After She She Stopped Loving Him

Chapter 614: The Nerve

Nnenna didn’t even need to glance at it to know it was his phone number. So he’s actually serious? What a weird guy, she thought, blinking at him.

"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the treatment," Darius announced, standing with theatrical flair. But not before flashing one last smile at the nanny by the door, and then letting his gTitan 205

To be honest, Yolanda felt she ought to call Ian and tell him to quit messing around–this was his job, and he needed to stick to an actor’s basic principles. If he wanted any future in showbiz, he had to handle all that came with it.

If he was planning to survive in the entertainment world, he’d just have to put up with it.

But why, of all people, did it have to be Joelle?

Simone was still saying something, but Yolanda tuned her out completely–her mind was elsewhere.

After hanging up, she got in her car. She’d planned to drop by Starlight, since the people blocking the entrance had finally cleared out. She’d already called the crew to fix the shattered glass doors.

Right at that moment, her phone lit up with a call from Charles.

Charles’s voice came through: “Aunt Simone’s putting together a hiking trip. Want to come blow off some steam?”

Ian had mentioned in passing that he’d probably show up too.

Simone would definitely invite a whole crew, and with things at Starlight finally calming down, Yolanda figured she might as well join the fun.

“Count me in,” Yolanda replied easily.

She hadn’t expected so many people–turns out, this wasn’t just any old hike. There was a full–blown resort at the top, and getting there meant a three–hour trek from the foot of the mountain, starting at 2 in the morning. If you made it to the summit in time, you’d catch the sunrise.

Yolanda did a quick walk–through at Starlight. As night settled in, her phone lit up with a message from Ian.

[You joining the hike?]

Then Leo reached out with a text of his own.

[Hey, you hiking or not? Just asking–no big deal.]

Yolanda ignored Leo and shot back a quick reply to Ian: [Yeah, I’m in.]

She enjoyed a hot shower, then, at one in the morning, jumped into Charles’s car and headed out to the base of the mountain.

When they got there, the whole area was brightly lit, and a crew of staff were already hanging around. They’d take the cable car up ahead of everyone to get breakfast ready at the top.

This mountain was privately owned. Normally, anyone could hike it, but when they closed the place off, it was strictly VIPs only.

Yolanda stepped out in black athletic gear, backpack slung over her shoulders, only to spot Joelle sporting matching black gear and the same backpack vibe.

Joelle was Oscar’s guest, and besides him, there were a few other famous directors in attendance, Simone included.

The rest of the crew were young elites who lived for this kind of thrill–mountain climbing was basically the hottest trend in their circle.

Charles, rarely seen in athletic gear, cast a glance at lan, who was standing next to Simone. He couldn’t help but frown, a slight crease forming between his brows.

Ian wasn’t looking at anyone, his mask covering most of his face, with only his indifferent eyes showing. He seemed completely silent and kept to himself.

Just as everyone was about to head out, Xavier and Quinn Cooper showed up, their voices ringing across the crowd.

Wow, so everyone’s going hiking and nobody bothered to call us? Lucky we got here before you left!” Xavier joked loudly.

Xavier yanked Leo over, remembering how his little brother had blurted to the Lawson family yesterday that he might be into someone. The whole family was hyped, demanding Xavier dig out this secret crush. With Leo suddenly way too keen on this hike, Xavier figured the girl he liked had to be among tonight’s crew.

He swept his eyes over the eight or nine women gathered there–first Yolanda was off the list, then Simone, both ruled out because, come on, they were on a totally different level, practically family.

After that, his gaze started sizing up the remaining six, lingering a bit longer as he tried to sniff out any clues.

Quentin showed up too–his eyes locked on Joelle from the very moment he arrived. It was old news that he used to have a crush on her; nobody even bothers to keep it under wraps anymore.

“These love triangles are just the same old story–boring,‘ Yolanda thought, totally uninterested. She fell in step behind Simone, ready to get this hike going.

There were five trails leading up the mountain, and with so many people here, everyone just broke off into little squads with their usual crew, planning to stick together for the climb.

Yolanda wasn’t really familiar with most of these folks, so she hung by Simone’s side, seriously picking her brain about the film business.

Charles was about to head over to Yolanda when Quentin called out, “Joelle, is your wrist still giving you trouble?”

Charles glanced in their direction, remembering that Joelle had only just been snatched by that lunatic Andrew yesterday. ‘And now she’s here climbing a mountain… She must’ve come for me,‘ he thought.

He frowned, staying put.

Sure enough, Joelle approached him, careful to keep a respectful distance. “Charles, which trail are you taking

-left or right?”

Charles glimpsed Yolanda and Simone taking the middle trail, and a flicker of irritation showed in his eyes- he hated being left out, even if he’d never admit it.

Still, he hid it perfectly, keeping his expression smooth and unreadable.

Quentin sidled up to Joelle, whispering, “Joelle, let’s take the right trail–it’s way easier.”

Joelle ignored him, her eyes fixed on Charles, clearly waiting for his answer.

Charles headed straight for the middle trail, and Joelle tried to catch up, but she tripped hard–hadn’t even started climbing and her ankle was already swollen from the fall.

Quentin rushed over, his voice full of concern. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Joelle took a deep breath and said seriously, “Quentin, I’ve rejected you more times than I can count. Don’t put me on the spot. I can get to the hospital on my own.”

With that, she limped to her feet, didn’t even look at Charles, and made her way back to her own car.

Quentin hurried up after her. “You don’t even have a manager with you–who’s gonna get you to the hospital?”

Leo watched the whole thing, then elbowed Charles. “You not gonna help her out? Looks like her ankle’s in pretty bad shape.”

7

A

Xavier was right there, catching Leo’s comment. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Wait, seriously?‘ Xavier wondered. ‘Is Leo into Joelle too?‘

“He’s been keeping tabs on her from the start. Now with Charles here, maybe he’s too shy to offer a ride himself? Xavier guessed, more confused than ever.

‘Has he had his eye on her this whole time, just waiting for a moment to do something?‘ he thought, picking up the tension.

Xavier’s mood soured. “There are already more than enough guys chasing after Joelle, and Leo–man, he’s no Casanova. With that many rivals, he doesn’t stand much chance,‘

Charles wasn’t planning to help out, but after Leo nudged him and saw Joelle still shutting Quentin down, he finally gave in and walked over.

“Let me drive you,” he said.

Joelle gave him a grateful–even slightly guilty–look. “Won’t you miss out on the hike because of me?”

“Hospital’s just a half–hour from here. I’ll drop you off and get back before anyone even notices.” Charles replied.

“Thanks, Charles. I really appreciate it,” Joelle said.

9:35 Sat Oct 25

Chapter 203

Quentin’s face fell, all the light gone from his eyes.

156 vouchers

Navier was turning it over in his mind: Wait, isn’t Charles basically with Yolanda now? As long as that’s still a thing, Leo actTitan 206

Chapter 206

Yolanda followed Simone, her backpack slung over her shoulder.

“Aunt Simone, the short drama scene is really booming right now. Should we consider having our talent without scripts try their hand at it?” Yolanda asked.

Simone was about to respond when Ian suddenly spoke up.

“Ms. Grant.” Ian called out.

“Yeah?” Yolanda looked over.

She turned to face him, noticing he seemed unusually quiet tonight.

“Can I talk to you about Ms. Sinclair’s new script?” Ian asked.

Simone hadn’t forgotten Ian was turning down the role, so she gave Yolanda a thoughtful, sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

“Try and talk some sense into him, will you? If Mr. Rowe didn’t have such a soft spot for him, this kind of golden opportunity wouldn’t even land in his lap. His popularity is soaring, but his list of credits is way too short. After Zack’s show finishes up, mine is coming next, and if he adds this film to the mix, he’ll become an A–list star practically overnight,” Simone urged.

Yolanda could hear the urgency in Simone’s voice. In truth, Simone really liked Ian–he was talented, worked hard, kept his head down, and always acted with respect. Honestly, what manager didn’t wish for talent like him?

“I’ll talk to him, Aunt Simone,” Yolanda promised.

she called out to the rest and

a nearby little pavilion and sat down, motioning for Ian

were designed in an interesting way–some were higher, some lower.

one.

feet. He took her backpack, opened it,

without a word from lan, she could tell he was still stewing

grin, she propped one leg playfully

froze, hands mid–motion, giving her a sideways look. “Careful, Grant.

catch us.”

up and

with an easy swagger. “Still

be mad? You told me to chill

curb,” Ian shot

a gentle look on his face, Ian tucked her sunscreen spray into his own bag, left her backpack empty, and

in a high ponytail, her black sportswear making her skin look almost porcelain pale. Her

don’t want you to take this

eyes lowered, the barest hint of a smile flickering on his

close and gave his earlobe a playful pinch. “If you did, the female lead wouldn’t be Joelle. Honestly, I can’t handle you getting all close and

her finger. Just a second ago, Ian was sulking like

me work with her, I’d just vanish.

her shoulder, lashes down, back all hunched–looking like the saddest, most pitiful guy in the

up and gave his hair a little tousle. “Let’s go. We’ll miss the sunrise if

grabbing her hand and pulling her up the path. But halfway there, Yolanda caught footsteps behind them, so she quickly dropped his hand and opened up some space between

again. Guess I took a whole lap just to

was fed up with Leo and his prickly sarcasm. She definitely wasn’t about to let him sniff out what was going

head and pushed forward, but Leo stuck to them like

second, Yolanda figured he

she caught on–speed up, he sped up; slow down, he slowed

like a shadow that just wouldn’t go

around, and shot him a look. “Don’t you

over at Ian and mentally scoffed, ‘Talk about extra. Who the

path yours or something?”

they’d reached the top. The lights from the mountain lodge glowed nearby, and everyone who’d

out another cold snort as he walked past lan, shooting him a glare that could

lan. “Go snag us a good spot for the sunrise -I’ll

more, she strode off toward

stood there clutching her bag, was just about to take

come help us move

a cocky line over his shoulder.

inside in a flash, obviously not wanting to get caught and

later, and the staff was

he just headed over to lend

but the

had Yolanda

the second floor, then the third, still

her, but before he could dial, someone cracked him hard

dragged Leo into the nearby courtyard and shoved

out cold.

been knocked out

Leo was so annoyingly persistent, hanging around looking for people, that he finally

from outside, but inside it was stripped completely bare–just piles of scattered bricks on the ground, a single

eye, he noticed someone behind him.

in a chair.

froze, and his first instinct was to reach for the chain around her ankle and try to undo it, but

wrong with his own

whole body was overheating, his skin prickling with heat as if he might explode any second. ‘What the hell did they do to me?‘ he wondered, blinking through the

place–a grimy, beat–up thing, way too shabby for someone like

pale skin seemed to almost shimmer under the weak sunlight, and her athletic outfit traced every curve. Leo found himself dumbfounded,

his voice dry and

body heavy and off–balance as he

tied behind his back, so he could only nudge her with

had breathed in so much of the

mind. He lowered his gaze, barely keeping himself in check as

he muttered, his voice rough

had been kidnapped before, but never with someone like Yolanda. How the hell did

him?

me they want,

it worse, until he just gave in and pressed his face right into her neck, desperate

Leo croaked, his voice barely audible, rough

felt like he was boiling alive, trapped in a desert, the heat suffocating him. Getting close to her

sense his burning presence against her, frowning in

Chapter 207

on early that Yolanda was missing and had already sent the Crimson Gallery crew out

just arrived at the mountaintop villa. Not seeing Yolanda around, he started searching

lunatic, so the moment Andrew hit him up with the

the day, only Ian, Sam, Xavier, and Quinn were tuning in

like this if it wasn’t serious. Xavier, hanging

the entertainment–nothing

link out to over thirty people in their circle,

thrilled about that, but it didn’t matter–those four were all insiders, and as long as they saw Leo hooking up with Yolanda on the live stream, Yolanda’s reputation would be trashed for good. Once he

Andrew might be crazy, but he knew better than to go

people on the stream, he could pretty much guess who was

already in the car, talking to his team. “Find out where

up all sorts of shady tricks overseas, and his signal was blocked off from the outside world.

Andrew was running the show as the admin of the stream and sent out

about to kick off.

city of Beloris caught wind of Yolanda’s mess, it wouldn’t just be Charles getting humiliated–the entire Sinclair family would be dragged down with him. And when it came to screwing up like that,

through all these years of Charles hating his guts was thanks to his old

it came to anything that could shake

usual insiders watching, well, everyone knew how powerful the Sinclair family was–and they knew Yolanda wasn’t exactly beloved. The scandal wouldn’t touch the Sinclairs one bit. Charles would probably kick Yolanda to the curb

hopelessly into Joelle–whatever she wanted, he’d move heaven and earth to

disgusting live stream. He didn’t waste a second before barking out

he realized the woman was

Yolanda, how the hell were they supposed to face

the

it–all he knew was there was something cold and sugary right in front

his mouth, but with his hands tied behind his back, it was hopeless. ‘Why can’t I

four people were

the link out to a bunch of people, and only four had actually

up.

bumped into Yolanda’s. Driven by instinct and panic, he pressed a frantic

darkening. He

his

are you waiting for?

to stop Leo

jumped into the chat,

listen up–don’t do anything you’ll regret. If you mess with Leo, I

but his grandfather, and the rest of the world didn’t

typed into the

that–Xavier’s here. Sit back and enjoy the spectacle, Xavier. Watch as your

curses, but the system instantly censored

watched the stream and let out

fuck’s sake,‘ Quinn thought, ‘I was just curious about what kind of dirty crap that psycho Andrew was sharing, but I never thought

with Yolanda like there was no tomorrow, Quinn figured the kid was so out of his mind he probably didn’t even know who he was

now!‘ Quinn muttered to

is about to go up in

slimiest pond eel had more energy and excitement than she did. He’d

‘he’s gonna go ballistic–wouldn’t be surprised if he grabbed a knife and went straight after

is even going on?‘ Quinn muttered

up the phone and call Charles–there were only four people watching right now, and Xavier

this whole mess never

who those other watchers were, but he really didn’t want his own name popping up. Last thing he needed was to get dragged

whole fiasco, had no idea who the four viewers

even look at Leo like this anymore,’ Quinn

screen.

up by the window, so it could only catch their movements, not their

overheating, her breaths coming quick and shallow as she struggled for air. Finally, through the haze, her mind began to clear. ‘Where am I? Why does everything feel so stifling?‘ she

raised a hand to press against her aching forehead, only to bump into something

reached out and grabbed her hand, pressing it

palm washed over him, chasing away some of that

matter how desperately she scrambled, she couldn’t get more than a step away before the cold metal

Yolanda yelled, her voice trembling with

last thread of

Leo thought bitterly. ‘She’d be falling over herself

hands were tied tightly behind his back–he couldn’t move a

chair, the cold chain around her ankle keeping her in place. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t break

pressed his chin against her thigh, voice hoarse and desperate. “Give it to

him away with a sharp kick, all nerves and zero hesitation. “What the

gasped as pain shot through his chest from the kick, his eyes turning bright red and misty in

out, felt his

think he actually likes you? That

ed him away,

me… I feel awful,” Leo mumbled, voice

caught everything–streaming every