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-Nine: The Queen's Gambit

Damien sat in the back of Jonathan's luxury sedan, his fingers wrapped around a crystal glass of whiskey he hadn't touched. The car was moving through the dark streets, heading toward a private estate where high-stakes deals were made behind closed doors.

Jonathan, seated beside him, swirled his own drink lazily. "You've been out of the game for years, Damien. Tell me, why come back now?"

Damien gave a casual shrug, masking his sharp attention. "Because the game never ends. And because I know you, Jonathan. If Victoria has you cleaning up her mess, it means something bigger is happening."

Jonathan smirked, tapping his glass against Damien's. "You always were a sharp one."

The car pulled up to the estate. As they stepped inside, Damien kept his mask of indifference firmly in place. He was here to learn, to get proof, to figure out how deep this betrayal ran.

Inside, the room buzzed with conversation—bankers, politicians, businessmen, all moving like sharks around a dying prey. Damien spotted a laptop on a desk in the corner, screens flickering with encrypted files.

Jonathan leaned in. "Welcome to the real war, my friend."

Damien forced a smile. But inside, his mind was racing. If he played this right, he could get the evidence Jade needed to bring Victoria down. If he failed… he might not leave this room alive.

Jade's phone buzzed as she sat across from Alexander in the penthouse. A single message flashed on the screen:

Before she could react, the TV screen on the wall flickered on. A breaking news report flashed:

"Scandal Rocks the Business World: Jade Laurent Under Investigation for Fraud and Money Laundering."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Jade's hands clenched into fists. "No. She wouldn't—"

Alexander shot up from his seat, grabbing his phone. "She did."

The news anchor continued, listing false allegations, fabricated evidence—an entire narrative crafted to destroy her reputation.

Jade's breath came in sharp gasps. Victoria hadn't just made a move. She had declared all-out war.

Alexander's grip on her shoulder tightened. "We fight back."

Jade exhaled, forcing her panic down. "Then we end this. Now."

The Queen’s Gambit