Subsequently, she fixed her hair before a mirror, hiding the bruised remnants on her face with deft

strokes of foundation. Elegantly slackening her neckline, she pushed open the door and went to replace

Holden.

Outside the room, she saw Holden sitting alone on the couch. Silence reigned, with only the two of

them present, eliciting excitement within her.

Radiating allure and charm, Sadie walked up and sat beside Holden.

She asked, “When do we leave for home?”

Holden remained still, only turning his head and sending a playful gaze her way.

“I’ve been apprised of the thing with the surveillance.”

Panic surged through Sadie, her smile wobbling slightly as she grappled to maintain her composure,

barely keeping her facade intact as she stammered, “W-what do you mean?”

Holden’s chuckle was slow and cold. The timbre of his voice took on a measured tone as he said, “The

bodyguard has unburdened his conscience.”

Looking at Sadie, his countenance grew darker.

“Why, pray tell, did you lie to me?”

Sadie’s discomposure skyrocketed. Her attempts to mask her apprehension faltered, leaving her

mystified as to how Holden had uncovered the ruse of the deck surveillance. She had believed her

tracks were expertly covered.

Words stumbled from Sadie’s mouth helplessly. Casting a glance at Holden, she sighed deeply, striving

to steady her nerves, before retorting with a hint of defensiveness, “Is your trust in me so tenuous? I

assured you I’d handle this affair. What prompted you to probe into it personally?”

Holden regarded her with a snort tinged with ice.

“And you handled it, didn’t you? And your mode of handling equated to duping me?”

Seeing his demeanor, Sadie’s thoughts raced, torn between the conviction that Holden couldn’t have

possibly unraveled the web of surveillance deceit and the apprehension that the pervasive influence of

the Fredrick family could indeed have unearthed damaging truths.

As she struggled to mount a defense, Holden’s words stopped her.

I don’t wish for my daughter’s mother to be scheming behind my back.

Before Holden could conclude, Sadie’s vexation erupted. She interjected with fervor, demanding, “What

do you mean, Holden? Are you truly prepared to champion the cause of a stranger? Yes, I did

administer a slap to that young boy. And deservedly so! Because of that, are you poised to strip me of

my identity as Adele’s mother?

Are you?”

Holden’s silence pervaded the room, his gaze icy as it bored into her. Yet, Sadie’s emotions refused to

be quelled, her outburst persisting as she raised her voice.

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