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.

Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into

pressed down on her with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with

fate.

going to be a pawn in Simon and Monica’s

let it end

strangely with its

back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere was heavy with

tension.

an unknown strength, she broke free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please let me in to

“Get lost.”

man’s icy gaze half–closed, his breath heavy with

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kidnappers were

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

brushed against the man’s slacks, but

predatory eyes suddenly opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s

shook her head

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

came to, the man was still asleep; dawn had

picked up her clothes and fled

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

barely alive, finally made it back to the Valentine family

name, she endured hunger and cold, clinging

In ten days, she hadn’t seen a single piece of

her. Recalling the injustices of

to believe it, so she returned to confront

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

we find the

about her haunting us, let’s arrange a ‘ghost marriage‘ for her! We’ll make a profit and

was her

to the floor, her expressionless face stripped bare by the

out of her even in death, discussing using a ‘ghost marriage‘ to trap her

was born to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother.

If she’s alive, I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave here today,”

Monica and Simon will take over her company. Her grandfather’s legacy, her uncle… All will

and devils

her lip to keep from storming