After She She Stopped Loving Him

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Yolanda nodded, pressing closer. Even through the haze, she could tell Jan's body was flawless, every line of him

powerful.

And what he meant was something else entirely.

Yolanda stayed silent. Outside, the rain continued its relentless rhythm, and the curtains swayed in the damp

breeze. Suddenly, she shoved him away,

lan sank onto the bed, the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting long sindows across the room.

Yolanda’s cheeks burned. She clutched her coat tighter, her fingers trembling.

He had changed into loose black 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 | do now?”

He held the cup to her lips, his face striking in the muted light.

She couldn't bring herself to drink. Shcoiled in her stomach.

When she didn’t move, lan 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-why was he

apologizing? Fragments of memory surfaced: her pleading and his restraint.

Fingers twisting the blanket, she swallowed. “I'm the one who should apologize. Just... givea second.”

This had spiraled beyond anything she’d imagined. ‘How could | even look at him now?’ She pressed her palms

to her temples.

Then, through the fog, his voice cagain, hesitant. “None of the films | did before had kissing scenes.”

She glanced over. He was crushing the water bottle in his grip, his discomfort palpable. The plastic crackled

loudly in the quiet room, crumpling under his fingers.

A thought struck Yolanda: 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, and laid 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.

Yolanda lay there for what felt like hours, torn between mortification and the urge to slap herself. Finally, she

7:42 Thu, Sep 11

Chapter 31

dragged herself up and fled to the shower.

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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 lan’s 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.

Yolanda pushed open the window, letting the cool night air rush in. Finally, her thoughts settled.

Then her phone rang. It was nine at night, later than she'd ever stayed out before. She took a steadying breath

and glanced at Charles's name. A flicker of guilt tightened in her chest. Anyway, she answered.

“Where are you?” His voice was sharp.

Yolanda 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 forlast month, remember?

Where is it?”

Yolanda looked down. The light brown one-Charles rarely wore anything so casual. He preferred dark, steady

tones with nothing flashy. She answered. “It’s in the dust bag on the far right of your closet.

A cabdoor 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 trip coming up. Next time, don’t stay out so late.”

He sounded in a good mood tonight, probably because the deal with Samuel had gone well.

Yolanda listened to the rain drumming against the window and seized the opening. “Honey, the studio's just

getting off the ground. | 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 cfrom 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.

Yolanda didn’t wait for his refusal; she already knew it. Charles had that old-school pride buried deep. Mistresses

were for fun, while wives were for keeping

Sure enough, he finally said. “Yolanda, don't do it again.”

Her grip tightened around the phone. The unfairness of it stung-he’d disappear for months with other women,

yet she couldn’t even stay out late once. She drew a slow breath.

His voice cut through again, colder now. The Grant family married you off tobecause you were obedient.

That's what | expect from my wife-quiet, at home. Business isn’t a woman's concern.”

7:42 Thu, Sep 11

Chapter 31

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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.”

Yolanda 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 Yolanda cdownstairs et 6 a.m., she found lan 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 uncomfortably

over the chair’s edge-he was too tall for the cramped furniture.

She approached quietly and lifted the book from his face. His striking features, relaxed in sleep, made her pulse

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