Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

hapter 1

On the eve of her wedding, Whitney Valentine and her younger stepsister were kidnapped, but her fiancé only

rescued her sister.

The kidnapper lunged at her with a sneer, tearing at her clothes with a vicious rip.

Still in disbelief. Whitney waited foolishly, yelling, “No! Please wait more… Simon Perlman said he’d pay the ransom.”

With a mocking laugh, the kidnapper dialed a number and barked, “Monica Valentine, your elder sister sure is a fool!”

Whitney froze.

Her sister’s mocking voice came through the phone. “You really believed that knight–in–shining–armor crap? Let me tell you the truth: I’m carrying Simon’s baby!”

Whitney’s face turned ashen. “When… When did you two get together?”

“Simon’s always loved me. He only used you to start his business! Now that he’s CEO, guess why you’re the one kidnapped?”

Chills crawled up Whitney’s arms as she shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t believe it. Put Simon on the phone!”

Then a man’s voice that came through was cold and remorseless. “Whitney, you’re no longer of any value to me. Take care on your ‘journey.”

Boom!

Whitney’s world collapsed into a pallor of despair.

Eight years of love, all just a ploy? He wanted her dead so he could take over the company!

Whitney’s tears fell down her cheeks.

Monica’s twisted laugh cut through. “He wanted to leave you a pretty corpse, but I’ll make sure you die ugly. Have your fun with her, then leave her to the wolves!”

“Monica, I treated you like my own sister. Why are you doing this? Mom and Dad won’t let you get away with

this!”

“Do you think Mom and Dad really loved you?” Monica sneered coldly.

that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper

grins. Whitney trembled

fate.

pawn in Simon

let it end

saw a car parked strangely with its door

man sat in the back seat, his large silhouette

tension.

captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please let me in to take shelter for a

“Get lost.”

icy gaze half–closed, his breath

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kidnappers were

clung to his leg, crawling into the

the man’s slacks, but

eyes suddenly opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “You’re not getting out?”

can’t!” She shook

the man’s voice was a dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret it.” In an instant, his powerful frame enveloped

to, the man was still asleep; dawn had

and fled

of her eyes, Whitney did

made it back to

endured hunger and cold, clinging

days, she hadn’t seen a single

never loved her. Recalling the injustices of her childhood, Whitney bit her lip

it, so

cold gaze. Before she could step further, she heard a dispute from the

find the

her haunting us, let’s arrange a ‘ghost marriage‘ for her! We’ll make a profit and bind her spirit. She

That was her father, Preston Valentine, devoid of any paternal

to the floor, her expressionless face stripped bare by the cold, and

even

misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother. If Whitney’s still

doesn’t leave here today,” Preston’s voice was devoid

company.

was empty, and devils walked

her lip to keep from