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-Five: The Reckoning

Jade's head throbbed as she drifted back into consciousness. The cold bite of steel against her wrists told her she was bound, and the dim, unfamiliar room reeked of damp wood and stale air. A single overhead bulb flickered, casting eerie shadows against the walls.

Footsteps approached. Slow. Deliberate.

Then came the voice she had dreaded most.

"Awake at last," Jonathan drawled, stepping into view. He looked perfectly composed, his suit crisp, his expression infuriatingly smug. "I was starting to think you'd sleep through your own downfall."

Jade glared at him, forcing herself to sit up despite the ache in her ribs. "If you think this ends with me, you don't know Alexander as well as you think."

Jonathan chuckled, crouching down to eye level. "Oh, but I do. And that's why you're here. See, your dear Alexander might believe in saving you, but how much is he willing to sacrifice?"

Jade's stomach twisted. "What are you talking about?"

Jonathan pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward her. A live feed of Alexander flashed before her eyes—standing in his office, speaking on the phone.

"I told him if he doesn't retract his statement, he'll never see you again." Jonathan's smile widened. "I expect his answer very soon."

Jade's breath caught in her throat. Alexander wouldn't give in to blackmail.

Alexander gripped the edge of his desk, his knuckles white. Damien stood across from him, tension thick between them.

"You can't negotiate with him," Damien said firmly. "That's what he wants."

Alexander exhaled sharply. "And if I don't? Jade pays the price."

His phone vibrated. A new message from Jonathan.

Decide now. Her life, or your pride?

His hands trembled. He had spent years calculating risks, playing every angle. But this? This was Jade's life. And he couldn't afford to gamble with it.

He met Damien's gaze. "We're going to end this. Tonight."

Damien's expression hardened. "Then we need to move fast."

Jade's mind worked furiously as Jonathan stepped away, lost in his own arrogance. She took slow, measured breaths, willing herself to focus.

She wasn't going to be a pawn. Not anymore.

She subtly shifted her wrists, feeling the tight grip of the zip ties. Pain seared through her skin, but she kept twisting, loosening the bond little by little.

Jonathan was distracted, pacing as he waited for Alexander's response. That was his mistake.

Jade's heart pounded as the ties finally gave way. She flexed her fingers, her eyes darting to the door. One chance. That's all she'd have.

Summoning every ounce of strength, she lunged forward, grabbing the metal tray from the nearby table and slamming it against Jonathan's head.

He stumbled, cursing as she bolted for the door. A shout rang out behind her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.

Freedom was just beyond the next corner.