“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.

“I obliterated that footage precisely because I foresaw this exact scenario! I had no desire for you to perceive me as wicked and then endeavor to wrest my standing as Adele's mother from me!"

Following her tirade, an enigmatic hush descended on the room.

Holden looked at her for an extended moment, his Lips curling into a sarcastic smirk.

“Ah, just as I surmised, the verity behind your actions aligns exactly with my suspicions!"

Sadie stared at Holden in shock.

Holden slowly stood up and said in a serious tone, "You were the one who destroyed the monitor on the deck. So we couldn't get it. I just lied to you and unfortunately for you, you are so stupid that you told me everything."

As soon as Holden finished his words, Sadie realized what she had just done.

She looked at Holden in shock, with many thoughts flashing through her mind.

Why did he do that? Did he remember Ariana? Or perhaps he had recognized Ariana's child as his son?