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 Forty-One: The Unraveling

Victoria's Counterattack

Victoria Laurent watched the press conference from the privacy of her study, her grip tightening around the delicate crystal glass in her hand. The rich red wine inside swirled as she exhaled slowly, her expression unreadable.

Beside her, Jonathan paced, his normally composed demeanor fraying at the edges. "She has the evidence, Victoria. Damien betrayed us, and now the entire world is watching."

Victoria remained still, her eyes on the screen as the news anchors dissected Jade's statement in real-time.

"She was always going to be a problem," Victoria murmured, setting down her glass. "But she's underestimated us."

Jonathan scoffed. "You're calm now, but what happens when she releases that hard drive to the authorities?"

Victoria turned to him, her sharp gaze cutting through his panic. "Then we make sure she never gets the chance."

Jonathan's pacing stopped. A silence stretched between them.

"I'm not suggesting anything," Victoria interrupted coolly. "I'm ensuring our survival."

Alexander's Dilemma

Alexander sat in his private suite, the city lights flickering beyond the massive glass windows. His mother's betrayal was still sinking in. The woman who had raised him, guided him, and built an empire around their family name had been manipulating the truth all along.

Jade's accusations weren't just a desperate attempt to clear her name. They were backed by evidence—evidence that pointed to Victoria being far more involved in Jonathan's corruption than he had ever imagined.

"You saw it?" she asked the moment he picked up.

"I did," Alexander replied, rubbing his temple. "And I don't know what to do."

"You know what you have to do," Elara said firmly. "You have to choose a side, Alexander."

His jaw clenched. "You're asking me to go against my own mother."

"I'm asking you to do what's right."

"Time is exactly what we don't have," Elara warned. "Victoria won't sit back and let Jade expose her. She'll strike first."

Alexander ended the call without replying, his thoughts a tangled mess. He had spent years defending his mother, believing in her vision, but now… now, everything was crumbling.

And the woman he loved was standing on the opposite side of the battlefield.

Jade sat in her office, the hard drive lying in front of her like a loaded gun. Damien stood by the window, his posture tense.

"We need to release this now," he urged. "Before Victoria makes her move."

Jade nodded, but her mind was already working ahead. "We can't just dump it all at once. We need to be strategic. Let her feel the walls closing in."

Damien smirked. "So you want to play mind games with the Queen of Deception?"

Jade met his gaze. "She started this war. I'm going to finish it."