The room lapsed into silence.
It was evident that Zayden was absent in times of crisis, leaving Sadie to fend for herself.
Sadie realized she was merely a pawn for Zayden and that she couldnât afford to lose Holdenâs support.
If Holden rejected her or retaliated, it would spell disaster for her.
Feeling scared and desperate, Sadie desperately searched for words that could clear her name and keep Holden on her side.
Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice Holdenâs penetrating stare.
Suddenly, Holden uttered, âHelen Clarke.
â
Startled, Sadie flinched, her complexion draining as she locked eyes with Holden, her body freezing in place.
Holden fixed his gaze on Sadie, noting every subtle shift in her expression.
He observed as her expression shifted from disbelief to fear, a brief flash of panic and tension crossing her features.
Sadie attempted to compose herself, placing a hand on her chest and swallowing nervously before saying, âWhatâs the matter, Holden? Why did you mention that name out of the blue? Who is she?â
Despite her efforts to remain calm, Sadieâs heart raced uncontrollably, thudding faster and louder with each passing second, making it difficult for her to catch her breath.
Trying to conceal her panic, she put on a facade of calmness, though she unconsciously clutched her dress tightly, apprehensive about what might unfold next.
Holden remained silent, merely offering a half-smile that unsettled Sadie.
Eventually, unable to withstand Holdenâs penetrating gaze any longer, Sadie averted her eyes.
Then, Holden chuckled softly and lifted Sadieâs chin, studying her pale complexion.
âWhy so tense? I simply wanted to know if the name rings a bell; thatâs all.
â
Sadie didnât know what to say.
Holden continued deliberately, âI came across this name recently while organizing some things.
Considering our five-year history, you ought to be familiar with this individual.
â
Sadieâs thoughts were chaotic, and she desperately sought to steer clear of any discussion involving that name.
After a moment of hesitation, she responded, âIâm not sure.
You havenât shared many details about the Fredrick family with me.
â
Her voice came out hoarse, and when she locked eyes with Holden, a wave of guilt washed over her.
Hastily, she added, âYou never brought it up, so I assume itâs someone from your past with the Fredrick family, but I canât be certain.
â
Holden watched Sadie struggle to articulate her thoughts before humming thoughtfully.
Leaning back in his chair, he suddenly said, âLetâs revisit our love story from five years ago; tell me everything.
â
Sadieâs heart sank.
What? What on earth had Holden found out about her? He had never displayed interest in these details previously.
Feeling that Holden might be onto something but wasnât sure, Sadie was thrown into complete disarray.
Beneath Holdenâs intense scrutiny, Sadie had no option but to invent a narrative.
âWe used to spend a lot of time together, traveling to different placesâ¦â
Sadie made an effort to craft a coherent narrative, feigning fond recollections of certain events.