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

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

not let it end like

with its door ajar on the dark roadside below the

back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere

tension.

hill toward the car, desperately pleading,

“Get lost.”

half–closed, his breath heavy with

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kidnappers were closing

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

against the man’s slacks, but

suddenly opened wide, and the man’s

can’t!” She shook her head frantically,

sent you, since you’ve come,” the man’s voice was a dark, cold chuckle.

came to, the man was

up her clothes and fled from the

lost something precious. With a wretched wipe of her

made it back to

to her name, she endured hunger and

ten days, she hadn’t seen a

loved her. Recalling the injustices of her childhood,

it, so she returned to confront the

with a cold gaze. Before she could step further, she

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 and bind her spirit. She won’t

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

by the cold, and her

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

misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides,

doesn’t leave

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

and devils walked the

to keep