Love x betrayal

chapter 15: unveiling the truth

Sadie’s uneasy night had given way to an even more troubling dawn. As Jake’s call summoned her to the living room, every creak of the old floor beneath her feet echoed with trepidation. When she finally reached the dimly lit room, she found Jake seated comfortably, his attention fixed on his phone.

Sadie stared at him, her emotions a tangled web of fear and confusion. Jake, without lifting his eyes from the screen, broke the silence. “Sadie, are you better?” he asked nonchalantly.

Tears welled up in Sadie’s eyes as she choked out, “Jake, that voice, that voice.” Her voice cracked under the weight of the revelation. The realization that Serena’s voice had been heard as the girl who was talking to her as she was blindfolded when she was kidnapped.

Jake’s demeanor shifted instantly. He dropped his phone and approached her with a determined stride. Gently cupping her chin in his hand, he reassured her, “I’ll get to the bottom of this.” His voice was firm and promising, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

During the time Sadie spent with Jake, his behavior began to reveal a different side. He was unexpectedly caring and attentive, treating her with a kindness that surprised her. As the days passed, his actions—whether it was making sure she had everything she needed or offering words of comfort—began to build a sense of trust. She found herself slowly opening up to him, her fear giving way to a tentative confidence in his intentions.

One day, Jake surprised Sadie by giving her a beautiful dress, its fabric soft and luxurious against her skin. His maids worked meticulously on her makeup, transforming her reflection into something almost unrecognizable. Sadie felt a mix of confusion and curiosity but decided not to complain. She had learned to trust Jake, and today was no different.

As the car rolled to a stop, Sadie’s heart skipped a beat when she realized they were at the police station. Confusion deepened into dread as they entered, and her eyes fell on Serena, handcuffed and looking more defiant than ever. Tears welled up in Sadie’s eyes, but Jake gently reminded her, “Don’t ruin your makeup.”

Steeling herself, Sadie approached Serena. “Why?” she asked, her voice trembling with hurt and confusion. Serena initially denied any wrongdoing, but Sadie’s persistent questioning finally broke through her facade.

“Stop asking stupid questions! Isn’t it obvious? I hate you… Well, I don’t hate you, but I hate your family,” Serena spat out, her words dripping with years of pent-up resentment. “When I was a kid, my mom worked for your family as a maid. And when she fell sick, instead of helping us, you threw us out.”

Sadie’s voice broke as she cried, “I was just a kid…”

But Serena was relentless. “You had a perfect life while I was here suffering. I sought revenge, and when I heard about your predicament, I took my chance. I befriended you, and you were so naive. Jake was a problem because he knew the truth, so I wanted us to take him down so I could slowly take my revenge. Then one day, I got a call from your mom. She said she wanted to sell you off and offered to pay my mom's hospital bills and an additional one million dollars if I helped. I agreed because I needed the money, but Jake ruined the whole plan. Your mom made me do this. You were never supposed to be involved. When they let me out, I’m going to kill all of you—especially you, Jake!” Serena screamed as the police dragged her away.

By this time, Sadie was already on her knees, crying. “My mom... I can’t believe my mom would do such a thing.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Jake moved quickly to lift her up, carrying her out of the station and into the car. In the quiet of the ride back, Jake attempted to comfort her, saying, “Cheer up. You still have me.”

Sadie, still overwhelmed, did something unexpected—she hugged him. Jake was taken aback, a rare moment of surprise crossing his usually composed face. “Woman, don’t try something you can’t finish,” he said, pushing her back slightly. “I’m just protecting my woman, that’s all. And we have a party to attend, so don’t ruin your makeup,” he shrugged.

Still reeling from everything she had just learned, Sadie decided to let Jake lead. The chaos and revelations of the day had left her feeling unmoored, and for now, following Jake’s lead was the only thing that made sense.