Entangled with My Cousin's Fiancé

Yolanda Greenwood left, and Cooper Coldson grew increasingly irritable.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a nameless anger rising from deep within.

Melissa Greenwood sat down next to him, her entire body leaning against Cooper, with her chest intentionally or unintentionally brushing against him.

"Cooper, don't delay the divorce any longer. I heard Auntie saying that they've already found a match for Yolanda, and she's quite satisfied," she said while trying to gauge Cooper's reaction.

The drink she had just given him contained a special ingredient.

Cooper was too busy, and the divorce wasn't urgent for him, but she couldn't wait.

If they consummated their relationship tonight, she would have the leverage to push Cooper into a swift divorce.

Cooper's headache was severe, and the fiery anger seemed to have spread throughout his body; he felt as if he were about to combust.

In an instant, a scene from a year ago flashed before his eyes.

He immediately realized what had happened: he had been tricked again.

He looked at the drink on the table — it was Yolanda again! What was she planning this time?

To make him commit adultery within his marriage so she could bite a large chunk off the Coldson Group?

Cooper, unable to contain his fury, pushed Melissa, who was clinging to him, and strode out.

Startled, Melissa cast aside her pride and, reaching from behind, wrapped her arms around Cooper, "Cooper, don't leave. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Cooper, with the last of his sanity, pried Melissa's hands off.

"I'm not in the right state of mind right now; it's not fair to you." He walked briskly and quickly left the banquet hall; as soon as he was out, he called Richard Reyes, "Tell Yolanda to meet me on the rooftop."

Assistant Richard Reyes was about to ask what was happening when the call was abruptly ended.

What's going on? The boss's voice sounded off.

Yolanda? The lady? Where is she?

Richard Reyes was still worried when he saw Yolanda coming out of the Empire Grand entrance.

He quickly got out of the car and intercepted her.

"Have me go to the rooftop?" Yolanda was puzzled.

"Yes, it's urgent," Richard Reyes echoed the urgency of his boss, "Please hurry, ma'am."

"..." Yolanda wondered if Cooper had signed the contract and wanted to discuss the divorce proceedings with her.

Filled with doubts, Yolanda was ushered by Richard Reyes into the elevator reserved for the top floor.

The Empire Grand's top floor was a luxurious presidential suite.

Yolanda pressed the doorbell, but no one answered; she tentatively pushed the door and found it unlocked.

"Cooper? I'm coming in," she called as she entered, only to be pinned against the door.

The body pressing against her was solid, burning hot, imprisoning her firmly like iron.

Yolanda was instantly petrified with fright. She opened her mouth to scream but was abruptly silenced by a kiss.

"Mmm!" Yolanda, panicked and frightened, with tears emerging, seized the opportunity and bit the person fiercely.

Cooper winced in pain, momentarily releasing the softness.

In a daze, Yolanda recognized the face before her, Cooper.

She was even more distressed and asked with a cry in her voice, "Cooper, have you lost your mind? Do you know who I am?"

Cooper exerted strength in his hands, lifting Yolanda up by her buttocks.

Yolanda pushed hard against Cooper, "Let go, what are you doing?"

"You laced my drink; isn't this what you wanted?" Cooper, unable to control himself any longer, kissed her again.

"No... I didn't, it's not... not me..." Yolanda struggled fiercely.

She couldn't make the same mistake again.

Cooper released her again, panting heavily, his voice low and coaxing, "Even if it wasn't you, in my current state, who do you expect me to turn to?"

"We're not divorced yet; you're my wife. Right now, I just need you to fulfill your wifely duties," he threatened and tempted, "Be good; it will be over quickly."

He didn't believe Yolanda's words, but at this moment, with the arrow on the string, he couldn't think of anything else.

He only needed Yolanda Greenwood to cooperate obediently.

...

That night, Yolanda was tossed and turned relentlessly, tormented to the point of death and back.

The man's promise of "it'll be over soon" somehow lasted a full three hours.

By the end, Yolanda had already passed out.

The next morning, when Yolanda woke up, her whole body ached as if she'd been run over by a car, especially in the lower half. A slight movement caused her intense pain, making her break out in a cold sweat.

The purple bruises all over her body were a stark testament to the man's crazed actions from last night,

even more frightening than the previous times.

Was the medicine last night that potent?

Yolanda struggled to sit up and saw a document on the bedside table.

The five large characters of "Divorce Agreement" were particularly eye-catching.

She let out a bitter laugh, feeling like a used, discarded rag.

Upon inspection, she saw the document was already signed; according to the property section, Yolanda would leave the marriage with nothing.

An increasingly sour feeling spread through her, and she felt at a loss.

Did she still hold out hope for this marriage deep down?

Yolanda pitied herself even more.

Today was Monday, the day to deliver sample designs to Jenny Reyes.

She got herself ready simply and took the elevator down to leave.

Unexpectedly, she ran into Melissa Greenwood in the lobby.

Flashes of last night's desperate intimacy passed through her mind; Yolanda instantly felt ashamed, believing she had even less right to face Melissa now.

She bowed her head, wishing to disappear quickly.

"Yolanda!" Melissa had, of course, seen her long ago.

Seeing her like this made Melissa burn with jealousy.

Yolanda tugged at her collar to stand it up, trying to cover the marks on her neck.

Melissa pulled her aside and suddenly hugged her tightly, "Yolanda, you must feel wronged."

Yolanda's eyes widened in shock.

"Last night, they slipped something into Cooper's drink—I found out afterward. I went looking for you because I was afraid that under the drug's influence, Cooper might..."

Yolanda's eyes widened and tears silently fell.

"Yolanda, I'm really sorry. I had wanted to hold on to Cooper. We truly love each other, and I don't care about these things, but Cooper said no, he insisted on saving our first night for our wedding night."

Yolanda felt like she could barely stand.

She should have known long ago that in Cooper Coldson's heart, she was just a tool to combat his poison, while Melissa Greenwood was the cherished jewel.

Melissa released Yolanda, and only after seeing Yolanda's pale, ghostly face did she feel a bit better.

"I'm truly sorry, Yolanda. We will definitely make it up to you in the future."

Yolanda didn't want to say anything; she turned and left.

Melissa chased after her, "Yolanda, are you heading to the office? Let's go together."

Yolanda shook her head, "I need to go back and get some things. Manager Reyes gave me an order a few days ago, and today is the deadline."

"I see." Melissa checked the time, "You might not make it in time if you take a cab. I'll drive you back, and then we can go to the office together."

Yolanda wanted to refuse, but Melissa didn't give her the chance.

"Consider it a bit of compensation, okay?"

Yolanda relented with a nod.

On the way, Melissa asked Yolanda about some details regarding the order.

When Yolanda retrieved the design drafts and got back in the car, Melissa curiously said, "Yolanda, let me see your design, will you?"

"I heard the client was very satisfied with your last design. You don't mind me having a look, do you?"