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.

mean by that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into the

with sinister grins. Whitney trembled

fate.

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

let it

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

large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere was

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

half–closed, his breath heavy

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were closing

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

the man’s slacks, but

opened wide, and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “You’re not getting out?”

shook her head frantically,

come,” the man’s voice was a dark, cold chuckle. “Don’t regret it.” In an instant, his powerful frame

slowly came to, the man was still asleep; dawn had

and fled from the car in

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

barely alive, finally made it back

endured hunger and

In ten days, she hadn’t seen a single piece

injustices of

it, so

the Valentine Mansion, Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she

rest until we find the body!” Her stepmother,

as she said, “Dad, if you’re worried about her haunting us, let’s arrange a ‘ghost marriage‘ for

a bit harsh?” That was her father, Preston Valentine,

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

sought to squeeze value out of her even in death, discussing using a ‘ghost marriage‘ to

to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother. If

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

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

and devils walked

her lip to