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.

did Monica mean by that? Before

her with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling

fate.

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

not let it

parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark

sat in the back seat, his large silhouette vague,

tension.

strength, she broke free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the

“Get lost.”

half–closed, his

14-54

kidnappers were

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

trembling body inadvertently brushed against the man’s slacks,

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

shook

you, since you’ve come,” the man’s voice was a dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret it.”

man was still asleep; dawn had not

her clothes and fled from

of her eyes, Whitney did not dare

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

name, she endured hunger and cold,

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

Dad never loved her. Recalling the injustices of

so she returned

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

rest until 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

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

slumped to the floor, her expressionless face stripped bare by the cold,

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

was born to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother. If Whitney’s still alive and finds

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

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

and devils

lip to keep from storming