After She She Stopped Loving Him

Chapter 178

If lan had said something like that, Yolanda would've definitely thought he was being flirty or up to something.

But since it was Leo, it really was just about drinking water, nothing more.

Yolanda stared at him, totally confused for a second, then got genuinely pissed. “What's wrong with you,

seriously? Why should | care if you can drink water or not?” she shot back, and stomped hard on his foot.

Leo winced in pain and quickly stepped back.

Yolanda hurried off toward the light, wanting to put sdistance between herself and Leo.

‘Seriously, what is his problem? If he wants to drink water, just go do it - why act all strange and get mad at me

for no reason?’ Yolanda couldn't believe it. This was just plain ridiculous.

She swung herself into her car, and instead of heading back to Moonbay Estate, she drove straight over to lan’s

place.

It was pretty late-she had no idea if lan was even hyet.

She drove into the complex, checking her rearview mirror with a nagging feeling that someone was tailing her.

She pulled up outside the villa and was about to open her door when the car behind her rolled to a stop too.

Yolanda frowned, hesitating to get out. She wanted to see who exactly was following her.

The two cars were more than hundred meters apart, and with the streetlights so dim at this hour, she couldn't

really make out the driver-though the silhouette did sort of resemble that crazy Leo.

“No way, Yolanda thought. ‘I've been to Leo’s place before, and this is definitely not it.

Yolanda stepped out and unlocked the door with a tap, and as soon as the lights con, someone wrapped

their arms around her from behind-someone she immediately recognized.

She caught lan’s familiar scent and relaxed. “Did you have dinner yet?” she asked.

He had said he had things to do tonight, but only just now returned—so late.

lan shut the door, crouched down and gently slipped off her shoes. “Not yet. | figured you'd be asleep,” he said.

He expertly fetched her slippers from the cabby the entryway and placed them in front of her.

Yolanda was so used to his pampering that she slipped the slippers on out of habit, but couldn't help feeling a

little anxious. “So what do we do now? Should | just order something light for a midnight snack?”

lan had just finished changing his own shoes when his eyes fell on the cut at the corner of her lips. His face

immediately darkened.

Yolanda’s heart skipped a beat, and she guiltily reached up to touch her mouth. The scab was hard to miss,

11:52 Wed, Oct 8 M

Chapter 178

even she had to admit that much.

[4

“That bastard Charles, seriously,” Yolanda muttered to herself with a huff, letting out a sarcastic laugh.

She grumbled and strode deeper into the house.

Jan followed right on her heels like a loyal puppy, sticking close behind her every step.

icher

Yolanda instantly regretted coming here. She should've just crashed at a hotel tonight. lan wasn’t just clingy like

a puppy-he was smart, way too sharp to miss the nerves she was trying to hide.

He didn’t call her out on it, though-just settled on the couch, shut his eyes, and that pale, sickly look barely

budged from his face.

“Yolanda, I'm hungry,” lan said, sounding a little pitiful but hopeful.

“What do you want to eat? | can order something,” Yolanda replied, already unlocking her phone.

She scrolled to the food deliverybut paused, worrying takeout wouldn't be healthy. So she set her phone

aside. “You know what, I'll make you something instead. How does noodles sound?”

lan’s eyelashes fluttered, his lips curled up, and he let out a faint, almost stubborn huff.

That was him pretending not to care, but he obviously wanted to eat.

Yolanda headed to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and sure enough, there were sfresh veggies inside.

lan just sat there with his eyes closed, not making a scene or trying to get her attention.

It took her around twenty minutes to put together a comforting bowl of noodles. When she brought it out, the

soup was clear, topped with a golden fried egg and a few tomato slices, all swimming in a rich broth she'd picked

up her last there.

“Cover and taste it,” Yolanda called out, setting the bowl on the table.

lan slid into his seat, and the second the aroma hit him, he realized just how hungry he actually was.

He grabbed his fork, took a big bite, and warmth spread through his chest. lan couldn't help a small smile.

“Okay, you're forgiven,” he said, sounding thoroughly satisfied.

Yolanda knew exactly what he was getting at, but she still asked, “Do you want sfruit?”

lan took his tfinishing the noodles, then shot her a possessive look. “You're not allowed to make this for

anyone else, you hear me?”

Yolanda nodded, about to say something else when her phone buzzed. It was Mary calling.

Starlight had been getting hounded by online trolls and aggressive fans for days. That night, Mary went back to

the office for sfiles and got ambushed by a group of extrfans who mistook her for Yolanda. They'd

harassed her for more than ten minutes until the police finally showed up and got her to the hospital.

11:53 Wed, Oct 8 M

Chapter 178

Mary hadn't really wanted to call Yolanda—she didn’t want her worrying too much. But with surgery. scheduled in

an hour and nobody else to stay with her-her husband was out of town on business, and the kids were off with

friends-she had no choice but to make the call.

Yolanda immediately got up and, with a caring touch, gently mussed lan’s hair. “Go ahead and finish your food,

then get srest. You're looking pretty pale. Something's happened at Starlight and | need to go check on

things.”

lan was always supportive when it cto her work, never the type to make it harder for her. He gave her a

slow, understanding nod.

Yolanda couldn't help feeling guilty, though-especially since lan had just gotten out of the hospital today.

“lan, | got these new earrings for you. And this necklace-it’s a matching set for us,” Yolanda said, pulling out the

gifts she'd ordered a few days back.

She'd had them delivered here instead of Moonbay Estate-no way she was risking the staff gossiping to

Charles.

lan flicked his gaze over the earrings for a couple seconds, but then his focus landed squarely on the couple’s

necklace.

Yolanda fastened the men’s necklace on him, then slipped the women’s one around her own neck and tucked it

away under her shirt.

lan glanced at the necklace, then hauled her straight into his arms.

“Wow, you're acting just like one of those guilty scumbag husbands who cheats and tries to fix it with gifts,” lan

teased with a wicked grin.

Yolanda pretended to take off the necklace, but lan just held her tighter and leaned his chin on her shoulder.

“What, are you mad at me?” he said in a coaxing tone.

She wasn’t mad, not at all. If anything, she truly felt bad for not treating lan as well as he deserved.

lan dropped his lashes, exuding that frail, sickly vibe he always had lately-his waist and abdomen were still

pretty messed up.

Yolanda thought for a second she might've imagined it, but there really was a smoky scent clinging to him- not

cigarettes, but something burnt and raw, like charred wood or ashes.

“Where the hell did you go tonight?” she pressed, her eyes narrowing in worry.

“Just met up with a friend. Stay withfor half an hour before you go, okay?” lan said, sounding so soft and

needy it was almost a whine.

Yolanda still had half an hour to spare, so the moment she nodded, lan tugged her upstairs to the balcony.

Inside, all the lights were off, and the balcony was lit by nothing but a dim lamp.

These villas had a great layout-plenty of space between each one. Even if they did something out here, none

11:53 Wed, Oct 8 M

Chapter 178

of the neighbors would notice, unless someone was a total creep with binoculars.

Yolanda was pushed up to the elegant Roman railing, her back to lan.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, cupped her face in one hand, and kissed her fiercely.

Her back was to the rest of the world-every look she made was for him alone.

lan rubbed her back gently, his voice low. “So... what happens next?”

20

Sweat dotted Yolanda’s forehead, her breath was hot and her throat burned, but she just buried herself in his

chest without saying a word.

After this kind of moment, she just melted in his arms, not even wanting to lift a finger.

lan was gently tapping her back with his fingertips. “I just love it when you're like this,” he said, sounding utterly

pleased.

It wasn’t the first the’d made that comment.

Once Yolanda caught her breath, she finally spoke up, “How about next twe actually go all the way?”

lan stiffened all over, lowering his lashes as something flashed quickly across his eyes.

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