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

on her with sinister grins.

fate.

to be a pawn in Simon and

let it

its door ajar

his large silhouette vague, but

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

man’s icy gaze half–closed, his

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kidnappers were closing

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

trembling body inadvertently brushed against the man’s

predatory eyes suddenly opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “You’re

can’t!” She shook her head

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

the man

and fled from

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

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

endured

a single piece of news about her father

said Dad never loved her. Recalling the injustices

refused to believe it, so she returned to confront the

Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she

find the body!” Her stepmother,

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

her father, Preston Valentine, devoid of any

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

out of her even in death, discussing using a ‘ghost

to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides,

make sure she doesn’t leave here today,” Preston’s voice was devoid of any

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

was empty, and devils walked the

bit her lip to keep