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.

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

with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with

fate.

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

could not let it end

parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark

back seat, his large silhouette vague, but

tension.

the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please let me

“Get lost.”

half–closed, his breath heavy

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were closing

me, sir, please!” Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into

inadvertently brushed against the man’s slacks, but she was

eyes suddenly opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “You’re

can’t!” She shook her head

a dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret it.” In

man was still asleep; dawn had not

her clothes and fled from the

wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney did not dare linger.

alive, finally made it back to

nothing to her name, she endured hunger and cold,

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

her. Recalling the injustices of her childhood, Whitney

so she returned

back door of the Valentine Mansion, Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before

we find the

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

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

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

to squeeze value out of her even in death,

shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother. If Whitney’s still alive and finds

If she’s alive, I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave here today,” Preston’s voice was devoid of

smear her reputation. Monica and Simon will take over her company. Her

and devils walked the

bit her lip to keep from