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.

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

sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling

fate.

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

she could not let it end

car parked strangely with its

back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the

tension.

strength, she broke free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath heavy with

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were closing

his leg, crawling into the car and slamming the door

brushed against the man’s slacks, but she

the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “You’re not

She shook her head

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

slowly came to, the man was still asleep; dawn had

clothes and fled from the

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

made it back to the Valentine family in Banyan

endured hunger

she hadn’t seen a single piece of news about her

Recalling the injustices of her

believe it, so she

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

rest until we find the body!” Her stepmother,

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 dare come

her father, Preston Valentine, devoid of any paternal

the cold, and her fantasies of a concerned

to squeeze value 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 Whitney’s

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

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

and

lip to keep