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 Thirty-Three: Shadows of the Past

Damien Blackwell: The Ghost Returns

Jade's fingers curled into fists as she watched Damien settle into the leather chair, his usual arrogance on full display. Seeing him here, in their home, felt like a cruel twist of fate.

The last time she had seen Damien, he had walked away without a word—leaving behind nothing but unanswered questions and a broken promise.

Alexander, still unreadable, leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "Let's start with you, Damien. What exactly is your stake in this?"

Damien smirked, tilting his head. "Fair enough. Since we're all being honest…" He leaned forward, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "I wasn't always Damien Blackwell."

Jade's stomach twisted. She had known that. He had been someone else, once. Someone she had trusted.

"I was Daniel Okafor," he continued. "Before I changed my name, before I disappeared, I worked for one of the most powerful syndicates in Lagos. A fixer, a strategist, a ghost who made problems disappear."

Alexander's expression darkened. "And now?"

"Now, I'm a businessman. One with very lucrative interests." Damien turned his attention back to Jade. "You of all people should know that reinvention is necessary for survival."

Jade's voice was cold. "And you of all people should know that I don't trust ghosts."

Damien chuckled. "Still as sharp as ever." His smile faded. "But this isn't about our past, Jade. This is about Victoria Middleton. Your lovely mother-in-law."

Alexander tensed at the words, but he didn't interrupt.

Damien continued, "Victoria has been orchestrating a takeover. Quietly, of course. Buying out controlling shares, forcing out executives who remain loyal to you." He turned to Alexander. "And the kicker? She's using a shell company to do it. One that I used to have a stake in—until she decided I was disposable."

Jade's chest tightened. "You're saying she betrayed you, so now you want revenge?"

"I want what I'm owed," Damien corrected. "And I want to make sure that neither of you ends up blindsided."

Alexander's jaw clenched, his mind working through the implications. His mother had always been ruthless in business, but would she go this far?

"Why tell me this?" Alexander finally asked. "You could have used this leverage to gain more power. Why warn me instead?"

Damien's smirk faded. "Because Victoria doesn't just eliminate threats. She erases them." His voice dropped slightly. "And I'm not eager to be erased."

The weight of his words settled over the room.

Jade exhaled, glancing at Alexander. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the wariness in his gaze.

Victoria wasn't just maneuvering for control. She was preparing for war.

And if Alexander wasn't careful, he might be the first casualty

Shadows Of The Past