Ayishetu

In a world of wealth, power, and whispered betrayals, Jade Sinclair is an outsider. When she marries **Alexander Middleton**, heir to a powerful and ruthless family, she knows the life she’s stepping into is one of scrutiny and silent warfare. But what no one knows is that Jade didn’t just marry into this world for love—she has her own secrets, her own motives.  

At every turn, she faces resistance. **Victoria Middleton**, Alexander’s calculating mother, sees her as nothing more than an inconvenience, an unworthy intruder in their empire. And then there’s **Liliana Carter**, Alexander’s ex and the woman society expected him to marry, who is determined to reclaim her place by his side.  

But Jade is no naive socialite. She knows that in a world like this, survival isn’t about playing by the rules—it’s about rewriting them.  

When **Lady Eleanor Middleton**, the true matriarch of the family, summons Jade for a private meeting, everything changes. The old woman sees more than Jade expected, sensing the deeper game at play. As the stakes rise, Jade is forced to confront not just the enemies in plain sight but the ones lurking in the shadows—secrets buried within the Middleton family that could destroy them all.  

As deception weaves through every relationship and trust becomes the most dangerous currency, Jade must decide:Is love worth the price of power? And in a game where masks are everything, who will survive when the veil is finally lifted

the veil of deception

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Breaking Point

Jade's hands trembled as she clutched the folder, her heart pounding against her ribs. The café felt too exposed now, the walls too thin. She glanced at Elara, who was watching her with a measured calm, but Jade could see the tension in her eyes. They both knew—this wasn't just a risk. This was war.

"We can't wait," Jade whispered, leaning in. "We release the documents today."

Elara nodded, her fingers tapping against the ceramic cup in front of her. "I'll call Isabelle. She'll know how to handle the press."

Just as Jade exhaled, her phone buzzed. She hesitated before checking the screen. A single message from an unknown number:

Her breath hitched. She grabbed her phone and opened a news app, her stomach twisting. A breaking report was already plastered across the screen.

Jade Sinclair Implicated in New Evidence of Embezzlement—Sources Claim She's Been Hiding Millions in Secret Accounts.

A chill ran down her spine. "No…"

Elara leaned over, eyes widening as she read. "This is Jonathan."

Jade's pulse spiked. He had beaten her to it, flipping the narrative before she could control it. Now, she wasn't the whistleblower—she was the villain.

Alexander stormed into his office, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. Damien's USB had shown him the truth, but now, the world was seeing a very different version of events. The reports painted Jade as the mastermind of the corruption, a criminal who had deceived everyone—including him.

His phone rang. He hesitated before answering. "Elara."

"You can't believe what they're saying." Her voice was urgent. "Jonathan set her up. We have the real proof."

Alexander's jaw tightened. "And how do I know you're not just covering for her?"

There was a pause, then a quiet, clipped response. "Because if you don't help, Jonathan wins."

Alexander closed his eyes. He wanted to stay angry. He wanted to walk away. But deep down, he knew Elara was right. If Jonathan was capable of fabricating this, what else had he done?

"I'll handle it," he said finally. "Get Jade out of sight until I do."

Jonathan swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the news coverage unfold exactly as he had planned. Jade was drowning in the narrative he had spun, and soon, no one would believe a word she said.

A knock on his office door made him glance up. His assistant stepped inside, looking nervous. "Sir, there's a problem."

She hesitated. "Alexander Middleton just scheduled a press conference. Word is, he's going to challenge the allegations against Jade."

Jonathan's grip on the glass tightened until his knuckles turned white. He had underestimated Alexander's attachment to Jade.

His lips curled into a smirk. "Let him try."

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. The line clicked, and a familiar voice answered.

Jonathan leaned back, exhaling slowly. "Make sure she doesn't make it to that press conference."