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.

stunned. What did Monica mean by that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into the

kidnappers pressed down on her with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling to accept

fate.

going to be a pawn in Simon and Monica’s scheme, toyed with to her

could not let

strangely with its

in the back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the

tension.

toward the car, desperately

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath heavy with

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kidnappers were closing

me, sir, please!” Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into the car and slamming

body inadvertently brushed against the

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

shook her head

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

to, the man

up her clothes and

night, she lost something precious. With a wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney did not

barely alive, finally made it back

name, she endured hunger and cold, clinging

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

the injustices of

believe it, so she returned to

the back door of the Valentine Mansion, Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she could step further, she heard a dispute from the

can’t rest until we find the

let’s arrange a ‘ghost marriage‘ for her! We’ll make a profit and bind her spirit. She won’t dare

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

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

they only sought to squeeze value out of her even in death, discussing using a

Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we

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

company. Her grandfather’s

and

to