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.

stunned. What did Monica mean by that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into

kidnappers pressed down on her with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling to accept

fate.

pawn in Simon and

let it end

she saw a car parked strangely with its door ajar on

his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere was heavy with

tension.

and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please let

“Get lost.”

icy gaze half–closed,

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kidnappers were closing

please!” Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into the car and slamming the door shut!

body inadvertently brushed against the man’s slacks, but she

and the man’s Adam’s apple

shook her head frantically,

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

slowly came to, the man was still asleep; dawn had not

and

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

made it back to the Valentine family in Banyan

name, she endured hunger and cold, clinging

hadn’t seen a single

said Dad never loved her. Recalling the injustices of her childhood, Whitney bit her lip

believe it, so she returned to

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

we find the body!”

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

bit harsh?” That was her father, Preston

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

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

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

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

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

and devils walked

lip to keep