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.

by that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into the

kidnappers pressed down on her with sinister grins.

fate.

in Simon and Monica’s scheme, toyed

let it end

its door

his large silhouette

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath heavy

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kidnappers were

Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into the

trembling body inadvertently brushed against the man’s slacks,

opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s apple

She shook

you’ve come,” the man’s voice was a dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret

came to, the man was still asleep; dawn

and

precious. With a wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney did

barely alive, finally made it back to the Valentine family

name, she endured hunger and

her fist. In ten days, she hadn’t seen a single piece of news about her father searching

loved her. Recalling the injustices

it, so she

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

rest until we find the body!” Her

if you’re worried about her haunting us, let’s arrange a ‘ghost marriage‘ for her! We’ll make a profit

bit harsh?” That was her father, Preston Valentine, devoid of

the floor, her expressionless face stripped bare by the cold, and her fantasies of a concerned

squeeze value out of her even in death, discussing using a

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

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

over her company. Her grandfather’s legacy, her uncle… All will be

was empty, and

bit her lip to