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

on her with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling

fate.

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

let it end like

strangely with its door ajar

man sat in the back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

man’s icy gaze half–closed, his breath heavy with

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kidnappers were closing

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

trembling body inadvertently brushed against the man’s

opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s apple

She shook

man’s voice was a dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret it.” In an

Whitney slowly came to, the man was still asleep;

clothes and fled

With a wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney

alive, finally made it back to the Valentine family in Banyan

endured hunger and

In ten days, she hadn’t seen a single piece

the injustices of

to believe it, so she returned to confront

the back door of the Valentine Mansion, Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she could step further, she heard a dispute from the living

rest until we find the body!” Her stepmother,

tone was sinister 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 dare come

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

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

even in death, discussing using a ‘ghost marriage‘

Preston, Whitney was born to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother.

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

her company. Her grandfather’s legacy, her

and devils walked the

bit her lip to