"Are you spying on me?"

"So what if I am?" Holden responded casually. “I'm only using the same tactics you've used. Are you really that shocked?"

Sadie trembled uncontrollably. She hadn't expected Holden to know so much and instinctively tried to justify herself, her voice quivering.

“Adele."

"Yes, you are Adele's mother, but you've never acted like one,"

Holden stated, his tone heavy with disdain. "I can't believe you've actually been mistreating Adele."

He had hoped at the very least Sadie would show some basic maternal warmth towards the girl, but it turned out Sadie had been harming Adele behind closed doors, all the while hoping the child she was now expecting would be a boy.

Holden gave Sadie a frosty look. "Keep your distance from Adele. Whatever motherly love she's been deprived of, I'll ensure she receives twice as much from someone who truly cares about her."

Hearing this, Sadie completely fell apart, screaming, “Someone who truly cares? You think that bitch Ariana can be her mother? How could Ariana possibly be a good mother? She's just faking it! She only wants to get close to Adele to take her from me, to steal you away! She's always been an outsider! She could never truly care for Adele!"

In tears, Sadie accused Ariana of being insincere. Then, she cried out, "Holden, I love you. I would take good care of Adele for you."

But Holden was done listening. He coldly replied, "Don't blame all this on Ariana. Even without her, there's no chance I'd come back to you or marry you. The moment you ran to Zayden, it was over between us. There's no going back now."

Sadie was utterly stunned when she heard this. It was as if she had just received a death sentence. Her heart trembled in fear, and tears welled up in her red eyes. She pleaded desperately, “No, no, no. This can't be it. We can still fix things. We'll start over again. I love you. I will love you for the rest of my life. Holden, please believe me."

She looked straight into Holden's eyes, trembling all over. She wanted to reach out to him, but she couldn't move at all. There was a trace of madness in her eyes as she said through clenched teeth, "I understand now. You are with Ariana because you want to get back at me. Holden, this is what it's all about, right? You don't have to do this to get even. Just tell me there's a chance for us, and I'll leave Zayden right away. I swear you're the only man I love."

Holden found Sadie's words so ridiculous that he wanted to laugh out loud. Sadie always thought too highly of herself. He had never Loved her. And this was exactly the reason he couldn't stand being around her.

He glanced at Sadie and said coldly, "Stay away from Adele from now on."

After saying this, he picked Adele up, carried her to the car, and drove away.

Sadie stood there and watched the car disappear from her sight. Her whole body felt cold, and her feet seemed nailed to the ground. She couldn't move at all. Tears rolled down her face. She felt very regretful in her heart.

She wondered if she had resisted the temptation back then, would her situation be different now? Could there still be a chance for Holden and her?

Now that she could no longer see Holden's car, Sadie knew there was no turning back.

She stared blankly ahead for a moment, biting her lip. Then, she wiped her tears. Her eyes were suddenly filled with killing intent.