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

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

fate.

really going to be a pawn in Simon and Monica’s

she could not let

car parked strangely with its door ajar

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

tension.

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

“Get lost.”

gaze half–closed, his breath heavy with

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kidnappers were closing

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

brushed against the man’s

the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “You’re not getting

shook her

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

the man was still asleep; dawn had

clothes and fled from the

night, she lost something precious. With a wretched wipe of her eyes, Whitney did not

made it back

endured hunger and cold, clinging to

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

Dad never loved her. Recalling the injustices of her childhood, Whitney bit

to believe it, so she returned to confront the

Valentine Mansion, Whitney entered with a cold gaze. Before she could step further, she

we find the body!” Her stepmother,

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

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

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

even in

Whitney was born to shield Monica from misfortune, a life cheaper than dirt! Besides, we know what happened to her mother. If Whitney’s still

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

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

empty, and devils walked

lip to keep