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

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

fate.

she really going to be a pawn in Simon

let it

a car parked strangely with its door ajar

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

tension.

unknown strength, she broke free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading,

“Get lost.”

icy gaze half–closed, his

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kidnappers were closing

clung to his leg, crawling into the car and slamming the

body inadvertently brushed against the

man’s Adam’s

shook her head

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;

clothes and fled from the

With a wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney did

finally made it back to

her name, she endured hunger

In ten days, she hadn’t seen a single

Recalling the injustices of her childhood, Whitney bit her

so she returned to confront

Mansion, Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she could step further, she heard a dispute from

until we find the

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

a bit harsh?” That was her father,

expressionless face stripped bare by the cold, and her

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

Besides, we

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

will take over her company. Her grandfather’s legacy, her

empty, and devils walked

bit her lip to keep from storming