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.

that? Before she could ponder, she was

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

fate.

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

let it end

saw a car parked strangely with its door ajar on the

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

tension.

free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please let me in to take shelter

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath heavy

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kidnappers were

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

brushed against the man’s slacks, but

suddenly opened wide, and the man’s

She shook

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

man was still asleep;

up her clothes and fled from the car

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

finally made it back to the Valentine family in Banyan

name, she endured hunger and cold,

clenched her fist. In ten days, she hadn’t seen a single piece of

Recalling the injustices of her childhood,

believe it, so

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

can’t rest until we find the body!” Her stepmother,

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 after

was her

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

only sought to squeeze value out of her even

dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother. If Whitney’s still alive and finds out

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

reputation. Monica and Simon will take over her company. Her

and devils walked

to keep from storming