Fractured Bonds

Chapter Sixteen: Fractured Bonds

Jade Faces the Fallout

The door clicked shut behind Alexander with a finality that echoed in Jade's chest. The quiet in her office was suffocating, the air thick with unsaid words, thickening by the second. She leaned back against her desk, her fingers tightening around the edge. Her whole body felt unsteady, as if the very foundation beneath her was crumbling. She had never imagined things would fall apart like this—so quickly, so completely.

The reality of what had just happened hit her hard. She had lost him. The trust that had taken years to build, that had been so fragile to begin with, was now irreparably broken. She had crossed a line, one that no amount of apologies or pleading could erase. Alexander wasn't just angry—he was betrayed. And he wasn't going to forget this.

Jade's chest tightened. The weight of her past, the secrets she'd kept buried, was finally catching up to her. Her eyes moved to the desk where the incriminating photos lay—evidence she had fought so hard to conceal. She reached for them, tracing the edges of the photograph of her with Jonathan and Mara. The image felt like a scar, raw and exposed. She had hoped she could bury that part of her life forever. But now, the past was clawing its way to the surface, and there was no escape.

Her phone buzzed again, cutting through her spiraling thoughts. The name on the screen made her stomach lurch—Jonathan.

She stared at it for a long moment, the pulse of panic quickening in her veins. The last time they had spoken, she'd threatened him, made it clear that she was done. She had no choice now but to confront him, to play the game his way, because if she didn't, everything she had worked for would come crashing down.

Taking a shaky breath, she swiped to answer.

"Hello, Jonathan."

The smoothness of his voice slid through the phone like silk—too smooth, too confident. He was savoring this moment. "Jade. I knew you'd come around eventually."

She clenched her teeth, her pulse pounding in her temples. "You don't know a damn thing about me."

He chuckled, the sound too calm for her liking. "Oh, I know you, darling. I know what you'll do when the walls close in. And right now, the walls are closing in, aren't they?"

A cold shiver ran through her, and for the first time in years, Jade felt powerless. Her grip on the phone tightened. "I don't have time for your games, Jonathan. Whatever it is, just say it."

"You've got time, Jade," he purred, his tone low and calculating. "You see, I'm not the one with something to lose here. You are. I've arranged a little... reminder for you. Just a precautionary measure, in case you think of running. I'm sure you wouldn't want those little offshore accounts of yours coming to light, right?"

Her blood ran cold. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I? You think I'm the one who's desperate? You've underestimated me for the last time." His voice grew even colder, each word sharper than the last. "Remember, darling, when you're drowning, it's not me you'll be looking to save you. It'll be me who decides whether you sink or swim."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Jade staring at the phone in disbelief. Her body trembled. Jonathan was more dangerous than she had ever realized, and now, she was cornered. With her secret exposed to Alexander, her past coming to light, and Jonathan's leverage tightening around her throat, Jade had nowhere left to turn.

She could feel the storm closing in.

---

Alexander's Inner Conflict

Back in his office, Alexander sat behind his desk, staring blankly at the pile of documents. The truth was there, laid out before him like a twisted jigsaw puzzle. Each piece, once carefully hidden, now felt like a weight pulling him deeper into a pit.

The offshore accounts. The fraud. The photograph of Jade with Jonathan and Mara, a glaring reminder of her lies. How could he have been so blind?

His mind raced, a battle waging between his desire to confront her, to demand answers, and the deep ache of betrayal that gnawed at his chest. Jade's face kept haunting him, that raw vulnerability when she had begged for his trust. Protect us. That was what she had said. But now, all he could feel was the sting of her secrets—the things she had kept from him, the things that made him question everything they had shared.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. He didn't have to look up to know who it was. Elara.

"Can I come in?" she asked, her voice even but with an undercurrent of concern.

"Sure," Alexander replied, his voice hollow.

Elara entered, closing the door behind her. She studied him for a long moment, her eyes sharp. "You look like you've been hit by a truck."

"I'm fine," he muttered, though it was obvious he wasn't.

Elara didn't buy it. She walked to the window and stared out at the city. "You can't ignore this, Alexander. The truth is out there, and you can't pretend it doesn't matter. You know this."

"I don't know anything anymore," he muttered, rubbing his temple. "I thought I knew her. I thought she was the one thing in my life that was real."

"Real?" Elara echoed, turning to face him. "How real is it when she's hiding things from you, things that could destroy everything you've built? How real is it when you're the last to know the truth about the woman you trust most?"

His gaze hardened. "I don't need you to lecture me."

"I'm not lecturing," Elara said quietly. "I'm telling you what you already know. If you don't confront this, you'll lose more than just her. You'll lose yourself."

Her words cut through him, sharp and clear. For a moment, he was still, his mind trying to process the weight of her advice.

"I need time," he said finally, his voice quiet. "I need time to think about what comes next."

"Time won't give you the answers, Alexander. It never does." She turned to leave but stopped at the door. "You have to decide what kind of man you want to be. One who confronts the truth... or one who hides from it."

With that, she was gone, leaving him in the silence of his thoughts.

---

The Unraveling

In the dim light of her office, Jade felt her phone buzz again. This time, it wasn't Jonathan. It was a message from Mara.

I know everything. Meet me tonight. The truth can't stay hidden any longer.

Jade's heart skipped a beat. Mara. The one person who knew everything about her—who held the final key to her past. Mara had always been a wildcard, unpredictable and dangerous. And now, it seemed she was ready to cash in on her knowledge.

Jade stood, pacing the room as her mind raced. She had no choice but to meet Mara. The truth could no longer be buried, and if Mara had her way, the world would soon know everything Jade had tried so hard to keep hidden.

She looked out the window, her reflection staring back at her. She wasn't the woman she used to be. The masks, the lies, the secrets—they were all catching up to her now.

She needed to regain control, but it felt like everything was slipping through her fingers. The storm was here