Holden had all the proof he needed, and he wasn't going to believe her words anymore.

Sadie's despair turned to a deep, simmering hatred.

Holden's patience wore thin. His brow furrowed as he snapped, “What's really going on with this child?"

But Sadie only cried, not saying anything.

She refused to admit that Adele was Ariana's 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, Sadie's lies had pushed him past his breaking point.

He grabbed Sadie by the throat, his expression menacing. "Did you really think I wouldn't do anything? Did you think I'd just let you off the hook? I used to give you a pass because I thought you were Adele's mother, but that's not the case anymore. Now, tell me, who is Adele's real mother?"

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 Theodore's menacing figure from five years ago.

At that moment, she could only feel regretful. Her life had been so comfortable over the past year that she had forgotten Holden's true nature and how vicious Theodore could be five years ago.

Sadie trembled uncontrollably. Her face had already turned red from the lack of air. She desperately grabbed Holden's wrist and pleaded, "Holden, please, don't do this. We've spent time together for so long, and we've been through a lot. Let me go. I'll tell you everything. Just don't kill me."

When Holden heard this, he resisted the urge to strangle Sadie. He slowly loosened his grip on her neck.

His eyes were bloodshot, and they were filled with undisguised killing intent that terrified Sadie even more. She looked at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Holden closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He took a cigarette with trembling hands and lit it.

The seething anger in his heart still surged. He did his best not to look at Sadie to keep his murderous impulse in check.

After Sadie was released, she quickly rushed to a corner and curled up her body. She looked at Holden and said, “Adele... Adele isn't my daughter. She's the daughter of a woman you had a one-night stand with."

She swallowed hard and continued, "That woman was my best friend, and she died after giving birth. She left Adele to..."

Her voice was suddenly stopped by a loud bang.

Holden was so angry that he slammed his lighter against the wall.