Jonathan who supported her every step and made sure she held onto that power. Honestly, unless it was something to do with Charles, nobody could touch Vivian in the business world¨Cshe was a force to be reckoned with. The scary part was, anyone who understood how much she cared about Charles could use it against her and drive her absolutely crazy. Vivian instantly sobered up the moment she heard Grandpa Jonathan wanted to see her, her face turning pale. Getting called in by him was never good news. With the whole Andrade family gunning for her spot¨Cand now that one of her biggest backers was gone¨Cshe knew everyone was ready to swoop in the moment she slipped. She took a long breath, swallowing back all her rage and anxiety. ¡°I get it,¡± Vivian forced out, voice barely steady. Cedric set the files back on the desk and tried to soothe her. ¡°Just wait for my chance, Viv¨CI¡¯ll make Ynda pay, I promise. You just have to grit your teeth and hold on a little longer.¡± A sh of viciousness crossed Vivian¡¯s face, but for now, this was all she could do. Later that evening, Ynda¡¯s phone buzzed¨Cit was Charles calling: family dinner at the Sinir house tonight. Back then, she¡¯d practically bend over backwards, prepping little gifts for the Sinirs, hoping to score some points and curry a bit more favor. But now she knew better; she¡¯d rather spend her cash spoiling herself. No matter what she did, the Sinirs were never going to be happy with her anyway. ***** Charles¡¯s car pulled up to the mall to pick her up, and he gave her a quick reminder. ¡°When you see Renee, try not to get worked up.¡± Ynda nodded, settling back in her seat to rest. Original content can be found at find(?)ovel Charles kept quiet, and the whole ride to the Andrade manor was wrapped in silence. 7:50 Fri, Sep 26 ʳƷ As soon as they walked in, Wyatt called Charles off to the study, and Ynda found herself stuck facing May alone. May¡¯s re could¡¯ve stripped paint off the walls. She didn¡¯t even let Ynda sit down, just jabbed a finger at the kitchen and snapped, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Get in there and help out! Did you think marrying into the Sinir family was some kind of ticket to luxury?¡± After everything that went down with Renee, May¡¯s hatred for Ynda was pure poison. Ynda didn¡¯t bother saying anything¨Cjust walked straight into the kitchen and pretended to help. Back when she was naive, she actually tried to do all the work herself. Now? She just leaned against the counter, ying on her phone, knowing full well nobody here was going to make her do a thing. If some servant who didn¡¯t know better tried to give her orders, Ynda would toss back a halfhearted reply and go right back to messaging. She¡¯d act like she was listening, but she wasn¡¯t about to actually do anything. Plus, hanging out in the kitchen was a hundred times easier than having to stare at May¡¯s resentful mug all night. AD Titan 124 Chapter 124 Upstairs in the study. Wyatt sat with a tablet in front of him, watching a video of Grady¡¯s death ying on the screen. He looked at Charles. ¡°Did you do this?¡± Charles knew he couldn¡¯t hide anything from Wyatt¨CWyatt knew him far too well. ¡°Grandpa, Grady was really strutting his stuff at the Crimson Gallery. He was already eyeing the boss¡¯s chair. The Andrade family is strong enough as it is¨Cif Grady took over the Crimson Gallery, there¡¯d be no stopping him, and no one left who could knock him down a peg,¡± Charles said. He sat in a nearby chair, looking every bit the aristocrat as he casually swirled his teacup. ¡°Taking him out hit the Andrade family hard. Vivian¡¯s too busy putting out fires to care about our joint projects¨Cwhich leaves us with a lot more chances to line our pockets.¡± Wyatt snorted and mmed the tablet shut. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve.¡± Who could¡¯ve imagined Grady would get taken out like that? Bet he didn¡¯t even see iting before the end. Wyatt rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh. ¡°Charles, I trust you. But the Andrade family isn¡¯t just Grady -Grandpa Jonathan¡¯s there too, along with the rest of their crew. If any of them get suspicious of you, have you really thought about your exit n?¡± Charles chuckled, his elegant fingers ying absently with his teacup. ¡°Right now, Minister Howard¡¯s the one hell¨Cbent on pinning the gun on Grady. That¡¯s got nothing to do with me¨CI never even showed my face. Howard¡¯s famous for getting obsessed over tiny details, and you cannot buy this guy¨Che won¡¯t even look at a bribe. If the Andrades try to grease his palms, the whole thing just blows up even worse. Grandpa, I¡¯ve kept my head down; from beginning to end, I stayed invisible.¡± He made sure the risky business was handled by someone else. If the Andrades want to take action, they¡¯d go after Minister Howard, not me. Right now, Minister Howard¡¯s the key witness¨Che¡¯s the only thing keeping the Andrades in check. If Howard ends up dead, the Andrades will be the first suspects, no question. A faint smile flickered in Charles¡¯s eyes. ¡°Minister Howard won¡¯tst much longer. This whole Grady mess is only going to get bigger. As for the Crimson Gallery¡ªI¡¯m taking it.¡± In Beloris, everyone knew the name¨Cthe Crimson Gallery. It was the city¡¯s underworld yground, where boxing, gambling, auctions, and assassinations were just another day¡¯s work. Every shady deal you could imagine happened there¨Cif you wanted it, the Crimson Gallery had it. Still, this ce was sheer chaos, with no single boss reigning over it. Every zone had its own shot¨Ccaller, and the onlyw they respected was brute strength. 7:50 Fri, Sep 26 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F¦ÉndNovel Put them down in a fight, and they¡¯d fall right in line to be your muscle. Even the privileged Beloris kids who¡¯d seen military action weren¡¯t a match for these wild street thugs¨Cguys who¡¯d learned to survive by lighting their way out of a pile of corpses. Because of the way things were run, the Crimson Gallery had a target painted on it¨Ceveryone in town wanted in. But it was one hell of a hard case¨Cno one¡¯s managed to sink their teeth into it yet. Charles had already sent in his own crew, but out of ten territories, they¡¯d only taken four. Snagging the whole joint was next to impossible¨Cit¡¯d take someone absolutely ruthless and nuts to even try. Still, grabbing the Crimson Gallery was the ultimate prize on everyone¡¯s wish list. Wyatt didn¡¯t weigh in on whether Charles¡¯s move was right or wrong¨Che just let silence hang heavy for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. ¡°As long as you¡¯ve got a n, that¡¯s enough for me. I just don¡¯t want you making reckless moves over a woman. Word is, Vivian¡¯s been stirring up trouble with Yndately?¡± Charles wasn¡¯t the type to get blindsided by a woman¨Cnot now, not ever, and especially not enough to go making this kind of y. ¡®Letting feelings trip me up? That¡¯s not my style,¡® he thought. Even Wyatt had a hard time believing he was saying this aloud. He waved his hand, as if to clear the whole thing. ¡°Never mind. Head out.¡± ¡°Grandpa, you know me¨CI¡¯d never lose my head over a woman. But Vivian thought she could walk all over me¨Cthat¡¯s not happening. If you¡¯re gonna smack a dog, you better be sure you can face the owner too,¡± Charles replied. Wyatt¡¯s expression eased, satisfied. This was typical Charles: cool¨Cheaded and never swayed by personal feelings. As the two came downstairs, Charles noticed he didn¡¯t see Ynda anywhere. ¡°Where¡¯s Ynda?¡± he asked. May tipped her chin. ¡°She¡¯s helping out inside.¡± Charles frowned for a moment and took a seat. ¡°Is the Andrade family short on staff or something? If so, I can always hire a few more people.¡± May let out a cold snort, clearly taking Ynda¡¯s side. She knew exactly what Charles was getting at. ¡°We¡¯re not short on staff. What gets me is how she acts like she¡¯s got nothing to worry about. You have no clue how shattered Renee¡¯s beentely¨Cand all because of that baby. And don¡¯t forget, Ynda nearly ran her over in that car.¡± At the mention of Renee, Charles mmed up. He¡¯d always had a soft spot for his little sister. 7:50 Fri, Sep 26 Ãñ¹ú Before long, dinner starteding out one dish after another. As usual, Dn was nowhere to be seen¨Che was always off on business trips overseas. But tonight, Renee didn¡¯t show up either. Charles picked up his chopsticks and put some food onto Ynda¡¯s te, then asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Renec?¡± May couldn¡¯t be bothered to even look at Ynda and just ordered, ¡°Ynda, go take something up to your grandma. How do you have the nerve to eat before the elders do? Besides, she¡¯s been saying how much she misses your massagestely. Stop hanging around here and get going.¡± Ynda stood up and took the te the servant handed her¨Cit was a special medicinal dish made just for Grandma Flora. Grandma Flora hadn¡¯t been in great health these past years. Mostly, she stayed upstairs resting, onlying down to get some sun every now and then. After Ynda headed upstairs, May red at her back, biting back a bitter snarl. ¡°Charles, seriously¨Cwhen are you finally divorcing that woman?¡± she muttered, not bothering to hide her contempt. Charles ignored the jabpletely and just coolly asked, ¡°Has Renee called youtely?¡± ¡°Yeah, she seems to be in decent spirits. Must¡¯ve found something fun to do out there. A whole lot better than her being stuck at home, blowing up at everyone whenever she feels like it,¡± May said. A hint of something cold flickered in Charles¡¯s eyes, but he just took his time finishing his meal, not letting any emotion show. Upstairs, Ynda set the tray aside and leaned closer. ¡°Grandma, time to rise and have something to eat.¡± Grandma Flora slowly pushed herself up from bed, sounding tired. ¡°Yoyo, you finally came. It¡¯s been more than half a month since yourst visit.¡± Ynda helped her over to the table. The air was full of sandalwood, its soothing scent lingering and calming the mind. Grandma Flora peered over at Ynda. ¡°So, did those things I gave youst time help at all?¡± She¡¯d been hoping for a grandchild, and even sent her home with five jars of herbal wine. Ynda just smiled. ¡°These things happen when they¡¯re meant to.¡± Grandma Flora¡¯s wrist still sported her familiar jade bead bracelet as she helped herself to a bite of food. ¡°Let nature take its course? If you don¡¯t even try, there are plenty of women out there who¡¯d be happy to step up. Yoyo, you really are well¨Cbehaved, but you don¡¯t know how to act cute at all. You¡¯re just too straightced for your own good¨Cand that¡¯s why Charles doesn¡¯t care for you.¡± Honestly, Grandma Flora had nagged her with these words so many times Ynda had lost count. Ynda just kept her head down and quietly pressed her hands to Grandma Flora¡¯s shoulders. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 30 All Grandma Flora ever wanted was for her grandson to marry a sweet, obedient woman¨Cand in her eyes.. Ynda was just that. But if you can¡¯t give him a child, then that spot¡¯s not guaranteed¨Csomeone else will take your ce. A glint flickered in her eyes. ¡°That herbal wine really does the trick. If he hasn¡¯t had any yet, just coax him into drinking it. If you¡¯re lucky, you might get results on the first try,¡± AD Titan 125 Chapter 125 Ynda answered softly, ¡°Mm.¡± Grandma Flora, pleased, reached out and gave Ynda¡¯s hand a gentle pat.. The room was filled with the soothing aroma of sandalwood. Ynda, not eager to go downstairs and bother anyone, chose to linger a bit longer. She stayed quietly until Charles came upstairs to call her. Only then did she respectfully say her goodbyes to Grandma Flora. Grandma Flora, wearing a jade ring on her hand, motioned for Charles toe closer. ¡°Charles,e here. Grandma wants to have a word with you.¡± It was obvious she wanted Ynda to step out. Ynda, catching on quickly, quietly slipped out of the room. Once Ynda was out of the room, Grandma Flora took Charles¡¯s hand with a gentle smile. ¡°I won¡¯t be around much longer, and honestly, all I want is to see you have a child before I go. Charles, what are you really thinking? If you don¡¯t care for Ynda, then just divorce her and marry someone you actually love. Your mother was wrong to keep you away from that girl all those years ago. Who could¡¯ve guessed you¡¯d marry Ynda just to spite her? You really are stubborn, you know?¡± Grandma Flora let out a long sigh, patting the back of his hand twice. ¡°I¡¯ve probably got less than two years left. Your grandpa is always plotting something, and those uncles of yours are no saints either. Even though I hardly leave this room, I know exactly what goes on in the Sinir family. Your mom simply can¡¯t tolerate anyone, and she¡¯s still harping on about Dn¡¯s mess after all these years. I worry that all this could end up dragging you and Renee into it too. Charles, please, settle the child thing soon¨Cso I can rest easy when my timees.¡± Grandma Flora had spent thest few years taking care of her health, and Charles was always her favorite. Charles was handsome and knew exactly how to sweet¨Ctalk people¨Cno woman could ever resist a guy like him. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯ll be around for a long time, so let¡¯s not talk about this. If you really want a grandchild, I¡¯ll get it done¨CI¡¯ll pick a woman who can give you one in the next three months, all right?¡± Charles replied calmly. With those words, it was obvious Ynda hadn¡¯t even crossed his mind as a possible mother for his child. Grandma Flora got the message and sighed, waving her hand. ¡°Whoever you choose is fine¨Cso long as the child is yours.¡± When Charles stepped out, he spotted Ynda quietly waiting for him by the stairs, looking as gentle and obedient as ever. The Sinir manor was all traditional d¨¦cor¨Celegant and ssic everywhere you looked. Ynda¡¯s own graceful presence made her look like she belonged in a ce like this. He walked over, slipped an arm around her waist, and the two of them made their way downstairs together to 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 say goodbye to his grandfather. E56 Vouchers His grandfather nodded, barely ncing at Ynda. ¡°Do what you need to do, but don¡¯t give anyone any ammunition against you. By the way, your uncle Grady¡¯s been trying toe back¨Csee if you can find him a position in thepany.¡± Charles kept up appearances with his two uncles, treating them respectfully on the surface, but he knew they were both schemers, each with their own agenda. Underneath it all, the Sinir family was anything but peaceful. With the rift between Charles and his father Dn, both uncles had been eager for a chance to stir things up. Charles nodded, his tone calm and steady. ¡°Got it.¡± May got up to leave, and when she walked past Ynda, she gave her a little shove on the shoulder. Ynda had to step aside, but she just kept silent, not daring to say a word. May was the first to get in the car, her emerald ring shing conspicuously. ¡°Charles, make sure you stay close to Renee. Don¡¯t let some outsider mess things up between you and your real family.¡± Of course, everyone knew she was talking about Ynda. After May left, Charles took Ynda to the car and gently ruffled her hair as they got in. Ynda barely felt anything about it¡ªMay¡¯s words couldn¡¯t touch her anymore: ¡®I¡¯m immune to that kind of stuff now,¡® she thought to herself. After she posted that on Twitter, Vivian kept cussing her out nonstop. Ynda put her phone aside, then bent down, pretending to adjust her pant cuff. Her phone buzzed several more times against the leather seat¨CVivian just couldn¡¯t let up. ¡°Bitch, I¡¯m sending you pics of me in bed with Charles.¡± Even with the screen locked, the message shed right on the disy. Charles caught a clear glimpse of it. At that moment, Ynda bent down and reached for her phone, about to unlock the screen. Before she could do anything, Charles suddenly pulled her into his arms, his fingers softly trailing down her wrist until he got hold of her phone. ¡°Is Vivian still messing with you?¡± he asked. ¡°Nope,¡± she replied. Charles let his eyes drop, catching the nervous flutter of hershes. He wrapped her in a gentle hug, sounding genuinely concerned. ¡°Has Vivian always given you trouble like this?¡± 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 873 66 vouchers Ynda blinked in surprise, sneaking a peek at her screen. ¡°Hey, were you spying on my messages?¡± Charles found it pretty amusing, let out a light sigh, and nted a yful kiss on her cheek. ¡°Come on, delete her already.¡± Ynda paused for a few seconds, clearly unsure, but finally, with Charles watching, she deleted Vivian right then and there. She was so docile, she deleted Vivian without even asking if any of it was true. After all those years of messing around, it was the first time Charles actually felt a real pang of guilt. He nced at her profile, a trace of emotion flickering across his eyes, and took her back to Moonbay Estate. But when they arrived, he stayed in the car. The car disappeared into the night. Charles leaned back, his eyes going frosty. ¡°Minister Howard¡¯s always at the pool, right? If a guy who loves swimming ends up drowning, think anyone would get suspicious?¡± Jack kept his hands steady on the wheel, face giving nothing away. ¡°Got it, CEO.¡± Charles gazed out the window, the corners of his mouth twitching with a quick, fleeting smile. Discover more novels at fin?novel ***** After her shower, Ynda jumped online and dropped a new tweet. [He made me block someone I couldn¡¯t stand. He was watching the whole time.] Vivian might be gone from her Twitter now, but Ynda posted it just to rub it in¨Cshe wanted to make sure Vivian got the message. Then, using her Tessa Gilbert ount on WhatsApp, she messaged Sophie. Sophie was saved on both of her WhatsApp profiles. Lately, Sophie had been super quiet¨Cmost likely afraid that Charles would kick her to the curb. She hadn¡¯t even tried sending those petty photos to poke at Ynda anymore. Sophie still didn¡¯t know that Ynda and Tessa were the same person, so when Tessa¡¯s message popped up, it honestly felt like she¡¯d grabbed onto a lifeline. Ynda gave her just one instruction. [Vivian and Mrs. Sinir are fighting like crazy right now. Don¡¯t get involved¨Cjust keep Charles on your good side for a while. Oh, and screenshot Mrs. Sinir¡¯stest tweet and send it to Vivian.] Sophie had managed to keep Charles by her side for so long, which goes to show she¡¯s actually pretty sharp. After Tessa helped her hold onto Charles, Sophie pretty much started treating every word from her like gospel. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 87 Be vouchers [Got it, Tessa. As long as you help me be Mrs. Sinir, I¡¯ll make sure fan gets a big break. I¡¯ve got several major endorsements pending, need a male face for some of them, so I already rmendedn to the investors¡ªand they gave the green light.] Sophie was one of the hottest actresses around, backed by Charles himself, and all her endorsements carne. from top brands. Her willingness to letn step into the spotlight was a huge chance for him. Ynda dly epted every offer, no hesitation whatsoever. [Rx. Mrs. Sinir and I are friends¨Cso with me acting as your spy, you just have to sit tight and get ready to rise to the top. But listen: you need to delete all our chats, every single one. Don¡¯t leave anyone any proof.] Sophie did as she was told, deleting every message immediately. She even went through her deleted folder, making sure it was all gone for good. Ynda thought for a bit, then sent another tip. [Remember that sandalwood token Charles gave you? Hand it over to Vivian¨Cseriously, just let her know Mrs. Sinir would do absolutely anything for it. Trust me, she¡¯ll get the message loud and clear.] Staring at the message, Sophie finally realized just how scary Tessa¡¯s schemes could get¨Cthis woman was downright ruthless. Now that Vivian and Mrs. Sinir were going at each other, Vivian would definitely use that sandalwood token to threaten Mrs. Sinir. No matter which of them crashed and burned, Sophie could sit back and collect the rewards. With those two losing all dignity while she kept up her sweet, harmless front, Charles was sure to side with his little girlfriend during the drama. For a moment, Sophie¡¯s chest felt tight¡ªshe was genuinely thankful she hadn¡¯t tried to mess with Tessa herself. She sucked in a sharp breath, barely able to steady her trembling fingers from sheer excitement. [Got it.] AD Comment Send gift Titan 126 Ynda had practically handed Vivian the leverage herself, and with Sophie¡¯s screenshot in y, there was no way Vivian would just let this slide. The thought of Charles telling Ynda to erase her from his world made Vivian¡¯s blood boil¨Cshe was itching to get back at every single one of them. Vivian couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Why does Charles get over things so fast? It must be that bitch Ynda messing with him!¡® She squeezed the carved sandalwood token in her palm, eyes gleaming with vicious intent, as a frosty smile curled on her lips. Earlier that night, her grandfather had warned her that something¡¯s off with Gradytely and told her to be extra careful. His words basically spelled out that someone had their sights set on the Andrade manor, hinting at Charles being the culprit¨Cbut Vivian just couldn¡¯t buy it. She took a deep breath, thinking to herself, ¡®If I can just ditch that eyesore Ynda, maybe things with Charles will go back to how they used to be. Using a burner phone, she shot Ynda a text,ying it out:e alone to pick up the sandalwood token, and don¡¯t even think about bringing backup¨Cor she¡¯d torch the thing without a second thought. When Ynda saw the message, she finally breathed easy, relief washing over her. ¡°This is thest chance in this game, Ynda thought to herself. ¡®Charles once gave me that token, but now Vivian¡¯s using it as leverage against me. He might act heartless, but there¡¯s no way he won¡¯t feel something.¡¯ All she needed was a flicker of guilt¨Ca single moment of hesitation¨Cand victory would be hers. She sat in her room at Moonbay Estate, staring at the address sent from the random number¨Cit was somewhere near a reservoir way out on the edge of town. Ynda wasn¡¯t bad in the water, and ever since she got shoved into that pool, she¡¯d made it her mission to train herself to hold her breath as long as possible. ¡®Vivian definitely chose this ce because she wants me dead, Ynda thought, suspicion growing in her chest. She quickly messaged Charles and attached the location. [Babe, the sandalwood token Athena gave me was stolen, and someone wants me to meet them here. If I don¡¯te back tonight, promise me you¡¯ll look for me at this spot.] For original chapters go to FindN0vel Once she sent over the address, Ynda slipped behind the wheel and set off by herself, swallowed by the night. It was a forty¨Cminute drive to the reservoir¨Cforty minutes alone with her nerves and dread. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 87 55 vouchers Tonight, Charles was in the middle of a meeting with his own crew, going over all the fallout from Grady¡¯s death. As soon as he got Ynda¡¯s text, his brows pulled tight with worry, and without even thinking, he dialed her number. But Ynda didn¡¯t answer. Charles immediately told Jack Nn, who was next to him, ¡°Go get Ynda and bring her back from this spot. Right now.¡± Honestly, the whole sandalwood token thing didn¡¯t even ring a bell¨Cthere were so many odds and ends lying around Moonbay Estate, he couldn¡¯t possibly remember every single one. Jack didn¡¯t hesitate for a second¨Che rounded up his crew and peeled out, racing through red lights without so much as blinking, determined to intercept Ynda before she had a chance to run into trouble. Ynda, on the other hand, was in no hurry whatsoever. She deliberately slowed down, dragging out the drive and giving herself time to think things through. Jack kept Charles in the loop on everything, and once Charles was certain Ynda wasn¡¯t in immediate danger, he simply ordered, ¡°Just keep her under surveince for now.¡± That calm, decisive tone made it pretty clear who was in control. Ynda, ever observant, immediately spotted a familiar license te among the cars that sped past. ¡®No way Charles himself would show up in the middle of the night just for me, she thought. ¡®Must be Jack watching my back.¡® After all, Jack was Charles¡® right¨Chand man¨Cthe one always ready to get the job done, no matter how messy things got. Ynda pressed down on the elerator, picking up speed and soon reaching the spot they¡¯d agreed on. The reservoir was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made your skin crawl. She got out and walked forward alone. It didn¡¯t take long before she spotted a burly guy standing by the water¡¯s edge. The dim lighting made it impossible to see the man¡¯s face clearly. He gripped the sandalwood token in his hand, lifted it deliberately, then tossed it straight into the reservoir. Ynda hadn¡¯t even had a chance to react when someone shoved her hard, sending her straight into the water. Ssh! The reservoir walls towered above her¨Cthere was no way she could climb out on her own. Out here in the middle of nowhere, even if she screamed her lungs out, nobody would hear her. The man sneered from above, then quickly vanished into the darkness. Ynda kept herposure, searching the water until she found the sandalwood pendant. She clipped it 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 securely around her neck, thinking to herself, I¡¯m not panicking. I can do this! From up above, Jack¡¯s voice echoed through the night. ¡°Ynda, grab the rope!¡± Ynda sounded genuinely surprised, ¡°Jack?¡± She acted as if she hadn¡¯t expected him to be there at all. She gripped the rope, and in no time, Jack¡¯s team hauled her out of the reservoir. 2700 Jack took one look at her, soaked to the bone, and quickly gestured toward the nearby car. ¡°Ynda,e on -get in. That was reckless, even for you. Let me drive you home.¡± Ynda just smiled, fingers lingering thoughtfully on the pendant at her neck. ¡°This is a keepsake Athena left for me. I can¡¯t afford to lose it,¡± she said quietly, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. Jack shot a nce at the pendant but kept silent. Once she was in the car, Jack drove her straight back to Moonbay Estate. Ynda took a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the chill. She didn¡¯t need to say a word¨CJack would fill Charles in on everything that went down tonight. Late at night, Ynda was burning up with a fever. Half¨Cconscious, she noticed someone sitting at her bedside. Her fingers curled tightly around the pendant at her neck as she started to ramble,pletely out of it. One moment she was whispering, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± and the next she was quietly sobbing¨Cher emotions spilling out in broken whimpers. Someone reached out and gently brushed away her tears, then stood up and slipped out of the room. Once she was certain she was alone, Ynda slowly opened her eyes. She wasn¡¯t delirious enough to forget who it was¨CCharles had been right there with her. After Charles left the room, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it slowly. The sandalwood pendant felt oddly familiar¨CYnda had given it to him once, saying it would keep him safe. He didn¡¯t believe in that kind of stuff, but he¡¯d worn it anyway. Then, when Sophie asked for it, he¡¯d just handed it over without a second thought. ¡®So, was it Sophie who did this?¡® Charles wondered, his mind racing. He spun his phone absentmindedly between his fingers, then hit up Sophie¡¯s number. When Charles started asking about the sandalwood pendant, Sophie¡¯s eyes lit up for a split second¨Cthen she nervously ducked her head, her voice dropping low. ¡°Oh, I ran into Ms. Andrade on set that one time. She was kind of buddy¨Cbuddy with that actor, so I thought I¡¯d cozy up to her, you know? She took a liking to the 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 pendant, so I handed it over. Charles, I¡¯m really sorry¡­ Honestly, if it were anything else, she probably wouldn¡¯t have blinked an eye. She doesn¡¯t care about money anyway.¡± Her voice faded to a whisper; she looked down, guilt written all over her face. I totally messed up this time! Sophie thought, heart pounding. Charles pretty much knew the truth before he even dialed¨Cthis wasn¡¯t Sophie¡¯s doing. Sophie wasn¡¯t clueless enough to go after Ynda with some tantly obvious move. He crushed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone cool. ¡°Alright.¡± Sophie kept quiet, knowing full well that the more she talked, the easier it was to slip up. She nervously swallowed. ¡°If you liked it, I can make you a new one sometime.¡± Charles had had no idea it was Athena¡¯s keepsake. Realizing Ynda had trusted him with something so meaningful was enough to give his heart a brief, guilty squeeze. She hadn¡¯t told him back then. He understood just how much Athena meant to Ynda¨Cso that sandalwood pendant had to be her most treasured possession, woven with memories and emotion. For some reason, a restless frustration began to simmer inside him¡ªone he couldn¡¯t quite exin. Ìï AD Comment Titan 127 Chapter 127 Charles leaned back in his chair, remembering that the pendant was a family heirloom¨Che¡¯d heard that straight from Jack. Ynda was always so quiet about everything, so adorably meek it just made you want to tease her. He picked up the documents next to him, his mood unshaken by what had just happened. He just told jack, ¡°Go ahead with Minister Howard.¡± Jack lowered his head, respectful as always. ¡°It¡¯s already in motion.¡± Charles nodded. ¡°Tomorrow morning, get things ready for Ynda¡­¡± Well, he¡¯d just handed her that ck card, and honestly, nothing else seemed to top that. ¡®Fine. If Ynda really wants me to keep out of Starlight¡¯s affairs, then once she officially joins them, I¡¯ll just ignore what happens over there.¡® Charles thought to himself. Jack kept politely waiting for further instructions, but Charles stayed silent. ¡°CEO?¡± Jack asked. Charles rubbed his temples with a soft chuckle. ¡°Jack, why does she have to be so sweet and obedient?¡± It was clear he was talking about Ynda. Jack was even more sure now¨CYnda was slowly but surely making her way into the CEO¡¯s heart. ***** Ynda woke up feeling burned out and weak all over, like she barely had any strength left. She got out of bed, went through her morning routine, and stared at her pale face in the mirror, pressing her lips into a thin line. At seven sharp, like clockwork, she headed downstairs and found Charles waiting for her. His gaze lingered on the pendant around her neck before slowly turning away. ¡°Are you feeling any better?¡± Charles teased lightly. ¡°Just went along without thinking? Honestly, how can you be so naive?¡± Ynda dropped her gaze, eyes a little misty. ¡°He said he¡¯d burn the pendant and I¡­ I guess I got scared.¡± ¡°If it means that much to you, then why did you give it to me in the first ce?¡± Charles continued gently. Ynda said nothing, just kept her head down and quietly ate her food. Charles¡¯s heart melted. He leaned in, kissed her cheek and murmured, ¡°Dummy.¡± 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 Those four words kept echoing in his mind¨Cshe¡¯s totally in love with me. 673 He¡¯d always known about Ynda¡¯s feelings¨Cfifteen years and counting. But if he was honest, he¡¯d just never cared much before. Once Ynda finished eating, she stood up. ¡°I¡¯m heading to Starlight today.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re the boss now. I won¡¯t bother about Starlight anymore,¡± Charles said. Her eyes sparkled. She grabbed his hand, bubbling with joy. ¡°Thank you, darling.¡± She really was just too easy to satisfy. Charles swept her into his arms, cradled her face, and kissed her. The servants quietly slipped away, leaving them alone. His kiss was soft and tender. For some reason, Ynda suddenly found herself thinking about that silver pendant Ian wore at his waist the other night. It stung, big time. ¡®Man, Ian really knows how to keep things interesting,¡¯ she thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt a light pinch at her waist. Ynda blinked, hershes dipping as she caught Charles¡¯s eyes narrowing in obvious displeasure. ¡°Spacing out again?¡± he teased. ¡°Just thinking about Starlight,¡± Ynda replied quickly. ¡°I got tons of advice from Aunt Simone¨Cpretty sure it¡¯lle in handy.¡± Charles¡¯s face turned dark. ¡®Seriously, no woman has ever spaced out on me when I make a move, he thought, feeling more than a little peeved. Suddenly, jealousy jammed up his chest. His hand tightened around her waist, just a bit more possessive. ¡°Next time you zone out on me, I¡¯ll kiss you so much you¡¯ll forget your own name,¡± he teased. Ynda¡¯s face immediately went crimson. She snatched up a slice of bread. ¡°Gotta go!¡± she mumbled. Charles smirked as he watched her walk away. Once Ynda got in the car, she finished her bread, her face already calm again. Today was her first day at Starlight. She could finally put the whole Andrade family mess on pause for a while. Vivian had stepped way over the line one too many times, and Charles definitely wasn¡¯t going to let it go. Charles would never allow anyone to provoke him like that. The feud between the Andrade and Sinir families? Ynda knew she was just a nobody¨Cnothing she could do about any of it. So, for now, she decided to just head over to Starlight and see what was up. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 ***** P: 198 Zarb vouchers Meanwhile, over at Starlight Entertainment¡­ Mary Hall sat in her office, gazing down at a weeping young woman standing before her¨Cthe poor girl actually ended up kneeling, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Ms. Hall, please, I¡¯m desperate here. Woman to woman, can¡¯t you give me a break? I really don¡¯t want to go to that dinner with Mr. Cole tonight,¡± she pleaded. Mary Hall kept her hair cropped short, barely longer than most guys¡®, giving her a crisp, no¨Cnonsense look that always screamed efficiency. She was d in a tailored women¡¯s suit, and at the girl¡¯s desperate words, Mary irritably shoved the documents aside. ¡°Coming to me isn¡¯t going to help you. See these papers? That¡¯s my pay cut notice¨Cthey want me gone. I can barely hold my own around here.¡± Mary was the only woman among the seven top execs at Starlight, and after thirteen years, she¡¯d been forced to fight for her ce every single day. As a woman in a ce like Starlight, you had to put in a hundred times more effort just to survive. But even after all that effort, the other six execs at Starlight never truly epted Mary Hall. The source of th?s content is F¦Énd£Îovel The ce was split into two inner circles, and they worked together seamlessly to keep her professionally sidelined, making workce bullying a daily routine. If she hadn¡¯t been so strong¨Cwilled, she would¡¯ve walked out the door a long time ago. The girl knelt at her side, sobbing so hard she could barely get the words out. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a new CEOing to Starlight. Maybe they¡¯ll actually be able to change something.¡± Mary snorted. ¡°Starlight gets a ¡®brand new CEO¡® every damn year, and none of ¡®emst more than half a year. If you don¡¯t have real clout backing you up, this ce will chew you up and spit you out. The only one who made it past six months? Busted for bribery. Honestly, Starlight¡¯s already rotten to the core. If I weren¡¯t so stubborn about all the time and effort I¡¯ve sunk into this ce, I¡¯d have packed up and walked a long time ago.¡± At least I¡¯m not stuck like those poor talents who get forced into ten or twenty¨Cyear contracts. The girl¡¯s face wentpletely pale. In a burst of desperation, she pulled a folding knife from her jacket and pressed it to her throat. ¡°Guess I¡¯ve only got one way out,¡± she choked out. Mary¡¯s eyes went wide, anger and helplessness written all over her face. It wasn¡¯t that Mary didn¡¯t care about these young kids¨Cshe¡¯d tried over and over to help, but it was never enough. Now, she just felt numb inside. Mary let out a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she slowly lowered herself back into her chair. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 ¡°Alright, just put the knife down, okay? I¡¯ll go talk to Leon Cole and see what I can do, Mary said, her voice calm but firm. The girl¡¯s eyes flooded with relief and gratitude. She bowed deeply, nearly dropping to her knees. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Hall. Thank you, truly.¡± 8 Once everyone else was gone, Mary lit up a cigarette, the bitterness lingering in her mouth¨Cso much like the bitterness she¡¯d swallowed from this ce for years. She stayed in her office for a full ten minutes, just letting the heaviness sit with her, before finally pulling herself together and heading up to Leon Cole¡¯s office on the top floor. Mary¡¯s office was isted from the others, kept deliberately out of the loop while the rest of the seven execs upied a single floor together, like their own private clique. When Leon Cole saw her walk in, his face lit up with smug satisfaction. ¡°What¡¯s up? Finally ready to quit?¡± They¡¯d already cut her pay three times, all part of their n to push her out. Mary lifted her chin, her voice steady. ¡°Don¡¯t take that girl to the dinner tonight.¡± Leon couldn¡¯t help but scoff, a mocking smile twisting his lips. ¡°Mary Hall, who do you think you are? Women don¡¯t get a voice in Starlight. If I tell someone to go serve drinks for the VIPs, that¡¯s what they¡¯ll do. And if one day someone actually takes a fancy to you¨Cyeah, even you, you old hag¡ªyou¡¯ll just have to y along. Otherwise, be ready for your fourth, fifth, hell, maybe even more pay cuts,¡± Leon sneered. Leon¡¯s little gang had three members, and the rival faction was made up of three too¨Ckeeping everything in a tense, uneasy bnce. Mary? She was on her own, a lone fighter in a sea of enemies. AD Titan 128 Mary had been busting her ass for years trying to hold onto her position, pushing herself so hard she barely saw her own son anymore. Now, all she felt was total exhaustion and regret. Honestly, sticking around wasn¡¯t worth it¨Cthese people wouldn¡¯t rest until they¡¯d forced her out, no matter what. Still, if she could manage to save someone¡¯s life before leaving, maybe that¡¯d mean she hadn¡¯t wasted all these years. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t involve that girl in whatever you¡¯re nning, I¡¯ll write up my resignation letter right now -I¡¯ll quit tomorrow,¡± Mary said, her voice firm even though inside, she was falling apart. Mary knew¨Cmaybe she could save the girl this time, but if it happened again, she¡¯d be helpless. Besides, this girl wasn¡¯t the only victim caught up in all this. Leon¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement, his face practically buzzing with excitement. ¡°You sure about that?¡± Mary nodded, bitterness twisting in her chest. She¡¯d poured thirteen years into thispany¨Chow could she just walk away now? ¡®But this ce stopped making room for me a long time ago,¡® Mary thought. Leon pped the table and smirked. ¡°Alright, deal.¡± Mary didn¡¯t bother saying anything else. She¡¯d always despised Alex Wilson and his circle¨Call rotten to the core, treating Starlight like it was just some private harem selection. God knows how many girls they¡¯ve preyed on over the years. Honestly, they¡¯re nothing but animals. As Mary stepped out, the girl was waiting for her right outside the door. ¡°Ms. Hall¡­¡± the girl whispered, her voice shaky. Mary wasn¡¯t the type toin or wallow. She slowly unclipped her work badge, her voice steady yet distant. ¡°I¡¯m sending in my resignation tomorrow. Tonight, you won¡¯t have to go to that party, but they¡¯ll keeping after you. Just¡­ look out for yourself, okay?¡± The girl¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, lips trembling as the reason for Mary¡¯s leaving hit her all at once. She quickly wiped away her tears, forcing herself to sound brave. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go to the party if that¡¯s what it takes. Ms. Hall, I know how much you¡¯ve sacrificed for thispany.¡± Mary looked a little taken aback, then gave a rueful smile. ¡°Weren¡¯t you just putting your life on the line for this a minute ago?¡± The girl¡¯s expression flickered with disappointment. ¡°I don¡¯t want to mess up your future. If anyone takes advantage of me, I¡¯ll grit my teeth and get through it.¡± 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 1806 vouche With that, she swung open Leon¡¯s office door and dered, ¡°Mr. Cole, I¡¯m willing to go to the party with you. Ms. Hall is staying!¡± Leon was still basking in the thrill of finally forcing Mary out when the girl barged in without a hint of respect. His joy vanished instantly. Annoyed at her tant disregard for authority, he mmed his palm hard on the desk. ¡°How dare you!¡± he roared. Right as he shouted, the office door¨Cwhich was nearly closed¨Cwas pushed open by a graceful hand. Ynda stood at the entrance, ncing between the two people locked in a standoff and Mary lingering by the door. With a puzzled look, she raised an eyebrow. ¡°So what¡¯s all this about?¡± Ynda¡¯s beauty was so stunning, Leon¡¯s jaw just about hit the floor. His eyes went wide with greed. ¡®Who signed this new talent?¡® Leon sneered inwardly. ¡®With looks like hers, she blows every actress out of the water.¡® Leon grinned to himself, ¡®If I take her out tonight, those contracts will practically fall into my hands¨Ccouldn¡¯t be easier.¡® His anger disappeared in a sh; he stered on his most fake¨Cfriendly smile, leering as he moved in close to Ynda, hand already sliding toward her waist. ¡°You¡¯re one of the new talents, right? I¡¯ll bring you to the party tonight. Be a good girl and even if you don¡¯t have any work yet, I can slip you straight into a lead role in a major project,¡± Leon said with that sleazy tone. Just as his hand was about tond on her waist, Ynda¡¯s hand shed out and smacked him hard in the face -no warning, no hesitation. The p was so loud and crisp it echoed around the whole office, stinging everyone¡¯s ears and making the pain almost palpable just from the sound. Leon stood there, stunned, eyes bulging with disbelief. ¡°Did you just hit me?¡± he blurted out, utterly floored. Ynda gave a cool little smile, rubbing her stinging palm. ¡°Yeah. Got a problem with that?¡± Leon let out a short, angryugh, thinking, ¡®Guess this rookie has no clue how things really work around here!¡® Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Standing by the doorway, Mary couldn¡¯t help but feel a rush of satisfaction at the sound of that p¨Conly for worry to creep in right after for the new girl who¡¯d justnded herself in this mess. Leon snatched up a vase from the desk, eyes zing with fury. ¡°You got a death wish or something? Who do you think you are, hitting me?¡± But Ynda moved faster¨Cbefore he could even swing, she drove her foot right into his stomach, sending him reeling. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 The vase crashed down onto his own head, leaving him seeing stars and almost splitting his scalp open. Ynda calmly took out her appointment letter, spread it open, and set it down right on the office desk. ¡°Mr. Cole, it¡¯s my first day as CEO. All this yelling and threatening people¨Cdon¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit much to kick things off?¡± she said coolly. Leon stared at the document, stunned. ¡®Wait, the new CEO¡­ is her? And she¡¯s drop¨Cdead gorgeous?¡® he thought, floored. He clutched his head, his mind racing. Ynda smirked, strode right over and imed his chair without hesitation. ¡°Not bad. Seems you forgot to set me up with an office¨Cguess I¡¯ll just take this one.¡± She said it in such an easy, breezy way¨Clike she was just stating the obvious, totally unfazed by the whole situation. Leon was so furious he startedughing, his face turning bright red. Every year, someone new would show up, always tiptoeing around Leon, never daring to step out of line. But this woman? She clearly had a death wish¨Ctotally clueless about who really calls the shots at Starlight. Ynda leaned back coolly and gave a few sharp ps. Four workers in jumpsuits marched straight in from outside. She pointed at the cabs. ¡°These¨Cget rid of them. That pattern and color¨Cchange it, way too tacky. And those windows? Make them floor¨Cto¨Cceiling.¡± She¡¯d brought these four herself, so Leon¡¯s say didn¡¯t mean squat to them. Leon¡¯s hand shook as he nearly jabbed her in the face. ¡°Ynda, right? Who do you think you are, barging in here like you run the ce? You seriously believe you¡¯re gonna keep that chair warm? Trust me, one word from me and you won¡¯t even get settled before you¡¯re out.¡± ¡°Mr. Cole, I was sent by Mr. Sinir himself. You really think you outrank him?¡± Ynda fired back, her voice smooth but ice¨Ccold. Leon let out a mockingugh. ¡°You really think I don¡¯t have people high up at Sinir Group?¡± ¡°Go ahead, run and snitch. Let¡¯s see how many days I stick around,¡± Ynda said, arms crossed, eyes sparkling with defiance. Ynda crossed her arms, barely ncing over as she kept directing the workers. ¡°You heard me¨Cdo that corner up exactly the way I described. Got it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking touch anything! This is my goddamn office!¡± Leon snarled, practically spitting the words. Leon, trembling with anger, snatched up his phone and started dialing security toe up. 7:51 Fri, Sep 26 Ynda¡¯s gaze went cold. ¡°Mr. Cole, when Mr. Sinir put me in charge, he made it clear I call all the shots. Looks like you¡¯re the one who¡¯s clueless here. Believe me, if I say the word, you¡¯ll be out of here before your seat even gets cold.¡± She tossed his own threat right back at him. Leon snorted with disbelief, thinking, ¡®What a joke. This has got to be the funniest thing I¡¯ve heard all year. ¡°You? Seriously?¡± Leon sneered. Ìï Titan 129 Ynda stayed put in her chair, sounding almost nonchnt. ¡°Yeah, just me.¡± 65 vouchers Leon burst outughing, bracing his hands on the desk and leaning in, getting up close and personal with Ynda. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see just how you n to kick me out. Ynda, I¡¯m gonna watch you get on your knees and beg me to stop targeting you.¡± ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel Just then, the security guards from downstairs arrived. Leon lifted his chin, eyes dripping with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯ve got ten minutes to pack your stuff and get out of Starlight.¡± Ynda got up, pulled out her phone, and walked out without a second nce. The four workers she¡¯d brought along looked lost for a second, then asked, ¡°Miss Grant, should we still go ahead with the changes in this office?¡± Ynda nodded. ¡°Your deposit¡¯s already been paid. Go wait downstairs for now.¡± The workers didn¡¯t make a fuss and headed out without another word. The office was quiet again, with only Leon and the other two left. Leon kicked a chair hard, not even bothering to hide it from Mary. He pulled out his phone and dialed without hesitation. ¡°Get some muscle to deal with the new CEO tonight. That damn woman actually dared toy hands on me.¡± Mary overheard his conversation, shook her head at the girl beside her, thinking to herself, ¡®He¡¯s unbelievable. The two of them slipped out of the office in a hurry. The girl walking behind her sounded nervous. ¡°Ms. Hall, what should we do? Will that woman be in danger?¡± Mary pressed the elevator button and was surprised to see Ynda standing there inside. Ynda had just ended her call and stood quietly, her posture perfect and unruffled. Mary couldn¡¯t help but notice how poised she looked, like someone who¡¯d grown up among the elite. Without hesitation, Mary said, ¡°Leon¡¯s got it out for you. Seriously, you should be careful.¡± Ynda already had the files on all seven execsmitted to memory¨Cfaces, resumes, rumors, the whole ybook. Whether she¡¯d met them or not, nobody in the upper ranks was a stranger to her. ¡°Appreciate the warning,¡± Ynda said coolly. Mary gripped her employee badge, tone calm. ¡°Leon¡¯s got someone with real clout backing him over at 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 Sinir Group.¡± Q Mary doubted Ynda was reckless enough to pick a fight with Leon like that without thinking through the fallout. The suspicion gnawed at her, but she still couldn¡¯t be sure. Ynda nodded, her eyes drifting to Mary¡¯s badge. ¡°Thinking about quitting?¡± Mary nodded, forcing a half¨Csmile. ¡°Guess I don¡¯t really have a choice. ¡°With me here, maybe there is. Why not hold off and see how tomorrow goes?¡± Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and Ynda stepped out. Mary watched her go, biting her lip. The girl trailing behind her spoke up quietly, ¡°Ms. Hall, maybe she can really fix things this time¡­¡± Mary didn¡¯t slow down, her tone steady and emotionless. ¡°I¡¯ve been hoping for something like this for three years. If I still believe in it now, that¡¯d be downright pathetic.¡± But even as she said it, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little bitter inside. Once Ynda got back to her car, she didn¡¯t head straight home. Instead, she swung by a nearby mall and, while she was at it, picked out a pair of cufflinks for Charles. She sent him a photo of the cufflinks. [Do you like them?] Charles wasn¡¯t in a meeting right now. He used to just ignore Ynda¡¯s messages¨Cbut nowadays, he¡¯d actually reply. [Weren¡¯t you headed to Starlight?] [Do you like them?] She didn¡¯t spell out that she¡¯d just been kicked out, but Charles was sharp enough to pick up on it. He turned to Jack Nn. ¡°Anything going on at Starlight?¡± ¡°Ms. Grant wants to fire someone,¡± Jack replied. ¡°Then fire them,¡± Charles said without missing a beat. Jack was going to say that the person Ynda wanted fired had some serious connections, but seeing Charles¡¯s no¨Cnonsense vibe, he just kept quiet. Less than two hourster, people from Sinir Group were heading over. 874 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 One thing about Sinir Group folks¨Cthey always had bright red badges on them. If they were checking things out on the sly, those badges stayed hidden in their bags. But if they strolled in with the badges on disy, you could bet something major was about to go down. Ynda had already picked out the cufflinks and was waiting in the lobby. When she saw the crew from Sinir Group arrive, she greeted them and followed them into the elevator. The receptionist spotted those bright red badges and quickly called management. ¡°Sinir Group¡¯s here.¡± Usually, the Sinir Group team kept their badges hidden for surprise inspections. But today, everyone had theirs on full disy¨Csignaling that something major was happening. The receptionists couldn¡¯t help but whisper among themselves. ¡°Is that the new CEO they parachuted in? I heard someone was getting dropped in from HQ recently.¡± ¡°Parachuted in or not, how many of those outsiders everst? Probably just crossed paths with Sinir Group¡¯s people by mistake.¡± When the elevator reached the top floor, Ynda walked up to Leon¡¯s office, stopped outside the door, and knocked. Anyone passing by caught sight of the Sinir Group crew and instantly froze. This was the first time in years Sinir Group folks ever wore their badges out in the open. ¡®Is today the day something big blows up?¡® That thought shed through everyone¡¯s mind. Leon was already in a foul mood. When he heard the knock, he yanked at his tie in frustration. ¡°Come in,¡± Leon said. When Leon saw Ynda walk in, he practically shook with fury. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve showing up here again!¡± But the moment he spotted the Sinir Group crew at the doorway, his attitude flipped in a heartbeat. ¡°Oh, uh, what brings you all here?¡± The Sinir Group folks stepped in, leaving the door wide open for everyone to see. One of them produced an official contract and certificate, stamped by Sinir Group. ¡°This contract bears Mr. Sinir¡¯s stamp¨CLeon Cole, you¡¯re officially terminated.¡± Leon had been with thepany for years, and firing him meant a hefty severance package. So the contract was pretty thick. Leon thought he must be hearing things. ¡®Fired? There¡¯s no way.¡® 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 Heughed, thinking. There¡¯s gotta be some mistake. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right guy? I¡¯m Leon Cole!¡± The Sinir Group team raised their eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s right, Leon Cole¨Cyou¡¯re the one being fired. Sinir Group wants you out in ten minutes. From now on, Ms. Grant will be taking over your office.¡± By now, a crowd had gathered at the doorway, everyone frozen in disbelief, thinking they must be hearing things just like Leon. ¡°Wait, did I hear that right? They¡¯re firing Mr. Cole?¡± ¡°No way¨Cthey must¡¯ve messed up. Mr. Cole¡¯s got serious connections over at Sinir Group. His backer¡¯s way too solid for this to be real.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Ms. Grant, right? The new CEO they parachuted in¨Cdidn¡¯t expect her to be this gorgeous.¡± ¡°She went straight at Leon the moment she showed up. Win or lose, that¡¯s downright badass.¡± Everyone was fed up with those six guys running the show at Starlight, but nobody had the guts to speak up. The only woman in upper management had been frozen out, stripped of any real authority. But now, another female exec had arrived and was already shaking things up. Most folks were genuinely hoping she¡¯d pull it off. Still, some people weren¡¯t so hopeful. ¡°She wants Leon gone? Maybe she¡¯s just itching to be the next Leon herself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hold your breath. They¡¯re all just sharks in suits¨Csame rotten bunch.¡± ¡°But seriously, she¡¯s drop¨Cdead gorgeous.¡± Even the entertainment industry crowd, used to seeing stars every day, were stunned by Ynda the moment she walked in. Leon stormed up to the doorway, snatched the contract, and skimmed it¨Chis face turned paper¨Cwhite the instant he saw Sinir Group¡¯s official stamp. ¡°No way¡­ this absolutely can¡¯t be happening! I want to see Mr. Sinir! I¡¯m going to face him myself!¡± 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 Titan 130 Chapter 130 Th?s chapter is updated by find{n}ovel ECTR Leon was about to storm out, but a few people blocked his way, their tone crisp and no¨Cnonsense. ¡°Even if you¡¯re going to see Mr. Sinir, please remember to take your stuff with you. Ms. Grant is in a hurry to take over this office.¡± Leon shot Ynda a venomous re. Ynda smiled and waved at the four workers she¡¯d brought with her. ¡°Alright, no one¡¯s in your way now. Let¡¯s get this office fixed up.¡± Leon was shaking all over with anger, his teeth clenched so hard it was audible. ¡°Ynda, did you hire a bunch of people to pretend they¡¯re from Sinir Group? Do you have any idea what you¡¯re messing with? You¡¯re headed for jail! Just watch!¡± He kept cursing under his breath as he went back to pack up everything on his desk. ¡°Just you damn well wait! I¡¯m heading straight to Sinir Group to give Mr. Sinir a piece of my mind!¡± He stormed out, fuming. Everyone knew he was off to rat to Mr. Sinir himself. The crowd kept their eyes on Ynda, wondering just what kind of chaos she was about to unleash. Ynda gave a casual nod to the Sinir Group guys. ¡°Alright, thanks foring over.¡± They politely held the door open for her as she stepped into the office. ¡°Ms. Grant, we¡¯ll be heading out now.¡± Ynda just gave a quick acknowledgment and went right back to bossing around the workers she¡¯d brought, getting the office renovated. Meanwhile, the top floor was already in an uproar over what happened. In a nearby office, two men huddled together, both wearing mocking grins. ¡°Let Leon cause a scene first. Maybe that woman¡¯s just bluffing.¡± ¡°Whatever happens, Leon¡¯s totally embarrassed himself this time. That damn woman actually pulled it off.¡± They didn¡¯t bother hiding their contempt for Ynda as they spoke. Mary¡¯s office door burst open with a bang and in came the girl who¡¯de begging for help earlier. The girl, barely into her twenties, was red¨Cfaced and out of breath. ¡°Ms. Hall, something major just went down!¡± Mary rolled her eyes, thinking it was probably another disaster cooked up by those higher¨Cups. After all, they¡¯d nearly caused a deadly mess before. She snorted, ¡°I¡¯m outta here tomorrow anyway¨Cyour messes aren¡¯t my problem now.¡± 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 ¡°No. Ms. Hall, it¡¯s about the new Ms. Grant! She brought over some Sinir Group supervisors and fired Leon! She even snatched Leon¡¯s office¨Che¡¯s so mad he¡¯s headed straight to Sinir Group toints The girl was panting from her mad dash; she¡¯d witnessed it all at the doorway, and had rushed over to fill Mary in. Mary parted her lips to speak, but it took several seconds before the tension finally left her body. ÈÕ The girl was clearly worked up, pacing restlessly in front of Mary¡¯s desk. ¡°Those supervisors were downright respectful toward the new CEO¨CI¡¯ve never seen that before! Ms. Hall, do you think this means we¡¯re finally getting saved? Maybe you won¡¯t have to leave after all?¡± Her eyes were shining with hope, but because she wanted it so badly, they were turning red, and tears threatened to spill at any second. Of course Mary was moved, but she forced herself to remember: don¡¯t expect too much. After all these years swinging between hope and disappointment, she felt almost numb¨Clike a shell of her former self. Mary didn¡¯t say a word, her heart thumping faster¨Cit was true, Ynda was nothing like anyone they¡¯d had before. ¡°Let¡¯s just watch how things y out. Dry your tears,¡± Mary said. The girl nodded, hastily brushing away her tears. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s just see what happens. Leon¡¯s already gone to the Sinir Group.¡± Mary couldn¡¯t stay in her seat any longer. She¡¯d always been the kind who kept her cool, but now, she genuinely couldn¡¯t help herself¡ªshe had to get upstairs and see for herself. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than her feet were already carrying her up. When she arrived, the top floor was buzzing with people. Everyone found an excuse to stroll past Ynda¡¯s office, craning their necks to get a glimpse of what was happening inside. Mary took a deep breath and stood at the doorway. She could hear Ynda giving orders inside. ¡°Rece these chairs and desks¨CI don¡¯t use anything that¡¯s already been handled by someone else.¡± ¡°Got it, Ms. Grant,¡± came the reply. ¡°And let¡¯s put a money tree here for good fortune.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Ynda was busy instructing the staff, but when she caught someone watching from the doorway, she turned to look. Mary had only meant to sneak a quick look, but once she was spotted she froze, not sure what to say. After a 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 2700 beat, she mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ve got a prosperity bowl sitting on my desk¨Csupposed to bring luck. It¡¯s really cheap. Want me to get one for you?¡± A small gift like that¨Cif you acted coy or tried to refuse, it¡¯d just seem weird. Ynda shed a smile. ¡°Sounds great, thanks, Ms. Hall* Mary was genuinely surprised that Ynda even knew her name. In that instant, it all clicked¨CYnda must¡¯ve memorized everything about Starlight before in. Otherwise, how else could she go straight for Leon, the one who pulled all the strings? This was definitely on purpose, a shot across the bow for everyone. Just a shame those other big shots were still busy congratting themselves, totally oblivious. It¡¯s the little things that reveal whether someone actually cares. Mary felt herself rx a bit more, though for reasons she couldn¡¯t fully exin, her eyes prickled with an oing burn. Not wanting Ynda to notice her emotions, she spun around quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it up to you when the delivery arrives,¡± she said, trying to keep herposure. She¡¯d been getting stomped on at Starlight for thirteen years, fighting her way through endless crap just to hold onto her spot. All her time¨Cgone, sacrificed on the altar of work; her kids barely knew her, and she couldn¡¯t me them. Family? Out the window. Work? Just one grind after another. Nobody had a clue about all the crap she¡¯d had to swallow. Mary was a rock. She never let anyone see her weak side. She bolted for the break room, only daring to wipe her tears once she was sure nobody else was around. Just then, the young girl¡¯s voice cut through the silence. ¡°Ms. Hall, are you crying?¡± Mary was thirty¨Cnine. She straightened her back immediately. ¡°No, just got something in my eye.¡± The girl wordlessly handed her a ss of water. Mary took the ss, her face stern. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in your posture ss today? You better get going.¡± The girl pouted and grumbled, ¡°That male teacher always gets handsy whenever he¡¯s fixing our posture. It¡¯s so gross.¡± Mary just looked out the window at the sky, a hint of resignation in her gaze. ¡°Just hold off for now.¡± Maybe the true spring was finally about to begin. Titan 131 Leon stormed into the Sinir Group, his face a mask of fury. One of the receptionists recognized him and greeted him respectfully. ¡°Mr. Sinir is in today,¡± she said. Leon sneered inwardly and quickly took the elevator to the top floor. He didn¡¯t knock on Charles¡¯s office door but on the door of Charles¡¯s uncle, Edward Sinir. The person backing Leon was Edward Sinir. Wyatt had three sons: the eldest was Dn, the second was Edward Sinir, and the youngest was Richard Sinir. At the moment, only Edward Sinir was at the Sinir Group. Dn managed the overseas division, while Richard Sinir, after making some early mistakes, was exiled by Wyatt and handed a smallpany in another city. Surprisingly, Richard turned thatpany around in the past few years and has recently filed to return¨CWyatt seemed to be reconsidering letting him back. Charles¡¯s position was like being circled by wolves, not to mention that both of his uncles had sons of their own gunning for the top spot. Leon¡¯s face broke into a respectful smile as he greeted, ¡°Mr. Sinir.¡± Edward Sinir stayed in peak shape¨Cmen from an old¨Cmoney family like the Sinirs were either ordinary¨Clooking or outstanding, never sporting a beer belly. That sort of failing would never fly with Wyatt; ¡®If you can¡¯t even keep your body in order, how could you ever run apany?¡® he thought. Beer guts and bald spots? Those belonged to men with no ss and no heritage. Edward wore his suit with effortless confidence, eyes utterly calm as Leon entered. Edward asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Leon recounted everything, looking a bit embarrassed. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened. I don¡¯t even know who that woman is, but she seemed to know those Sinir Group Inspectors pretty well.¡± Edward Sinir¡¯s brows drew together. He hadn¡¯t heard a word about the Sinir Group sending any inspectors overtely. He had no idea this was Charles¡¯s spur¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment move, let alone that he¡¯d parachuted Ynda in out of nowhere. Edward looked down at the contract in front of him and scoffed, ¡°Inspectors? The Sinir Group hasn¡¯t sent any Sinir Group Inspectors recently.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes lit up like he¡¯d just found his ticket out. ¡°Shit! I knew Ynda was trying to y me, but I never thought she¡¯d actually have the nerve! I¡¯m calling the cops¨Cshe¡¯s gonna rot in jail!¡± 7:52 Fri, Sep 26 42 Faking the official seal of apany as massive as the Sinir Group? She¡¯ll be stuck behind bars for a long. long time. He¡¯d promised himself he¡¯d make Ynda cry and beg at his feet¨Cand now he was ready to collect. Just thinking about that woman¡¯s looks got Leon all worked up. ¡°Mr. Sinir, she¡¯s actually pretty easy on the eyes. If you¡¯re interested¡­¡± Leon hinted. Edward covered for Leon, and besides cash, Leon regrly offered up the best¨Clooking talent from Starlight. He¡¯d drug them and deliver them to one of Edward¡¯s private vis, always making sure to get them out before the effects wore off. The women never had a clue who had taken advantage of them. It was all risk¨Cfree for Edward¡ªhe wasn¡¯t nning on getting kicked out by Wyatt over a bedroom scandal like his younger brother. Seeing Leon¡¯s expression, Edward could tell this woman was an absolute knockout. ¡°Same spot. Eight o¡¯clock tomorrow night. Make the arrangements,¡± Edward instructed. Leon¡¯s cheeks flushed with excitement as he bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. Sinir, you can count on me. It¡¯ll be wless!¡± As soon as Leon stepped out of the office, he called the cops. They didn¡¯t hesitate one bit and made a beeline straight for Starlight. Starlight had been rotten from the roots all the way to the top for years, and not once hadw enforcement darkened its doorstep. Yet in the span of a single day¨Cfirst the Sinir Group Inspectors, then the police- the chaos was off the charts. The police barged right into Ynda¡¯s office. ¡°Hello, Ms. Grant. You¡¯ve been reported for counterfeiting the Sinir Group¡¯s official seal. Pleasee with us and assist with our investigation.¡± The office doorway was instantly crowded. People were whispering to each other in hushed voices. ¡°Fake seal? So those Sinir Group Inspectors earlier today were just a bunch of imposters?¡± ¡°Oh my god, that¡¯s a major crime! The Sinir Group¡¯s definitely going to , Sep 26 The cops stayed strictly business. ¡°Ms. Grant, we¡¯ll need you toe with us for questioning. Ynda rose to her feet and addressed her team. ¡°Update the designs the way I just told you. Aim to have it all ready by the day after tomorrow¨Cspare no expense on the materials.¡± Her team, unshaken by themotion, nodded diligently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Grant.¡± With a cop at each side, Ynda headed out of the office with them. The top floor was buzzing, with everyone gossiping about whether Ynda really forged the Sinir Group seal or hired a bunch of fakes to pose as Sinir Group Inspectors. Updates are released by F¦Énd£Îovel When Ynda arrived at the police station, Leon was already there, looking smug as hell. ¡°Officer, I need a moment alone with her,¡± Leon said, his voice dripping with malice as he stepped closer. Leon¡¯s face twisted with malice as he approached. ¡°Ynda, Ynda, what did I tell you? You were always gonna end up begging me on your knees. But it¡¯s way toote for that now. Unless you keep me satisfied¨Cand then make the rounds for the rest¨Cmaybe I¡¯ll let you walk out of here untouched. Otherwise, get ready to rot in jail!¡± Ynda didn¡¯t bother saying anything¨Cshe just took a seat off to the side, unfazed. Leon scowled, thinking to himself, ¡®Damn, this bitch knows how to keep her cool, huh?¡® She signed the papers the cops handed over, her smile cool and collected. ¡°You folks go track down your evidence. I¡¯ve signed already. When you find something, don¡¯t forget to let me know¨CI¡¯m looking forward to calling mywyer and suing Leon Cole.¡± She said it with Leon standing right there, making it crystal clear she didn¡¯t give a damn about him. Leon was fuming, practically steaming from the ears, ready to st her¨Cbut a sh of sanity reminded him this was the police station, so he bit his tongue. Ynda picked up her purse and strode out of the station, cool and collected like she owned the ce. Leon was shaking with fury, grabbing Ynda and jerking her right back toward him. Ynda lost her footing and smashed into the nearby bookshelf. She clutched her head, a wave of dizziness hit¨Cand the next second, she totally cked out. Leon stood there like he¡¯d been turned to stone, eyes wide in disbelief. ¡°She¡¯s gotta be faking! I barely touched her!¡± Titan 132 Leon straight¨Cup attacked someone right in front of the cops, making them all look pretty uneasy. They hurried to get Ynda to the hospital. Turned out, she was suffering from low blood sugar¨Cshe¡¯d barely touched breakfast and purposely skipped lunch, having nned for this oue. Now that she was in the hospital, the police naturally had to notify her family. When Charles got the call, he went silent for a few seconds, then paused his meeting and headed straight for the hospital. Ynday on the hospital bed, pale as a sheet, her eyshes trembling faintly¨Cshe looked utterly fragile. Charles nced at the two police officers standing nearby. The cops all recognized Charles¡ªafter all, the Sinir Group pumped huge investments into national projects every year. Charles reached out and ruffled Ynda¡¯s hair. ¡°I stamped that contract myself. Just tossed my wife a position, that¡¯s all. How did it blow up into something this big?¡± As soon as he finished, Ynda grabbed his hand. ¡°I want awyer. I¡¯m going to sue Leon Cole.¡± She¡¯d never been this headstrong before, but now there was fire zing in her eyes¨Clike her stare could scorch Charles¡¯s fingers. She¡¯s been differenttely, so much more animated. Charles swallowed twice. ¡°Sinir Group¡¯s PR department is yours.¡± Ynda shed him a bright smile. ¡°Babe, you¡¯re seriously the best. Don¡¯t worry about me, go clock in! Thewyers will take care of the rest¨CI promise I¡¯m fine,¡± she told him. Charles really couldn¡¯t pause his work over this. He checked in with the cops, made sure everything was sorted, and left. Leon didn¡¯t even bother with the hospital. He stormed over to Starlight, bursting in to stop the staff from touching his office. He smashed his foot into a table. ¡°Put everything back, right fucking now! You idiots don¡¯t know Ynda- yeah, that bitch¨Calready got dragged out by the cops? Let¡¯s see who dares touch my office!¡± His voice rang out, full of smug arrogance. If Ynda really did pass out, so what? Worst case, he¡¯d just shell out some cash. Money? He had plenty of that to spare. There was still a big crowd gathered outside the office. Everyone saw the police take Ynda away, so when 15:50 Sun, Sep 28 66 155 vouchers Leon swaggered back in without a scratch, you could see a flicker of disappointment in some eyes. Guess they really thought Ynda had broken thew. That young woman who¡¯d been camped out on the top floor all day, hoping to get her hands on firsthand evidence, almost started crying when she saw Leon still so arrogant. The staff got booted out of the office, but instead of leaving, they dutifully waited outside the building and called Ynda. She just told them to go ahead and get dinner first. There were still a lot of people up on the top floor, shooting each other nces. Everyone felt pretty down, and after the letdown, the whole situation just seemed kind of ridiculous. The young woman rushed straight into Mary¡¯s office. She didn¡¯t say a word¨Cshe just broke down crying as soon as she walked through the door. Mary took a sip of her coffee. ¡°What happened?¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were puffy as she looked up. ¡°Leon came back¨Che said Ynda¡¯s been picked up by the cops. Ms. Hall, is it true she actually got someone to y a Sinir Group inspector and stamped a fake chop on that contract? Will she go to jail? How long would they lock her up for?¡± Mary¡¯s hand trembled slightly as she set down her coffee. She wanted to reassure the girl¨Csomeone like Ynda just didn¡¯t seem capable of such things. Still, given what was happening, it was hard to make any excuses. She lowered her gaze, saying nothing while carefully putting her coffee down on the desk. She was much calmer than the young woman, who¡¯d already started tearing up more than once. Mary rubbed her temples. ¡°Stop crying.¡± The girl almost started hyperventting from crying. She wiped her tears, flustered. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Hall. I really lost it. It¡¯s just¡­ I thought we finally had hope, that maybe we wouldn¡¯t have to deal with those creepy old guys always trying to take advantage of us¨Cfinally. But¡­¡± She just couldn¡¯t go on, mping her hand over her mouth. Mary looked at the half¨Cfinished resignation letter on her screen. She leaned back in her chair, lost in thought as she stared up at the ceiling. The girl could tell Mary was probably hurting even more, but she didn¡¯t have a clue how to make it better for her. Mary stayed silent for ages before finally letting out a sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s just wait and see¡ªmaybe tomorrow. I can¡¯t shake the feeling she¡¯s not that kind of person.¡± Maybe it was just something about Ynda¡¯s eyes, so clear and innocent, and the way she smiled made you feel safe¨Clike you could actually trust her. That¡¯s why Mary couldn¡¯t help but hold onto hope one more time, even if she might just end up disappointed all over again. 15:50 Sun, Sep 28 The girl nodded, shoulders slumped, and shutlled out looking crushed. Up on the top floor, chaos still reigned. Rumor had it Leon stormed back and tore into everyone in sight, cussing folks out till they were stunned, evennding a nasty kick on one young guy. ¡°What the fuck? You think you¡¯re all just sitting around waiting for me to get lost? Look at yourselves- pathetic fools who signed your lives away to me! As long as I hold the reins, you¡¯ll be ving for me till the day you die! Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t read your minds¨Ckeep those thoughts to yourselves!¡± The young man¡¯s shirt had a huge, grimy footprint across it. He struggled up slowly, brushing off the filthy mark with a trembling hand, face flushed with humiliation. Leon shot him a venomous re. ¡°Tonight, you¡¯re going to keep some sugar mamaspany. Let¡¯s see how long you can keep that tough¨Cguy attitude up!¡± Leon remembered this kid¨Cgood¨Clooking, been under contract for two years now, and caught the eye of plenty of richdies, hell, even a few guys wanted him. But he was stubborn to the core¨Ctwo years in thepany, didn¡¯t earn a single cent, just because he refused to sell out. Leon was riding high¨Che had all their contracts locked down in his grip. No way these people would dare make a move against him. He copsed back into his chair, took a long drag off his cigarette, and just let the satisfaction wash over him. But his smug grin faded fast. Awyer came through the door¨Csomeone famous, a big name, and he delivered the news: Leon was being sued. Checktest chapters at find?novel ¡°Mr. Cole, you can keep your story for the courtroom. The evidence of your nder against Ms. Grant is already solid,¡± thewyer said. Leon squinted, still finding it hrious. ¡°Did that bitch Ynda pay you to do this?¡± But as soon as the words left his mouth, Leon sensed something was seriously off. Thiswyer was big on TV, everyone knew him, and rumor was the Sinir Group had recruited him for their side. ¡®Did Sinir Group send thiswyer?¡® Leon thought, suspicion creeping in. He furrowed his brow, his thoughts tangled up like a mess of wires. He hurriedly tried calling Edward Sinir, but nobody picked up. At first, Leon assumed Edward was just tied up with something, but after he kept calling and still got zero response, he suddenly started feeling uneasy. The talent he¡¯d just chewed out felt like they¡¯d crammed more drama into this single day than most people saw in a lifetime. The back¨Cand¨Cforth was dizzying¨Cso many twists, it made their heads spin. Now, all they could do was look at each other and think, ¡®Seriously, what¡¯s even happening now?¡® 15:50 Sun, Sep 28 Titan 133 Leon recognized thiswyer in an instant and wentpletely silent. He knew for sure this wasn¡¯t the kind of guy Ynda could buy off¨Cnot when he was the ace of Sinir Group Legal Department. He shot to his feet, looking panicked. ¡°Mr. Maine, I was just kidding carlier. Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right guy?¡± Mr. Maine nced around. ¡°Ms. Grant has already submitted the required paperwork. The court¡¯s taken the case, and you¡¯ll get the summons within five days. I¡¯m her attorney¨Cshe sent me to notify you. Better line up your own counsel now, don¡¯t go iming she¡¯s picking on you.¡± Leon¡¯s face turned dark in a sh. With Edward not picking up the phone, he didn¡¯t dare act recklessly. He snatched up his coat and rushed downstairs, hurrying back to Sinir Group as fast as he could. Folks at Starlight felt like they¡¯d been riding a rollercoaster all day, but when some recognized thewyer, their eyes went wide with shock. ¡°Damn, is that Jason Maine? He¡¯s the head honcho at Sinir Group Legal Department. I¡¯ve seen him interviewed a bunch of times,¡± someone whispered. ¡°Jason Maine? You mean the same guy who totally crushed a veteran attorney two years ago?¡± another person jumped in. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him. His takes are always fierce and spot¨Con. Last year, he represented a business owner who¡¯d been owed public funds for over a decade¨Cand when someone with deep connections threatened his life, Sinir Group hired him right when things got dangerous to protect him. If Ynda didn¡¯t have some major influence, there¡¯s no way she could¡¯ve recruited someone like him.¡± Jason didn¡¯t bother with the gossip¨Che just turned and left without looking back. Ynda was still lying in her hospital bed, with Charles already off at the office. Right now, Ian was there by her side, keeping watch over her. Ian sat beside her, spoon¨Cfeeding her the soup he¡¯d brought. When he heard the doctor mention her low blood sugar, his face instantly darkened and he banged the spoon against the bowl in frustration. ¡°Your husband¡¯s rolling in cash¨Cis he rationing your meals or something?¡± Ynda¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile as she nced at the clock. ¡°His assistant¡¯s dropping byter. It¡¯s probably best if you head out before he gets here.¡± Read full story at findnovel Ian pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze. ¡°Yeah, I know I¡¯m not exactly someone you want hanging around.¡± Ynda felt a pang of guilt. Ian had been working his ass off filmingtely, so it meant he couldn¡¯t hang around her that much. Still, he texted her constantly¨Cshe just hadn¡¯t gotten around to replying today because she¡¯d been busy. If Ian had puppy ears, they¡¯d totally be drooping right now. Ynda paused, took a bite of the soup he handed her, then said. ¡°My husband really is loaded: those earrings 15:50 Sun, Sep 28 you¡¯re wearing? I bought them with his money.¡± Ian¡¯s hand stilled, something flickered in his eyes, and then a little spark lit up inside him. ¡°Got it.¡± Just like that, she had him wrapped around her finger. 66 Souchers Before heading out,n even took away the trash, washed the fruit for her, and arranged a gorgeous fruit tter on the table. Ynda picked at the fruit, all the while wondering when Jack would get there. Sure enough, ten minutester, Jack pushed open the door and stepped in. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯ve already asked the court to expedite things¨Cthe summons will be out in three days. Leon Cole just rushed back to Sinir Group, trying to get backing from Uncle Edward. But Edward Sinir already knows you¡¯re the one from Starlight and isn¡¯t getting involved, so Leon won¡¯t be bothering you again,¡± Jack Nn reported. Ynda just nodded, taking her time with a piece of fruit. ¡°Thank you, Jack Nn. You¡¯ve really worked hard.¡± Jack couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something about her was a little different today, though he couldn¡¯t figure out exactly what it was. He just gave a quiet nod. ¡°If you¡¯re ready, let¡¯s get you home.¡± He¡¯d already sorted out her discharge papers¨Cafter all, it was just a case of low blood sugar, no point sticking around in the hospital. Ynda slid into the car, but instead of heading back to Moonbay Estate, she asked Jack to take her to Starlight. When she stepped onto the top floor, all eyes turned her way. The diligent renovation workers, noticing no one was interfering, simply kept on with their tasks, and Ynda couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by their professionalism. She watched with satisfaction as the various decorations were brought in, giving a slight nod. ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡± There were still a bunch of people hanging around the entrance, and when that young girl spotted Yndaing back, she covered her mouth in excitement and bolted toward the elevator. She was moving so fast that she tripped and fell, but she just got right back up and kept running. Ynda couldn¡¯t help but worry that she might have hurt herself. The girl rushed into Mary¡¯s office. It was almost time to clock out, but Mary was always thest one to leave. ¡°Ms. Hall! Big news! Ms. Grant¡¯s back, and she¡¯s suing Leon Cole! Herwyer is Jason Maine¨Cthe badass Jason Maine!¡± the girl blurted out. Mary¡¯s tense body instantly rxed as she leaned back in her chair. Then she covered her face and rubbed her eyes hard. ¡°Good¡­ that¡¯s good.¡± 15:50 Sun, Sep 28 66 2255 you tiers The girl¡¯s eyes were all swollen¨Cshe¡¯d burst into tears several times today. Now, unable to hold it in anymore, she flopped onto the sofa, gritting her teeth because her leg was still smarting from that fall. ¡°Seriously, what is even happening right now? I swear, my heart can¡¯t take this anymore,¡± she whimpered. But everybody understood: with Jason Maine backing Ynda, she was set. No one¡¯s going to mess with her now. Jason¡¯s not only a total powerhouse in court¨Che¡¯s got the whole Sinir Group behind him. Back when Sinir Group recruited him, it was all over the news for days. There was a knock at the door, and there stood Ynda. Ynda gave a small smile. ¡°I noticed there¡¯s a storage room still empty on the top floor. I¡¯m thinking of having the crew convert it into your office. Why don¡¯t you head up and take a look? You can pick the style you want¨Cjust let me know your thoughts.¡± Mary¡¯s office was supposed to be on the top floor, but after getting pushed aside, she¡¯d ended up stuck in a downstairs corner. She got up right away, hands clenched tight at first before slowly rxing. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll go check it out now. Thank you, Ms. Grant.¡± Ynda just nodded, said nothing more, and walked off. The top floor was packed with people now, but nobody dared stick around¨Ceveryone kept their heads down and scurried by, all worried Leon might show up at any moment. It was almost time to clock out, and Leon still hadn¡¯t shown up. People couldn¡¯t help whispering that Leon might¡¯ve finally met his match this time. Everyone was dying to know who Ynda really was¨Cshe¡¯d only been at Starlight for a day, and she¡¯d already turned the ce upside down. Îå Titan 134 66 Ynda nced at Walter Hudson, standing nearby. He was skinny, in a in white shirt, with nothing special about his looks. ¡°You, you¡¯re my assistant from now on,¡± Ynda said. ¡°Go tell the other six Alex Wilsons there¡¯s a meeting in ten minutes. If anyone skips it, just kick them out.¡± With Leon Cole¡¯s mess hanging over everyone, you had to be an idiot to act dumb now. So, even if the execs didn¡¯t have a clue what was going on, they still showed up in the office right on time. Mary Hall had never been allowed to set foot in the meeting room before. The execs always made sure to exclude her when they had their meetings. ording to them, women belonged at home having babiespeting with men at work just made them look ridiculous. Mary had endured this for thirteen years. Now, barely containing her excitement, she sat herself down at Ynda¡¯s left side. The exec who was supposed to sit there frowned and scoffed quietly, ¡°You really think just because she¡¯s here, you get to move up? Mary, you¡¯re way overestimating that bitch.¡± They were only there because they didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble, and since they still didn¡¯t know what was really going on, they figured they¡¯d just go along for now. Ynda settled into the center seat at the table, her gaze sweeping over the five male execs. Each wore a look of disdain, except for one whose emotions were hidden and impossible to read. She smiled, straightened her back, and neatly tied her hair into a low ponytail. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Ynda, and as of today, I¡¯m officially taking over as CEO,¡± she said. The five execs just smiled, not saying a word. Mary bit her lip, her eyes red as she managed to choke out, ¡°Wee.¡± After fighting alone for thirteen years, she finally had an ally. Ynda nodded, flipping through the papers. ¡°It¡¯s almost quitting time, and I¡¯m not a fan of making people workte, so let¡¯s keep it brief. I¡¯ve already checked out what each of you is handling. But from what I see, you¡¯re all butting into each other¡¯s business a little too much. For tomorrow morning¡¯s meeting, I want you to organize the details of your own projects. No watered¨Cdown reports¨CI want blunt, honest opinions.¡± The execs looked pretty sour, but went along with a grudging ¡°okay.¡± Ynda kept things rolling; the whole meeting wrapped up in just over ten minutes. As she walked out, one of the execs snickered, ¡°She¡¯s really putting on a good act. Maybe Jason Maine had to 15:50 Sun, Sep 28 sleep with her just to get her to show up.¡± (156) The rest looked pissed, but these guys were old hands¨Cthey¡¯d seen it all before, so they just kept their poker faces, figuring they¡¯d watch what happened with Leon Cole before making any moves. Ynda headed back to the office to tell the workers to renovate the storage room, then headed out to her car. But as soon as she got in, she foundn hanging out inside. Even with the window up. Ynda nced around warily. ¡°You know this is kinda risky, right?¡± The AC was sting in the car, making it chilly. Ian sat there in a long coat and mask. ¡°You¡¯ve been busytely, and I wanted to give you a gift. Ended up staking out here for you myself.¡± He had a key to Ynda¡¯s car¨Cshe¡¯d personally given it to him. Ynda nced at the rearview mirror, softening into a smile. ¡°What kind of gift?¡± Ian pulled off his mask, but he kept his coat clutched tightly around himself, not even letting a hint of skin show at his neck. He lowered hisshes, his voice a bit husky. ¡°Come to the back¨CI¡¯ll tell you in secret.¡± Ynda thought, ¡®Honestly, the guy could be such a stubborn puppy sometimes. But fine, I¡¯ll y along. She was willing to go with it. She stepped out and made her way to the backseat. Ynda asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s the gift?¡± As soon as she asked, Ian shrugged off his coat, leaned back a bit, his Adam¡¯s apple moving with every breath. ¡°So, what do you think? Look good to you?¡± A silver¨Cck chain glinted around his neck, resting just above his Adam¡¯s apple. Paired with his ck shirt and a few missing buttons, the whole look was straight¨Cup eye candy. His hair was back to its original color now, but he still had those earrings on¨Cthe ones she¡¯d given him. Ynda had to admit, this guy really did know how to keep things interesting. He was always full of tricks. He locked eyes with her, gaze burning, biting his lip for a second. ¡°Do you like it? Does it look good?¡± Ynda reached out and tugged the chain, yanking him closer in one swift move. His eyes shed with surprise when she asked, ¡°Is this¡­ a dog cor?¡± He met her eyes, utterly straightforward. ¡°You¡¯re cold one minute, warm the next, treating me like your puppy. What¡¯s wrong if I wear this?¡± When it came to these moments, he always put himself out there, never trying to pretend he was more than he was. 15:51 Sun, Sep 28 And he did it with a kind of openness that was almost disarming. 66 65 vouchers ???? Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel Ynda felt her heart flutter a bit¨Cno one had ever put so much thought into winning her over before. She couldn¡¯t help but be a little moved. Her fingers glided up the chain and traced softly along his neck. He tilted his head,shes pointed down, ears quietly going red. That usually aloof face of his with the shy chain¨Cit was all such a wild mismatch it made her want tough. Ian was just that way¨Ca bundle of contradictions, wrapped in even more mystery. Ynda knew full well he was probably not as well¨Cbehaved as he yed it, and for sure he kept his own secrets, but she kissed him anyway, not caring about any of that. Ian parted his lips, kissing her back instantly¨Cno hesitation at all. They kissed for what felt like forever, and then Ian nuzzled against her palm, murmuring, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to text me back, okay?¡± She¡¯d ignored his texts all day; he¡¯d run over to the hospital, then to Starlight, waiting like a hopeful puppy just to catch her attention. He was bending over backwards just to make her happy. When a married woman runs into a puppy like him, how could she not adore it? Ynda let out a soft ¡°mm¡± and gave his earlobe a yful squeeze. ¡°Looks gorgeous on you. Next time, I¡¯ll spoil you with something even fancier.¡± ¡°Are you still gonna use your husband¡¯s card for that?¡± Ian teased. She burst outughing. ¡°Not even a hint of shame, huh?¡± Ian used to be all distant, barely letting her kiss him the first time. Now, it was like he¡¯d turned into a whole new person. ¡°That¡¯s just the mindset of the side piece,¡± Ian smirked. ¡°Married women¨Cthey love someone who knows how to y it sweet, just like men do.¡± AD Titan 135 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¨Conce 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¨Cway 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¨Cline 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¡ªa little red mark blossomed on her skin, proof of his teasing bite. 15:51 Sun, Sep 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¨Cevery 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 : A Get full chapters from F?nd-Novel 466 255 vouchers. 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¨CI 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¨Che was so mad he actuallyughed. ¡°Go ahead, say that one more time.¡± 15:51 Sun, Sep 28 Right on cue, Ynda¡¯s phone rang. Sure enough, it was Aunt Simone calling. 66 55 vouchers 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, so 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¨Cit 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¨Cshe 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¨Csure enough, it was the same pair from yesterday. He felt a bit relieved. ¡°Mm.¡± Titan 136 Chapter 136 55 vouchers Seeing that Charles seemed to be in a better mood, Jack got down to business. ¡°Crimson Gallery has turned down our request to join. I sent someone to investigate, and it turns out there¡¯s a reckless guy who¡¯s been tearing through the challenges. In just thest two hours, he¡¯s cleared five levels and is still going.¡± Charles had previously sent his best special forces operative, a top¨Ctier fighter, who had only managed to clear the fourth level. This neer, however, had already cleared five. Charles narrowed his eyes, ¡°Did you manage to find out who sent him?¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find?Novel ¡°Could it be someone working for another family in Beloris?¡± Jack shook his head. ¡°Crimson Gallery is famous for keeping everything under wraps. We couldn¡¯t get anything out of them. I did have someone ask around though¨Cthe guy¡¯s wearing a silver mask, looks pretty young. If he actually makes it through, Crimson Gallery might have to change the rulespletely.¡± Charles casually propped his head on his hand. He¡¯d never thought anyone could beat that nightmare of a ce. ¡°Jack, if this guy actually clears all the levels, try to win him over. If we can¡¯t, make sure he doesn¡¯t end up teaming up with anyone else,¡± Charles said. ¡°You got it, boss. I¡¯ve been keeping tabs on him,¡± Jack replied. Meanwhile, word that someone had stormed Crimson Gallery was already making the rounds among every ambitious soul who¡¯d been looking to get their hands on it. But not every insider even knew the ce existed. Only those deep in the heart of power had heard of it. Thanks to Crimson Gallery¡¯s wless secrecy, it had be the go¨Cto oasis for the rich¨Ca den of luxury where you could toss aside your identity and be anyone you wanted, or even aplete animal if you wished. In several study rooms across Beloris, people were getting real¨Ctime updates on the situation. ¡°Two and a half hours, six levels cleared.¡± ¡°Seventh level took fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°Eighth level took twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Mr. Sinir, he¡¯s already moved on to the ninth level. All eight people he¡¯s defeated have sworn loyalty to him.¡± ¡°Three and a half hours¨Cthat¡¯s all it took to st through ten levels.¡± ¡°Starting tonight, Crimson Gallery bows to a single master. All ten sections are his now.¡± ¡­ 85 56 Vouchers More than a hundred calls flew across Beloris, but among the real power yers, there was just onemand. ¡°Track down everything about this guy¨Cimmediately.¡± All the covert operatives hit the streets at once. But Ynda had no idea any of this was going on. Ian¡¯s scene was scheduled for the middle of the night, so Simone, the director, had some free time. Ynda showed up at her ce and handed over the bracelet. Simone had already epted an emerald ne from Yndast time, and now, seeing the pricey bracelet, she raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ynda, this is seriously expensive.¡± ¡°Aunt Simone, I actually wanted to ask you some more advice,¡± Ynda said softly, her eyes full of hope. Simone, never one for pretense, epted the box with a small smile. ¡°Let me guess, you want me to keep givingn a few more chances, huh? That boy¡¯s got talent.¡± Ynda nodded, sitting obediently beside her aunt. ¡°You¡¯ve got so many industry connections, and I know you genuinely appreciate Ian. So I¡¯m being a little shameless here, Aunt Simone¨Cdo you think you could bring him along when you meet directors or go to fancy events? You know, since I¡¯m married and part of the Grant family, it¡¯s not really appropriate for me to be seen with a man who¡¯s not my husband. So¡­ could this just be our little secret?¡± Simone didn¡¯t hesitate to slip the bracelet onto her wrist. ¡°This is gorgeous¨Csuch rich color and rity. I can see you really put thought into it. I¡¯ll agree to your request, since what I¡¯m doing for you is worth far more than just this piece. So I¡¯m not going to be shy about taking the bracelet,¡± she said with a smile. Ynda let out a quiet breath, genuinely grateful as she thanked her. Simone slid a ss of water toward her and grinned. ¡°You¡¯re here for Ian, aren¡¯t you? Honestly, that kid¡¯s worth every bit of effort. He¡¯s got the star power¨Clooks, skills, everything. His acting isn¡¯t just good; it¡¯s pure instinct, like he was born for it. Trust me, one day he¡¯s going to snag every major trophy out there.¡± Ynda¡¯s smile widened as she picked up the ss. ¡°When that dayes, I¡¯ll definitely make sure you get a cut.¡± The more Simone watched her, the more she genuinely admired Ynda. She never got bashful when asking for something, and when it came to giving gifts, she always made it impossible to say no. On top of it all, Ynda had a knack for saying exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. ¡®Wasting her time ying the housewife before¨Cwhat a loss for all that talent¡­ but hey, betterte than never, Simone thought to herself. Ynda took a sip of water and, candid as always, began, ¡°I¡¯ve set up a small studio, and soon I¡¯ll be recruiting new talent. What I really came for tonight is to talk over an equity stake with you. Aunt Simone, I promise- 16:18 Mon, Sep 29 B 85 56 vouchers. within three years, I¡¯ll turn this studio into a listedpany, and when that dayes, you¡¯ll get twenty percent ownership. But can you keep this all strictly confidential, just between us?¡± Twenty percent¨Cthat was an incredible gesture of goodwill. Simone didn¡¯t need the money, but she knew this was the biggest thing Ynda could put on the table. With Ian as her ace, Ynda had a bankable star in hand. One real talent with star power could easily build an entirepany. Ynda put all her cards on the table, determined to strike a long¨Cterm deal¨Cwhat she wanted in return were Simone¡¯s connections. Simone, her shoulder¨Clength hair framing her face, didn¡¯t say yes right away. She absently traced the bracelet around her wrist while she weighed her options. Ynda waited patiently, letting Simone take all the time she needed. After a long stretch of silence, Simone finally sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I really want in. But twenty percent¨Care you really okay with handing that much over?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just trying to show you I¡¯m sincere. And if Charles starts calling to check up on me, I¡¯d really appreciate it if you could help cover for me,¡± Ynda said honestly. ¡°Sometimes I have to be out for a few days because of studio work, but as a married woman in the Grant family, it¡¯s basically forbidden for me to stay overnight anywhere. Having toe up with a new excuse every time is a real hassle. Charles is bound to get suspicious eventually, but if you say it¡¯s work, he¡¯ll buy it without a second thought.¡± Simone had always had a soft spot for Charles, but she wasn¡¯t blind¨Cshe knew just how unreliable he could be. After a brief pause, she reached out her hand. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Thanks, Aunt Simone. I¡¯ll ask Mr. Maine to draw up the contract tomorrow,¡± Ynda replied, visibly relieved. ¡°Yoyo, I love that you¡¯ve got so much drive these days. Just don¡¯t put all your hopes in a guy. If he¡¯s not there for you, the rest of your world coulde crashing down,¡± Simone advised softly. It was her way of giving Ynda a heads¨Cup¨Cwithout spelling it out too clearly. Ynda nodded, looking all sincere. ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I went to work¨Cto make Charles think I¡¯m doing it for his sake.¡± ¡®Hell no, that¡¯s not the reason,¡® Ynda thought, but she couldn¡¯t justy it all out for Simone¨Cespecially with Simone being family. Sure enough, a flicker of sympathy crossed Simone¡¯s face as she gently patted Ynda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve got my word. It¡¯s getting prettyte¨Cgo on and get some rest, Ynda,¡± Simone said, her voice gentle. Once Ynda was in her car, she let out a long breath. 16:18 Mon, Sep 29 G A es 355 vouchers From now on, no more scrambling for excuses whenever she needed to stay out overnight. With Simone as her shield, Charles would never suspect a thing about Ian¨Che¡¯d staypletely in the dark. That was what mattered most. Simone was totally clueless about Ynda and Ian¡¯s little secret. She honestly thought Ynda was just throwing herself into her career, doing it all so Charles would finally sit up and take notice. Ynda gripped the steering wheel, her lips quirking into a smirk. ¡®Guess I¡¯ve got a real talent for ying with fire behind the scenes,¡® she mused. Honestly, what married woman wouldn¡¯t be drawn in by Ian? He had that irresistible puppy¨Cdog charm¨Cand could turn on a dime. As long as he didn¡¯t do anything too outrageous, she was perfectly happy to spoil him rotten and keep him all to herself. She was more than ready to treat her secret lover like royalty¨Cjust as Charles always did with his own favorites. AD Titan 137 85 66 vouchers Three hourster, as Ynda¡¯s car finally reached the gates of Moonbay Estate, she was startled to spot Vivian Andrade waiting outside. Vivian stood right by the entrance, phone pressed to her ear, focused and unmoving. ¡®She must be here to see Charles, Ynda thought, secretly rolling her eyes. Ynda tried to act as if she hadn¡¯t noticed, but Vivian wasn¡¯t having it¨Cshe darted over and nted herself right in front of the car, forcing Ynda to stop. Her car came to a reluctant halt. Vivian stomped over, pounding on the window. ¡°Ynda, get Charles out here to see me!¡± The news about Grady¡¯s shooting had already set off a huge scandal, but now Minister Howard had drowned tonight, and suddenly the whole Andrade family became the prime target for everyone¡¯s suspicions. Minister Howard was a key witness in the Grady Incident, and the Andrades had tried to win him over for a long time. But he never took the bait, and now he was gone. Of course, all eyes turned to the Andrades as the most likely suspects. Even Vivian, slow as she was, finally realized¨Conly Charles could have pulled off something this ruthless! Ynda called Charles, who was still hunched over his desk, workingte in the study. ¡°Honey, you wannae out and see this? Ms. Andrade won¡¯t let my car through,¡± Ynda said. A cold glint shed across Charles¡¯s eyes. Ynda thought Vivian was just hopeless¨Cclinging to a guy like this would only make him loathe her even more. Sure enough, a group of bodyguards appeared, stepping right in front of Vivian to block her way. Vivian was so furious it made her scalp tingle. ¡°Get Charles out here! I need to see him, now!¡± The bodyguards didn¡¯t bother listening and moved in to eject her, but Vivian threw herself onto the ground like a wild woman, t¨Cout refusing to leave. Ynda caught sight of it all in her rearview mirror, and her knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. Honestly, Vivian had bent over backwards for Charles¨Cying matchmaker, swallowing her feelings, and ended up making a mess of her own life. Thest thing she should¡¯ve done was fall for a guy like Charles. A sharp glint shed in Ynda¡¯s eyes. ¡®Vivian can love whoever she wants,¡® she thought, ¡®but using her family¡¯s influence just to make my life hell? That¡¯s crossing the line.¡® 85 55 vouchers By now, the Andrades were about to disown Vivian¨Cher reckless feelings had cost the family their chance to get away unscathed. If she¡¯d just suspected Charles from the very beginning, she should¡¯ve known Minister Howard would be in danger. But instead, she¡¯d put her own life on the line for Charles, vouching for him right in front of Grandpa Jonathan. Ynda went inside, washed up, and started mulling over all the mess happening with the Andrades. Grandpa Jonathan probably figured out by now that Charles had orchestrated the whole thing, but without hard evidence, his hands were tied. And once Vivian got thrown to the wolves, Cedric would fall out of favor too¨Che¡¯s got muscle, sure, but brains? Not so much. Even so, those two weren¡¯t finished just yet. As long as there¡¯s a shot for them to rise again, Vivian¡¯s crazy¨Cfor- Charles streak could make things seriously dangerous for Ynda. Ynda closed her eyes, the weight of the day pressing down on her. She barely started to process everything that had happened before she was out like a light. When she woke up, there was a text from Ian waiting for her. ¡°Handled the Vivian problem for you,¡± Ian wrote. Ynda¡¯s heart did a flip. She instantly scrolled through Twitter, piecing together scraps of news¨CVivian had been in a terrible car crashst night. The rest of her life would be spent t on her back in bed. Ynda snapped awake, jumped out of bed, and rushed downstairs. Charles hadn¡¯t had breakfast yet. He was already at the entryway changing his shoes, his expression dark as ever. He¡¯d had someone toss Vivian outst night, and now she¡¯d gotten into a car ident. The Andrades would pin this on him in a heartbeat. Add in that whole Grady feud, and there¡¯s no way his life¡¯s going to be peaceful anytime soon. Charles pulled Ynda close and held her softly. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll stay in at night. No wandering around by yourself, alright?¡± The Andrade family might not be able to strike at him for now, but when it came to Ynda, they wouldn¡¯t hold back one bit. Ynda pieced together all the twisted mess¨Cand that left her with an odd feeling. Ian couldn¡¯t have picked a better moment to make his move. What he did sent the Andrade family over the edge, and now, instead of working things out, they wanted Charles¡¯s head. Was this all nned out, or did he just get lucky? Ynda wondered to herself. Either way, with Charles caught up in the chaos, he¡¯d barely have time to worry about her. Besides, with Vivian out of the picture, Ynda could barely hide the satisfaction. 2 85 255 vouchers Charles hurried off, knowing Grandpa Jonathan was bound toe after him with trouble now. Ynda hopped in her car and headed straight to Ian¡¯s vi. He¡¯d just wrapped up ate¨Cnight shoot and had barely gotten home. She barely set foot inside before pulling up his shirt to see for herself. He had several nasty bruises mottled across his abs¨Cthe kind that stick around and make every movement send a fresh wave of pain. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you not to rush in like that? Ian, you¡¯re just one guy going up against families with deep roots. Ever think about what happens to you if Charles figures this out?¡± Ynda shot at him. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel Ian leaned back on the couch and said lightly, ¡°Doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°You¡¯re way too impulsive,¡± Ynda said, her annoyance showing. ¡®Ynda could feel her irritation really boiling this time!¡¯ Ian swept her back into his arms, nuzzling his chin against her shoulder. ¡°Promise¨Cnever again.¡± Ynda let out a long breath. Thest time he acted this recklessly, it was against Vivian, and he¡¯d managed to cover his tracks. She figured he¡¯d done the same this time. But she knew¨Ckeep ying with fire, and eventually, you¡¯re gonna get burned. She grabbed a bottle of bruise tonic and set it in front of him. ¡°Take care of it yourself. I¡¯ve gotta run by Starlight. Not sticking around to babysit you today.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know, you¡¯re busy,¡± Ian mumbled. Ynda heard the faint whiff of a pout in his words and couldn¡¯t help but smile. She stood at his side and ruffled his hair yfully. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s just because I¡¯m new on the job¨Cthere¡¯s a ton to handle up front. Once things calm down, I¡¯ll be glued to you every single day.¡± Ian saw the little smile in her eyes and lowered his gaze. ¡°Mm.¡± Ynda was just about to walk away when Ian pulled her back, wrapped her tightly in his arms, and kissed her so long she nearly lost track of time before he finally released her. 85 55 vouchers Her whole body melted into him, but the thought of her work at Starlight snapped her back, and she softly eased herself out of his embrace. Not long after she left, the doorbell rang and a stranger walked into the living room. The man sniffed the air, catching the lingering scent of a woman¡¯s perfume, and sneered, ¡°Well, look at you, living the high life. Causing all this trouble for Charles, and you¡¯re even hooking up with his girl behind his back.¡± Ian¡¯s shirt hung open, and those ugly bruises on his abs were impossible to miss. The man lounged on the couch, giving Ian a long once¨Cover. ¡°Three and a half hours¡ªten rounds, just like that. Do you have any idea how many people are out there hunting for you? They could wrack their brains for days, but nobody¡¯s ever gonna suspect a rising star like you. You really do know how to blend in with the crowd.¡± B AD cond gift No Ads 16:19 Mon, Sep 29 B Titan 138 55 vouchers Ian picked up the fruit knife from the table and tossed it over. The man caught it in one smooth move, his face suddenly turning serious. ¡°Alright, alright, I screwed up,¡± he said, raising his hands. ¡°I dug up everything you asked forst night. The Crimson Gallery is swimming in cash¨Cten factions, rivals and allies all at once, none willing to back down. But you just shattered their delicate bnce and forced them to surrender every resource they had. Give it a year, and you¡¯ll have enough wealth to rival countries. By then, you¡¯ll be more than ready to take on Charles.¡± The way money moves through the Crimson Gallery is downright terrifying. No wonder it¡¯s the prize every powerful family is desperate to get their hands on. Ian¡¯s gaze drifted to the medicinal wine sitting nearby. The man¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n once this is all over?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ian asked, his tone casual. ¡°Ynda,e on, don¡¯t kid yourself. I thought romance wasn¡¯t your thing? What, one kiss and suddenly you¡¯re catching feelings?¡± Ian¡¯s eyes flicked to the man, then away again. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, leave her alone.¡± The guy seemed genuinely surprised, zoned out for a few seconds before a crooked smile crept onto his face. ¡°Just wait till she sees the real you¨Clet¡¯s see if she still wants to y sugar mama then.¡± He got up and brushed nonexistent dust off his pants. ¡°Still, she doesn¡¯t hesitate to spoil you.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so envious, why not go find yourself a sugar mama?¡± Ian retorted. ¡°Man, you¡¯ve changed,¡± the guy teased, shooting Ian a knowing look. That line dropped, and the vibe in the room instantly got awkward. He nced around, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Ynda¡¯s got the whole package¨Cface, body, the works. Honestly, anyone would fall for her. So, did you guys hook up yet?¡± Ian took the bottle of medicinal wine from the table, ignoring him as he calmly dabbed it onto his skin. ¡°What, still haven¡¯t gone all the way? Wait, are you actually still a virgin?¡± the guy goaded. Ian didn¡¯t acknowledge him. ¡°What is it, Ian? You scared?¡± the guy teased. ¡°Are you done yet? If you¡¯re really that bored, why don¡¯t you go overseas and stay there for a while? Just get out of my hair,¡± Ian retorted. The guy threw up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m just kidding. I know you¡¯re totally 16:19 Mon, Sep 29 B hooked on her right now. I won¡¯t touch her, alright?¡± 55 vouchers Ian gripped the bottle of medicinal wine, silent for a moment before adding, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about looking. at her.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re really okay with that? For someone as possessive as you, doesn¡¯t it bother you that she¡¯s already. hooked up with Charles?¡± the guy asked, clearly entertained. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m the other woman. A littlepetition doesn¡¯t scare me. And honestly, why should she be losing out just because she slept with some guy? Let¡¯s be real, Charles isn¡¯t exactly bad¨Clooking,¡± Ian replied, sounding totally unbothered. The guy opened his mouth, totally speechless. He paced the room, searching for a retort, but came up nk. ¡®Shit. Who even thinks like that?¡® he thought. ¡®The guy¡¯s got a whole new way of looking at things¨Ctwisted, but kinda genius, he muttered to himself. Ian set the bottle back on the coffee table, his tone turning icy. ¡°Anything else?¡± The guy let out two dryughs, thinking, ¡®He acts like a total simp for Ynda, but with everyone else, he¡¯s cold as a block of ice.¡® He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and stomped out, tossing back, ¡°Next time you show up at the Crimson Gallery, make sure you wear a mask. Trust me¨Ckeeping your identity hidden is key. Those ten guys are loyal for now, but you never know who might get bought off and sell you out.¡± Readplete version only at find(?)ovel ¡°I know,¡± Ian replied, his voice calm and steady. ***** Meanwhile, Ynda walked into Starlight¡¯s office and saw the renovation was still in full swing. She¡¯d paid the workers way more than the going rate, and they¡¯d been busting their asses all night. Even Mary¡¯s office next door was already looking pretty good. At this rate, they¡¯d probably have everything done by the afternoon. She was pretty pleased with the progress. Just as she turned around, she spotted Leon. Leon looked like a mess¨Chis clothes were all wrinkled, and he¡¯d lost that smug, superior attitude from yesterday. ¡°Ynda, who the hell are you?¡± he asked, his voice low and tense. He¡¯d spent the whole night camped out downstairs at Sinir Group, desperate to catch a glimpse of Edward. Finally, he¡¯d managed to g down Edward¡¯s car, but all he got was a cold warning to watch his back. 4X4 Even someone as clueless as Leon could figure it out¨CYnda had some serious connections, Leon couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Who the hell is she, really?¡® 55 voucher Ynda shot him a frown. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already take thepensation? You¡¯re not with Starlight anymore, remember?¡± Leon was shaking all over, furious to the core. He¡¯d never suffered such a crushing defeat¨Cand worst of all, it was at the hands of the woman he¡¯d always looked down on. Suddenly, he whipped a knife out from behind his back, snarling, ¡°I¡¯m gonna fucking kill you! Do you even know how much I¡¯ve bled for Starlight?!¡± Then he charged at her, knife shing dangerously. Ynda was suddenly pulled back by a strong force, and in the next instant, someone with long legsnded a sharp kick right to Leon¡¯s chest. Leon was knocked backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he hit the floor. Ynda quickly came to her senses and immediately dialed the police. She nced at the guy who¡¯d just protected her¡ªthe assistant she¡¯d randomly picked yesterday, Walter Hudson, rocking that goofy haircut and thick sses so thick you couldn¡¯t even tell what he really looked like. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, her voice steady. Then she strode over to Leon, who was still sprawled out on the floor. ¡°All that talk about loyalty to Starlight, but your books are filthy, Leon. I was ready to let you walk with yourpensation if you kept quiet and stayed gone. But you just had toe for me. Fine, have it your way. The cops are about to get a brand new round of evidence¨Cget ready to cough up every cent you stole, and I won¡¯t hesitate to really kick you when you¡¯re down.¡± Leon¡¯s pupils contracted sharply before he let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you could actually pull this off.¡± He was sure most of the evidence had already been destroyed. ¡®Ynda¡¯s nothing. There¡¯s no way she could ever dig up anything on me,¡® he thought. Ynda just raised an eyebrow in response. When the cops dragged Leon out, he was still ranting and raving like a madman. ¡°Ynda, you can¡¯t get rid of me! I¡¯ll be back real soon, and I¡¯ll show you where you belong! Women like you are only good for popping out kids!¡± he spat. ¡°Ynda, you piece of-¡± Before he could finish, Ynda drove her foot into his gut, shutting him up instantly. The two cops definitely didn¡¯t see thating. Ynda looked all sweet and innocent¨Cnobody would¡¯ve 16:19 Mon, Sep 29 B¡­ guessed she¡¯d just nail someone with a kick out of nowhere. 220 Leon¡¯s face went ghostly white as he doubled over, copsing to his knees and clutching his stomach. ¡°Officers, you saw that, right? She attacked me! Hurry up and arrest her!¡± Ynda shed a casual smile, turning to everyone nearby. ¡°Did anyone here see mey a hand on him?¡± Most of the onlookers were talents who¡¯d been bullied by Leon for years. Some even had tears in their eyes- watching him finally eat dirt felt unbelievably satisfying. ¡°No way, Ms. Grant was just serving some real justice! Guys like Leon deserve to rot!¡± someone shouted, voice full of righteous anger. ¡°We didn¡¯t see a thing,¡± another chimed in, shaking their head. ¡°Officers, we¡¯ll testify¨Cnothing at all happened here,¡± someone else said firmly, making it clear they all had Ynda¡¯s back. The frustration and anger were painted on everyone¡¯s faces. Even if the cops were clueless, it was obvious Leon had been a scumbag for years. Leon was so furious he looked like he might actually vomit blood. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Everyone remembered how he¡¯d strutted up and down this hallway yesterday, thinking he was untouchable, hurling insults at anyone who crossed his path. He¡¯d stomped all over people¡¯s dignity, and now it was finally his turn to face the music. Out of nowhere, a young woman darted from the crowd andnded two brutal ps right across Leon¡¯s face. Yelling at him, she spat, ¡°Screw you, Leon! You dirty bastard¨Cserves you right for ending up like this! Hope you die a miserable death!¡± That set the whole crowd aze. Within seconds, a dozen people rushed in, practically tearing Leon¡¯s clothes off as they grabbed at him from every side. The cops, caught right in the middle of the chaos, ended up getting smacked a couple times themselves before scrambling to haul Leon out of there, just barely escaping before the whole mob could really lose it. AD Comment Send gift No Ads The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Titan 139 Chapter 139 As soon as the police left, the buzzing atmosphere gradually died down, reced by the quiet sound of girls crying. Some girls leaned onto their friends¡® shoulders, crying quietly, trying their best not to break down, Ynda¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t made of stone. She could feel her emotions stirring, but she knew there was still a lot she had to face. This was just the beginning. After all, there were still five male executives at Starlight, and none of them were the type to be underestimated. Leon Cole thought Ynda was just bluffing¡ªat least until Jason Maine walked in and began listing, one by one, everyst thing Leon had embezzled over the years. Turns out, Leon had over fifty properties in his name, but selling them all wouldn¡¯t even begin to cover his crushing debt. Jason adjusted his sses, all business¨Clike, the very image of the hotshotwyer he¡¯d been for years¡ªnot just because of his age, but because of that striking face. ¡°Ms. Grant says you don¡¯t have to worry about the leftover debt. Those fifty¨Csome properties will be going up for auction in the next month. When you get out, Mr. Cole, you¡¯ll have to start from zero like everyone else. Oh, and here¡ªyour wife¡¯s divorce agreement. She¡¯s finally fed up after all these years and is flying out this afternoon. So when it¡¯s over, Mr. Cole, you¡¯ll be on your own,¡± Jason said. And down Leon went again, out cold. Word about Leon¡¯s properties being auctioned off spread like wildfire among the other executives. They quickly started digging into the details. Right now, the five men were split into two small groups. With Leon out of the picture, one of those groups was down to just two people¨Cbrothers, actually. The younger one was Ken Ford, and the older one was Wayne Ford. Ken wasted no time pulling Wayne into a meeting, his eyes filled with worry. ¡°Bro, what do you think we should do about all this?¡± Ken asked. Wayne had a pile of filesid out in front of him. He¡¯d just called all around Sinir Group, but nobody knew anything about Ynda¡¯s background. He even shed her photo to a few contacts, but came up empty¨Cno one recognized her. Now, he was starting to suspect that Ynda was probably some executive¡¯s secret mistress at Sinir. Wayne sneered, his voice full of disdain. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? Let¡¯s hold our ground and let the others make the first move. Once I dig up who this piece of work is sleeping with, I¡¯ll send the whole mess straight to the wife. Let¡¯s see how she likes getting dragged out into the street for a beatdown.¡± Ken breathed a little easier and took a gulp of water. ¡°Lcon went down way too quick. Makes me nervous. But you¡¯re right, let¡¯s let those guys stick their necks out first.¡± Half an hourter, Ynda called in a meeting with the top brass. She was still sitting right in the center,manding attention as she flipped through the stack of reports that were handed to her. These reports were supposed to outline the status of each manager¡¯s respective projects, but anyone with a clue could see they were vague as hell. Ynda picked up Mary Hall¡¯s report and nced at it. She¡¯d always known Mary was capable, but seeing this concise, straight¨Cto¨Cthe¨Ccore report still took her aback-¡®She really doesn¡¯t mess around, Ynda thought to herself. With Mary¡¯s level of talent, she could¡¯ve left ages ago and been snatched up by anypany out there. But she¡¯d stuck it out at Starlight all this time. It wasn¡¯t just some sentimental feelings for Starlight that made Mary stick around. Truth was, if Mary hadn¡¯t been here, those male execs would¡¯ve run wild long ago¨Cmaybe things would¡¯ve even blown up beyond control. Mary would never admit it, ying tough but soft¨Chearted underneath. But Ynda was sure she¡¯d been quietly looking out for those girls forced to sign unfair contracts. Ynda took a steadying breath and mmed the rest of the reports right in the male executives¡® faces. ¡°You¡¯ve got one day. If your reports are still this sloppy, don¡¯t bothering back,¡± she snapped. The male execs were totally thrown¨Cfirst going pale, then red with rage,pletely unused to being put in their ce like this. Ynda stood up, her gaze sweeping over the execs, cool and distant. ¡°I¡¯ll be reviewing these reports again at ten tomorrow morning. If they¡¯re still this pdash, you ought to be embarrassed to keep your seats. If you don¡¯t want them, plenty of others do.¡± With that, she got up and left, not sparing them another nce. As soon as the door shut behind her, Tony Sutton mmed his hand down on the table, face contorted in fury. ¡°Damn it! She really thinks she¡¯s the CEO now? Just some sugar baby ying boss. What¡¯s she got to brag about?¡± Tony spat. Ken and Wayne exchanged a look, sly grins shing in their eyes. They knew someone was going to lose his cool sooner orter. Tony shot Mary a vicious re, snatching up the report. ¡°Mary, you don¡¯t seriously think that woman¡¯s gonnast here, do you? Just wait and see. She¡¯ll be gone before she even sees iting¨CI¡¯ll personally make sure of that.¡± Mary stood, looking wless in her smart workwear, expression cool. ¡°Then show us. Just don¡¯t trip over your own ego on the way down.¡± ¡°What the hell did you just say?¡± Tony snapped, stepping forward. But at that moment, the office door was pushed open, and Ynda walked back in. Ynda¡¯s gaze shifted to Walter Hudson, her randomly chosen assistant, who was still standing off to the side. thick sses on, lookingpletely indifferent to the chaos in the room. Tony froze mid¨Cstep, fist still raised, when he saw Ynda return. Mary let out a coldugh, waving the report in her hand. ¡°Pathetic coward.¡± Tony¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched tight. ¡°Say that again, I dare you!¡± He strode angrily toward her, pride stinging from the open challenge. ¡®She used to be their punching bag¨Chow¡¯d she suddenly get so bold?¡® Mary walked over, positioning herself right beside Ynda. Ynda eyed the furious Tony with a cool little smirk. ¡°What now, nning to take a swing?¡± Tony was gritting his teeth so hard he could¡¯ve cracked them. ¡®These two damn bitches!¡® Without another word, he stormed past them and out the door. Mary let out a deep breath, heart pounding. For the first time in years, she¡¯d finally stood up to those assholes -and damn, it felt amazing. Ynda didn¡¯t care what Mary was thinking. She tilted her chin at her assistant. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re with me.¡± Walter pushed up his heavy sses, clearly caught off guard. ¡°¡­Uh, okay.¡± Ynda dropped into her chair, then suddenly called out, ¡°Hey.¡± Walter blinked, not sure if she was talking to him, so he just stood there, awkwardly frozen for a few seconds. Ynda looked straight at him. ¡°Yeah, I mean you. Before I came over, I memorized the background of every employee at Sinir Group¨Cbut I don¡¯t remember seeing your name anywhere.¡± Walter tensed up instantly, and Mary, who¡¯d just walked in, stared at Ynda in disbelief. It wasn¡¯t the question that threw Mary¨Cit was the fact that Ynda actually memorized the staff files. ¡®Is she some kind of genius¡­ or just nuts?¡® Mary wondered. ¡®Seriously, does she even have a normal human brain?¡® Mary thought, staring in disbelief. Walter pushed his sses up again. ¡°I¡¯m Mary¡¯s distant rtive. I got in through connections, so I haven¡¯t submitted my paperwork yet.¡± 8:12 Tue, Sep 30 Ynda nced at Mary, who gave a quick nod. Ynda¡¯s suspicions faded. ¡°Alright, get your paperwork to HR and finish the formalities. From now on, you¡¯re my assistant.¡± Walter nodded. Ynda hung around the office until clock¨Cout. When she stepped into the lobby and was just about to leave, a bodyguard blocked her way. ¡°Miss Grant, Mr. Sinir wants to see you,¡± the bodyguard said with a stiff face. Ynda¡¯s brows knitted together, but she still went with him, caution shing in her eyes. At a quiet caf¨¦ next door, she finally found out who was waiting¨Cit was Edward Sinir. Edward, Leon Cole¡¯s old patron, was nowing straight to her. Ynda¡¯s thoughts were all over the ce, but she didn¡¯t let it show as she took her seat. ¡°Uncle Edward.¡± Find the newest release on Titan 140 1366 you her Edward was dressed to the nines, the picture of a corporate elite. He slid a cup of coffee across the table to Ynda. ¡°Ynda, you¡¯ve been doing an excellent job running Starlight.¡± Ynda shed a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Charles¡¯s guidance.¡± Then, she lowered her gaze and obediently took a quiet sip of her coffee. Edward wasn¡¯t here for pleasantries. He was holding out for the highest offer. He¡¯d been scheming for ages to take Charles down, but the guy was damn near invincible. Now, Edward was probing her, trying to suss out a weakness. If Ynda was Charles¡¯s Achilles¡® heel, Edward would pounce. But after a few rounds, Ynda didn¡¯t let a single detail slip. Edward¡¯s face grew darker. ¡°You¡¯re barely surviving in the Sinir family¨Ccaught between Renee and May, who both hate you. Why not join forces with me?¡± He pulled out a small white bottle from under the table and discreetly slid it toward her. Edward made it clear: if Ynda didn¡¯t ept it, she wouldn¡¯t be walking out of here today. ¡®He¡¯s trying to pull me right into the Sinir family¡¯s power struggle,¡® Ynda thought, her heart sinking. With Dn on his way back, Edward was getting visibly restless. ¡°Slip this into something Charles eats on the regr. Trust me¨Ceven if a doctor ran tests, they¡¯d never find a trace. In half a year, I¡¯ll make sure you get out of the country. The Grant family doesn¡¯t care about you, and let¡¯s be real¨Cthere¡¯s nothing left for you in Beloris, is there?¡± Ynda took the bottle, her expression still unreadable, refusing to reveal a single thought. Edward¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡®Ynda really doesn¡¯t look that bright¡­ What was Charles thinking, handing Starlight over to her?¡® ¡°Ynda, Charles doesn¡¯t care about you at all. If I wanted to, it¡¯d be child¡¯s y to wipe you out. So be smart about this, or keep your head down¨Cat least then we can stay civil in the Sinir family,¡± Edward said, his voice cold. Ynda lifted her head, rose gracefully, and kept that polite smile. ¡°Understood, Uncle Edward,¡± she replied lightly. Edward pressed his lips together, waiting until she left before letting out a scoff. ¡®Just some pitiful wife who got a brief taste of favor before falling back into obscurity,¡® he sneered to himself. 100 55 vouchers Ynda got into her car with the bottle in hand and drove straight back to Moonbay Estate, not bothering to dwell on it. She hadn¡¯t expected Edward to set his sights on her so early. She had no desire to get caught up in the Sinir family¡¯s infighting. That night, Charles got home around eleven and spotted Ynda sitting by herself in the living room, quietly watching TV. Hezily hung his suit jacket on the rack. He¡¯d been run ragged at work these days and honestly couldn¡¯t muster up the energy to mess with her like he used to. Just as he started up the stairs, Ynda called out, ¡°Honey.¡± He nced back at her. She looked extra sweet and obedient, a little out of character, as she gave the bottle a tiny shake. Her voice was tentative. ¡°Uncle Edward gave this to me. He told me to mix it into something you eat pretty often.¡± Charles raised a brow and made his way over, taking the bottle from her. He studied it for a second, then looked back at Ynda. Ynda bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while, and I figured I should let you know. Whatever this is, it can¡¯t be anything good.¡± Charles shed a small smile, leaned in closer, and gently caressed her cheek. ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared he¡¯lle after you?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll protect me, won¡¯t you?¡± Ynda said softly. Before Charles could answer, Ynda quickly blurted, ¡°I just don¡¯t want anything to happen to you, no matter what.¡± Charles swallowed, his Adam¡¯s apple moving twice, then suddenly pulled her into a fierce kiss. His kiss was rough and desperate, a fiery rush that caught herpletely off guard. He¡¯d never let himself go like this with any woman before. Ynda was pushed back, helpless under his dominance as he imed her lips, biting down with possessive intent. Charles kissed her for three long minutes, his mouth trailing down her neck, branding her skin with dark, unmistakable marks. ¡®Crap, if Ian sees all these hickeys, he¡¯s gonna totally freak out,¡® Ynda thought, panic creeping in. Charles gently held her face, lips lingering against hers. ¡°Why are you being so obedient tonight, hmm?¡± ¡°Honey, do you think Uncle Edward was really trying to poison you?¡± Ynda asked, her voice soft with concern. Latest content published on ?ovelFind 65 vouchers Her question snapped them out of the dreamy haze that had just filled the room. Charles caught the worry in her eyes and chuckled quietly, a hint of tired affection in his voice. ¡°This isn¡¯t something for you to stress over. Take care of your little Starlight and let me handle everything else.¡± ¡°Just¡­ stay safe for me, okay?¡± Ynda whispered. He lingered on the softness of her hair and the gentle concern in her voice. With a slow, tender touch, Charles lifted her chin with his fingertip and captured her lips in another deep kiss. ¡°Mmm,¡± Ynda murmured against his mouth. Ynda squirmed away, turning her head. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯ve been waiting for you forever.¡± ¡°Then go get some sleep,¡± Charles replied. He still had work to take care of tonight. Ynda quickly pecked his cheek and dashed upstairs. Charles tightened his grip on the bottle, his eyes turning icy. ¡®Edward must be hitting rock bottom if he¡¯s trying to recruit Ynda now.¡¯ Jack, having been quietly standing by, stepped forward. ¡°Boss, want me to take care of it?¡± Charles tossed the bottle aside, his voice cold as steel. ¡°Did you dig up anything on my father¡¯s bastard son? What¡¯s he been doingtely?¡± Dn, who ran the overseas division of Sinir Group, was always jetting off on business trips, often gone for months at a time. But now, with the possibility of a bastard son out there, Dn might¡¯ve found time to secretly meet with him. ¡°Mr. Sinir¡¯s been overseas during this whole period. Aside from meeting with clients, he hasn¡¯t gone out. We checked his bank statements¨Caside frompany stuff, there are no suspiciousrge transactions,¡± Jack reported. Charles had been digging into this for over two weeks, and so far, he¡¯de up empty¨Chanded. Charles gripped the bottle, his fingertips pale. ¡°Keep looking into it.¡± Anyone who tried to threaten his spot was bound to pay the price. He casually flung the bottle aside, a hint of a mocking smile curling his lips. ¡°Swap it out for vitamins.¡± Jack didn¡¯t bat an eye¨Cwithout hesitation, he went to switch the pills as ordered. Ynda was just about to getfortable for the night when her phone buzzed with a video call from Ian¡ª she was still soaking in the tub. (100) 1355 vouchers Stretching her arm out to grab her phone, she identally sshed a few water droplets onto the screen. The call connected without her realizing it, the bathroom swirling with steam¨Cher pale skin and the fresh hickeys Charles had just marked were half¨Chidden in the mist. Ian caught sight of it and narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening. Ynda stretched her graceful neck, about to step out of the tub, bubbles sliding down her shoulders¨Conly forn¡¯s gaze to follow every single drop as it slipped lower. That¡¯s when she finally clocked that her phone was upright beside her, video call already live. She froze in ce, half¨Crisen and leaning to the side, those fresh marks on her skin all too obvious. ¡°No wonder you didn¡¯t text me back. Looks like someone already got ¡®fed¡® at home,¡± Ian snarked, voice thick with sarcasm. Ynda grabbed the towel and quickly wrapped it around herself. ¡°Cut it out. I didn¡¯t reply because I was taking a bath,¡± she retorted, rolling her eyes. ¡°Oh yeah? So those marks on your neck¨Cguess your mosquitoes at home are mutants, huh?¡± Ian said, the sarcasm clear in his voice. ¡®Knew he was going to make a fuss the moment he saw those marks,¡® Ynda thought, bracing herself for more teasing. Standing in front of the mirror, she tossed her phone aside and unwrapped the towel from around her hair. With a shake, her damp strands cascaded down in a thick, glossy mess. All Ian could see was her shadowy silhouette¨Cbut even through the screen, it felt like her soft scent was drifting right toward him. Ynda¡¯s real superpower was that she had absolutely no idea just how irresistibly tempting she was. She had this effortless mix of wifey sweetness and rebellious edge¨Csomething between innocence and allure -that made her impossible to look away from. ¡°Ynda, I¡¯ve got a day off the day after tomorrow,¡± Ian said, his tone a lot softer now. Ynda rubbed her hair dry, thinking about how he¡¯d taken care of Vivian for her. ¡®Guess I owe him something sweet,¡¯ she mused. ¡°I¡¯lle keep youpany then,¡± she teased back. It just so happened to be a weekend, so there was no need to go to work Titan 141 Chapter 141 That night, Ynday in bed, scrolling through the files of several Starlight executives one more time. Right as she did, her phone buzzed¨Cit was Mary calling. ¡°Ms. Grant, watch out for Tony,¡± Mary said quietly but urgently. ¡°Out of all the executives, his methods are the most vicious.¡± Tony couldn¡¯t control his temper. Once provoked, he¡¯d go absolutely mad with revenge. Any woman who caught his eye ended up even worse off than those who wound up by Leon¡¯s side. Ynda¡¯s arrival had breathed new life into Starlight. All those old frustrations were beginning to bubble up, but people only dared to watch from the sidelines. In this wreck of apany, everyone wished for her victory¨Cand they also prayed she wouldn¡¯t end Leon Cole. Only now did Ynda realize just how heavy the weight of their hopes pressed down on her. But she wasn¡¯t going to back down now. ¡°Got it. You stay safe too, Ms. Hall,¡± Ynda replied. up like ¡°Honestly, with you holding the line, Tony¡¯s gonna aim for you first. That leaves me with a bit of breathing room¨Cthat¡¯s why I wanted to talk to you,¡± Mary said. After all these years of getting pushed around, Tony barely even saw her as someone worth bothering with anymore. Ynda hung up the phone, then stared hard at Tony Sutton¡¯s profile. ¡®I need to figure out exactly what kind of person I¡¯m dealing with,¡® she thought to herself. Meanwhile, Tony wasn¡¯t exactly sitting around sulking. Still in a bad mood, he ended up dragged to a bar by one of those rich heirs he¡¯d hustled his way into hanging out with. Inside the plush private room with that pack of elite young heirs, Tony felt almost painfully awkward, Most of the guys here were born into money¨Creal heavyweights. Any one of them could crush Tony¡¯s entire existence with just a swipe of their credit card. Honestly, the only reason he even got an invite was because he¡¯d fixed up a few of these guys with ¡°clean¡± girls before. That was his ticket in, nothing else. One of the trust fund boys stretched outzily, swirling his drink. ¡°So, don¡¯t you have any fresh faces for ustely?¡± Tony¡¯s eyes shed with a glint of mischief as Ynda¡¯s face popped into his mind. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got one,¡± he said, his tone sleazy. ¡°She¡¯s a real stunner, trust me. Just the right kind of sass, though I don¡¯t know if you guys are into that. Heck, she looks like she¡¯d take all you boys at once if you tried.¡± 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 ¡­ 77 55 vouchers These guys were all second¨Cgeneration rich kids, living off their family money, andpletely shameless when it came to partying. The mention of something that provocative sent the whole room into an uproar ofughter. Everyone was quick to refill Leo¡¯s ss, practically falling over themselves to show respect. This was Leo¡¯s first time at one of these gatherings¨Che¡¯d never bothered with them before. Sure, he lived the trust¨Cfund lifestyle, but he actually despised the sleazy games these guys yed. None of it meant anything to him, and honestly, it just made him look down on them even more. Buttely, he¡¯d been feeling restless, like something was gnawing at him, and he couldn¡¯t figure out what. The guy who¡¯d asked the question earlier swirled his drink. ¡°So, what¡¯s her name this time?¡± ¡°Ynda,¡± Tony said, a sly smile on his lips. ¡°Rumor has it she¡¯s Alex Wilson¡¯s kept woman over at Sinir Group.¡± Leo was just about to take a sip when he caught those words and looked up casually. Tony saw the reaction and his cheeks flushed with excitement. He¡¯d clocked by now that everyone in the room was bending over backwards for the guy in the center¨Che had to be the top dog here. ¡®If this guy¡¯s interested in Ynda, she¡¯s done for,¡® Tony thought, a nasty grin creeping up. ¡®She¡¯s just asking to get used and tossed aside. That¡¯s all she¡¯s good for anyway.¡¯ Tony couldn¡¯t help but keep pitching her, voice sleazy and excited. ¡°Man, that chick is damn hot. I¡¯ve got her photos right here, Leo¨Ctake a peek for yourself.¡± He pulled out his phone and set it right in front of Leo. Leo took one look at the images and knew for sure¡ªit was Ynda. Tony kept running his mouth, sleazy as ever. ¡°Bro, that chick¡¯s waist is unreal¡ªso tight, and her ass-¡± Before he got the words out, Leo smashed his ss right onto Tony¡¯s head¨Chard. One hit wasn¡¯t enough. Leo snatched a bottle off the table and busted it over Tony¡¯s skull without hesitation. The whole room froze, dead silent. Everyone was too shocked to move¨Cthen a couple guys rushed up to try and hold Leo back. But Leo just threw a brutal kick into Tony¡¯s gut. ¡°Say that crap again! What were you saying about her ass, huh? Say it!¡± Leo was infamous as the family¡¯s resident troublemaker. With his older brother Xavier running the family and spoiling him endlessly, Leo seemed born with a single mission: burn through money like nobody else. Tonyy on the floor, blood streaming down his face, his skin pale as a ghost. 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 55 vouchers Leo flicked his lighter and lit a cigarette, feeling that burning anger inside him but not knowing why the hell he was so pissed off. Thinking about it over and over, he could only me it on that damn Ynda¨Cyeah, it was all her fault for stirring things up. Find the newest release on find(?)ovel ¡®She throws herself at anyone, doesn¡¯t even bother to pick. What a lousy taste in men, Leo sneered to himself. ¡®What a bitch¡® He cursed silently, taking another drag. ¡°What, you done talking now?¡± Leo said coldly. Tony was totally lost¨Che had no idea what set this spoiled brat off. He tried to haul himself off the floor, fighting to stay conscious as blood kept pouring from his head. For about ten seconds, he managed to hang on, but then everything went dark and he cked out right there. The bar they were at was still Muse Club, the go¨Cto spot for Beloris¡® rich kids. Nobody dared to cause trouble here¨Cthe biggest shareholders were the Lawson family, followed by the Sinir family. So it didn¡¯t take long for word about what happened here to reach Xavier. Tony ended up in the hospital that very night, and the rest of the guys in the suite all gulped, too scared to say a word. Someone whispered, ¡°Do you think he might really die from this?¡± There was just way too much blood all over the floor. Everyone inched away from Leo, shocked¨Cnobody expected that theid¨Cback troublemaker could be this savage. Leo¡¯s frustration was still simmering when Xavier strode in, dressed in a dark suit that made him look every inch the boss. The manager hurried over, nervously going through everything that had just gone down, barely daring to raise his voice. Xavier shot a look at the silent Leo, then swept his icy gaze over the rest of the room. ¡°You guys still hanging around? Out. Now.¡± Everyone scattered instantly, running for the door like their lives depended on it. Once it was just Xavier, the manager, and Leo¨Cwho hadn¡¯t said a word¨CXavier, without warning, hauled off and smacked Leo hard across the face. A loud crack rang out, The door swung shut¨Cwhatever business the brothers had was better kept behind closed doors. No need for outsiders to catch the show. As for the manager, he was one of Xavier¡¯s own people. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have shown up so damn fast. 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 EX 55 vouchers Leo wasn¡¯t exactly new to getting pped around by Xavier. He covered his face and gave a little ¡®tsk Xavier took a deep breath, his tone cold. ¡°Did you have to go that hard? You nning to kill someone in here or what? What did he say that got under your skin? Tell me¨Cunless you think he murdered your dad or something.¡± ¡°Bro, your dad is my dad too,¡± Leo grumbled. ¡°He didn¡¯t kill your dad, so what¡¯s with the overkill?¡± Xavier shot back. Xavier was so mad he felt like kicking Leo right then, but he¡¯d been spoiling this kid since day one, so in the end, he held himself back. Leo couldn¡¯t really put it into words. He just pressed his lips together and said, ¡°Alright, you pped me and it¡¯s over. I¡¯m heading out.¡± Xavier rubbed his forehead, exasperated. ¡°For the next few days, you¡¯d better just keep your ass at home. Don¡¯t even think about stepping outside, or I swear I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Leo muttered. Leo drove back, his cheek still burning from that p¨Cevery mile just made him feel even more pissed off. And wouldn¡¯t you know it, he ended up running into Ynda on the road¨Cjust his luck. Ynda had rear¨Cended his car, but as soon as she realized it was Leo, the apologetic look on her face disappeared in a sh. She rolled her eyes at him and scoffed, ¡°Damn, should¡¯ve known today was cursed.¡± Titan 142 : Leo was already pissed off, and the moment he saw Ynda¡¯s face, he instantly lost his cool. ¡°What did you just say?! Say it again!¡± Leo snapped. 77 55 vouchers He strode toward her, pointed at the back of his car, and barked, ¡°Get this straight, you rear¨Cended me!¡± Ynda hade out sote because she was nning to visit Megan. She was almost already in bed when Megan suddenly called her. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to get into it with Leo. After all, he had never liked her anyway. ¡°How much is it? I¡¯ll cover the cost, no need to wait for the cops,¡± she said. She even nced at her phone for the time, clearly in a hurry to leave. Leo, still fuming from what had happened in the private room, felt his blood boil. He stepped forward and pinned her against the car. Ynda was caught off guard, and before she knew it, he suddenly bit down on her lip, hard. He kissed her messily, his tongue sliding over the tip of hers, sucking hard. Then he let her go, his eyesnding on the marks on her neck. ¡°Ynda, you¡¯re such a fucking slut,¡± he spat. As soon as he spat out those words, Ynda smacked him hard across the face. It matched the p Xavier gave him earlier, almost like a mirror image. Leo didn¡¯t even feel the sting, just found it weird inside. She scrubbed at her lips fiercely. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Maybe try shaking the rocks out of your head and actually look at me. You¡¯d better think twice about who you¡¯re dealing with.¡± This was Ynda¨Cseriously, she was thest person Leo should ever get involved with. Damn, what the hell was he even doing? Leo stared at her flushed, angry cheeks, and just like that, all the pent¨Cup frustration inside him melted away. He let out a cold snort, before stealing another rough kiss from her lips. ¡®Fuck, she¡¯s addictively sweet,¡® Leo thought. ¡®Just like jelly¡­ damn, why does trouble have to taste this good?¡® he cursed in his head. Couldn¡¯t stop mouthing off at her, couldn¡¯t stop wanting another taste¨Cthe more heined, the more he couldn¡¯t get enough. Ynda shoved him away and knocked lightly on his chest. ¡°You smell like booze. You¡¯ve been drinking, 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 haven¡¯t you?¡± Leo¡¯s chest jolted from the hit, and he staggered back a few steps. Ynda shot him a cautious look, then hurried into her car. ???7) 55 vouchers She had zero interest in fighting with a drunk, especially not the Lawson family¡¯s golden boy¨Cshe knew exactly how pampered Leo was. Leo stood there as her car disappeared into the distance, swallowed up by the darkness of the night. When he finally snapped back to his senses and realized what he¡¯d just done, he dragged both hands through his hair, totally exasperated. ¡®What the hell was I thinking? I actually kissed that bitch Ynda!¡® he cursed inwardly. ¡®I kissed her. Of all people¡­ I kissed Ynda!¡® He spat several times onto the ground. ¡°Blegh! Disgusting!¡± he muttered, roughly scrubbing his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡®I must be out of my damn mind. That witch must¡¯ve put some kind of spell on me!¡® he thought. He was practically hopping mad, freaking out that Ynda might go running her mouth about him kissing her. He couldn¡¯t let himself look like a total joke. ¡®Like hell I¡¯d ever kiss her on purpose,¡® Leo thought. By the time Ynda pulled up outside Megan¡¯s ce, her phone buzzed with a message from Leo. [If you breathe a word about what just happened, you¡¯re dead.] ¡®Figures¨Che¡¯s drunk. Now that he¡¯s sobering up, he suddenly thinks it¡¯s all beneath him, Ynda thought, rolling her eyes. She ignored himpletely and just knocked on Megan¡¯s door. Megan opened the door herself; she was white as a sheet, clutching her stomach as if every movement hurt. ¡°Ynda, I¡¯m really sorry¡­ I hate putting you through this,¡± she said, her voice shaking. Ynda steadied her by the arm. Megan¡¯s bump wasn¡¯t showing yet, but she looked so frail, Ynda worried she might faint any second. ¡°Don¡¯t work yourself up. I¡¯ll go look for Greg,¡± Ynda assured her. Greg had gone out to get her somete¨Cnight snacks, but he still hadn¡¯te back, and he wasn¡¯t picking up his phone either. 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 With nowhere else to turn, Megan finally called Ynda for help. 55 vouchers She was terrified the debt collectors hade knocking, and now she was afraid Greg might be in real danger. ¡°Don¡¯t go. Just take me to a hotel, okay? My stomach really hurts, and I¡¯m scared to stay here by myself,¡± Megan said, clutching her belly. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel She was worried those people might show up for payback. Ynda nodded, tossed a couple of Megan¡¯s shirts into a bag, and they headed downstairs to the car. Her fender bender hadn¡¯t been serious, but one headlight ended up busted. Megan looked worried. ¡°You got in a wrecking over here? God, Ynda, I¡¯m really sorry.¡± With everything that had happened with Greg, she felt like she owed Ynda big time¨Cshe was honestly kind of ashamed to be reaching out again. Ynda hustled her into the car. ¡°It was just a minor bump, already handled. I¡¯ll get you to the hotel.¡± Megan let out a shaky breath, still pale as ever. ¡°Thanks, Ynda. I owe you way too much already. I¡¯m not going to be part of the studio anymore. I¡¯m just going to stay home and take care of the baby, maybe pick up some online trantion gigs. Honestly, I can¡¯t trust Greg to look after the kid anyway.¡± Ynda kept her hands tight on the steering wheel, really wanting to talk some sense into Megan. Megan had run her own studio for two years, and did a great job with Ian. If she kept at it, one day she¡¯d be one of the big¨Cname agents in the industry. But instead, she was giving it all up just to have a baby¨Cfor a guy like Greg. Ynda had managed to get out of a bad marriage herself, and now she could only watch as Megan willingly jumped in, feeling helpless and frustrated. But Ynda couldn¡¯t quite find the words. She just took Megan to a nearby hotel, booked her a room, and pressed the key card into her palm. ¡°Megan, you know exactly what I¡¯m trying to say. Think it over, okay? If you give up your career, you¡¯re just going to end up like one of those vines blowing around¨Ctotally rootless, depending on whoever you¡¯re tied to. And if you don¡¯t even trust Greg to look after your kid, then what are you clinging to this marriage for?¡± Ynda said, her voice gentle but firm. If you don¡¯t trust your own husband, then why are you still hanging onto this whole mess? Megan gave a faint, awkward smile, her eyes darting away from Ynda, unable to look at her straight. ¡°I know,¡± Megan mumbled. Ynda left it at that and needed to head back to Moonbay Estate. 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 ?? EL 55 vouchers She¡¯d booked Megan the presidential suite. As soon as Megan stepped out of the elevator, she ran into Renee Sinir. Renee was all dressed up, carrying a designer bag, looking like she¡¯d just stepped off a runway. Megan kept her head down, heading straight for her room door, but Renee closed the distance and walked right up to her. ¡°I know you. You¡¯re that bitch Ynda¡¯s friend!¡± Renee sneered. Renee had been so wrapped up in her new rtionshiptely that she¡¯d almost forgotten about Ynda. But the moment she saw Megan, it instantly set her off¨Cold grudges came rushing back and her mood flipped in an instant. Megan frowned, not wanting to hear Renee bad¨Cmouthing Ynda. ¡°Renee, you should really learn to keep it ssy,¡± Megan replied coolly. Ever since Renee lost a finger, she¡¯d been real snappy¨Cke had to basically kiss up to her every single day just to keep the peace. And now, getting roasted by Ynda¡¯s friend, she snapped, shrieking as she mped her hand around Megan¡¯s throat. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are?! You got the nerve to talk back to me? Ynda¡¯s just a pathetic mutt when she¡¯s in front of me! If the Sinir family hadn¡¯t bailed her out, the Grant Family would¡¯ve sold her off like secondhand trash a million times over!¡± Renee yelled. Megan struggled for breath, instinctively smacking at Renee¡¯s hand to break free. The next thing you know, they were tangled up in a wild catfight. In the chaos, Megan inadvertently tore off Renee¡¯s glove¨Cher mutted hand was suddenly out in the open for everyone to see. Renee¡¯s pupils narrowed, a crazed look shing in her eyes as she suddenly lunged, shoving Megan so hard she nearly sent her sprawling. ¡°Drop dead!¡± Renee shrieked. Titan 143 Megan hadn¡¯t even had a chance to react when her stomach mmed into the chair beside her. The pain was so intense that she instantly doubled over. Rence was still furious and charged at Megan, throwing punches and kicks without holding back. Renee yelled, ¡°You bitch! You want to throw hands? I¡¯ll show you what happens when you mess with me!¡± Megan felt her vision blur, everything turning ck, and something warm slowly trickling down her leg. ¡®What¡­?¡® she thought, but before she could react, the darkness took over. She just passed out. ke hurried upstairs with the first aid kit, only to catch the whole scene unfolding. He quickly pulled Renee back, and when he spotted the blood streaking down Megan¡¯s leg, his face went white. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant. I¡¯m calling an ambnce.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t call!¡± Renee snapped, fury written all over her face. Renee stamped her foot, shouting, ¡°I said don¡¯t call! Let her suffer¨Cshe¡¯s just scum. I don¡¯t believe Ynda would ever go against me for someone like that. You have no idea, I hit one of the kids she cared about before, and she didn¡¯t even have the guts to stand up to me. Some people are born beneath us¡ªnothing but animals, nothing but ants, destined to be stomped on!¡± ke¡¯s eyes darted with a sudden emotion, unease twisting in his chest as memories crashed in. Years back, Renee had smacked his little brother¨Cjust a kid trying to beg for coins¨Cso hard, the poor boy went deaf in one ear. I¡¯ll never forget that day,¡® ke thought. ¡®How could anyone be so cruel?¡® Renee had been about fifteen then, done up like the queen bee of the school. Everywhere she went, a swarm of students tagged along, worshipping her every move. She acted like she owned the ce. She tossed a handful of hundred¨Cdor bills onto the ground, then coldly instructed Jasper rk, her bodyguard, ¡°I never want to see these disgusting beggars here again. Make sure they¡¯re gone next time. They¡¯ve totally ruined my mood for shopping.¡± The bodyguard, clearly panicked, instantly grabbed ke¡¯s brother and hauled him off to the side. ke¡¯s brother tried to crawl after the cash, but those other students only jeered at him,ughing and kicking the bills around like it was some kind of joke¨Ca cruel chorus of mockery echoing down the street. Renee joined in, herugh ringing out, clear and bright like tinkling chimes. They were all just kids back then, too young to tell right from wrong, caught up in herd mentality. Maybe they just wanted Renee¡¯s approval, and that¡¯s why they did such things. After losing hearing in one ear, ke¡¯s little brother scraped up the scattered bills and bought a cake for ke¡¯s birthday. But hardship haunted every corner of their lives. 20 On the way home, his brother stumbled and the cake was ruined, and all the two of them could do was hold each other and weep. Back then, ke swore to himself that one day, he¡¯d rise above it all. But with no degree and no connections, climbing out of that pit felt damn near impossible. He raced like he didn¡¯t care if he lived or died, just scrambling to pay his brother¡¯s medical bills¨Cnever thinking he¡¯d ever run into Rence again. Back then, Charles had shoved a wad of cash his way and forced him overseas. Now he was back, and Renee hadn¡¯t changed a bit¨Cthose same malicious eyes, just as cold¨Cblooded and uncaring as before. Good. That just means when he finally goes for payback, he won¡¯t feel even a hint of guilt. Renee slipped her arm around ke, smirking with obvious pride. ¡°Hah! That¡¯s what happens if you mess with me! ke, same goes for you¨Ccross me, and I¡¯ll ruin you.¡± ke met her gaze, the words echoing quietly in his head. ¡®Renee, you already made my life hell¨Cway before today, ke thought to himself. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Ynda¡¯s deal, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d have wed my way out of that nightmare ande back, he told himself. Not a soul had any idea what kind of hell he¡¯d been through out there, all alone in a foreignnd. ke gently brushed Renee¡¯s hair back from her ear, his voice soft. ¡°I¡¯d never hurt you, Renny. Come on, let¡¯s head out¨Cthis ce reeks of blood. Not somewhere we want to stay.¡± Renee rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek, her eyes sparkling with pride. ¡°Exactly!¡± Renee wrinkled her nose with a frown. ¡°Blood smells so filthy¨Cjust makes me sick.¡± Still hanging onto his arm, Renee sauntered off with ke, their syrupy smiles painting them like the perfect lovestruck pair as they left all the chaos behind. After they left, finally someone dared to pick up the phone and call the cops. Megan was rushed to the hospital, but it was already toote¨Cthe baby was gone. She¡¯d wanted to trust Greg one more time, just for the little one. But now, there was nothing left to hope for. ***** Ynda was just about to drift off when the hospital called out of the blue. The doctor¡¯s voice was urgent¨CMegan was in the ER, and since they hadn¡¯t been able to get through to Greg, Ynda was their only hope. ¡°Please get here as fast as you can,¡± he said. 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 Ynda didn¡¯t even stop to think; she snatched up her car keys and rushed out the door. 7) 55 vouchers By the time Ynda arrived at the hospital, Megan was already being wheeled out of the emergency room. Her eyes were closed, and there was no trace of life left in her. Ynda just couldn¡¯t understand how things could go so suddenly wrong. She took Megan¡¯s hand; all she could feel was the cold, lifeless touch that sent a shiver through her. The doctor exined grimly, ¡°We couldn¡¯t save the baby, and her condition is serious. We¡¯ve been trying her husband¡¯s phone, but can¡¯t get through. She needs another surgery¨Cthere¡¯s a problem with her fallopian tube and it has to be removed. If we don¡¯t do it now, it¡¯ll be really hard for her to ever get pregnant again. But we need her husband¡¯s signature to go ahead.¡± It was a major decision, but before Megan passed out, she¡¯d said she had no parents¨Cjust her husband. Without her husband¡¯s signature, they couldn¡¯t do the surgery. Ynda held onto Megan¡¯s cold hand, ncing at her ghostly pale face, then whipped out her phone to call Greg. Megan couldn¡¯t get through earlier, but Ynda managed to connect. ¡°Greg, where are you?¡± Ynda demanded. Greg¡¯s voice came out thin and shaky. He was struggling to pick himself up off the dirty pavement at the mouth of an alley, moving inch by inch, fighting to not just copse. His entire body was a mess of cuts and bruises, and pain stabbed at his side with every breath¨Che could tell at least a couple ribs were broken. Even the smallest step felt like torture. He hadn¡¯t dared answer Megan¡¯s calls before. ¡®She¡¯s pregnant¡­ if she knew what happened to me, she¡¯d only worry herself sick,¡¯ Greg thought, guilt gnawing at him. ¡°I¡¯m outside,¡± Greg rasped, forcing himself to sound as steady as possible. ¡°Is there something you need, Miss Grant?¡± Ynda had given him the cash before and wiped out all his debts, leaving him free from that hellhole. But even tonight, he was still being hounded by those guys¨Ctheir real target was Ynda all along. Greg might be slow, but even he could see through it. Those people were set on driving him insane, using his old debts to force him to hit up Ynda for money, just like before¨Cto make him screw up his life all over again. Ynda threatened to kill himst time¨Cthat pulled him back from the edge. Now his debts were gone. He didn¡¯t have to keep lying to Megan every day, and didn¡¯t have to watch his back every night, terrified someone was out for payback. He could finally live like an honest man. 9:14 Wed, Oct 1 29.00 Ynda had told him before, if he still had even the tiniest bit ofcience, he should at least think ab Megan¡¯s baby. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d lost all sense of right and wrong, but tonight¡¯s beating snapped something back inside him, making him remember the man he used to be. He remembered those days when some local boss had his crew after them, a dozen guys beating them senseless. He¡¯d thrown himself over Megan and shielded her, protecting her all the way until college. When did I end up turning into the monster I once fought so hard against? he wondered. The concrete jungle of this city really could swallow you up, make you forget who you are and leave you lost in the emptiness. Read full story at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Greg pressed his body against the cold wall, tears pouring down his face. Right now, all he wanted was to crawl back home. Those guys took one look at the broken wreck he¡¯d be tonight¨Cdidn¡¯t even fight back. nothing but a beaten dog¨Cand just lost interest. They left him there, deciding he was no longer worth their time, probably wouldn¡¯t evere looking for him again. He was desperate to get back to Megan, desperate to see her face. All Greg could think was how badly he needed to drop to his knees, beg her to forgive him. He wanted her to know, from this moment on, he was done messing up. Never again¨Che¡¯d promise her, and he¡¯d mean it. But Ynda¡¯s voice was heavy¨Cit cut deeper than a knife straight to his heart. ¡°Megan¡¯s in trouble,¡± Ynda said, her words sharp and merciless. ¡°She couldn¡¯t reach you tonight, so she asked me to bring her to the hotel. I¡¯d barely stepped out when the hospital called¨CMegan was rushed in, and the baby didn¡¯t make it. She needs emergency surgery to remove her fallopian tube, but they can¡¯t do it without your signature. Greg, I don¡¯t care what you¡¯ve been doing or where you¡¯ve been¨CMegan needs you. right now. Tonight, she told me she was done with the studio, said all she wanted was to stay home and take care of her child. But now-¡± Titan 144 Greg couldn¡¯t hear anything else; it felt like thunder exploded inside his head. 77 55 vouchers This content belongs to find?novel He ran out like a madman, never letting go of his phone, and blurted out the hospital¡¯s address to the driver. The driver looked freaked out, seeing Greg all beaten up with his face swollen beyond recognition. Greg¡¯s lips quivered, his voice shaky as he begged, ¡°Please, my wife is in the hospital. I need to see her now.¡± Only then did the driver step on the gas. When they got to the hospital, Greg stumbled as he got out of the car, but he quickly scrambled back to his feet, clutching his stomach and still rushing forward. But when he got to Megan¡¯s hospital room, his courage deserted him¨CGreg just stood outside, suddenly terrified to go in. Just then, Ynda opened the door and stepped out. Seeing Greg in that sorry state, she paused for a moment and frowned. ¡°Did you go meet those loan sharks again?¡± Greg wanted to say he didn¡¯t, but after all the awful things he¡¯d done to Ynda, he knew she would never believe him, no matter what he said. Forget Ynda¨Dfor someone like him, not a single sane person out there would ever believe a gambler could turn his life around. ¡®Once you get mixed up with loan sharks and gambling,¡® Greg thought to himself, ¡®no one¡¯s ever gonna trust a thing you say again. That¡¯s just how it is.¡® ¡®This is what I deserve, Greg realized bitterly. ¡®Guess it¡¯s karma, huh!¡® Greg copsed onto his knees right there in the hallway, every bit of courage draining out of him. He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to walk through that door. Ynda lingered at the doorway, something unreadable shing in her eyes as she looked back into the hospital room, ignoring Gregpletely. Ynda finally broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into everything. It was Renee Sinir¨CCharles¡¯s sister¨Cwho forced Megan to lose her baby. Renee¡¯s absolutely ruthless, and her whole Sinir family shields her no matter what she does. She¡¯s totally unreasonable. If you even try to confront her, she¡¯d destroy you too. In her world, anything that annoys her shouldn¡¯t be allowed to exist at all. I¡¯m scared Megan won¡¯t be able to handle all this, so¡­ when she wakes up, take her back to your hometown and start fresh. I¡¯ll set you two up with enough money to get by.¡± Greg suddenly startedughing, his swollen face almost unrecognizable. He copsed backward onto the floor, shoulders shaking so hard he looked like he¡¯d lost his mind. Ynda hesitated¡ªshe really didn¡¯t trust a man like Greg with Megan. But still, it¡¯s what Megan wanted, and Ynda couldn¡¯t go against that, no matter how worried she felt. 9:15 Wed, Oct 1 Z(77) 1755 vouchers Greg slowly rose to his feet, blood leaking from his mouth. Every inch of his body throbbed with pain. ¡°Miss Grant,¡± Greg rasped, desperation in his voice, ¡°just tell her you didn¡¯t see me tonight. Say those loan sharks beat me to death.¡± With that, Greg practically dragged himself away, forcing every step as he hurried down the hall. Ynda just stood there in silence. She was determined to stay with Megan tonight. Megan woke up the next morning, her hand automatically resting on her belly. She didn¡¯t ask anything; she just gazed out the window, looking pale and fragile. Ynda ordered some delivery and carefully fed Megan a spoonful of soup. Megan parted her lips¨Cyet before the spoon reached her mouth, tears were already sliding down her cheeks. ¡°Ynda,¡± Megan choked out, her voice soft and trembling, ¡°I can¡¯t eat¡­ Did Greg Guffmane to see mest night?¡± Ynda¡¯s hand froze for a moment as Greg¡¯s words shed through her mind. She quietly shook her head. Ynda figured it was better to sever all ties¨Clet there be no more lingering hope in Megan¡¯s heart. Megan managed a pale, shaky smile, her hand trembling as she touched her belly. ¡°I get it. I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything from him. It¡¯s all on me, always clinging to those memories¡­ How we used to squeeze together on the narrow bed in that run¨Cdown apartment, the roof leaking while the rain poured outside. He told me, once he had money, he¡¯d buy me a car, buy me a house¡­¡± Some women spend their whole lives clinging to memories. Ynda handed her a ss of water, her heart aching as she saw Megan¡¯s eyes so swollen from all the crying. Megan shook her head. Her throat ached so much she couldn¡¯t swallow a thing, and her lips stung, split open in painful cuts. Ynda didn¡¯t say a word, just quietly set the ss down beside her. Megan, still in disbelief, pulled out her phone and dialed Greg¡¯s number again. This time, it wasn¡¯t just that he didn¡¯t pick up¨Che¡¯d blocked her. Megan switched to WhatsApp, and the red exmation mark stared back at her, mocking her. Just then, her phone rang again. It was the bank, telling her she¡¯d maxed out her credit card. All the color drained from Megan¡¯s face. She clutched her phone, half sobbing, half giggling like she¡¯dpletely lost it. Good thing her credit card limit was only a few grand, nothing crazy. If she got some rest and got back to 9:15 Wed, Oct 1 work, she could pay it all off. : E56 vouchers Megan wiped her tears, looking at Ynda. ¡°Ynda, am I a total joke? I used to tease you,ugh at how you couldn¡¯t get over that jerk Charles. But at least you ended up with some money out of it. Me? I lost my baby, racked up debt, and I¡¯m covered in bruises. What right do I have tough at you? I¡¯m the biggest joke of all Ynda grabbed some tissues and gently dabbed at Megan¡¯s tears. Megan sucked in a shaky breath, her voice steadier. ¡°I need to heal up¨Cfast. I¡¯m heading back to the studio, back to work, back to managing my talent. I can¡¯t keep falling apart like this, or I won¡¯t even be able to look myself in the mirror. The baby¡¯s gone, it is what it is. If I can¡¯t have kids anymore, then whatever. Why should I need a guy beside me? I can hold myself up just fine. I was such an idiot.¡± Ynda let out a breath of relief, seeing Megan pull herself together so quickly. ¡°d you¡¯ve figured it out.¡± Megan was determined¨Cwithout a second thought, she signed the consent forms for surgery herself. Ynda wanted to stay with her at the hospital, but Megan gently persuaded her. ¡°Ynda, I really appreciate how good you¡¯ve been to me, but I just need some quiet time here for a few days. When I¡¯m ready toe back to the studio, I¡¯ll reach out to you, okay?¡± Ynda could only nod. She arranged for a nurse to stay with Megan, picked up some fresh fruit, and finally, somewhat reluctantly, left. After spending the whole night at the hospital, Ynda now had to head straight to the office. But when Ynda arrived, she found out Tony Sutton had run into trouble. Two guys from his crew told her Tony got beat upst night and ended up in the hospital. Ynda thought they were just making stuff up, but then they pulled out the hospital paperwork as proof. Tony was actually in the hospital. Ynda cracked a smile. Just yesterday, Tony was acting all tough, and now some mystery do¨Cgooder had put him out ofmission. ¡®Serves him right,¡¯ she thought. The other two guys from Tony¡¯s crew were on edge, ncing at each other uneasily¨Cthey were pretty sure Ynda had something to do with this. Leon had just gotten kicked out, and now Tony ended up in the hospital. Come on, who would believe this wasn¡¯t Ynda¡¯s doing? ¡®Damn, that woman doesn¡¯t hold back. She¡¯s seriously ruthless,¡® they muttered. This morning, they¡¯d called Tony, asking if Ynda was involved, but Tony just acted cagey and never gave a straight answer. ¡®Maybe Tony figured out what kind of person Ynda really is, and now he¡¯s too scared to say anything,¡® they guessed. ¡®Just what kind of backing does that bitch have?¡® they muttered, still suspicious. 9:15 Wed, Oct1 89.00 d so woother This time, the two of them respectfully handed over their rewritten reports to Ynda, every section exined in painstaking detail. One of them even offered to forfeit his whole year¨Cend bonus right then and there, just so the staff could bring on a brand¨Cnew body sculpting coach. Premium body shaping trainers always cost a fortune¨Ctheir fees alone could wipe out the annual budget. With money basically being shoved into her hands, Ynda would be stupid to say no. She curled her lips into a sly smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Ken and Wayne looked on with thinly veiled contempt. They couldn¡¯t believe how fast these guys switched sides¨Cpathetic. Ken and Wayne had made up their minds¨Cthey¡¯d never let a woman boss them around or take charge over them. They shared a nce, then handed in their reports for today. These reports were much more thoughtfully done than yesterday¡¯s. Ynda didn¡¯t have much to criticize, so just stood up and said, ¡°Over the next few days, I¡¯ll be working with Mr. Maine to redo the contracts with the talent. Any objections?¡± she The old contracts were irond and totally unfair¨Cbasically, they owned you, like you were selling your soul. Now Ynda was about to rewrite them. Who knew what kind of insane new rules she¡¯de up with? So everyone just kept quiet and watched to see how things would y out. As soon as Ynda stepped out, Ken Ford couldn¡¯t wait to stir things up in the group chat. This chat was packed with talent, and some folks were always buttering up the execs, hoping to score some favors and make life easier for themselves. Sure, most people genuinely wanted to get rid of those ve contracts. But there were also plenty who were happy to sell themselves for the fast cash and wild nightlife. Hanging out with the bosses paid way more than actually hustling, and staying, ¡°clean¡± just wasn¡¯t their thing. Not that anyone cared, really. In a ce like this, there were always a few trying to act all high and mighty¨Cand even more people ready to roast them for it. Ken Ford basically implied in the group that Ynda was about to roll out contracts even nastier than thest ones. He dropped a hint that he¡¯d gotten a sneak peek, so everyone ought to watch their backs. Ken stirring up drama in the group chat sent all the goodwill Ynda had built up these past few days straight down the drain. Titan 145 Rumors started flying around thepany like wildfire. 77 55 vouchers ¡°I heard she¡¯s just here to cash in, and her connections are even scarier than Leon Cole¡¯s. Now she¡¯s talking about changing all our contracts from ten or twenty years to freaking thirty. She¡¯s basically Leon 2.0.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t these people just go jump off a cliff or something? Why are we always the ones getting screwed? I was this close to only five years left on my deal, now it¡¯s gonna be fifteen! Am I ever gonna see the light at the end of the tunnel?¡± ¡°I heard at her oldpany, she¡¯d force the female talent to sleep with clients. If you didn¡¯t do it, you¡¯d get shipped off to Raventon.¡± ¡°Seriously? If that¡¯s true, isn¡¯t she even more ruthless than Leon Cole?¡± ¡°Guess I really did get my hopes up for her for nothing.¡± As Ynda walked past the top floor, she couldn¡¯t help but feel all those resentful stares directed at her. She assumed it was because she wasn¡¯t moving fast enough. There was still plenty that needed reforming in Starlight, and she had to get a handle on all the rules before she could tackle anything real. Ynda had been working in the office until the evening, when she finally handed a folder to Walter, who was hovering behind her like her shadow. ¡°Print this out, and once you¡¯re done, give it to Ms. Hall,¡± she instructed. ¡°Understood, Ms. Grant,¡± Walter said eagerly. Walter Hudson was tall, standing nearly six¨Cfoot¨Cthree, but his fashion sense was¡­ let¡¯s just say it desperately needed help. He always rocked suit pants paired with a id shirt that looked straight out of a programmer meme. Ynda¡¯s gaze lingered over him before she let out a sigh. ¡°Honestly, you should pick up some tips from online style bloggers. You¡¯ve got a solid build¨Cdress right and you¡¯d be a total male model. Also, you really need to do something about your hair. And these sses¨Care they prescription or what? The lenses look thick enough to stop a bullet.¡± Ynda leaned in and reached out, about to take his sses off for a closer look, but Walter instantly backed away. ¡®He must be shy about his looks,¡¯ Ynda thought, deciding not to press it. ¡°Just go print it,¡± she told him. With that, she slung her bag over her shoulder and got ready to clock out for the day. But the moment she stepped out of the elevator, some lunatic came barreling straight at her. ¡°Ynda! Go to hell!¡± the person shrieked, their voice echoing with hatred. 9:15 Wed, Oct 1 22.00 TX 55 voucher Suddenly, a ss bottle flew at her, drenching her in a liquid with a sharp, acrid smell. Before Ynda could react, Walter hauled her out of harm¡¯s way and shielded her in his arms. There was a sickening sizzle in the air as the corrosive liquid hit flesh, and terrified screams erupted all around them. Ynda was still in shock when Walter let her go almost immediately, barely pausing before dashing toward the exit. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the hospital,¡± he called out urgently. ¡°I¡¯ming with you!¡± Ynda called out, but Walter didn¡¯t break his stride. Blood was streaming down his back, and the assant was still shrieking, ¡°Why are you protecting her? Why defend that bitch? She¡¯s even nastier than Leon Cole! She wants to bleed us dry, suck out everyst drop! Walter kept moving. ¡°Ms. Grant, I¡¯m used to handling things solo. You deal with the rest,¡± he said, his voice steady. With that, he left without looking back. Ynda wasted no time calling the police and handing over the security footage. As the crazed attacker was dragged away, their eyes fixed on Ynda with a venomous re, like a snake refusing to let go. ¡°Ynda, none of us will ever let you off! Even if I¡¯m thrown in jail, there are plenty more waiting to take you down!¡± the assant screamed. Updates are released by fin?novel Ynda realized then¨Csomeone must be behind all this, stirring everyone up against her. Without wasting another second, she headed back upstairs to Mary¡¯s office. The young talent was standing in front of Mary, and when she saw Yndae in, she shrank back like Ynda was out to eat her alive. Ynda frowned, her gaze fixed on Mary. ¡°What¡¯s going on? It feels like all the talent suddenly hates me.¡± The young talent¡¯s eyes were rimmed red and she bit her lip, ring at Ynda. ¡°You¡¯ve got the nerve to ask? Everyone knows about those new contracts you¡¯re pushing¨Cthey¡¯re even nastier than Leon Cole¡¯s! I actually thought you were one of the good ones, but turns out you¡¯re just another monster!¡± Mary barked, ¡°Shut it!¡± The young talent instantly mmed up, her breath hitching with a shaky sob. Ynda realized¨Csomeone must¡¯ve been egging them on from behind the scenes. She had the young talent pull up the message threads, and sure enough, the source was Ken Ford and Wayne Ford¨Cthe infamous brothers. But those brothers weren¡¯t amateurs. In the group chat, they never spelled anything out directly. Instead, they 9:15 Wed, Oct 1 dropped crypticments, steering everyone step by step into getting riled up and suspicious. So with this kind of ¡°evidence,¡± there was no way Ynda could nail them to the wall. 55 vouchers Ynda didn¡¯t bother joining the group chat. Instead, she went straight to thepany¡¯s website and posted an announcement herself. Hey everyone, we¡¯re still working on the new contracts for our talent. If there¡¯s anything unfair or out of line, it¡¯ll get fixed¨Cbut it¡¯s gonna take a bit. Hang tight and we¡¯ll make sure everyone gets an answer they can live with. People wasted no time grabbing a screenshot and sharing it in the staff group chat. Some started hoping things might actually change; others just kept doubting everything. Ynda was just turning to leave when the young talent blurted out, ¡°If you really are doing this for us, then I apologize.¡± Ynda paused, one hand on the doorframe, her voice cold as ice. ¡°Save your apology. Instead of saying sorry, try actually thinking for once. Don¡¯t let yourself get yed as someone else¡¯s pawn next time¨CI have no use for fools hanging around me,¡± she said tly. Fools only bring trouble, letting themselves get stirred up and causing havoc at the slightest provocation. That was definitely not the kind of talent Ynda wanted. The young talent¡¯s cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn¡¯te up with a single word to defend herself. Ynda didn¡¯t spare her a second nce¨Cshe strode out, her figure disappearing through the doorway. The young talent nced nervously at Mary. ¡°Ms. Hall, is she really mad at me?¡± Mary gave her a look. ¡°What do you think? Word just came in¨Csomeone actually believed all these rumors and tried to ssh acid on her at the lobby downstairs. If her assistant hadn¡¯t jumped in, she¡¯d be horribly scarred right now. Leon Cole squeezed you guys dry for years, and you just swallowed it. Ynda hasn¡¯t even started, and you¡¯re already turning on her. Let¡¯s be honest, it¡¯s because she¡¯s a woman, and you think she¡¯s an easy target.¡± That¡¯s exactly what pissed Ynda off the most. The young talent¡¯s face went from pale to flushed, and she didn¡¯t dare say a word. After leaving the office, Ynda called Walter to check on his injuries. ¡°Ms. Grant, I got it all sorted out. I¡¯m good,¡± Walter replied. ¡°Where are you? Which hospital? I¡¯lle see you myself,¡± Ynda insisted. ¡°No need for that. I¡¯m taking a week off¨Chope that¡¯s okay. I just don¡¯t like getting too close with my boss. 9:15 Wed, Oct 1 Protecting you is part of my job, after all,¡± Walter said. Walter really knew how to keep his boundaries, but honestly, Ynda preferred it that way. She promised to triple his sry, and he didn¡¯t turn it down. 55 vouchers Tomorrow was the weekend, so Ynda didn¡¯t have to show up at work¨Cshe¡¯d already promised to spend the day withn. Ynda had just turned the key, ready to drive back to Moonbay Estate, when Renee pinged her with a message. [Did your friend¡¯s kid make it? Heard she was bleeding out, pretty badly.] Renee Sinir never felt even a hint of guilt¨Cshe honestly didn¡¯t see any problem with what she¡¯d done. At the moment, she was out with ke Alston on a movie date. ke was in line at the popcorn stand, prepping to buy snacks for them. ¡®Funny how all this couple stuff feels so fresh to me,¡® Renee thought, a little amused. ¡®I¡¯ve never really done the whole ¡°normal date night¡± thing before. Just as Renee was about to fire off another message and stir things up, she suddenly noticed a shadow looming over her. A man¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°Are you Renee Sinir?¡± Renee thought for sure he was about to ask for her WhatsApp, so she gave him a side¨Ceye and smirked. Yeah, that¡¯s me. But honestly, with my outfit and my bag, do you really think you¡¯re on my level? You actually have the guts to hit on me? Do you even know who you¡¯re talking to?¡± Before Renee could even finish talking, the man lunged at her with a knife. Everyone around started screaming in terror. Renee started screaming too. ke, still waiting in line, was stunned for a second before rushing over to block the man. But the attacker moved with chilling speed¨Che stabbed ke twice in the shoulder, each strike vicious and merciless, like he saw nothing but prey before him. Renee had never felt death breathing down her neck quite like this. Titan 146 Chapter 146 65 vallehors Renee clutched her stomach, frantically stumbling backward, but the man¡¯s gaze was locked on her and he stabbed at her with brutal force. ¡°ke, help me! ke, please, help me!¡± Renee screamed, her voice shaking with terror. ke lowered his gaze, something flickering in his eyes¨Cbut the knife got past him in a sh, plunging straight into Renee¡¯s shoulder. The mall security rushed in and quickly wrestled the attacker to the ground. The man, hidden beneath a hat and mask, stared at Renee with manic intensity,ughing hysterically like a total psychopath. Renee trembled, unable to meet that crazed gaze. Blood covered her from head to toe as she screamed, and a puddle of yellow fluid spread beneath her on the floor. The crowd was evacuated in minutes, and the police stormed in, arresting the man on the spot. Renee was badly injured, and on the way to the hospital, she gripped ke¡¯s hand tight, like it was the only thing keeping her alive. ¡°ke, don¡¯t leave me. Stay with me, please¡­ I need you,¡± Renee pleaded, her voice trembling. She¡¯d just seen ke put his life on the line to protect her, and right now, sticking close to him felt like the only safe ce in the world. In moments like this, that whole ¡°suspension bridge effect¡± thing was in full force¨Cher love for him hit an all- time high. All she wanted was ke. The emergency treatment kept going for more than two hours before the doctors finally finished stitching up her wounds. May burst into the hospital room and, when she saw Renee lying pale and frail in bed, her anger boiled over -she couldn¡¯t help but start cursing out loud. ¡°That bastard is going to rot in prison for the rest of his life! Have you found out who he is yet? Why the hell would he go after Renee? Was it someone trying to get back at the Sinir family?!¡± May shouted furiously. Charles and Jack arrived just then. Jack bowed his head respectfully. ¡°We¡¯ve tracked him down. The guy¡¯s name is Greg Guffman. His wife, Megan, was pregnant, but after Renee attacked her in that hotel, she ended up miscarrying. He wanted revenge for what happened to his wife and their baby.¡± May¡¯s face twisted with anger, and for a second she was at a loss for words. Then she clenched her jaw and spat out, ¡°His wife survived, but he still tried to kill Renee? Seriously, how messed up can you be? He deserves to rot behind bars for the rest of his damn life! And as for his wife¨Cfind out where she is, toss her out of 9:23 Thu, Oct 2 Beloris, and make sure she never sets foot here again.¡± 5 voucher Jack added, ¡°Someone stepped in to protect Rence¨Cke Alston, her first love. If he hadn¡¯t literally taken two stabs for her, Rence might not have made it out alive. And get this¨Cthe doctors say Renee¡¯s pregnant! Turns out these two have actually been togethertely¡± May stared in shock, her eyes practically popping out. ¡°ke? You mean that wild street racer¨Cthe bad boy from back then?¡± Charles stood off to the side, frowning. ¡°Mom, just stay here with Rence at the hospital. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± May sat by the bedside,pletely drained of color. ¡°Sure, he took a knife for Renee, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s good enough for her. Just toss some cash his way and get rid of him. Wasn¡¯t he the one you booted out years ago? Who knows when those two started talking again. And Renee¨Cwhat is she thinking, messing around with someone like that?¡± She sighed, shaking her head and muttering to herself, ¡°Honestly¨Cwhat a mess. And now she¡¯s even ended up pregnant.¡± Without another word, Charles and Jack headed out. It wasn¡¯t long before ke was forcibly hauled off to another estate owned by Charles. The bodyguard mmed his knee so hard that ke was forced down to his knees. His wounds had only just been bandaged, and his face was drained of all color¨Che looked like he might pass out any second. Charles sat on the sofa, his tone t. ¡°Talk. How did you end up back here? From what I remember, things were pretty rough for you over there.¡± ke winced, his knees throbbing. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°I missed Renee. When I left, she was heartbroken.¡± Charles smirked but said nothing. The bodyguard suddenly mmed his boot into ke¡¯s chest, making him spit out a mouthful of blood. ¡°ke, you¡¯ve been overseas for three years. I gave you that money, and you spent it all on your brother¡¯s medical bills. After that, you were just barely surviving. So tell me¨Cising back just your way of trying to squeeze money out of Renee?¡± Charles said, his voice full of cold cynicism. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I never asked Renee for any money. Not once,¡± ke replied firmly, looking Charles straight in the eye. The money Ynda sent him had been wired into an overseas friend¡¯s ount¨Csomething Charles¡¯s people just couldn¡¯t trace. So all Charles¡¯s investigators could find was that ke truly hadn¡¯t touched a penny from Renee. On the contrary, he¡¯d even spent what little he had to buy her some gifts. They were cheap, sure¨Cbut for whatever reason, they actually made Renee happy. She really believed his 9:23 Thu, Oct 2 sweet words. 4915 E vouchers Charles didn¡¯t buy for a second that someone poor like ke could actually feel something as real as love for a rich girl like Renee. In his eyes, all that ¡°true love¡± talk was just ame excuse¨Ca guy like ke was obviously hoping to hitch his sorry life to a golden ticket and score big. ¡°You took a knife for Rence, and sure, maybe I ought to thank you. But if you hadn¡¯t brought her along in the first ce, none of this would¡¯ve happened. So don¡¯t expect any favors. You leave the country tonight¨Cand don¡¯t bothering back,¡± Charles ordered, his voice icy. ke¡¯s eyes dropped, his whole frame curling in on itself¨Che nearly coughed up another mouthful of blood. Charles didn¡¯t spare him a nce. He strode forward, grinding the thin sole of his shoe right onto ke¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t get greedy. That¡¯s not yours to take.¡± ke suddenly let out a harshugh, his eyes burning red. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ve said it before¨CI genuinely love Renee. Maybe you¡¯ve never loved anyone, so you just can¡¯t get it. I know I¡¯m no match for you; you want me gone, I¡¯ll leave. But don¡¯t you dare tarnish what I feel for her.¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, unable to figure out whether ke was actually genuine or just putting on a show. He let out a low chuckle. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Charles scoffed inwardly, ¡®True love¡­ what a pathetic fantasy. Only idiots would buy into something that cheap.¡® He walked straight outside and climbed into his car without even pausing, a strange wave of irritation pulsing through him for no clear reason. Just then, his phone buzzed¨Cit was May calling. ¡°Charles, Renee¡¯s awake and she¡¯s insisting on seeing ke. The baby¡¯s okay, but you didn¡¯t mess with ke or anything, right?¡± May said, her voice anxious. Charles leaned back, keeping his tone gentle. ¡°Come on, what do you think I did to him? He¡¯s alive, isn¡¯t he?¡± May finally breathed out in relief¨CRenee had been sobbing and screaming nonstop, totally losing it, all because she just wanted ke. May was at her wits¡® end. ¡°Just bring ke over, will you? She seriously thinks you killed him. If she doesn¡¯t see him with her own eyes, she¡¯s never going to stop crying¨Cshe¡¯s even threatening to throw herself out the window!¡± May was so terrified that she ended up calling Charles for help. Charles felt his frustration boiling over. These days, it was like nothing ever went his way. He ordered his men to bring ke over, then took the tablet from Jack. The screen showed video of Renee beating up Megan¨Craw, brutal footage that made everything crystal clear. Ynda was the one who brought Megan to the hotel. Chapter 146. Jack exined, ¡°Megan¡¯s husband, Greg, was buried in debt, and Ynda only covered those bills out of sympathy for Megan. Last night, Megan couldn¡¯t find Greg and got scared the debt collectors would show up so she called Ynda for help. Ynda dropped her off at the hotel lobby and left right away. Everything after that is caught on security footage¡ªGreg got roughed up by loan sharks, and when he found out about the miscarriage, he went after Rence for revenge.¡± Ynda barely had any part in all this, which honestly made sense given her position. Even after Greg had crossed her before, she still chose to let it go¨Cfor Megan¡¯s sake. That just showed how much she truly valued Megan as a friend. Charles dialed Ynda¡¯s number. Ynda picked up, her voice a bit raspy. ¡°Hey, hubby.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find~novel Charles hesitated for a moment, then asked, ¡°Are you home yet?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ynda replied softly. Charles had a meeting scheduled for tonight, but he canceled it on the spot and told Jack to drive him straight home. As soon as he stepped into the lobby, one of the servants approached him. ¡°Mrs. Sinir didn¡¯t eat dinner tonight. She seems really upset.¡± Charles had already made sure the hotel refused to release the footage of Renee beating up Megan. Even if Ynda wanted to get to the bottom of what happened to Megan¡¯s baby, there was no way she¡¯d ever find out. Plus, Megan didn¡¯t even know who Renee was. Little did he know, ke had already told Ynda everything. He walked into Ynda¡¯s room and found her lying in bed, just resting. He switched on the bedsidemp and noticed hershes were damp. ¡°Have you been crying?¡± he asked softly. ¡°Megan lost her baby. I still couldn¡¯t figure out who was behind it. And I can¡¯t even reach her husband. They were supposed to go back to their hometown and try to start over,¡± Ynda said, her voice trembling. Charles was quiet for a few seconds, then gently ruffled her hair. ¡°That¡¯s just fate.¡± Ynda¡¯s lips twitched, and she buried her face deeper into the nket. ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s just how things go, Ynda thought bitterly. ¡®Greg getting revenge on Renee¡­ Guess that¡¯s fate, too.¡¯ Those two knife wounds would only make Renee weaker, leaving her delicate as a wilting flower in the wind. ¡°I¡¯m feeling awful, hubby. I just wanna lie down for a bit,¡± Ynda whispered. ¡°Sleep, babe. Hubby¡¯s right here with you,¡± Charles said, his tone gentle and soothing. 9:23 Thu, Oct 2 914 65 vouchons, He bent down and kissed her softly on the lips, cachyer of guilt weighing heavy on him. For the first time in ages, he truly looked her in the eyes. Titan 147 Chapter 147 Ynda was really tired and fell asleep quickly. Half¨Cawake, she vaguely sensed someone adjusting her nket, but she didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. ??? When she finally woke up and came downstairs, Charles was sitting there waiting. Lately, he¡¯d been swamped with issues thanks to the Andrade family stirring up trouble, but he made sure to spend an extra half hour at home to look after her. ¡°Make sure you eat a good breakfast. You¡¯ve lost some weight these past few days,¡± he reminded her kindly. ¡°Babe, I¡¯m going to stay with Megan for a couple days. Her husband hasn¡¯t been answering any calls, and I¡¯m really worried something bad might¡¯ve happened,¡± Ynda said. Charles couldn¡¯t say no to a reason like that. He just smiled, gave her a gentle pat on the head, and headed out the door. As soon as Charles left, Ynda kept to herself, ate a little, and gave Megan a call. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Megan asked her not toe to the hospital after all. ¡°Ynda, I was all mixed up before. I¡¯ll get myself together soon, I promise. About Greg, I owe you an apology -I¡¯m really sorry. I thought it throughst night, and I¡¯ll be working on getting better at the hospital over the next few days,¡± Megan said. Seeing Megan so firm about it, Ynda didn¡¯t insist. Instead, she quietly sent fifty grand to Megan¡¯s ount. Megan epted the money without hesitation¨Cshe really needed it right now. Ynda drove over to Ian¡¯s ce and caught him just as he was heading out. ¡°Ynda, remember when Raelyn got reced? Now the new female lead¡¯s got a dozen key scenes where she needs me to pick up her close¨Cups. I¡¯ve got to head out to the suburbs for it,¡± Ian said. ¡°Let me take you,¡± Ynda replied. She pulled a hat low over her eyes, slipped on a mask, and climbed into the crew van. Whenever she met up with Ian, she¡¯d always switch to this van halfway there¨Cno exceptions. When they pulled up outside the temporary studio set in the suburbs, she parked and said casually, ¡°We¡¯re here, go on out.¡± But instead of leaving, Ian leaned in close, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. Then his eyes drew down, lingering over the marks that still hadn¡¯t faded away. Ynda instantly felt a rush of self¨Cconsciousness, a little uneasy under his gaze. He didn¡¯t rush¨Cdrawing out the moment, his movements slow, almost teasing. 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 Then he looked up at her, smirking. ¡°Those marks are getting faint. Come with me to the back; I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re nice and fresh.¡± Ynda couldn¡¯t help butugh. The van was roomy, with adjustable seats, so she slid right into the back, settling into the wide,fortable seat. Ian leaned in, slowly lowering the seat until it was almost t. Then he puzzled his nose against her neck, his breath warm against her skin. Ynda frowned, giving his shoulder a yful p. ¡°Are you a dog or something?¡± He just grinned, his lips trailing down to another faint mark, leaving a deeper one in its ce. Ynda felt her body go soft under his touch, but then she noticed his hand starting to wander. She took a deep breath and nudged him away. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to go pick up those shots?¡± Ian paused, disappointment written all over his face. He got out, but couldn¡¯t resist ncing over his shoulder every few steps, looking absolutely reluctant to leave -Ynda watched and couldn¡¯t help butugh at how lovesick he looked. Settled in the back seat, Ynda grabbed herptop and started messaging Jason Maine about all the contracts piling up. These days, there were just too many details to handle alone¨Cshe had to consult this top- tierwyer on everything. Jason was famous in the legal circles, and he never wasted words¨Chis replies were always crisp and straight to business. Ynda skimmed histest bullet points, then shot back a message. ¡°Appreciate your hard work, Mr. Maine.¡± Jason never answered unless it was strictly about work. He was the kind who did everything by the book, cold and precise whenever he dealt with people¨Calmost like her brother Samuel Grant, except Samuel had a slick businessman¡¯s edge. Jason, on the other hand, was like a flower blooming on a high branch, ssy and untouched by all the dirty games in the business world. Rumor had it, every bit of status he had now was built from the ground up, all on his own. Ynda was so focused on reviewing the first draft of the contract that she didn¡¯t realize how tired her eyes were getting, lost in her work until the car door finally clicked open. Ian had wrapped up all his scenes, scrubbed off his makeup, and looked fresh from the shower¨Chis hair still damp and tousled. As soon as the door closed behind him, he crouched down right next to Ynda. She didn¡¯t lift her gaze from herptop, but Ian didn¡¯t care. He just knelt beside her, nting gentle kisses on each fingertip she¡¯d left resting on the armrest¨Cadoring and yful. He was so clingy and sweet in that moment, no one could possibly resist it. Her heart justpletely melted. 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 0:- Ynda snapped herptop shut and grinned at Jan. ¡°So, got any fun ns for this afternoon?¡± Ian teased, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be buried in work after taking over Starlight? Aren¡¯t you crazy busy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for you today,¡± Ynda replied with a smile. to be with you. Is that so wrong?¡± Ynda raised an eyebrow, but before she knew it, Ian had caught her ankle in his hand. ¡°Now you¡¯ll never be able to leave me,¡± he teased with a mischievous grin. Ynda was rocking a sleek, business¨Cchic look today¨Cher silver stiletto heels shining as she walked. No wonder she didn¡¯t go out with Ian earlier¨Clooking this sharp, she¡¯d draw too much attention as his ¡°assistant.¡± With that killer aura and those emerald stud earrings, she was the definition of a workce queen. Nobody in their right mind would think she was just there to run errands for him. She was dazzling¨Cso striking and elegant it was almost intimidating. Her hair was tied back in a simple low ponytail, the emerald earrings making her look absolutely refined and high¨Css. The more Ian looked, the harder it was to look away. He was hooked, falling fast and deep for her. Ian lightly ran his fingertips over her silver stilettos, lingering on the shine with a teasing touch. Then he knelt down on one knee, gently lifting her foot in his hand as if she were royalty. ¡°Time to make a move,¡± he murmured, his grin full of mischief. Ynda blinked, caught off guard¡ªand just in time heard him whisper, ¡°You¡¯re turning every head with that look today.¡± Too ssy and refined, so wless it¡¯s almost unreal¨Clike she was a living doll brought to life. She looked so wless, it was almost intimidating¨Ctoo dazzling to stare at for more than a second. Ynda arched a brow, feeling that wicked, yful streak deep inside her suddenly awaken. She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes glinting with newfound interest. ¡®Sweet and obedient? Yeah right. If anyone else were here, they¡¯d never buy it,¡® Ynda thought to herself. Ian was the only one who could draw out the parts of her she¡¯d buried the deepest¨Che truly was one of a kind. Ian nced up at her a few times, swallowed, and muttered softly, ¡°If you say so.¡± Ynda leaned back, keeping her tone casual. ¡°I¡¯m just tired.¡± For some reason, she felt a bit uneasy. 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 Titan 148 Chapter 148 After a long while,n finally paused and leaned down to gently kiss her. ?? SE VOUCHE Ynda nced at the time¨Can entire hour had gone by. ¡®No wonder he¡¯s still so young, she thought to herself. ¡®Youth really does make a difference,¡® she added inwardly. ¡°Ynda, are you only ever like this with me?¡± Ian asked, his voice low and raspy. Ynda barely hesitated before she answered, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡®Honestly, if Charles ever saw this side of me, he¡¯d probably kill me himself. That guy only goes for the sweet, homey type,¡® Ynda thought to herself. Ian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved as he swallowed, eyes still closed,shes casting shadows on his cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m only like this with you,¡± he said softly. Ynda¡¯s fingers tingled with warmth, and she quickly withdrew her hand, clearing her throat. ¡°We should get some lunch. I already booked a ce.¡± She put on her hat and mask and headed over to the driver¡¯s seat. Ian didn¡¯t cling to her either. After days of grueling shoots, he¡¯d finally gotten a day off, only to be pulled back in for more reshoots. The car pulled up outside an upscale restaurant. Inside, everything was peaceful and discreet¡ªeach dining suite was set apart, decked out in ssic style, everything you could imagine. Ynda and Ian walked in together, only to find themselves face¨Cto¨Cface with Leo in the hallway. Ynda had her mask and hat on, covering her facepletely. She figured Leo wouldn¡¯t recognize her, so she just kept walking without acknowledging him. Leo was on the phone, but his gaze suddenly locked onto Ian. Ian pretended not to notice and quietly followed Ynda. Xavier was ranting on the phone. ¡°I¡¯ve already sorted things out with Tony behind the scenes. If you get into trouble again, you¡¯re out of the country for good, you hear me? What¡¯s with youtely¨Cmoving out, picking fights, acting like you¡¯re possessed. What¡¯s next? Chasing after women?¡± Xavier growled. Leo wasn¡¯t even paying attention. He hung up mid¨Crant. Xavier stared at his phone, his face clouded over as he took a long breath. ¡®He¡¯s my own brother¡­ he¡¯s my own brother, Xavier muttered in his head, forcing himself to calm down. 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 He gritted his teeth, choking back the urge to strangle the guy right then and there. Leo watchedn head into the second¨Ctost private suite, convinced that the woman bundled up beside him had to be Ynda. That bitch!¡® Leo cursed to himself. He just couldn¡¯t keep his cool whenever she was around, and for the life of him, he had no idea why.. He knew better than anyone¨CCharles and his whole crowd included¨Cthat Ynda was far from innocent. She yed hard, never followed the rules, and even learned to keep a lover stashed away, just like some people did behind closed doors. He took a deep breath, not even sure what got into him, and found himself heading straight for that suite anyway. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel His suite was right next to Ynda¡¯s. But instead of standing at his own door, he found himself at Ynda¡¯s, just about to knock¨Cwhen suddenly, his own door swung open. Quinn leaned in the doorway, arms folded and voice full of mischief. ¡°Your brother told me at least a dozen times to keep an eye on you. Got your brains pped loose or something? Can¡¯t even remember which room is yours now?¡± Leo let his hand drop, looking a bit sheepish, and shuffled back to his own suite. Quinn shut the door and threw his arm around Leo¡¯s shoulders like they were bros. ¡°Seriously, man, why go out of your way to piss off your brother every damn day? He¡¯s the boss of the family¨Ckeep pushing, he¡¯ll pack your bags for Africa and finally have some peace.¡± Leo gave Quinn a look of utter disdain, brushed his arm off, and dropped onto his seat. Quinn, always one for mischief, grinned as he sat down. ¡°I mean, I get that Charles has been crazy busytely. But you, cooped up in your room all day long¨Cif I didn¡¯t know you, I¡¯d swear you were hiding some girl in there.¡± Then again, anybody else might have a side chick stashed away¡ªbut not Leo. His catchphrase was literally: ¡®Women aren¡¯t half as fun as gaming.¡¯ Max was there too, silent and keen¨Ceyed, never one for the dumb jokes or trouble Quinn liked to stir up. Just thinking about Ynda and that damn pretty boy next door made Leo¡¯s blood boil. He felt like he was on fire, ready to just burst in there and kick that guy out the window himself. ¡®Why¡¯d Ynda pick this restaurant anyway?¡® Leo wondered to himself. ¡®Was it just because this ce is so secretive?¡® he grumbled inside. ¡®What the hell is she nning to do with that pretty boy in there?¡® Leo fumed. 9:24 Thu, Oct 21 Charles is so busytely, he wouldn¡¯t notice if his whole house was burning down. What a joke, Leo thought. Leo knocked back his drink, but it burned on the way down and he started coughing. Quinn¡¯s fox¨Clike eyes narrowed as he patted Leo¡¯s back. ¡°Seriously, dude, you¡¯re acting weird. Did someone wipe out your game ount or what? You look totally out of it.¡± ¡°Get lost! I just can¡¯t stand people who cheat!¡± Leo shot back. As soon as Leo said it, the room went dead quiet. Quinn couldn¡¯t help cracking up, his shoulders shaking. ¡°Man, don¡¯t ever say that in front of Charles. Me and him, we¡¯re single, so who cares.¡± Leo sneered. ¡°Max doesn¡¯t, but you¡¯ve got that broke¨Cass girlfriend, right? Thought she was top of her ss too, studying at film school or something?¡± Quinn leaned back, looking totally at ease. ¡°It¡¯s just a fling, no need to call her my girlfriend.¡± ¡°Scumbag,¡± Leo spat. Guy¡¯s got cash to burn, but ys poor in front of her, making that girl juggle a dozen jobs just to keep him afloat. People like Quinn seriously deserve to get struck by lightning. Quinn couldn¡¯t care less about the insult. Guys like them? ying around was just part of the game¨Cno one took it seriously enough to actually settle down for real. If they ever did get married, it would have to be to someone from their own ss, someone who matched their status. And he was totally on the same page as Charles¨Cmarriage wasn¡¯t gonna magically make him loyal. That¡¯s just how women are, anyway. Leo couldn¡¯t be bothered arguing anymore. He dropped his gaze, clutching his ss. ¡°Hypothetically¡­ say there¡¯s a woman who¡¯s not bad looking, and her lips feel really soft when you kiss her. But, she¡¯s also been with a lot of guys. Would that bother you?¡± With a ng, Quinn¡¯s ss hit the floor. He gave his ear an exaggerated poke and stared at Leo. ¡°Run that by me one more time? Did I just hear you talking about women? For real?¡± They¡¯d always joked about girls around Leo, but he¡¯d never taken the bait. Now, unbelievably, he was the one starting the topic. Man, this really was a ¡®sun rising in the west¡® kind of day. Leo¡¯s face flushed and he pressed his lips together. ¡°Just answer the damn question.¡± 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 Quinn nced over at Max, sitting across from them. Max¡¯s face didn¡¯t move an inch; he never pulled his punches, especially with these guys around. ¡°So you wanna be her number five, six, maybe seven, and now you¡¯re asking if we¡¯d be cool with that?¡± Max shot back. With strangers, Max was basically a robot, but around us, he¡¯d let loose with that venomous tongue. ¡°She¡¯s got a whole crew of guys already¨Cwhat makes you think you¡¯ll even get a turn, Leo? You barely know women, you barely know men. Competing for her attention? Please. You don¡¯t even know how toy on the sweet talk, do you?¡± ¡°No way,¡± Leo muttered. Honestly, he was clueless about keeping a girl happy¨Cjust opening his mouth was enough to piss one off half the time. ¡°Why the hell should I bother with her? She¡¯s nobody. Like she¡¯s even worth it!¡± Leo spat out. AD Titan 149 Chapter 149 Quinn breathed a sigh of relief, giving Leo a hearty pat on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Leo instantly went quiet; he just felt weird about it. ¡®Why do I feel so awkward?¡¯ he thought to himself. Especially when he had to act soft in front of a woman¨Cyeah, that was just not his thing. ¡®Man, this is so not me, Leo grumbled inwardly. Meanwhile, in the next private room, the food was already on the table. Ynda listened to the soothing sound of water trickling over rocks outside, and she felt a wave of calm wash over her. ¡°All of these dishes were created by master chefs. Do they match your taste?¡± Ian asked with interest. Ian tried a few bites and gave a nod. They took their time eating, and after about forty minutes, Fan suddenly got up and locked the private room door behind them. Ynda arched an eyebrow when she noticed Ian had sampled some of the custom mix¨Cthe tipsy look in his eyes didn¡¯t escape her. She¡¯d already shed her hat and mask, leaning backfortably in her chair, just about to ask Ian what he thought he was doing. ¡°Ian, we¡¯re still eating in public, you know,¡± Ynda warned, her tone half amused, half serious. ¡°I know, but the drinks here just aren¡¯t my thing. Can¡¯t I have my own taste?¡± Ian shot back with a sly grin. ¡®I seriously want to smack this guy, Ynda thought to herself. She idly twirled her wine ss between her fingers, saying nothing. The tablecloth had an old¨Cworld elegance, flowing down to the floor¨Cit reminded Ynda of that day at the vi. By the time it was over, her cheeks were flushed, burning with embarrassment. Ian sat back down across from her, gazing at her with unabashed satisfaction in his eyes. Ynda tipped her ss back, finishing the drink in one go before pushing back her chair. ¡°Bathroom break,¡± she announced, trying to sound casual. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire¨Cshe had to step out and cool down, fast. Ian¡¯s teasing voice followed her from behind. ¡°Ms. Grant, that look on your face is my favorite.¡± Ynda blinked, honestly having no idea what he was talking about. 7.44 It wasn¡¯t until she reached the hallway restroom and caught her own reflection¡ªeyes bright, cheeka tinged with a bashful warmth that she finally got it. So that¡¯s what he meant¡­ she realized, a little flustered. She washed her face, the emerald earrings making her look even more regal¨Cbut in her reflection, there was a hint of fox¨Clike charm in her eyes, as if she¡¯d been bewitched by some flirtatious vixen Turning to leave, she stepped out into the hallway¨Cand ran right into Quin Cooper and Leo. Quinn Cooper¡¯s eyes lit up as he grinned, ¡°Ynda, out for dinner tonight? All on your own?¡± Ynda had ditched her mask and hat, face fully out in the open. She just nodded, hoping to quietly slip past them. But Leo reached out and caught her hand, stopping her cold. Ynda furrowed her brows, giving him a pointed look. ¡°What is it now? You trying to get chewed out again?¡± Leo¡¯s gazended on Ynda¡¯s flushed cheeks. He was ready to let loose with a snarkyeback, but saw Quinn was watching and kept it in. He shot Ynda a re, frustration bubbling inside. ¡®Damn Ynda, damn that pampered pretty boy¨Cwhy can¡¯t the two of them just get lost already?¡® Leo brooded. Quinn shot both Ynda and Leo a look, eyes narrowed in mock seriousness. ¡°Hey Leo, hands off. Seriously.¡± Leo let go of her like he¡¯d just touched hot coal, chest rising and falling in irritation before he stomped off down the hall. Ynda whispered, ¡°Is he crazy or something?¡± Quinn¡¯s eyesnded on her cheeks, unable to hide his amusement at how flustered she looked. ¡°Ynda, you¡¯re seriously way too good¨Clooking for your own good! Next time, try bringing Charles with you -otherwise, with that cute face, someone¡¯s bound to mess with you. Don¡¯t mind Leo, he¡¯s been acting weirdtely. Maybe he¡¯s just hitting a rough patch or something,¡± Quinn joked, trying to lighten the mood. Readplete version only at find?novel Leo, who hadn¡¯t gotten far, overheard them and shot back, ¡°You¡¯re the crazy one¨Chell, your whole damn family is nuts!¡± Quinn chuckled as he pulled out a cigarette. They¡¯d been nning to hit the smoking lounge anyway. ¡°Ynda, Leo¡¯s picking up the tab tonight¡ªkind of his way of saying sorry. Your wrist¡¯s alright, isn¡¯t it?¡± Quinn asked, sounding genuinely concerned. Quinn¡¯s always been one of the few in this circle who treated Ynda with real respect. There were still a couple of red marks on Ynda¡¯s wrist from where Leo had grabbed her. With her fair, almost porcin skin, even the slightest pressure left a mark. 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± she replied, brushing it off. Ãñ¹ú Leo stormed back over, full of attitude. ¡°Come on, I didn¡¯t squeeze you that hard! What, are you made of dough or something? Seriously, quit acting so soft.¡± Ynda just snorted, refusing to dignify him with a reply, and coolly walked off. Leo was feeling all sorts of annoyed inside, like something was just stuck in his chest. Once Ynda had left, Quinn bumped Leo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Man, do you have to go all rough on Ynda every single time? She never does anything to piss you off! She¡¯s always so well¨Cbehaved, and yet you just love giving her a hard time. Seriously, you gotta stop being so petty.¡± ¡°Obedient? Ha!¡± Leo shot back, full of sarcasm. Leo let out a dramatic, mockingugh, dying to air out every dirty little secret Ynda was hiding. Sometimes, it felt like he was the only one who could see through her act¨Cthe only one in the world with a peek behind her mask. ¡®She¡¯s so infuriating, seriously,¡® he fumed to himself. He stared after Ynda¡¯s back, that restless frustration bubbling up in his chest, refusing to go away. Quinn gave Leo a yful shove, cigarette in hand. ¡°Come on, if Charles ever finds out you keep messing with his wife, he¡¯s gonna flip out.¡± Obviously, Quinn was just messing around¨CCharles would never get pissed at his bro just because of a girl. ***** Ynda came back into the private room to find Ian hanging out by the fish tank, watching the brightly colored fish dart around as he tossed in some fish food. When he spotted her, he handed her the container with a crooked smile. ¡°Here, wanna give it a try? These little guys are pretty hrious.¡± She was just about to take it when Ian caught sight of the marks on her wrist. His face fell instantly. ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Just ran into someone who totally lost it over nothing,¡± Ynda replied, her tone nonchnt. As soon as she finished, Ian let out a chuckle and leaned against her shoulder, the amusement clear in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Ynda asked, genuinely puzzled. ¡°Wow, this is honestly the first time I¡¯ve heard you talk trash about someone,¡± Ian said, his grin getting even wider. Ynda froze for a moment, realizing he was right. The Grant Family had always drilled into her to be 9:24 Inu, Uct 2 gracious, keep her manners, and never badmouth anyone. Ynda sprinkled some more fish food into the tank, a yful smirk on her lips. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head out. Mr. Maine just messaged¨Clooks like Starlight¡¯s got us swamped¡± ¡°How about we head to my ce?¡±n suggested, his voice low and teasing. He leaned in closer, resting his chin on her shoulder. Ynda didn¡¯t push him away. Once she stepped out of the room, Ynda was quick to put her hat and mask back on, purposely heading for the stairs¨Cno way was she running into Leo again if she could help it. But just as she was about to head out through the lobby, Ynda spotted Charles and Edward Siniring in with their crew. She instinctively shrank back, slipping behind a decorative screen to avoid being seen. Charles didn¡¯t notice her, took out a little white vitamin bottle, and popped a pill. Edward caught sight of the bottle and smiled with concern, ¡°Charles, are you sick or something?¡± ¡°Just some vitamins Ynda got me,¡± Charles said casually, walking inside. ¡°You know, she¡¯s totally crazy about me,¡± he added with aid¨Cback smirk. Edward¡¯s eyes narrowed, a sly edge to his nce. ¡®Getting Ynda to do the dirty work¨Clooks like I picked the right person for the job. Even if Charles didn¡¯t care much for Ynda, he¡¯d never embarrass her in public, not with Samuel in the picture. A ruthless glint shed in Edward¡¯s eyes¨Cnow it was just a matter of time before the stuff kicked in. After all, Ynda was the one who handed over the bottle. When things went south, he¡¯d just toss her to the wolves and let her take the me. Ynda heard Charles¡¯s words, her brows drawing together in suspicion. ¡®I handed him the bottle, and now he¡¯s switched it for vitamins? What is he up to?¡® ¡®Why would he say that with Edward standing right there? Is he trying to make Edward act sooner?¡® Ynda wondered, her mind sharp and restless. ¡®Wow, he¡¯s gotyers¨Cway more scheming than I realized,¡® Ynda couldn¡¯t help but think. Titan 150 Chapter 150 After the others left. Ynda stayed behind the screen. Ian came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. ¡°Did you really give him that bottle?¡± ¡°Yeah, but Charles said it on purpose,¡± she replied. ¡°Not sure your husband¡¯s ying this right. Sure, he¡¯s trying to push Edward into a move, but he basically just made you the biggest target in the room,¡± tanmented. Ynda raised an eyebrow and yfully patted his check. ¡°Not bad, you¡¯re pretty sharp.¡± ¡°Ms. Grant, you know you wouldn¡¯t keep a clueless fool at your side¨Cyou¡¯d be bored to death in no time,¡± teased. Honestly, she felt the same way about some of the talent at Starlight; a handful of them she just couldn¡¯t stand. She¡¯d realized long ago that Charles never really factored her into his ns. All he cared about was getting rid of those two uncles, not sparing a single thought for his own wife. Good thing she¡¯d figured it out early¨Cher heart was steady and unmoved. She slipped out of Ian¡¯s arms, stepped from behind the screen, and headed toward the car waiting outside. When they reached Ian¡¯s vi, she pulled out her tablet and continued negotiating the contract revisions with Jason. Ian had things to take care of, too¨Cbetween reshooting scenes and memorizing lines for the days ahead. Worried he might disturb Ynda by staying downstairs, he quickly pressed a kiss to her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to run through my lines,¡± Ian said. Ynda stayed glued to her tablet¨Cwork was all that mattered to her right now. ¡°Mm,¡± she murmured, not even ncing up. Ian didn¡¯t dare interrupt her. He quietly made his way upstairs to start rehearsing his lines. Ynda added a few more uses to the new contract draft, then turned to Jason. [Are these uses legally valid?] she asked. [Yeah,] he responded. Once she got his answer, she immediately reached out to Mary, fingers racing across the keyboard as she lost herself in her work. Just then, her phone buzzed¨Cit was ke calling. ¡°Renee¡¯spletely losing it¨Cshe¡¯s practically nuts. She trusts me, so Charles hasn¡¯t daredy a finger on me. Miss Grant, how far do you want me to go?¡± ke asked. Ynda answered the call, stepped aside, and stared out at thest rays of sunset. Her thoughts shed back to that child who had breathed theirst in her arms. ¡®Some scars never fade, she thought. ¡®If Renee can toss away lives like they¡¯re nothing, what gives her the right to hold onto hope?¡® Ynda sneered inwardly. ¡°I want you gone. Vanish from Beloris¨Ctonight. Go abroad and don¡¯t evere back. I¡¯ll send the rest of your payment right now. Tell your brother to hang in there,¡± Ynda said. ke¡¯s throat tightened. He took a deep breath and forced a smile. ¡°Miss Grant, you really are morepassionate than I thought. Got it, thank you,¡± he said. Leaving now would crush Renee¨Cshe¡¯d lose her mind. But she deserved it. Back at the Sinir estate, ke gently squeezed Renee¡¯s hand, eyes full of raw emotion. ¡°I need to step out and pick something up for you. Just wait for me, alright? Three hours, tops.¡± Renee couldn¡¯t cope without ke by her side, so Charles made sure he was brought over¨Cwhether ke wanted it or not, nobody bothered to ask. Panic flickered in Renee¡¯s gaze. Whenever she shut her eyes, all she saw were the eyes of that man¡ªthe one who attacked her¨Clike some blood¨Chungry beast. The only way she could sleep was by clinging to ke¡¯s hand. ¡°ke, please don¡¯t leave me,¡± Renee whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°Renee, I love you. I swear I won¡¯t leave you. There¡¯s something special I want to get for you, but I have to do it myself. I can¡¯t trust anyone else with this,¡± ke replied softly. Renee let out a shaky breath, her eyes growing red as she clung tightly to his waist. ¡°I know, I know you¡¯re the one who loves me most.¡± ke raised his hand and gently patted her head. ¡°Yeah, Renee, I love you more than anyone.¡± On his way downstairs, he bumped into Renee¡¯s mother, May. May wore a mocking look as she took a sip of coffee from the table. ¡°Renee liking you is your lucky break, but there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll marry you. That baby has to go, so you¡¯d better talk her into it yourself. Otherwise, the Sinir family won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± ke kept his head down, looking like he was resigned to it. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, I get it. I wouldn¡¯t dream of having Renee¨CI¡¯m just here to look after her, help her get back on 9:24 Thu, Oct 2 her feet,¡± ke replied, keeping his tone humble and cautious. May gave a mockingugh, not even bothering to call him out on his act. The moment ke stepped outside, every trace of respect vanished from his face. Without hesitation, he booked the earliest flight¨Cset to leave in three and a half hours¡ªand headed straight for the airport. Charles had eyes on ke¡¯s every move, but he was so convinced ke was gunning for a spot in the Sinir family¨Cno way he¡¯d bail before cashing in¨Cthat he let his guard down and forgot all about ke¡¯s flight info. His blind confidence became his undoing. As ke went through customs, his heart raced. He was terrified that Charles¡® people would stop him, and if that happened, everything would fall apart. But Ynda had warned him: Charles was cocky in some ways. Charles would never see iting¨Cke skipping town right before the prize was his for the taking. Renee sat cooped up in her room, counting the minutes¨Cthree and a half hours went by and ke still didn¡¯t show. Suddenly, she lost it¨Cshoving, smashing anything she could get her hands on. Renee cried out, her voice wild with desperation. ¡°I want ke! Where did you hide him? Please¨CI¡¯m begging you, just give him back to me!¡± She was already hurt, and with all this frantic thrashing, it was only a matter of time before her wounds split open again. May freaked out and immediately ordered people to search for ke, fuming as she ranted, ¡°He¡¯s basically Renee¡¯s servant now, and he thinks he can just walk off the job? Who does he think he is? Just wait till we drag him back¨CI¡¯ll make sure he knows his ce!¡± Renee sat curled up on the floor, clutching her head, refusing to go back to bed. She lookedpletely lost, her mind in shambles. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, please¨CDon¡¯t kill me!¡± Renee sobbed out, her voice hoarse with panic. She¡¯d always thought other people¡¯s lives didn¡¯t matter, never imagined one day she¡¯d be the one begging for hers. Renee pulled at her own hair and grabbed May¡¯s arm. ¡°Mom, do you know what happened? Somebody tried to kill me he had a knife, he just kept stabbing me!¡± ¨C Panic filled Renee¡¯s face as she desperately tried to scoot away, as if she could escape whatever was haunting her. May, who had always doted on her, felt tears prick her eyes. She pulled Renee into her arms. ¡°Renee, ke will be back soon. Don¡¯t be scared, sweetheart.¡± A glimmer of hope shed in Renee¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah, where is ke? He protected me¨Cright now, I need ke,¡± 9:25 Thu, Oct 2 she said, her voice trembling. But the people May sent out soon came back saying they couldn¡¯t reach ke by phone¨Cnobody had idea where he¡¯d vanished to. any May was about to lose it. She snatched up her phone and dialed Charles without a second thought. Charles was knee¨Cdeep in cleaning up the mess the Andrade family had dumped in hisp. Vivian had brokered thest shipping route, but now that she was in aa, Jonathan Andrade had jumped in himself. The partners were blowing up his phone, pressing for the whole story between him and the Andrade family. Charles had a scheme to gradually phase out the Andrade family¡¯s influence on this shipping route, but it was going to be a hassle for a while¨Che¡¯d have to start rebuilding connections with Draknd from scratch. ¡°Charles, ke disappeared four hours ago. It¡¯s already ten o¡¯clock, and he still hasn¡¯te back. Renee¡¯s been crying nonstop, and I can¡¯t get her to calm down. Could you maybe have someone look for him?¡± May asked, her voice tight with worry. Charles wasn¡¯t about to take his frustration out on his family, so he immediately told Jack to track ke down. But ten minutester, Jack walked into the study, his face grim. Get full chapters from find?novel ¡°CEO, ke booked a flight four hours ago. He¡¯s already on the ne,¡± Jack said, his voice low and serious. Charles let out a coldugh. ¡°Come again?¡± He gave off an aura that made the room feel like an icebox. Jack lowered his head, struggling to get the words out. ¡°ke skipped town.¡± AD Titan 151 ¡°All he¡¯s ever wanted was to get into the Sinir family, and now that Renee can¡¯t live without him, he just took off like this?¡± Charles said. ¡°Yeah, we managed to get his flight info,¡± one of the staff replied. ¡°Check with the airport, see if he really boarded,¡± Charles demanded. ¡°Already checked. ke Alston did board the ne,¡± the staff reported. Charles rubbed his temples, suspicion gnawing at him¨Cdid something serious just pop up for ke out of the blue? Just then, May called again. ¡°Charles, any progress catching him? ke sure knows how to y games, huh? Pulling a disappearing act just to get us to treat him nicer. And now, with Renee so dependent on him, I bet he¡¯ll be asking for the moon any minute!¡± May said. Charles had thought exactly that at first, but now that ke really was gone, he started to doubt whether it was all just a scheme. May was still ranting on the phone, and Charles suddenly heard a loud crashing from upstairs. ¡°Just get ke back within half an hour, no matter what it takes. Whatever he asks for, we¡¯ll give it to him,¡± May urged. Money¡¯s never been a problem for us anyway. ¡°Mom, ke¡¯s already left the country,¡± Charles said. May sounded incredulous, almost mocking, ¡°He just left the country? Didn¡¯t bother to say a word to us?¡± She¡¯d thought Charles was kidding, but he wouldn¡¯t joke at a moment like this. May¡¯s voice suddenly took on a worried edge. ¡°So what do we do? Renee only wants ke.¡± Charles sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°If we really can¡¯t find him, maybe we should get a psychologist over here.¡± There wasn¡¯t much else they could do, anyway. The Sinir family wasted no time calling in a psychologist, but as soon as Renee realized ke wasn¡¯t there, she went wild¨Cscreaming, curling up on her bed, hurling pillows, smashing whatever she could grab, and more than once threatening to throw herself out the window. The whole house was thrown into chaos by her breakdown. May tried to hold her back, but ended up with several scratches on her arm for her trouble. 9:25 Thu, Oct 2 Renee tuned out everyone else, just crying out for ke over and over again. ¡°You killed ke! You all just want to ruin my life! If he doesn¡¯te back, I swear I¡¯m jumping¡± Renee shricked at the top of her lungs. With Rence shutting everyone out, even the psychologist couldn¡¯t do a thing. By now, Renee¡¯s room was a disaster zone¨Cbarely anything was left whole, and she even chucked the food at the walls whenever someone tried to bring her a meal. It only took half a day for the Sinir household to turn intoplete chaos¨Cpeople running around, shouting, no one knowing what to do. That¡¯s when May remembered Ynda. She dialed her up instantly, insisting that she needed to get back ASAP and deal with Renee. ¡°You need to be here within the hour. It¡¯s on you to look after the Sinir family,¡± May urged. Ynda was still over at Ian¡¯s ce, coordinating with a few Starlight execs. She also had to y her part in front of Charles, so now really was the time to head over to the Sinir house. She stood up, put her tablet away, and made her way upstairs. Through the open crack of a door, she heard Ian talking on the phone. ¡°Of course I want them to suffer. I can only feel better when they¡¯re miserable, understand?¡± Ian¡¯s voice came through. Ynda¡¯s hand hesitated for a split second as she prepared to knock, but honestly, she wasn¡¯t the slightest bit surprised that Ian had such a domineering, almost menacing side to him. Knock, knock. She knocked twice, her tone cool and detached. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the Sinir family.¡± Ian hurriedly hung up and turned around, the fierce edge in his demeanor vanishing instantly. ¡°Leaving now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ian couldn¡¯t bear to let her leave, so he grabbed her from the hallway, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her, gently cupping her face. Ynda let out a muffled gasp of surprise. He pinned her against the door; her hand pressed against his chest, trying to steady herself. ¡®I swear, you can literally tell he¡¯s gotten way better at this,¡® Ynda thought. ¡°They¡¯re going to make things difficult for you again,¡± Ian murmured. 9:25 Thu, Oct 2 2 55 vouchers Ynda turned her head away, feelingn¡¯s lips teasing along her neck. ¡°Don¡¯t leave any marks,¡± she reminded him. Earlier, he¡¯d been a little too eager, going over the same spots and leaving some new, deeper hickeys, practically walking a tightrope¨Cwho knew when Charles would notice? Neither of them could risk Charles blowing up at them right now. ¡°I won¡¯t, I promise,¡± Ian replied, a hint of mischief in his voice. His lips grazed slowly over her skin, hisshes lowering to hide the burning heat in his gaze. Ynda¡¯s phone started ringing again¡ªthis time it was Charles. She guessed he wanted her to head straight over to the Sinir ce, since he was tied up and she¡¯d have to cover for him. She tapped the answer button and shot Ian a warning re. He instantly calmed down, but couldn¡¯t fully hold back, still stealing little pecks at her neck. ¡°Babe,¡± Ynda greeted him. ¡°Ynda, did Mom call you yet?¡± Charles asked. ¡°Yeah, Mom called. I¡¯m heading over now. What¡¯s going on with Renee?¡± Ynda asked, acting clueless but sounding sincerely concerned. Charles didn¡¯t say anything for a moment. Honestly, Renee had brought this whole mess on herself, and it was probably for the best if Ynda stayed out of the details¨Csave her from holding any grudges. ¡°Her mood¡¯s pretty rough. Go check on her, but just be careful not to get hurt yourself,¡± Charles said. ¡°Will do,¡± Ynda replied. She hung up, pried Ian¡¯s hand off her waist, sending him a clear warning to behave. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find(?)ovel His favorite ce was always her waist¨Chis hands fit around it perfectly. She wasn¡¯t just skinny, she had curves that could turn anyone¡¯s head. Just a nce was enough to make your heart skip a beat. Ynda needed to leave, so she tidied up her outfit in the bathroom mirror, making sure everything looked wless and crease¨Cfree. Ian leaned in the doorway, half¨Ccasual, his eyes locked onto her gentle, delicate profile. He swallowed hard, muscles visibly tense as he stepped over, sliding up behind her, surrounding her between his arms and the sink. ¡°You¡¯re really beautiful¡­¡± Ian murmured, his voice rough with emotion, pressing his face into Ynda¡¯s neck. He breathed in her scent, voice barely above a whisper, thick with longing. 9:25 Thu, Oct 2 Ynda buttoned up her shirt, knowing when enough was enough. Es voucher Ian lingered for a moment before pulling away, his eyes still wet at the corners. ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± She just gave him a look, not denying it, then pushed him away. ¡°I gotta go,¡± Ynda said. He didn¡¯t dare get in the way, just gave a soft ¡°Okay¡± and hooked his pinky with hers. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to text me back.¡± He looked genuinely worried she might not reply¨Cwith both of them so busy, texting was all they had to stay close. ¡°I will,¡± she replied. She gave him a quick smile and went to change in the next room¨Cthere was no way May would let her show up in this business suit. She switched to something soft and elegant, almost debutante¨Clike. When Ian saw here out in that lotus pink dress, his gaze instantly brightened. Ynda was about to head downstairs when he slipped his arms around her waist from behind. ¡°Ynda, you¡¯re not allowed to have any other pets but me, got it? Or else¡­¡± Ian murmured, sounding half- joking but with an edge. Even with his yful, vulnerable tone, there was a hidden intensity in his words¡ªsomething dark and fiercely possessive, lurking just beneath the surface. Ynda didn¡¯t notice the hidden edge in his voice¨Cshe just went, ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± while checking her phone. ¡°Let go, it¡¯s gettingte.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Ian said firmly. ¡°Yeah, got it,¡± Ynda replied, brushing him off without much interest. She barely spared him a nce as she nudged him away and headed straight downstairs. Ian just stood there, eyes locked on her retreating figure, aplicated mix of longing and possessiveness flickering deep in his gaze, even after she¡¯d gone. Titan 152 1455 vouchers As Ynda approached the gates of the Sinir estate, she pulled out her phone and dialed Charles. ¡°Hey, honey, I¡¯m here. I¡¯m heading in now. Don¡¯t worry about a thing¨Cjust focus on work,¡± she said, her voice warm and reassuring. Given all the drama between her and Renee, the fact that Ynda came over to help so soon made her look like an absolute angel in Charles¡¯s eyes¨Cso caring and sensible. That¡¯s exactly how she wanted Charles to see her, which was why she made sure to call him first. As soon as she stepped into the living room, May¡¯s sharp eyes zeroed in on her. She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Go on, head upstairs. You¡¯re good at ying nice, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ynda just smiled, acting all meek and obedient, and headed straight upstairs. Inside, Renee was still sobbing, curled up on the floor with her knees hugged to her chest. Ynda gently pushed the door open and walked in, carefully picking up a few things from the floor. ¡°Renee, are you alright?¡± she asked softly. At the sound of her voice, Renee¡¯s head snapped up, her expression suddenly turning fierce. ¡°What are you doing here?! You came just tough at me, didn¡¯t you? You bitch!¡± Renee yelled. Sheunched herself at Ynda, trying to wrap her hands around her throat. Ynda shielded herself with the pillow and said softly¨Cin a voice dripping with sarcasm-¡°Yep, that¡¯s right. I came here just to watch you fall apart. And I¡¯m here to let you know: ke¡¯s done with you. He doesn¡¯t want you anymore.¡± Those words sent Renee reeling, like she¡¯d just been punched in the gut. Her face drained of all color, and her legs buckled, leaving her kneeling on the floor. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be! ke loves me, he can¡¯t survive without me! He just went out to buy me a present,¡± she stammered, desperately clutching onto hope. ¡°Oh, is that the surprise you were hoping for? Renee, tell me, what do you have that makes anyone want you anyway?¡± Ynda sneered. A panicked look shed in Renee¡¯s eyes as she wrapped her arms tight around her head. ¡°No¡­ No way¡­ ke loves me! I know you¡¯re lying. You have to be lying to me¡­¡± ke was the center of her entire world¨Cand now, with him gone, everything inside her shattered in an instant. She kept mumbling the words in a broken loop, still kneeling with her head in her arms. ¡°No¡­ Impossible¡­ He loves me. He really loves me¡­¡± 10:15 Fri, Oct 3 -80 55 vouchers May hovered outside the door for a bit. When the crying finally died down, she couldn¡¯t help herself¨Cshe quietly nudged the door open and slipped inside. What greeted her was Rence, still kneeling on the floor and muttering under her breathpletely out of it. May stormed over, grabbed Ynda¡¯s arm in a rage, and hissed, ¡°What the hell did you do to her?!¡± Ynda frowned and kept leisurely picking things up from the floor. ¡°I just said a few things to calm her down¨Cbeats letting her wreck the whole ce, doesn¡¯t it? If you don¡¯t like how I¡¯m dealing with her, I might as well leave right now.¡± Before Ynda showed up, Renee had been crying, yelling, and smashing stuff nonstop¨Ceven May, her own mother, couldn¡¯t take it anymore. There was no way she¡¯d let Ynda walk out now. May took a deep breath, biting back the urge tosh out. ¡°You just stay right here! Charles will be back this evening. You¡¯ll all have dinner together, then you can go.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Ynda replied, still acting all sweet and obedient. Ynda kept picking up the mess, looking like she was genuinely there to take care of Renee. May wanted to help Renee up, but the scratches on her arm throbbed painfully. She shot Ynda a sharp look. ¡°You help her to the bed. What if she messes up her knees like this? Can you take responsibility for that?¡± May snapped. Ynda nodded, still wearing that sweet, obedient smile. ¡°I¡¯ll clean up the floor first, then I¡¯ll help her to bed.¡± May finally seemed satisfied, sneering, ¡°No wonder a Grant woman knows how to serve¨Cyou¡¯re good at this, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t respond to May¡¯s jab, just kept quiet until May finally left. As soon as the door clicked shut, she turned her attention back to Renee, who was still muttering to herself. Once the room was spotless, Ynda picked up her phone and called Charles. ¡°Renee¡¯s calmed down now. I tidied everything up, so the ce looks perfect. You cane get me whenever you¡¯re ready,¡± she said, her tone sweet and reassuring. Charles felt his heart settle, the tension melting from his eyes. ¡°Got it. I¡¯lle pick you up tonight.¡± Before, Ynda would do all the work and only let Charles see the tip of the iceberg. Now, she did just a little and made sure Charles saw every bit of her effort. The more sweet and well¨Cbehaved she acted, the less Charles suspected she was up to anything shady¨Cor that any of this drama had anything to do with her. After all, she was a true Grant¨Ctrained to handle things wlessly. 10:15 Fri, Oct 3 Ynda bent down and reached out, ready to help Renee up. A Bal se vouchers Renee¡¯s eyes were zing red, and she looked like she was about to go off and start screaming, but Ynda cut her off, saying, ¡°ke wanted me to tell you something before he left.¡± At that, a desperate spark red up in Renee¡¯s eyes. She was so careful, almost whispering, ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°He said he never loved you. You were never worthy,¡± Ynda answered, her voice t and cold. Renee¡¯s face went ghostly pale, and she nearly fainted on the spot. Her body went limp, like all the strength had just drained out of her. Ynda easily maneuvered her onto the bed, barely breaking a sweat. Renee was absolutely devastated. Shey there motionless, eyes fixed on the ceiling, lookingpletely hollow¨Clike her whole world had copsed and there was nothing left inside her. Ynda thought, ¡®She deserves every bit of this! Ynda quirked a small smile, found a book, and perched by the window to read. When she figured it was about time for Charles to show up, she moved over and sat down on the edge of the bed. She¡¯d barely been there ten minutes when Charles pushed the door open, with May trailing right behind him. Seeing Renee asleep, May let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°She¡¯s finally behaving herself now. She was out of control all morning¨Ccrying and screaming nonstop.¡± Charles walked over and gave Ynda a gentle hug. ¡°Thank you for everything. You¡¯ve worked hard today.¡± Ynda stood up, looking sweet as ever. ¡°Really, it¡¯s no trouble. I was just doing what I¡¯m supposed to.¡± Charles¡¯s gaze shimmered for a moment, and he reached out to softly ruffle her hair. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find{n}ovel Just then, Renee suddenly snapped. Out of nowhere, she snatched up the vase from the nightstand and hurled it straight at them. Ynda instinctively threw herself in front of Charles- the vase smashed into her forehead with a sickening thud, opening a nasty gash as blood instantly streamed down her face. Renee¡¯s eyes zed red, wild and feral like a monster. ¡°If you don¡¯t love me, then you can all just die! Every single one of you deserves to die!¡± she screamed. She sprang off the bed, stormed over to the window, and flung herself out without hesitation. It was just a two¨Cstory house¨Cshe wasn¡¯t gonna die from the jump, but her leg broke with a nasty snap. The whole Sinir ce turned into a madhouse. People were yelling, running around, and someone was already dialing the doctor. 65 vouchers The family doctor showed up in like ten minutes, barely out of his car before May practically shoved him straight at Renee¡¯s busted leg. The doctor¡¯s attention went straight to Ynda¡¯s forehead¨Cthere was no missing the obvious streak of blood. May snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there¨Ccheck Renee¡¯s leg!¡± Ynda kept her hand pressed to her forehead as blood slowly oozed between her fingers. Face pale, she managed a nod. ¡°Please, help Renee first.¡± Charles¡¯s brow furrowed as he pulled Ynda into his arms. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡± ¡°But¡­ what about Renee?¡± Ynda said weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Seriously? At a time like this, you¡¯re still worrying about her?¡± Charles shot back, his tone firm. Ynda didn¡¯t say another word, letting Charles all but bundle her into the car. As they were getting ready to leave, May hurried out after them. ¡°Dinner¡¯s on the table¨Caren¡¯t you staying to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking Ynda to the hospital,¡± Charles said firmly. ¡°Go to the hospital? For what? It¡¯s just a tiny cut¨Cit¡¯ll stop bleeding in a minute. You¡¯re making such a fuss! You haven¡¯t even spoken to Renee yet¨Cand once she starts flipping out again, how am I supposed to handle her on my own?¡± Mayined, her tone sharp and impatient. Charles picked up a tissue and carefully dabbed the blood from Ynda¡¯s fingers, his gaze steady and serious. ¡°Then let¡¯s send her to a rehab center. She¡¯ll have professionals to take care of her there.¡± May stared in shock, as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. ¡°Sending Renee off to a recovery center- are you really just going to let everyone know she¡¯s lost her mind?¡± ¡°Charles, she¡¯s your sister!¡± May snapped, her voice sharp with anger. ¡°Mom, Ynda is my wife. I can¡¯t keep letting her get hurt every single time shees over,¡± Charles said, his tone firm and protective. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what she¡¯s here for? It¡¯s just a little wound! The Sinir family has done so much for her already!¡± May shot back, her voice sharp and dismissive. Charles¡¯s gaze went cold and sharp as he stared at May. May pressed her lips together, voice unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m not sending Renee to a recovery center.¡± ¡°Then you deal with her yourself. And don¡¯t ever call Ynda over again,¡± Charles said, his tone absolute. Titan 153 Chapter 153 Read full story at FindN0vel May felt a surge of panic. Charles had never defended Ynda like this before. Just what happenedtely? she asked herself. She tightened her fist at her side, struggling to speak, but in the end, she stayed silent. As the car slowly rolled forward, Ynda felt a bit dizzy, but she couldn¡¯t help trying to convince Charles. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t talk to May like that. Renee¡¯s like this, and it hurts her too.¡± Charles gave her cheek a yful pinch. ¡°Even now, you¡¯re worried about others. That¡¯s why you¡¯re my amazing wife.¡± Ynda let her eyshes drop, forcing a bitter smile. ¡°You chose Renee over me before. I know she¡¯s so important to you, so that¡¯s why I always did my best to look after her. Thinking of you is the least I can do, honey.¡± Charles¡¯s yful smile faded, reced by a look of silent wonder as he saw how earnest she was. ¡®She really is hopelessly sincere,¡® he thought, a strange ache rising in his chest. Even he still thought what he had done¨Cthe trade¨Cwas unforgivable, yet Ynda spoke about it so lightly, as if it was just another small thing in life. It was proof she never once resented him. Only someone that gentle would rush over to care for Renee like this today. ¡®She really does love me¡­¡® he thought. At the hospital, the doctor patched up Ynda¡¯s wound. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t need any stitches¨Cit just bled quite a bit. Once she was bandaged up, Ynda sat quietly in a chair, waiting for the test results. Charles had insisted on getting her checked for a concussion, worried something might¡¯ve been missed. The nurse nced at her and spoke up. ¡°Your husband treats you so well. This is just a minor injury¨Cthere¡¯s really no way you¡¯d have a concussion, but he wouldn¡¯t rest until we ran all the tests.¡± ¡°Plus, he¡¯s super handsome and probably loaded. You¡¯re one lucky girl.¡± Ynda simply smiled, staying silent. When the results came back clear, Charles guided Ynda back to the car, supporting her the whole way. He took a wet wipe from Jiang and began cleaning her fingertips, gently removing the dried blood that lingered in the creases of her skin. He went over each finger, utterly focused, his movements slow and careful¨Clike she was the most precious thing in the world to him.
  1. IV.
65 vouchers When they got home, Charles¡¯s phone rang. It was Quinn Cooper, asking him toe over for drinks. He¡¯d been busy with things at the Andrade manortely, so he hadn¡¯t gotten in touch with his friends for quite a while. Tonight, he finally had a free moment, but for whatever reason, he just didn¡¯t want to go. That kind of thought had never even crossed his mind before. Ynda let out a big yawn, her eyes sleepy. ¡°I¡¯m heading to bed, just wanna have some quiet time to myself.¡± Charles walked her to the living room. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go hang out with Quinn and the guys for a bit. Ynda nodded. Charles stepped into the private lounge and saw the crew was already there, hanging out. True to form, Quinn had a few gorgeous party girls around, shing that mischievous grin of his. ¡°You¡¯ve been tied uptely, huh? Been calling you nonstop, but you just ghost me,¡± Quinn teased. Charles sat down, gracefully undoing his tie with those long, elegant fingers. One of the party girls instantly scooted closer, trying to feed him a grape. He tilted his head away, looking icy. ¡°Sit over there.¡± The girl paused, visibly disappointed, and hurried to sit next to Quinn instead. Quinn took a few seconds to react, then tsked, waving for the girls to head out. ¡°What¡¯s got into you, Charles? Settling down or something? Anyway, it¡¯s been a while since you brought that little actress along,¡± Quinn teased. Back then, Charles used to bring Sophie to parties like this without a care, and nobody would¡¯ve ever bothered Ynda about it. Charles picked up a ss of wine, a soft smile shing across his face. ¡°Ynda¡¯s honestly amazing.¡± Quinn perked up, clearly loving the gossip. ¡°Dude, Ynda¡¯s waited fifteen whole years for you, and now the jerk finallyes to his senses? Seriously, that¡¯s something worth celebrating. Wanna throw a party? Have all your old flings over and just tell them it¡¯s done.¡± Charles just smiled, keeping his silence. Quinn¡¯s smirk disappeared in an instant and he shot up in his seat, stunned. ¡°Holy crap, are you actually serious?¡± Leo was sitting off to the side, ying a game on his phone. But the second they brought up Ynda, his thumbs froze. He was totally zoned out, mind drifting way off¨Cthere was no way he could concentrate anymore. 10:15 Fri, Oct 3 Charles leaned back, carrying a mix of gentle charm and that signature hint of recklessness. ¡°Who knows? Maybe it¡¯s time I actually take things seriously.¡± He shared how he¡¯d once put Rence above Ynda, making that trade¨Cthen went on about how, even tonight, Ynda had rushed over to care for Renee. As he spoke, his gaze softened, filled with a quiet tenderness. Quinn set his ss down with a sigh. ¡°Honestly, man, what you did back then was really unfair. Ynda¡¯s always been kind of timid¨Cyou can imagine how freaked out she must¡¯ve been. Yet tonight she still went out of her way to look after Rence, like, she absolutely adores you. From day one, she¡¯s never bothered to hide how much she cares, not even a little. Sure, I always joke she¡¯s got a one¨Ctrack mind for love and that falling for you¡¯s basically ruined her life, but truth is, I¡¯m kinda jealous. Most girls are after your money, but she¡¯s only ever wanted you for you.¡± Leo dug at his ear, half¨Cconvinced he was hearing things. ¡®What the hell is this?¡® Ynda¡¯s supposed to be into Charles? For real?¡® ¡®Get outta here! The guy¡¯s got women all over town!¡® ¡®Man, what a faker¨Cying everyone like that.¡® Leo clenched his phone, shooting Quinn a look that could kill. Quinn caught him staring, touched his face and joked, ¡°What? Is there something smudged on my cheek?¡± Leo smirked, his tone dripping with bite. ¡°Nope, not a thing.¡± Out of everyone in the lounge, only Leo really knew what Ynda was truly like. Thinking about that, a strange warmth bloomed in his chest. He set his phone aside and quietly stared at the drink in his ss. Quinn¡¯s mood soured in an instant and he kicked at Leo. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting real weirdtely, man. That look you gave me were you trying tough at me or what?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Leo replied, ice¨Ccold. Quinn was about to go off on him, but then remembered they were still talking about Ynda, so he just let out a sigh. ¡°Charles, if you¡¯re really thinking about settling down with Ynda, then it¡¯s time to get serious and stop messing around. You¡¯re still in the game, man¨Cit¡¯s not toote. She¡¯s your wife, the one you actually put your name next to on that marriage certificate. Ande on, with how stunning she is, you know half the guys out there are probably dreaming about stealing her away,¡± Quinn said. Just as Quinn finished speaking, Leo suddenly cut in, ¡°Heard Joelle Monroe¡¯sing back.¡± 10:15 Fri, Oct 3 The lounge went dead quiet, and Quinn clicked his tongue. ¡°Seriously? You just had to bring that up, huh?¡± Leo pulled out his phone again and fired up a random game, not really paying attention. ¡°Me, bringing it up on purpose? I¡¯m just stating facts. Joelle Monroe made an announcement overseas¨Cshe¡¯sing back to make it big here. Wasn¡¯t she always Charles¡¯s dream girl, the one that got away? Pretty obvious she¡¯s got her sights set on him this time. Back when Charles had his ident, she ran off with some nobody, but now she¡¯s a famous actress¨Cprobably hoping to pick up where she left off¡± When Joelle¡¯s name came up, Quinn didn¡¯t know what to say. Back then, Joelle could¡¯ve just ridden Charles¡¯s coattails and worked the scene in the entertainment world, but nope¨Cshe was after the real deal: love, honesty, and some damn respect. Charles couldn¡¯t give her what she wanted, so she bailed. Ever since then, she¡¯s been the girl who stayed stuck in his heart¨Cthe one he calls his ¡°white moonlight.¡± Charles was totally into her. Joelle had this stubborn streak, made guys wanna win her over just to see if they could. She¡¯s been killing it abroad these past few years, and word is Charles actually flew out to see her more than once. Honestly? He still can¡¯t get her out of his head. Leo kept tapping at his phone, looking like he was totally into his game, but then just threw out, ¡°Charles, if Joelle Monroees back, would you try to rekindle things with her?¡± Quinn nced at Charles too, but Charles just gripped his ss and stayed silent. Quinn let out a sigh of relief. ¡°With this guy still acting like a total yer, I swear Ynda¡¯s probably got another fifteen years of waiting ahead of her.¡± Leo lowered his eyes, his fingers just mindlessly swiping at his phone¨Ceven though his game character had gotten killed a long time ago. Titan 154 Ynday awake in bed, unable to sleep. Eventually, she got up and browsed through Starlight¡¯s files, lost in thought. She might hold real authority now, but the shares in Starlight were still firmly in the hands of those male higher¨Cups. Leon Cole was gone, but he was still clutching his shares. Ynda¡¯s gaze dropped as she mulled it over. Follow current nov?ls on findnovel ¡®If I don¡¯t get those shares, Starlight will never truly be mine. Only with those shares in my possession will it actually belong to me,¡® Ynda thought to herself. ¡®I¡¯ve got to find a way to get those shares from Leon Cole,¡® she resolved. Early the next morning, she went to meet Leon Cole in person. Leon Cole¡¯s case was still working its way through the process, and for now he was simply being held in custody.. As soon as he saw Ynda, his eyes shed with hatred, and he looked like he was about to lunge at her, barely holding back his fury. ¡°You bitch! You fucking bitch! When I get out, I swear I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Leon Cole spat at her. Ynda didn¡¯te alone this time¨Cshe had Jason Maine with her. Jason stood just behind her, all business¨Chis expression unreadable, like emotions were something he¡¯d left at the door. Ynda eased herself into the chair, a pleasant smile on her face. ¡°Mr. Cole, your fifty¨Cplus properties are already up for auction, but even if they all sell for market price, you¡¯ll still be drowning in debt. I¡¯ve got a way for you to clear all those debts. Care to talk it over?¡± Leon Cole gave a coldugh as the truth dawned on him. ¡°You want my shares? Not a chance in hell! I¡¯d rather die clutching them than hand them over to you!¡± he spat. ¡°Mr. Cole, those shares aren¡¯t doing you any good in here. I¡¯ll buy them at market price¨Cand drop thewsuit. What do you say?¡± Ynda replied calmly. Leon Cole¡¯s eyes went wide, disbelief all over his face as his throat tightened. ¡°Are you seriously telling me you¡¯d drop the charge?¡± Ynda gave a soft smile. ¡°The shares are what I really care about. And let¡¯s be honest, Mr. Cole, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s any bad blood between us, right?¡± Leon Cole instantly quieted down, sitting with his hands folded in front of him, caught up weighing his options. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 $80 55 vouchers Ynda stood up. ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, no problem¨CI¡¯ll just talk to someone else. Tony Sutton pissed off the wrong person recently and he¡¯s still stuck in the hospital. Maybe he¡¯ll be easier to deal with.¡± These guys might be a clique, but there was zero real trust between them. Leon Cole immediately panicked. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll sell! Ten percent of Starlight, at market price. Just make sure you really drop thewsuit¨Cdon¡¯t screw me over!¡± Anyone with half a brain would know what choice to make right now. Just like Ynda said, those shares were worthless to him locked up behind bars. Ynda leaned back, her lips curling into a cool smile as she nodded to Jason. ¡°Slide Mr. Cole the share transfer paperwork.¡± Leon Cole didn¡¯t hesitate¨Dhe scrawled his signature, all the while watching Ynda rise from her seat. ¡°The money will go through the official channels andnd in your ount. When you¡¯re finally out, Mr. Cole, maybe you should take a good hard look at who convinced you to target me. You had cash and power¨Cnone of this had to happen. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say. Take care,¡± Ynda said. Leon Cole¡¯s face stayed cold, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles whitened, but after a long, tense pause, he slowly let them go. Of course, he¡¯d only made a move because someone in his own crew had provoked him. Ynda headed out and hopped in the driver¡¯s seat, with Jason Maine sliding into the passenger side beside her. She gripped the steering wheel, listening as Jason asked, ¡°Does Mr. Sinir even know you¡¯re gunning for those Starlight shares?¡± ¡°Is that really any of your concern, Mr. Maine?¡± Ynda shot back. Jason clutched the documents, sitting stiff and upright, his tone never wavering. ¡°Just routine as a Sinir Group employee. If you¡¯d rather I keep quiet, I¡¯ll stay out of it.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t go bbing,¡± Ynda replied. ¡°If I want Starlight to really be mine, I need to have absolute control over the shares.¡± Jason nced over. ¡°Does Mr. Sinir know just how big you¡¯re aiming with all this?¡± ¡®The reason I picked you for the legal team, Mr. Maine, is because I know exactly how you operate,¡® Ynda thought, a hint of satisfaction flickering in her mind. Jason sat rock¨Cstraight, as always, in his signature light suit, totally expressionless. ¡®What a waste on that handsome face,¡® Ynda couldn¡¯t help but think. Ynda drove straight to the hospital¨Cthis time, it was the one where Tony Sutton was staying. Starlight was just a minor subdivision within the Sinir Group, and Charles never cared much for those shares or its business. That¡¯s why Edward Sinir and the rest of the family used it as a tool to gather support. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 80 55 Vouchers Edward passed out shares to these guys, but he also set things up so they¡¯d constantly keep each other in check. Each clique had its own backer¨CLeon Cole¡¯s crew had Edward Sinir behind them, while the other group was probably under the wing of Charles¡¯s uncle, Richard Sinir. Even though Richard got exiled to some out¨Cof¨Ctown branch, he could still reach his hands this far. That was impressive. Ynda pushed open the door to Tony¡¯s hospital room, and the instant he saw her, his eyes flickered with dread. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that night¨Cjust a few dirty jokes about Ynda, and the Lawson family¡¯s young master had knocked him out cold. It was only recently that he¡¯d realized his attacker was actually the little prince of the Lawson family. The Lawsons were huge in Beloris, and their boss, Xavier, was infamous for his iron¨Cfisted style. Tony knew better than to get on their bad side. ¡®Wait¡­ could Ynda be the Lawson prince¡¯s girl?¡® Tony thought, a chill running down his spine. His lips lost all color, fear etched across his face¨Cthere was no way he¡¯d dare give her any attitude now. Ynda pulled up a chair by the bed, shing an easy smile. ¡°So, word is you¡¯re holding eight percent of Starlight shares. Any chance you¡¯d sell?¡± She¡¯d expected this to be a tough negotiation, but to her surprise, Tony gave in almost instantly. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll sell. Miss Grant, I didn¡¯t even know who I was messing with before!¡± Tony blurted, his tone full of regret. Ynda lifted an eyebrow, thinking to herself, ¡®Did getting KO¡¯d actually make him smarter, or did it just fry his brain?¡® Either way, she wasn¡¯t interested in digging further. She just motioned for Jason to hand over the paperwork. Tony signed right away, swallowing nervously. ¡°Miss Grant, I¡¯ve always had Starlight¡¯s back. Since I didn¡¯t hesitate, could you give me another shot¨Cmaybe let me back on the team? I swear I¡¯ll never cross you again. Whatever you say, I¡¯ll do it¡ªno questions asked!¡± Ynda gave a coldugh as she stood. ¡°Forget it. There¡¯s no way you¡¯reing back to Starlight. The payout from your shares will hit your ount soon enough¨Cyou won¡¯t have to worry about making a living. You¡¯d better start looking for a new gig.¡± Tony¡¯s face darkened, clearly stunned by how ruthless she was. His hand at his side slowly curled into a fist as he forced out through gritted teeth, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll stay out of your way from now on, Miss Grant.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t waste another second listening to him. She just turned on her heel and walked out. Snagging eighteen percent of the shares just like that felt great, but it was nowhere near enough for Ynda¡¯s 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 big ns. The Sa Vouchers She leaned back in her seat, fingers drumming on the wheel, lost in thought¨Cuntil Jason piped up from beside her. ¡°Once you trade more than five percent of the shares, it¡¯s gotta go public,¡± he reminded. In other words, Charles and Edward Sinir were bound to catch wind of it, whether she liked it or not. Ynda pressed down on the gas pedal, her lips curling into a sly grin. ¡°Let them go at each other¡¯s throats all they want. If they¡¯re too busy wing for power, they won¡¯t even notice a small fry like Starlight slipping through their fingers. Mr. Maine, I want an absolute controlling stake in Starlight. When ites to selling or keeping thispany, the final word will be mine alone.¡± To pull that off, she¡¯d have to own a majority stake¨Cover fifty¨Cone percent¨Cwhich meant sweeping up every single share those guys at the top still held. ¡°You¡¯ve got some seriously big ns, Mrs. Grant. I don¡¯t think I can sign up for this ride¨CMr. Sinir¡¯s done right by me,¡± Jason admitted. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to stab him in the back. Just keep my name out of it when you¡¯re talking to him,¡± Ynda told him. Jason turned his head to take her in. She was beaming now, her whole vibe worlds apart from the innocent, well¨Cbehaved persona she¡¯d shown before. He shifted his gaze, watching the scenery outside in silence. AD Comment Titan 155 555 vouchers Ynda drove to Sinir Group to drop Jason off, nning to see Charles while she was there. Jason kept his distance from her. As soon as they arrived in the underground parking garage, he went straight for the elevator dedicated to the executive floors, leaving Ynda behind. Ironically, even as the CEO¡¯s Wife, Ynda didn¡¯t have the ess card for that elevator. Seriously? I still can¡¯t get into the VIP area, she thought wryly, so she had to go up to the lobby first. Ynda figured Jason probably thought she had a pass already, which was why he didn¡¯t bother waiting for her. Ynda stepped into the regr elevator next to it, only to spot Sophie, all bundled up like she was trying hard not to get recognized. Sophie¡¯s face was full of surprise. ¡°Tessa? What brings you to Sinir Group?¡± She was carrying an insted lunch container, packed with home¨Ccooked food¨Cevery single dish was Charles¡¯s favorite. These days, Sophie hung on Ynda¡¯s every word, her attitude toward her as friendly as could be. Ynda nced at the lunch box. ¡°Mrs. Sinir¡¯s around today. This really isn¡¯t the best time for you to show up.¡± A sh of panic flickered in Sophie¡¯s eyes. She used to be brave enough to cause a scene in front of Mrs. Sinir, but after almost getting left by Charles, she¡¯d been way more cautioustely. Sophie bit her lip. ¡°So, what should I do?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you head home? I¡¯ll take the lunch box upstairs for you,¡± Ynda said. Sophie let out a sigh of relief and handed the lunch container over. ¡°Thanks, Tessa. Once I¡¯m sitting in the Mrs. Sinir seat, I¡¯ll be sure to give you a big red envelope¨Cand every single talent under your management, I¡¯ll make sure they all hit the top tier.¡± As she got off the elevator at the first floor, Sophie kept reminding her, ¡°Charles has stomach problems, so I put a lot of effort into making these. I actually got my hand blistered from all the cooking. Please, make sure he eats them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try my best,¡± Ynda replied. ¡°But I¡¯m not that close to Mr. Sinir, so I¡¯ll have to find an opportunity to deliver it. I can¡¯t guarantee it¡¯ll work.¡± When Sophie heard Ynda say she wasn¡¯t close to Charles, she felt an odd wave of relief. ¡®She¡¯s just too beautiful, Sophie thought, ¡®No wonder she makes people on edge around her.¡¯ Ynda rode the regr elevator up to the top floor and knocked on Charles¡¯s office door. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 His voice sounded from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± Bli vouchers She walked in carrying the lunch box, speaking gently. ¡°I was with Jason Maine earlier. We had to handle some things for Starlight today.¡± She set the lunch box down where he could easily reach it, her voice light and thoughtful. ¡°I just knew you¡¯d skipped lunch again.¡± Charles looked genuinely surprised when he saw the lunch box. ¡°You made this?¡± Ynda just smiled, neither confirming nor denying. He popped open the lid and took a look¨Cthe food looked and smelled incredible, and every single dish was one of his favorites. Nobody but Ynda could remember exactly what he liked, right down to thest detail. Charles pulled her straight into his arms with a grin. ¡°What brings you here out of the blue today? Came to spy on your hubby at work?¡± Ynda smiled softly. ¡°Since you let Jason help me out, he¡¯s really sorted out a ton of legal headaches for me. Thanks for that.¡± Charles rested his chin on her shoulder, lips curving into a teasing smile. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± He picked up the fork, tasted a bite¨Cvor was on point, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel way better than before. Ynda stood up and started sorting through the documents on his desk. ¡°Uncle Edward has a few ¡®close¡® executives over at Starlight. I¡¯ve just let two of them go, and now I¡¯m worried he¡¯ll blow his top.¡± That ¡®closeness¡® just means those execs were the kind who epted favors¨Cespecially women¨Cfrom others. Charles usually just turns a blind eye to that kind of thing. Ynda nudged the paperwork forward, her tone sweet. ¡°Last time, Uncle Edward told me to poison you, and I still haven¡¯t done anything. It¡¯s been days and he hasn¡¯t tried to follow up or check in.¡± Since Charles had once pulled out that bottle of pills in front of Edward Sinir, Edward just assumed I¡¯d already gone through with it. Ynda clearly wasn¡¯t expecting Charles to answer; she just steered the conversation onto something else. ¡°So, how¡¯s Renee holding up?¡± Charles¡¯s fingers tightened around the fork; he was clearly bothered by that question. It was because his mom just wouldn¡¯t agree to send Renee to a care center. Ynda paused, then suggested softly, ¡°Honey, maybe I should stop by your family¡¯s ce tonight and check in?¡± Her forehead still bore a small wound, though her bangs did a good job of hiding it from sight. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 80 55 vauchers Charles felt a pang in his chest and set the fork aside. ¡°If you go, you¡¯ll only get caught up in the drama again. Just don¡¯t, okay?¡± Ynda wavered, worry flickering in her eyes. ¡°But¡­ is it really alright if I don¡¯t go?¡± ¡°Really, trust me. It¡¯s fine,¡± Charles replied, not a hint of hesitation in his voice. Jack Nn pushed open the door just then, treating Charles with proper respect. ¡°Mr. Sinir, the meeting kicks off in ten minutes.¡± Ynda nudged the lunch box his way. ¡°Eat it all, okay? I¡¯ve gotta head out¨Cneed to drop by Starlight.¡± She¡¯d said before she wanted to show Charles what she could do, and he hadn¡¯t stood in her way. Charles grabbed his fork again, teasing, ¡°Don¡¯t work toote, alright? You¡¯re not supposed to be busier than me.¡± Ynda grinned. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I hear you.¡± As Ynda slipped back into her car, she was surprised to see Sophie still lurking in the underground garage. Ynda rolled down the window. ¡°Hey, I handed you the lunch box for Charles earlier¨Cdid it get to him?¡± ¡°No, didn¡¯t manage to,¡± Ynda replied, sounding almost bored. ¡°Mrs. Sinir happened to toss it out by ident.¡± Sophie¡¯s eyes narrowed, a sh of disdain in her gaze. ¡®Mrs. Sinir, that woman¡­ always getting in the way, she thought bitterly. ¡®Just wait¨Conce I take her ce, I¡¯ll make sure she regrets ever crossing me.¡¯ Sophie gritted her teeth, the promise echoing in her mind. Sophie gritted her teeth, recalling what Ynda had told her¨CCharles was never in love with Mrs. Sinir. The woman who really had his heart was Joelle Monroe. Sophie tightened her grip, her voice tense. ¡°Tessa, have you heard? Joelle¡¯sing back, and she¡¯s making headlines! She¡¯ll be back in just a month.¡± Ynda knew exactly what Sophie was talking about. ¡®Joelle¡¯s return¨Cit¡¯s all for Charles,¡® she thought. ¡®Actually, this might work out for me, Ynda mused, ¡®at least Charles won¡¯t be home every night¡ªand that definitely helps with what I¡¯ve got nned. ¡°I¡¯ve heard,¡± Ynda replied smoothly. ¡°So you¡¯d better not ck off¨Cspend more time with Mr. Sinir, and maybe even consider having a baby. I chatted with Mrs. Sinir earlier, and the Sinir family is getting impatient. If Joellees back and steals the show by having Charles¡¯s child first, you¡¯ll be in real trouble. Joelle¡¯s never been the forgiving sort¡ªshe won¡¯t leave a spot open for anyone else.¡± Sophie¡¯s face went pale with rage. ¡°That bitch! What makes her so special? She¡¯s not even Charles¡¯s wife!¡± Ynda just smiled and got in her car. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 ?? 1235 vouchers Meanwhile, in another country, Joelle gazed at her own wless reflection in the mirror, a hint of worry clouding her beautiful features. ¡°Do you think Charles will still love me when I get back?¡± she asked softly. Her agent stood beside her, beaming and handed her a ne with obvious respect. ¡°Joelle, you¡¯re an international superstar now. Remember how Charles was begging you not to leave back then? You¡¯re his white moonlight¨Chis one true first love. People always say a ¡®white moonlight¡® doesn¡¯t have to do anything; just standing there is enough to win. Back in Beloris, you had half the elite tripping over themselves for you.¡± A smug smile crept onto Joelle¡¯s face. Despite her humble background, she¡¯d gotten into Beloris University- she had the looks, the brains, and the drive to work harder than anyone. That¡¯s what caught Charles¡¯s attention and got her pulled into his elite circle. Plenty of other guys had tried to confess their feelings for her, but she already had Charles, so turning them down was effortless. But soon, Joelle realized that all that admiration came way too easy. Craving something more meaningful, she decided to go abroad with someone who truly shared her ambitions. This guy wasn¡¯t some broke student either¨Chis family dominated the overseas film scene and gave her the connections and resources she needed to rise. Without his backing, she never would¡¯ve reached the heights she stood at today. But at the top, looking down on so many, Joelle finally understood¨CCharles was the real deal. Back then, he¡¯d treated her with a tenderness no one else ever had. Too bad he went and got married¨Cjust to get back at me, and of all people, he picked that childhood friend of his. Joelle leaned back with a sigh. ¡°Whenever he flew out and met up with me, he still had that gentle look in his eyes. But I was pretty insecure back then. I¡¯d hear people gossip, saying I was with him for his social standing. If I¡¯d stayed this broke student forever, everyone would have kept side¨Ceyeing me. And his precious little childhood friend¨Cshe¡¯s just some adopted kid who lucked out. Charles kept ditching her for me, more times than I can count.¡± Her eyes curved innocently, a sh of smugness showing through. ¡°Charles spoiled me with everything- literally the best the world had to offer. But I was too high and mighty at the time to care. Now I¡¯ve got status and fame; once I¡¯m back, that childhood sweetheart can kiss her ce goodbye.¡± Her agent nodded eagerly. ¡°Exactly, Joelle. You can rest easy.¡± Joelle remembered how Ynda used to look at her and Charles when they were together¨Cso envious, like she wished she could switch ces. For more chapters visit find{n}ovel ¡®Someone like Ynda is no threat to me,¡¯ Joelle sneered to herself. ¡®She¡¯s never even been on my radar. That girl is the walking definition of dull¨Cabsolutely no spark! 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 Titan 156 :¨C ? 55 vouchers After leaving Sinir Group, Ynda didn¡¯t actually go to Starlight. Instead, she headed straight for the orphanage. After Joey passed away, William cremated him and picked a spot up on the hill near the orphanage for his grave. With Renee like this, it was only a matter of time before she got sent to a rehab center. Maybe that was the only way to give Joey some peace. Delighted surprise filled William¡¯s eyes as he saw her walk in. Ynda noticed that his hair was nowpletely white. There used to be some ck strands left. Her heart ached as she ced the gifts she had brought on the table. ¡°Hey William, I¡¯m going to visit Joeyter. Would you mind handing these out to the kids?¡± she said. William gazed at her for a few seconds before finally asking, a hint of concern in his voice, ¡°Why did you suddenly decide to visit Joey? Ynda, is something going on?¡± ¡°No, seriously, I just had the day off and wanted toe by,¡± she said. William waved dismissively and nodded. ¡°Alright then, go ahead.¡± Ynda drove to the graveyard, made her way up the hill, and stopped in front of Joey¡¯s grave. She still remembered the feeling of Joey dying in her arms, the chill of that moment rooted in the deepest part of her heart. Tracing her fingers gently over the tombstone, she set the small snacks she¡¯d brought down beside it. ¡°I¡¯lle back to see you again when she¡¯s sent to that rehab center,¡± Ynda whispered. She wanted to say more, but words just felt too hollow¨Cit was better to simply show up and do something for him. By the time she got back to the city, it was already 7 p.m. Instead of returning to Moonbay, she headed straight to Ian¡¯s. After visiting Joey, she couldn¡¯t bear to see anyone from the Sinir family. She crashed onto the couch and was out cold in no time. She had no idea how long she¡¯d been out when she suddenly sensed someone¡¯s gaze on her. When she opened her eyes, Ian was sitting beside her on the couch. She rubbed her eyes and nced at her phone. Surprisingly, it was already past 10 p.m. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 Ian asked softly, ¡°Feeling down? You were talking nonsense in your sleep. Her mind felt hazy, so she just shut her eyes again. ¡°Tan,¡± she murmured. Ynda hadn¡¯t expected him to get so worked up. 80 The room was dark. He¡¯de back and sensed her presence, but he hadn¡¯t turned on the lights, afraid he¡¯d wake her. Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel Ian paused. ¡°You¡¯re so delicate.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she mumbled. She was still half¨Casleep, but after a few rounds of that, she was finally wide awake. Just then, her phone rang. It was Charles calling. She didn¡¯t pick up. She could feel Ian moving next to her. Ynda frowned, ¡°No way.¡± ¡°No?¡± Ian echoed. Her phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing, making her more and more anxious. Maybe people really do get jumpy when they¡¯re feeling guilty; she suddenly thought she heard the doorbell too. At first, she figured it was just her imagination. But as she listened closer, it really was ringing¨Cthe doorbell was actually going off. ¡°Ian, someone¡¯s at the door,¡± she said. ¡°Just ignore him,¡± Ian replied. 4 He gripped her waist tight, not holding back for a second. Ynda really didn¡¯t stop him. When it was finally over, an hour and a half had passed. She never imagined doing something so risky would be this exciting. It was nothing like she¡¯d ever experienced before. Ian let out a confident little hum. ¡°I¡¯ve spent ages perfecting this, you know.¡± 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 A 255vouchers He was never just wrapped up in himself; his eyes stayed locked on her, carefully watching for any sign in her expression. If she even showed a hint of difort, he¡¯d have backed off instantly. He could totally tell the difference between a quick one¨Ctime thing and something that happened on the regr. Ynda stared up at the ceiling in a daze, her fingers slid forward and gently locked with his, their hands entwined. That one gesture spoke volumes, sparking more fantasies than words ever could. Ian went still, almost mesmerized, then brushed her fingertips with his thumb. ¡°Ynda, you know, you¡¯ve really got a knack for toying with men.¡± When ites to stringing men along like puppies, honestly, nobody pulls it off quite like you. Ynda sat up, her clothes wrinkled but not a trace of him left on her¨Cno marks, nothing visible that would give them away. She nced at Ian and said, ¡°I should get going.¡± ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to clean up a bit first?¡± Ian asked. His eyes traveled downward and lingered for a moment, a mischievous smirk appearing on his lips. She just gave a small shake of her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m good.¡± She left like it was nothing, no hesitation at all. Ian let out augh, standing in the entryway and biting back his words. ¡°Just use me and toss me aside, huh? No mercy.¡± Ynda cracked the door open and spoke in a soft tone. ¡°I¡¯m not as cold as you think. Don¡¯t sulk, alright? Starting next month, I¡¯ll be dropping by all the time. My husband¡¯s white moonlight ising back, after all.¡± Ian¡¯s eyes lit up, and a wave of relief washed over him. Ynda turned, her eyes lingering pointedly on a certain part of Ian that was still far too perky for a goodbye. ¡°Go get some sleep upstairs. Seriously, don¡¯t bother walking me out¨Cyou¡¯d never make it past the door like that.¡± Ian nodded, unable to help but hook his finger around hers with a sly grin. ¡°Goodnight, then.¡± ¡°Goodnight,¡± she replied softly. Ynda closed the door and casually made her way out of the neighborhood. She had to admit, that little rendezvous really did wonders for her mood. At least now, she was feeling much lighter. 10:16 Fri, Oct 3 80 55 vouchets As Ynda turned the corner and was about to get in her car, a hand suddenly mped over her mouth and dragged her right beneath a tree nearby before she even had a chance to react. Her leg was halfway up to kick the attacker, but when she saw it was Leo, she was just instantly at a loss for words. ¡°What the hell are you-¡± Ynda tried to shout, but his hand cut her off, muffling her words. Her eyes widened in shock. Last time he tried something like this, he was totally drunk, but tonight, there wasn¡¯t even a whiff of alcohol on him. Once she realized who it was, she pped Leo hard across the face, then scrubbed at her mouth furiously, even spit twice for good measure, looking absolutely disgusted. ¡°You¡¯re insane¨Cgo get yourself checked!¡± Ynda shot back at him. Leo instantly flew off the handle seeing her reaction. ¡®Seriously? I didn¡¯t even give you crap for making out with some other guy!¡® ¡°So now you¡¯re grossed out by me?¡± Leo snapped. Ynda just stared for a moment, then couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°That¡¯s not even the issue here, is it?¡± ¡®Has he totally lost his mind?¡® she thought. ¡°I¡¯m not the one judging you, and now you want to act grossed out by me? God knows how many guys that mouth of yours has kissed¨Cif anyone should be disgusted, it¡¯s me!¡± Leo spat. Leo was so worked up his eyes went red. ¡°You smell like crap! It¡¯s just nasty!¡± Ynda took a long breath, absolutely no clue why he was flipping out like this. She didn¡¯t even bother to look back as she started walking off, sounding utterly fed up. ¡°Perfect. Since we both find each other disgusting, why are you even trying to kiss me, huh?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Leo blurted, his face flushing as he struggled for aeback. Atst, he just snorted out a sarcasticugh. ¡°Must¡¯ve mistaken you for someone else.¡± ¡®Oh, that exins it,¡¯ Ynda realized. Titan 157 Chapter 157 Ynda raised an eyebrow, clearly couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with him. 155 Vouchete ?????? ???? Leo trailed after her, grinding his teeth in frustration. ¡°So that¡¯s your reaction after I kissed you? Does that mean any random guy could just walk up and kiss you? Are you really that easy?¡± He knew exactly how to push her buttons. Ynda got into her car, grabbed a bottle of water from the seat, twisted off the cap, and dumped it straight onto his face. Leo was chilled to the bone, wiping water off his face. ¡°You-¡± Ynda hit the gas, sticking her hand out the window and flipping him off. Leo stood there, water dripping from his chin, but strangely, he didn¡¯t feel angry at all when he saw her middle finger. ¡®Damn, she¡¯s so freaking cute,¡¯ he thought. Who said she was ever a good girl¡­? He stood there and touched his lips, pissed at the thought that all Ynda did was p him. ¡®Seriously, is that all I get for crossing the line? Just a p?¡® Leo muttered to himself. ¡®So, any guy can just kiss her, huh?¡® His anger red up again. Leo had no idea why he still felt so damn bothered¨Cso he shot her a message. [¡°Just remember, you¡¯re a woman¨Cif some guy tries to force a kiss on you, you should call the police, you get me?¡°] After sending that, Leo still felt restless, so he shot off another text. [¡°Honestly, I really did mistake you for someone else. Like hell I¡¯d ever want to kiss a loose woman like you.¡°] But after he sent it, all he got was a red exmation mark. ¡®Isn¡¯t she supposed to be driving?¡® Leo thought. So he just dialed her number. Ynda¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you tonight?¡± Frustrated, Leo kicked at a pebble and snapped, ¡°Why are you even checking messages while driving? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?¡± Ynda just curled her lip and hung up on him. 1056 vouchers. When Ynda got back to Moonbay Estate and finished her shower, someone knocked on her bedroom door. Charles stood there, his voice soft. ¡°Why are you back sote?¡± Yawning, she replied, ¡°I was hanging out with Megan.¡± The moment Megan¡¯s name came up, Charles instantly looked a bit sheepish and kept quiet. He was standing there in pajamas, fresh from the shower, with the robe belt hanging so loose it looked like it could drop any second. He had the kind of body that could turn heads, and showing up at this hour¨Cwell, he probably wasn¡¯t just hoping for ate¨Cnight chat. Ynda had just stuffed herself and was in that unbothered, post¨Cmeal mood. She didn¡¯t spare him a second nce before mming the door in his face. As she turned away, Ynda frowned, a little crease forming between her brows. She whipped out her phone and dropped a private post on Twitter, making sure only Joelle Monroe could see it. Back when Charles was with Joelle, Ynda had already followed her ount. She attached a picture of that exclusive ck credit card. With just one spicy caption: ¡°Hubby gave me this for peace of mind, but tonight he seems ready to make a baby with me. Ugh, I¡¯m so stressed!¡± Babies were always a sensitive topic¨Cespecially if it was Charles¡¯s kid. There¡¯s no way Joelle would just brush this off; honestly, she might even rush back home tonight. Plus, the media back home was already hyping up Joelle¡¯seback, and you could bet that was all her doing. Joelle¡¯s goal was clear: she wanted to make a scene and make sure Charles couldn¡¯t ignore her return. After posting that tweet, Ynda just crashed into bed. When she woke up, the entertainment news was blowing up, saying Joelle was heading back to Beloris in three days. Ynda breathed a sigh of relief. She¡¯d barely left the gates of Moonbay Estate when her phone buzzed with a call¨Cit was Edward. ¡°Hey Ynda, I¡¯m waiting for you at Starry Caf¨¦,¡± Edward said. Ynda scrunched up her brow, then spun the wheel and headed that way. She wasn¡¯t dumb. She knew Edward hadn¡¯t handed her some slow¨Cburn drug that would only cause problems years down the line. Just one or two pills and Charles would be a goner, no question. But now, days had gone by and Charles was perfectly fine. So Edward was starting to suspect she¡¯d been trying to fool him. As soon as Ynda sat down, Edward sneered, ¡°Did you see the headlines today? Joelle Monroe¡¯s back.¡± 90 Au Vouchers Everyone in the Sinir family knew Charles waspletely hung up on Joelle Monroe, and marrying Ynda was just him acting out of spite towards her. Ynda didn¡¯t say a word, just stared at her coffee. Edward¡¯s voice was almost threatening. ¡°Did you swap out the meds?¡± ¡°Uncle¡­¡± Ynda began, ¡°I-¡± She hadn¡¯t even finished before Edward¡¯s phone rang. It was Wyatt: Charles had copsed. There was a sh of triumph in Edward¡¯s eyes as he shot to his feet, but he faked concern in his voice. ¡°Charles is okay, right? Have they already taken him to the hospital?¡± Edward asked, pretending to care. Whatever Wyatt said on the other end clearly did the trick¨CEdward hung up, barely able to wipe the grin off his face. ¡°So, Charles fainted. Guess he¡¯s tougher than I thought, managed tost a few days. Listen, Ynda, Joelle Monroe¡¯sing back, and we all know this spot was always hers for the taking. You might as well grab a ticket and get out now. Don¡¯t me me for not giving you a heads up,¡± Edward said, his tone oozing satisfaction. With a smug smile, he strode out and got into his car. Ynda swirled her coffee, thinking, ¡®Charles is totally ying the long game here. He knows exactly what Edward¡¯s up to, knew he couldn¡¯t resisting to test me tonight¨Cand the guy¡¯s practically about to crack! Charles was stretching out this whole poisoning act just to see Edward lose control. Ynda took a sip and let out a sigh. ¡®Those Sinir uncles might think they¡¯re slick, but when ites down to it, none of them can outy Charles!¡¯ Not long after, Ynda¡¯s phone buzzed¨Cit was Wyatt, his voice booming with authority. ¡°Get to the hospital.¡± Ynda answered obediently, ¡°Yes, sir,¡± not daring to defy, and didn¡¯t hesitate as she hurried straight to the hospital. Charles looked seriously ill lying there on his hospital bed, his face white as a sheet. The Sinir family crowded around the doctor, all demanding to know what was going on, but the doctor just kept repeating stuff about heart palpitations and organ failure. These symptoms matched exactly what that drug was supposed to do. Edward Sinir finally felt at ease, his grin almost impossible to hide. ¡®Charles is finished. There¡¯s no cure for this poison¨Cthe docs can only watch his organs shut down, bit by bit. At best, he¡¯s got a month left, Edward gloated inwardly. Edward took a deep breath and nted himself right next to Wyatt. ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you go home and get some rest?¡± Wyatt¡¯s face was tight with worry¨CCharles had always been his favorite grandson. ¡°Charles, where are you feeling unwell?¡± 11:19 Sat, Oct 4 Pa Charles dropped his gaze, lookingpletely wiped out. ¡°Let Ynda stay. The rest of you, leave I just want some quiet,¡± he said, sounding exhausted. Wyatt got to his feet, nodded at Charles, then fussed over him with a stream of warnings before finally heading out, still reluctant. Everyone else from the Sinir family quietly made their way out. Ynda sat beside the hospital bed, reaching for the water pitcher, but just then the door swung open¨Cit was Dn. Thest time she¡¯d seen Dn was probably back when he had that fight with May. Ynda instantly stood up and called out, ¡°Dad.¡± Charles¡¯s own father, Dn, was thest one to arrive. He took a seat, his tone cool and detached. ¡°What happened? Why did he suddenly copse?¡± Just then, May stormed in, her face twisted with anger. She¡¯d been dealing with the hospital paperwork and now she shoved Dn hard. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just wait until the funeral to show up? I bet you were off with that bitch!¡± May snapped. First Renee¡¯s ident, and now Charles¨CMay had been on edge for weeks. Her husband wasn¡¯t there for her, hadn¡¯t been home in ages, and now she just lost it. AD Titan 158 Chapter 158 Dn, with his sharp, clite looks and a tendency to avoid arguments, was nearly knocked to the floor when May shoved him. His expression instantly turned grim. ¡°May, you always have to run your mouth in front of the kids,¡± Dn said coldly. 90 Fuming, May flung the pile of hospital paperwork she was holding right at Dn, hitting him straight in the face. Dn had never been treated like this before. He pushed himself up, his patience running thin. ¡°You¡¯re the one who called me back, and now you¡¯re the one losing it. Honestly, you need to get a job or something. Look at what staying home all day has done to you.¡± That was a total knockout¨Ca line that finished her off. May froze, staring at him in disbelief. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Dn let out a coldugh. ¡°If you¡¯re not happy with how things are, then go get a job. You¡¯re just bored out of your mind.¡± His eyes were icy,pletely devoid of any affection for her. May¡¯s lips trembled, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. Charles finally spoke up, sounding exhausted. ¡°Can you guys argue somewhere else? Just give me a break and let me have some peace.¡± Dn¡¯s tone softened a little. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± Charles closed his eyes, his face impassive. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious.¡± ¡°Then just rest. Don¡¯t worry about thepany for now,¡± Dn said. He stood up to leave, and May immediately followed him out. ¡°Dn, how can you be so cold? That¡¯s your own son!¡± May yelled after him. Ynda thought for a moment and then quietly shut the door to the hospital room. The shouting kept going outside, mostly May hurling usations. For someone who was supposed to be a high¨Csocietydy, she sounded absolutely unhinged. Dn just ignored her, which only made her voice rise higher and higher. Finally, after a storm of arguing, their voices faded as the two left the floor. Ynda eased herself back into the chair beside the hospital bed, ncing at Charles. He looked perfectly calm¨Clike nothing that had just happened could ruffle him in the slightest. Sure, Charles always treated his family decently, but he was the kind who never let their drama or messes shake his mood. 11:19 Sat, Oct 4 Besides, deep down, he was already convinced that Dn had turned his back on the Sinir family, so there was no way Dn¡¯s attitude could bother him now, When it came to being tough, Charles checked all the boxes¨Ccold¨Cblooded, decisive, and nothing could faze him. Honestly, his only real w was that he could be kind of a jerk. ¡°Honey, want something to drink?¡± Ynda murmured, offering him a ss of water. She handed it to Charles, and he took it without a word. Ynda got up in one smooth motion, cing both hands on his temples and gently massaging them. The soft scent from her¨Cmaybe perfume or body wash¨Cdrifted over, instantly making him feel much better. After emptying the ss, Charles set it aside, looped an arm around her waist, and nuzzled into her neck, breathing in deeply. ¡°New body wash? Smells amazing¡± Ynda never bothered with perfume¨Cher scent always came from her body wash or shampoo. ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied softly. ¡°What made you switch all of a sudden? Weren¡¯t you totally fine with your old one?¡± Charles asked, his voice low. The new scent was gentle, but underneath that tenderness was a subtle streak of stubbornness. With his face buried in her neck, Charles found his thoughts running wild for a moment. It had been ages since Charles and Ynda had shared a moment like this¡­ Just as Charles pressed a kiss to her skin, Jack happened to walk in. He froze at the doorway, clearly panicked -about ready to dart right back out. The interruption was just what Ynda needed to slip out of Charles¡¯s embrace, tidying her hair. ¡°Is this about work?¡± she asked, turning to Jack. Jack shot Charles a quick look to make sure he wasn¡¯t about to lose his temper, then gave a nod. ¡°CEO, Edward Sinir just met with Cedric,¡± Jack reported. Ever since Vivian Andrade ended up in a vegetative state, Cedric had always pinned the me on Charles. He¡¯d been stirring up troubletely, but Charles kept shutting him down every time. Now the two of them ran into each other¨Cit looked like they were about to join forces. Charles thought, ¡®If Edward just sits back and doesn¡¯t make a move, how am I ever supposed to get any dirt on him?¡® Charles rxed in his chair with azy grin. ¡°He¡¯s certainly quick to make a move.¡± 11:19 Sat, Oct 4 64 55 Vouchers He acted like he had everything under control, epting the documents Jack passed over. ¡°I¡¯ll be camped out in the hospital for the next little while¨Clet¡¯s go ahead and list that plot ofnd we bought for sale.¡± Thisnd was basically Charles¡¯s only ck mark when it came to investments. The government sold it as a gold mine, and hardly anyone knew the ugly truth: deep underground, years of a chemical nt had left radioactive waste festering. Anyone wanting to build there would have to pass some impossibly strict government safety checks. He¡¯d originally dumped six hundred million on it, but fixing thend up would cost at least a billion¨Cno wonder Charles had never broken ground. Of course, people in the business all gossiped about how he might be plotting something epic with the government. Now Charles was putting that cursed plot up for sale, just waiting for some gullible big shot to bite¨Cand that lucky sucker was the Andrade family. He¡¯d already gone to war with them, so there was zero reason to hold back. And with Edward setting things up as the perfect middleman, the Andrades were basically delivering themselves straight into the trap. Charles closed his eyes and looked over a contract. ¡°Edward¡¯s going to make things go smoothly for the Andrades. Just sit tight and wait.¡± After letting it all sink in for a second, Ynda turned and headed out after Jack. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m heading out for now. I¡¯lle see youter,¡± Ynda said softly. Charles swallowed, thinking to himself, ¡®She really is a bit clueless. Honestly, if she had any sense, she¡¯d have stuck around, yed it up a little, made sure I didn¡¯t forget about her.¡® Ynda was such a blockhead sometimes. The source of th?s content is ?ovelFind He chuckled softly, fingers pinching the document. ¡°You know, you¡¯re kinda hopelessly clueless.¡± Ynda didn¡¯t think too much about hisstment. She just fell into step with Jack as they rode the elevator down, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is there something wrong with that piece ofnd?¡± Jack looked a little surprised, clearly not expecting her to bring up anything rted to thepany. But this was a sensitive topic, so he kept it vague. ¡°Mrs. Sinir, until the CEO¡¯s n is finalized, I can¡¯t really say much.¡± Ynda got the hint¨Cthere was definitely something fishy going on with thatnd. That was all she needed to know. Charles was lining up Cedric to be the ultimate patsy in this scheme. Ynda couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Is there a way I can get a piece of the action too?¡± The Andrade family was always locked in fierce internal battles. Vivian, a woman, storming her way to the CEO seat had already pissed off plenty of rtives. But now, with Grady¡¯s passing and her falling into a vegetative state, Grandpa Jonathan wasn¡¯t about to prop Cedric up. That left the rest of the family circling for the top spot¨Csomeone new was bound to take the reins soon. Cedric had an uncle, but there was bad blood between them. That uncle had two sons, both about the same age as Vivian, yet she¡¯d snatched the CEO chair anyway¡ªall because the two family branches could never see eye to eye, and their feud ran deep. Ynda¡¯s mind was working overtime. She had to figure out a n fast¨Ceven if that just meant trailing after Charles and scooping up whatever benefits he left in his wake. AD Titan 159 Cedric was all brawn and no brains, and his grudge against the Sinir family was basically public knowledge now. So when Edward Sinir tried to team up, Cedric was ready to turn him down¨Cuntil he caught wird that Charles might be putting a piece of hisnd up for sale. People had been gossiping about thatnd for ages, everyone curious about what kind of building Charles was nning to put up. But Charles hadn¡¯t started any construction at all. Some thought he was dissatisfied with the current government zoning, waiting for the next round of changes, and rumors swirled that he¡¯d gotten insider info ahead of time¨Cwhich was why he could afford to y the long game. When Edward met with Cedric, he dangled thatnd as bait. ¡°Cedric, didn¡¯t you ask about that plot before?¡± Edward pressed. Cedric¡¯s expression darkened. Back when Vivian and Charles got along, he¡¯d asked Charles about thend, but Charles just yed the old fox¨Calways dodging the topic and never actually considering a sale. That just made even more people think Charles had some insider info. Now that Vivian was out of the picture, the CEO position was up for grabs, and Grandpa Jonathan had already started talks with Grady. Cedric¡¯s eyes burned with resentment at the thought. If he could get his hands on thatnd, maybe Grandpa Jonathan would actually consider him for the job. He was just a little less scheming than Grady¡¯s kids, that was all. Edward caught the look in Cedric¡¯s eyes and smirked. ¡°You know everyone¡¯s watching Charles put thatnd up for sale. Any idea why he¡¯s doing it?¡± Cedric scoffed, leaning back in his chair. ¡®If I didn¡¯t know the reason for this, I¡¯d have been wasting all these years in the business, he thought. Word around the industry was that Charles had fallen out with the Andrade manor. The shipping routes to Draknd got messy, and he¡¯d already sunk three billion yuan into fixing things, with another two billion needed soon. For apany that size, cash flow is everything¨Cif their reserves drop below a certain threshold, every project in thepany is on the edge. That¡¯s why Charles had no choice but to put thend up for sale¨Che needed the cash, urgently. Everyone¡¯s been watching Charles scramble to handle all the trouble the Andrade manor stirred up, so news about thend brought plenty ofpanies circling. Otherwise, who¡¯d risk chasing after something even Charles doesn¡¯t want? Just goes to show, Charles is still too green¨Cif he had more experience dealing with someone like Grandpa Jonathan, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this mess. 11:19 Sat, Oct 4 ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel 40 155 Vabcher Edward leaned in close, his voice low. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re already aware there are a few otherpaniespeting for thisnd. But I can let you in on the lowest price¡­¡± That¡¯s some serious sincerity. Cedric¡¯s eyes flickered, a sly grin forming. ¡°Go on, what is it you want from me?¡± ¡°Easy. The Sinir family¡¯s ck sheep is about toe home, and the kid they exiled overseas looks set to return too. Raventon¡¯s territory is in your hands now¨CI want both of them gone. Make sure neither of them ever sets foot in this country again.¡± For Cedric, that was nothing. Taking out people was his bread and butter. But with Grady¡¯s passing, things were still calm in Raventon¨Cfor now, anyway, since word hadn¡¯t reached them yet. Once the news hit, he¡¯d have to dash over and put out whatever chaos was about to break loose. But looking at Vivian¡¯s situation, resentment was boiling inside him¨Che just couldn¡¯t stand the thought of walking away. He drew a slow breath, clenching his fists. ¡®I have to help Vivian take the CEO seat¨Cno matter what.¡¯ ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take care of it. But you have to do me a favor in return. Vivian absolutely hates Ynda¨Cand since you¡¯re a Sinir, I bet you know how to get rid of her without anyone ever finding out. I can¡¯t go after her myself right now; the timing¡¯s just wrong.¡± Ynda¡¯s fate didn¡¯t bother Edward in the slightest. He let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°Deal.¡± Ynda knew deep down that ever since Edward handed her that bottle of pills, he¡¯d never nned for her to walk away in one piece. If anything happened to Charles, Edward would pin it all on her. Now that Edward was teaming up with Cedric, she figured she could y the same game¨Creach out to someone else in the Andrade manor and turn the tables on Cedric. Cedric still wanted her dead; she had to take him down first. She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through Twitter, looking for any clues. With so many contacts, it didn¡¯t take long to figure out where Quentin Andrade was. Quentin was Vivian¡¯s cousin, and the only one among the younger generation of the Andrade family with a real position of power. He had an older brother, but Quentin wasn¡¯t interested in the CEO seat at the Andrade Group. Still, he wouldn¡¯t just sit back and watch it go to someone like Cedric¨Ca hothead who didn¡¯t know the first thing about running apany. No, Quentin would definitely step in. Three nightster, Ynda found out Quentin would be at a hotel that evening. She didn¡¯t waste a second- she hopped in her car and headed straight there. But she didn¡¯t expect to run into Simone and Ian in the lobby. 11:20 Sat, Oct 4 20 Surprise flickered across her face, but it was Simone who spoke first. ¡°Ynda, what are you doing here? Ynda was scrambling for an excuse when Jan jumped in. ¡°I asked Ms. Grant toe. Ms. Sinir, I¡¯m a little nervous.¡± The hotel was luxurious and exceptionally discreet¨Can exclusive business club favored by celebrities and politicians who valued their privacy. Simone instantly broke into a smile. ¡°Honestly, I thought you were the cool, unppable type. But rx! The directors saw your highlight reel and specifically asked me to bring you. Come on, there are tons of directors here tonight¡ªyou¡¯ll be fine.¡± Ian nodded, eyesnding on Ynda. ¡°Ms. Sinir, mind if I steal Ms. Grant for a quick chat?¡± Simone got it¨Csincen was working with Ynda, she just gave a little nod and headed into the elevator first. Ian nced around, then motioned Ynda to follow him, sneaking off together to a quiet spot behind a Leo spoke up behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you heard Joelle Monroe was having her wee party here tonight and came on purpose?¡± ¡®Joelle Monroe¡¯s actually back in the country?¡® Ynda mused. ¡®She really keeps her timing tight,¡® Ynda thought. 11:20 Sat, Oct 4 Titan 160 Ynda paused mid¨Capply, her brow furrowing. 6908 1 vouchers Joelle had quite the reputation in Beloris back in the day, especially with Charles backing her. She was gorgeous, and now that she¡¯s a dazzling star, all that shyness and insecurity are long gone¨Cshe¡¯s probably even more irresistible now. Back then, she nevercked suitors. Seeing her fall silent, Leo scoffed, ¡°Wow, so you really are here for him. Too bad Charles, even with his health in shambles, made the effort toe over¨Cwent up half an hour ago, and even thoughtfully picked out some extravagant gift. Honestly, you should just give up already. Fifteen years, and you still couldn¡¯t win his heart. What he and Joelle have¨Cthat¡¯s the real thing.¡± Everyone knew Charles had been in the hospitaltely. And everyone was aware of the real estate deal he was about to cut, too. Ynda slipped her lipstick into her pocket, shooting Leo a re. ¡°You¡¯re always giving me a hard time. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re secretly into Joelle?¡± Leo¡¯s smirk instantly vanished¨Che jumped to his feet and snapped, ¡°Bullshit!¡± She couldn¡¯t think of any other reason for how he acted. Leo had always seemed to have it out for her, always throwing nasty remarks her way. The elevator was about to arrive. As soon as the doors slid open, Ynda was about to step in, but Leo snatched her wrist. Ynda didn¡¯t want to start a fight in a spot where anyone could walk by, but Leo yanked her behind the big potted nt Ian had just been hiding near. It was pitch¨Cdark back here, with the courtyard just beyond. ¡°Leo, you say you don¡¯t have a thing for Joelle, so why are you so desperate to block me tonight? Are you afraid I¡¯m gonna crash your precious Joelle¡¯s date with Charles?¡± Ynda shot back. Leo¡¯s eyes went red with rage, but he was hopeless at arguing¨Che just kept throwing out the same tired insults. ¡®I must¡¯ve really hit a nerve, Ynda thought to herself. Back when Charles had married her out of spite, rumor had it she looked a lot like Joelle, and he was just using her as a stand¨Cin. Even Leo once told her he¡¯d mixed up their faces. ¡®Guess Leo really is Charles¡¯s rival for Joelle,¡® she mused. Ynda gave a suddenugh, and to Leo, it was painfully sharp¨Clike a thorn in his side. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± he snapped. ¡­ 90 ¡°I¡¯mughing at you, you dumbass. You¡¯re nothing but somebody¡¯s backup, and they don¡¯t even want you,¡® she shot back. Every word out of her mouth struck a raw nerve. Leo, seething, pinned her against the wall, his voice tight through gritted teeth. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°You-¡± Before she could get another word out, he caught her lips in a sudden, fierce kiss. The rest of her protest was swallowed by his kiss. Ynda¡¯s eyes burned with anger. ¡®Me, as Joelle¡¯s substitute? That¡¯s ridiculous¨CIs Joelle even worthy of having me as her stand¨Cin?¡® She viciously sank her teeth into Leo¡¯s tongue, making him recoil as a sharp surge of blood filled his mouth. Ynda shoved him off, shing her teeth. ¡°Try that again and I¡¯ll bite you to death.¡± Leo wiped the blood off his mouth, shooting her a re when he saw those bared teeth and fierce little attitude. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he awkwardly looked away. ¡°No shame, huh? Always trying to hook guys in. Well, I¡¯m not stupid enough to fall for your act.¡± Ynda just stared at him, speechless, ¡®Does this guy ever hear himself? Ridiculous.¡¯ He stomped off in a fury, but after a few steps, spun back around and shouted, ¡°Whore!¡± Ynda stayed put, chest heaving with rage. ¡®Should¡¯ve bitten him harder¨Cthat was way too soft,¡¯ she fumed. Ynda took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on why she¡¯de here tonight. She was just about to leave when, not far off behind the line of flowers, a tiny ember blinked twice in the dark¨Clike some firefly flirting with the shadows. ¡®Who the hell is out there?¡® Her heart thudded in her chest. ¡®And how long have they been lurking?¡® Unease prickled down her scalp as the faint glow vanished, and then Samuel Grant slowly emerged from the gloom. For more chapters visit Find?Novel Ynda stiffened, dropping her head so fast it was like her brain just blew a fuse. Ever since that kiss with Ian in Samuel¡¯s car, she hadn¡¯t dared go back to the Grant ce, or even answer a single message from her brother. She was just way too ashamed and guilty about it. Samuel lit another cigarette, silent¨Che simply had no words for her. He watched as she stood there, head bowed, awkward and ill at ease. ¡®So she gets scared too,¡¯ he mused. He inhaled deeply, mind reying the past and wondering just where the Grant family had screwed up 11:20 Sat, Oct 4 Chapter 160. raising her. D: Her lips had just been kissed byn, then by Leo¨Cwhat next, was Charles going to have a go too? Samuel couldn¡¯t help but wonder, his mind swirling with exasperation. Samuel smoked through his cigarette in just a few quick pulls. He didn¡¯t say a word, and Ynda kept her head down, too embarrassed to speak, her skin burning hot with shame. All she could think about was how Samuel was always soposed, so proper, so distant. He was never the type to smoke this much¨Cthis just wasn¡¯t like him. Samuel started to take out another cigarette, but something made him pause. He put it back instead. ¡°Ynda, you¡­¡± Samuel began, but for once, he couldn¡¯t get the words out. He was almost never like this¨Ceveryone said he was a total machine when it came to business deals. After what felt like ages, he put the cigarette pack away and rested his hands on her shoulders. ¡°Just make sure you keep your lovers well hidden, got it?¡± Ynda didn¡¯t get what he meant at first. He sighed and ruffled her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t let the Grant family catch wind of any of this, either. Charles and Ian- they¡¯re both trouble, you know that. And as for Leo¨Che¡¯s calm now because nothing¡¯s on the line for him. The moment he actually wants something, everything changes.¡± He gave her a look she couldn¡¯t read. ¡°Just¡­ make sure nobody sees anything, alright?¡± Ynda¡¯s cheeks instantly red red. ¡®Of course, he saw the whole thing,¡¯ she thought, mortified¨Cshe wished she could just sink straight into the ground and disappear. But Samuel¡¯s expression turned a bit guilty. ¡°It¡¯s the Grant family that¡¯s been pushing you way too hard. Growing up in a messed¨Cup family like ours, it¡¯s rough¨Cno one really gets to choose. Your brother gets it, you know?¡± Right after he said that, it hit him¨Cwait, did that sound like he was actually telling her to keep doing these crazy things? ¡°Anyway, once you¡¯ve had your fun, just know when to call it quits,¡± he said, trying to wrap things up. ¡°Samuel, I¡­¡± Ynda hesitated, voice trailing off. Samuel rubbed at his brow, looking exasperated. ¡°Try not to mess around in ces like this. I stumbled on you tonight, but next time, who knows who¡¯ll be watching.¡± Ynda¡¯s cheeks flushed again, feelingpletely humiliated. Samuel stared at her downturned head, then gave her a light pat. ¡°Triangles are nice and stable¨Cso please, don¡¯t go turning it into some kind of tangled quadrangle, okay?¡± 11:20 Sat, Oct 4 Titan 161 Chapter 161 Samuel left without another word. Ynda was left reeling by hisst words. A 165 won her spe The shock of being caught by Samuel hit her like a tidal wave¨Cshe nearly forgot she was even here to find someone tonight. She drifted toward the elevator in a daze, and by the time she reached Quentin¡¯s floor, she was standing in the restroom, overhearing two girls chatting, their faces full of obvious frustration. ¡°Quentin¡¯s been into her for ages. He¡¯s so damn loyal. Doesn¡¯t he get that she¡¯s only back because of Charles?¡± one girl sneered. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not just Quentin. There were a couple other guys in that private room drooling over her too. Leo was just sitting there, staring at her like a lost puppy,¡± the other girl snarked. ¡°That bitch has some killer charm. Charles splurged ten million on her in jewelry! With all these big shots swarming tonight, she must be loving it. Now that she¡¯s back in the entertainment scene, nobody dares challenge her. Directors won¡¯t even try to give her grief. Just watch¨Cthings are only gonna get tougher for us,¡± the first girl grumbled. Ynda kept her head low, scrubbing her hands, while the two women kept gossiping nearby. They were probably someone¡¯s arm candy from the private room. ¡®So Quentin¡¯s into Joelle? Well, working together is definitely off the table, Ynda thought, a pang of regret going through her. Joelle always came across as that fragile yet resilient type that guys just couldn¡¯t resist. She never cared about their money, but somehow she had every single one of them wrapped around her finger. Quentin was one of those people¨Conce he fell for someone, he¡¯d give it everything, even if all he could ever do was watch her be happy from afar. He really was the most qualified backup¨Cthe perfect fallback guy. Ynda suddenly realized there was no point in trying to talk business tonight. If Joelle¡¯s admirernded the CEO spot, she¡¯d be totally screwed. ¡®Honestly, maybe it¡¯d be better if the Andrade family just went down in mes, she thought, bitterness churning in her chest. Meanwhile, in the private lounge, Joelle sat right at the center of it all, still carrying that na?ve, untouched charm in her eyes¨Cas if the entertainment world hadn¡¯t managed to stain her one bit. She looked over at Charles, paused a moment, then finally said, ¡°Charles, long time no see.¡± Charles didn¡¯t meet her gaze. Maybe it was because he¡¯d juste out of the hospital, but his usual aura was pretty faded. He just replied with a low ¡°Mm.¡± 11:20 Sat, Oct 4 1901 69 vouchers The private room was packed with over twenty people, each with their own little schemes, but some of the guys in there were obviously hung up on Joelle¨Ctheir eyes practically glued to her. Joelle stood up, her smile lighting up the room. ¡°Thanks for throwing this wee¨Cback dinner for me. It¡¯s great to see so many familiar faces again. My work¡¯s shifting back here, so I hope we can all hang out more often.¡± She hadn¡¯t even finished speaking before Leo grabbed a bite¨Cand instantly started hissing, pain written all over his face. He opened his mouth, gulped down his wine in a hurry, but that only made him hiss again. Quinn, sitting nearby, couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Man, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve got a crush on Joelle. Bro, using such a clumsy move to get her attention? That¡¯s pretty low¨Clevel.¡± ¡°Your mom!¡± Leo shot back, scowling as his eyes watered from the pain. ¡®Damn you, Ynda¨Cshe really went all out on that bite!¡® he cursed in his head, tongue throbbing madly. ¡®God, my tongue hurts like hell!¡® Quinn clicked his tongue. ¡°Seriously, man, keep it ssy. Did a girl actually bite your tongue or what?¡± Leo guiltily shot a quick look at Charles, who was sitting right next to him. Leo quickly dropped his gaze, avoiding both the food and the drinks now. ¡°You¡¯re such a gossip,¡± he muttered under his breath. Before Leo could finish his sentence, the private room door swung open and Oscar Rowe stepped in¡ªthe biggest name director around, the only one in the country with two Best Director Oscars to his name. The guy was basically untouchable in the industry. Oscar was no stranger to events like these. His films were investor goldmines, so most of the folks gathered here had crossed paths with him more than once. He nodded to the group, then gave Joelle a warm smile. ¡°Joelle, we ran into each other abroad a year ago. I swear, you¡¯re looking even more stunning these days.¡± Joelle rose to her feet, her confidence flipping on like a switch. ¡°Mr. Rowe, I wasn¡¯t expecting you tonight¨Ca real surprise.¡± Oscar nodded, then patted Ian on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m nning to start a new film in the next couple of years. Someone rmended this kid to me¨Che¡¯s got some real talent. Turns out, he¡¯s actually your junior.¡± Back in the day, Oscar epted Joelle as hisst disciple and taught her countless acting skills. Joelle had the waiter bring over a couple of chairs, her gazending on Ian. ¡°If Mr. Rowe thinks you¡¯ve got what it takes, you¡¯re about to be the next big thing¨Ceveryone knows his taste is spot on.¡± Oscar smiled, obviously satisfied withn. He wouldn¡¯t have brought him to a room full of industry big shots if he didn¡¯t think the kid was special. 11:20 Sat, Oct 4 As soon asn sat down, he immediately felt someone openly staring at him. He turned his head and caught Leo, two seats away, locking eyes with him in the most unsubtle way possible. Leo dramatically downed a gulp of his drink, making a big show of it¨Cand instantly started hissing in pain. Quinn, sitting nearby, just shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Bro, if your tongue¡¯s busted, why keep drinking? Are you just asking to suffer?¡± Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel Leo smirked softly, eyes growing a bit hazy. ¡°She went all in. I couldn¡¯t stop her. Honestly, the way she shed her teeth was kinda adorable.¡± Quinn gawked at him like he¡¯d absolutely lost it. ¡°Wait, your tongue got bitten by a girl? For real?¡± Leo shotn a sidelong nce as he pushed his food around his bowl. ¡°Yeah.¡± Ian didn¡¯t pay him any mind. Parties like this just weren¡¯t his thing. If it weren¡¯t for Joelle¡¯s personal fan club lurking around, most of the crowd was only here to give face to Charles¨Cand with heavy hitters from the Cooper and Lawson families in attendance, nobody wanted to miss out on the chance to rub elbows. Ian reached out for a dish, but right as he was about to grab it, someone yanked the table around, and the dish slid way out of his reach. Leo stopped with a mocking grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. When Ian tried for another dish, Leo spun the table again, just to mess with him. Even the most oblivious person in the room could tell Leo was doing it on purpose. People could only marvel to themselves, ¡®Joelle¡¯s really something else¨Cshe¡¯s got at least four or five guys here all wrapped around her finger, and each one¡¯s at the heart of power. Even that new junior looks like he¡¯s already falling for her.¡® Joelle could feel those jealous nces from a few of the women nearby. Her lips curved into a cool smile as she calmly reached out to keep the table steady. Oscar could tell what Leo was up to and quietly asked Ian, ¡°Did you somehow offend him?¡± Something flickered in Ian¡¯s eyes, but he simply shook his head. ¡°Mr. Rowe, I don¡¯t think this is the right ce for me. I¡¯ll head out for a while¨CI don¡¯t want to put you in an awkward spot,¡± Ian said quietly. Oscar patted his shoulder in reassurance. ¡°You deserve the trust you¡¯ve earned. You really know how to keep your cool.¡± Ian didn¡¯t say anything more. He just stood and slipped out of the room in silence. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!