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.

What did Monica mean by that? Before she could ponder,

sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling to

fate.

going to be a pawn in Simon and Monica’s

not let

saw a car parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark roadside

in the back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

half–closed, his breath

14-54

were

Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into the car and slamming the

against the

and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed,

She shook

dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret

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

up her clothes and fled from the car in

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

barely alive, finally made it back

to her name, she endured hunger and

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

the injustices of her childhood,

to believe it, so

Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she could

find

a ‘ghost marriage‘ for her! We’ll make a profit and

That was her father, Preston Valentine, devoid of any paternal

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

squeeze value out of her even in death, discussing using a

cheaper than dirt! Besides,

I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave

reputation. Monica and Simon will take over her company. Her grandfather’s legacy, her uncle… All will be

and devils walked

lip to keep from storming