She couldnât bear to look into Holdenâs sharp eyes, her voice barely holding together.
âAdele is the child I carried for ten months.
My health was a mess, and the pregnancy nearly did me in.
But I pushed through it because she is your daughter and I love her.
I didnât give up.
â
The more she spoke, the angrier she got.
She seemed to believe her own lies.
âHolden, youâre really accusing me of lying about Adele being mine for Ariana? What is wrong with you? Have you ever believed anything Iâve said?â
Holden just sneered, tossing a piece of paper onto the table.
It was a paternity test report.
He said, âI never doubted Adele was your daughter.
But then, I found out how youâve been treating her when Iâm not around.
Who would do that to their own kid? How could someone who claims to care for their child be so neglectful?â
Sadieâs face turned white, her voice caught in her throat.
âI was blind before, but this proves everything,â Holden said coldly.
âSo, what do you have to say for yourself now?â
Sadie felt like her world was falling apart.
She had never thought Holden would actually get a DNA test.
With shaking hands, she looked at the report.
Everything was clear: she wasnât Adeleâs biological mother.
Sadie felt a chill run through her.
Her hands trembled as she said, âNo, no, there must be a mistake.
Adele is my daughter.
She has to be!â
But her words sounded hollow against the cold truth of the report.
Soon, Sadie ran out of things to say, and tears started flowing.
It was over.
She knew she was doomed.
Holden had all the proof he needed, and he wasnât going to believe her words anymore.
Sadieâs despair turned to a deep, simmering hatred.
Holdenâs patience wore thin.
His brow furrowed as he snapped, âWhatâs really going on with this child?â
But Sadie only cried, not saying anything.
She refused to admit that Adele was Arianaâs child.
When Holden got nothing but tears from Sadie, his rage erupted.
He kicked over the table in a violent burst.
Since Ariana had disappeared, Holden had been holding back his anger, but now, Sadieâs lies had pushed him past his breaking point.
He grabbed Sadie by the throat, his expression menacing.
âDid you really think I wouldnât do anything? Did you think Iâd just let you off the hook? I used to give you a pass because I thought you were Adeleâs mother, but thatâs not the case anymore.
Now, tell me, who is Adeleâs real mother?â
Sadie was put in a chokehold and was gasping for breath.
Her eyes widened in horror, realizing that Holden really wanted to kill her.
She was so terrified that she seemed to see Theodoreâs menacing figure from five years ago.