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.

Monica mean by that? Before she

kidnappers pressed down on her with sinister grins.

fate.

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

let it end

parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark roadside below

his large silhouette vague, but

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath

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were

clung to his leg, crawling into the car and slamming

inadvertently brushed against the

eyes suddenly opened wide, and the man’s

shook her head

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

to, the man was still

clothes and fled from the car

wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney did

barely alive, finally made it back to the Valentine

to her name, she endured hunger

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

loved her. Recalling the injustices

so

with a cold gaze. Before she could

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

arrange a ‘ghost marriage‘ for her! We’ll make a profit and bind her spirit. She won’t dare come

a bit harsh?” That was her father, Preston

her expressionless face stripped bare by the

to squeeze value out of her even in death, discussing

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

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

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

empty, and

lip to keep from storming