Love x betrayal

chapter 20: desperate escape

Sadie couldn’t sleep that night. Her mind churned with everything she had learned. Her mom wasn’t her real mother. And her real mother… was dead—or was she? After all the lies and betrayals she had uncovered, how could she trust anything she’d been told? An unshakable urge gnawed at her—what if her real mother was still alive? She had to find out the truth. She couldn’t just sit there, trapped under Jake’s control, her life spiraling deeper into uncertainty.

By 5 a.m., her decision was made. She didn’t bother packing a bag; she just needed to leave. Quietly slipping out of her bed, Sadie tiptoed through the house, avoiding creaky floorboards, careful not to wake anyone. She left her phone behind on purpose, knowing Jake would track her if he found out. Once outside, she slipped into the car she had secretly arranged and took off, heading straight for the city prison. Her only hope was her father. He was the key to all the answers she desperately needed.

As the sun began to rise, the tension in Sadie’s chest grew heavier. The ride was long, each passing minute felt like an eternity. What if Jake woke up and discovered she was gone? What if he caught her before she reached her father? The thought made her heart race, but she clenched her fists and pressed on. She had to know the truth, no matter the cost.

Back at the mansion, Jake woke up around 6 a.m. and immediately reached for his phone, trying to contact Sadie. When she didn’t answer, anxiety began to creep in. He called again. Silence. With growing panic, he rushed to Sadie’s room, only to find it empty. The bed was untouched, and there was no sign of her.

"Sadie?" he called out, his voice tinged with worry.

No answer.

Jake’s anxiety quickly turned into anger. He stormed through the mansion, shouting for the maids and guards. "How did she leave?!" he roared. "You’re all useless! How did she escape? What if something happens to her?"

In his fury, Jake grabbed a vase from a nearby table and hurled it against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces. He slumped into a chair, his hands gripping his hair in frustration. "I can’t lose her, I can’t!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "Where could she have gone?"

The realization hit him suddenly—her father. Of course. Without a second thought, Jake stormed out of the mansion and boarded his private jet, determined to find Sadie before it was too late. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and fury. How could she just leave like that? Didn’t she understand the risks?

By 7 a.m., Sadie finally arrived at the city prison. Her legs felt shaky as she rushed inside, pleading with the officers to let her see her father. They hesitated but reluctantly agreed. Soon, she was standing before him, the man she once trusted more than anyone.

"Dad, no need to lie. I know the truth," she said, her voice tense with frustration as she walked into the visiting room.

Her father looked up at her with weary eyes. "Sadie, my dear, I was framed. Lied about," he said softly.

Sadie’s face twisted with anger. "I said stop lying, Dad! Now tell me—who is my real mom?"

Her father’s eyes shifted, avoiding hers. "She’s dead," he muttered.

Sadie glared at him, her heart pounding. "Why did you do it, Dad? Why did you commit fraud?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"I was trying to make a better life for you," he said quietly, his eyes downcast.

"Liar!" Sadie shouted, her anger boiling over. "You’re all selfish liars!"

Jake’s jet touched down near the prison as Sadie and her dad were talking, and he rushed into the prison without warning. His cold gaze locked onto Sadie’s father, who returned the glare with equal intensity. The tension in the room was palpable, and Sadie could feel it weighing on her.

"What are you doing here?" her father demanded, his voice filled with rage.

Jake ignored him, focusing solely on Sadie. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the visiting room, practically throwing her into his car.

"Let me go!" Sadie cried, but Jake ignored her.

He climbed into the driver’s seat and sped off, his jaw clenched in fury. Sadie, sitting in the passenger seat, could barely catch her breath. She was seething, but Jake’s icy demeanor made her feel like a caged animal.

"What’s wrong with you?" Sadie finally shouted, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jake shot her a sharp glance. "I should be asking you that. Are you crazy? How dare you leave the house like that! Do you know how worried I was? And of all places, you went to your dad—to feed you more lies?" His voice was filled with venom, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

Sadie’s tears began to fall. "You don’t understand anything…"

Jake cut her off. "I know you better than you know yourself, Sadie. Don’t test me. You don’t want to get on my bad side."

Sadie sobbed quietly as they drove back to the mansion. Jake’s eyes never left the road, his expression cold and unreadable. As soon as they arrived, Jake got out of the car without a word, storming into the house and heading straight for his room, slamming the door behind him.

A maid came and led Sadie to her room, locking the door once she was inside. Exhausted and broken, Sadie collapsed onto her bed, her tears soaking the pillow. She stared up at the ceiling, her voice barely a whisper.

"Why is my life so complicated, God?" she asked, but no answer came. The silence only deepened her sorrow as she cried herself to sleep.