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.

mean by that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper

with sinister grins.

fate.

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

not let it

saw a car parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark roadside below

in the back seat, his large silhouette vague, but

tension.

free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath heavy with

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were

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

brushed against the man’s

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

She shook her

come,” the man’s voice was a dark, cold

slowly came to, the man was still asleep;

her clothes and fled from the

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

it back to

name, she endured hunger and cold, clinging to

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

never loved her. Recalling the injustices of her childhood,

believe it, so she returned to

Whitney entered with a cold gaze.

until we find the body!” Her

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

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

her expressionless face stripped bare by the cold, and her fantasies of a concerned and remorseful

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

Preston, Whitney was born to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know

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

her company. Her grandfather’s

and

to keep