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 she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into the

sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling to accept

fate.

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

she could not let it end

a car parked strangely with its door ajar on

back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere was heavy

tension.

tumbled down the hill toward the car,

“Get lost.”

icy gaze half–closed, his breath

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kidnappers were closing

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

brushed against the man’s slacks, but she

and the man’s

She shook

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

to, the man was still asleep;

her clothes and fled from the

night, she lost something precious. With a wretched wipe of her

it back to the Valentine family in

nothing to her name, she endured hunger and cold, clinging to

hadn’t seen a single piece

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

refused to believe it, so she

Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before

find the body!”

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

was her father, Preston Valentine, devoid of any

by the cold,

only sought to squeeze value out of her even in death, discussing using

Whitney 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

If she’s alive, I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave here today,” Preston’s voice was devoid of

her reputation. Monica and Simon will take over her company. Her grandfather’s

was empty, and devils walked

to keep from