After She She Stopped Loving Him

Yolanda texted lan to ask what time he was going to the set tomorrow.

He replied right away: [10 AM. You coming?]

Yolanda felt a bit better. In the suffocating Sinclair family, chatting with Ian was surprisingly relaxing. [I’ll be there. Is your boxing room all set up?] she replied.

Ian sent a photo a minute later. It showed a 1000–square–foot space with one punching bag standing on the floor and a few more hanging from the ceiling.

He was in a black short–sleeve, one hand slipped into a black boxing glove. Even from the picture, Yolanda could see the veins in his arm, subtle but noticeable.

Yolanda’s lips twitched into a small smile. If Ian got that lead role in Simone’s show, his career would take off for sure.

Charles‘ voice cut in from beside her, “Who you texting?”

Yolanda tightened her grip on the phone for a split second, then set it down casually. “Megan, my partner at the studio,” she said flatly. “She had a car accident 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,‘ Yolanda 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–eight–time to start thinking about it.”

Charles’s smile faltered. He took Yolanda’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “Yolanda’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, Yolanda thought.

Sure enough, Flora’s face soured. She turned to the butler beside her, ordering, “Arrange a full checkup for Yolanda. See if there’s something wrong with her womb.”

“Yes, Mrs. Sinclair,” the butler replied.

Yolanda tensed, anger flickering for a second as she glanced at Charles.

Charles stayed cool, calmn as ever. “Grandma, no need for that. She’s just on the delicate side.

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Chapter 25

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might make her

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55 vouchers

was stone–cold. “Wasn’t she married to have kids? It’s been two years–nothing.

chance.‘ But when she looked up,

Charles’s expression clouded over.

Yolanda was being “sensible.” She smiled, “I have some special wine. Take a

go of Yolanda’s hand. She could tell that he was

Yolanda prepared to leave, Flora had someone fetch a bottle of her special wine, which was packed

fluttered, and she looked up with a smile. “Grandma, one bottle might not be enough. Could you get a

fetch five more bottles. These were packed with heavy–duty

side. ‘Yolanda’s

car, jaw tight. He didn’t say yes or no–just

those in the trunk, please. Thanks,” she said. Then she glanced at

phone gesture, signaling

nodded, then climbed into the car

to Muse Club. It was the spot for rich kids, a

unbuttoned the top of his collar, clearly ticked

lips curved a little. He actually brought

hauled her into his lap. “You think I can’t perform because I’ve been ignoring

collected herself.

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Chapter 25

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