Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 24

Whitney remained the very picture of composure amid the whispers and stares.

She waited for the murmurs to die down and then spoke with a cool detachment, “A bit carried away? If I remember correctly, wasn’t it you who was caught in the scandal of the decade just a few days ago, Yvonne?”

Yvonne’s face turned as stiff as a board.

The socialites and ladies gathered around suddenly fell silent, recalling the recent gossip.

Yvonne, struggling to contain her fury, tried to explain in a gentle voice, “Whitney, those rumors were false, and they’ve been debunked…”

“Oh, have they? Last I heard, my father doesn’t even want to speak to you. What’s the real story?”

Whitney’s smile was cool and detached. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.

The crowd dispersed awkwardly, with Monica stamping her foot in frustration. “Mom! She humiliated you like that, and you’re just going to let it go? Look at her, so smug and self–satisfied!”

A deep loathing simmered in Yvonne’s eyes. “Patience, darling. After tonight, she won’t have the gall to be so arrogant anymore.”

The charity auction was set to begin at nine, yet it was only seven. Whitney moved through the venue while Yvonne and her daughter had yet to reappear.

Whitney had a hunch that something was amiss; they would not simply let her off the hook.

Passing by the kitchen, Whitney caught the scent of something medicinal. She frowned, seeing the steaming pot on the stove, and recognized the ingredients for a traditional tonic, which sparked a cold sneer at the corner of her lips as she remembered Monica’s feigned miscarriage.

“Who is making this remedy? Is someone in the household unwell?” She asked a servant, feigning ignorance.

The servant hardly paid her any regard and laughed without responding.

Whitney left the kitchen, suspicions confirmed about Monica’s condition. It was clear that Monica barely had the capability to bear a child anymore, and the situation had gotten so severe that she even had to take

medicine.

Suddenly, the sound of barking dogs and crying interrupted the quiet. Yvonne’s shrill voice reached her. “Whitney! Look at what your dogs have done–it’s bitten someone!”

Whitney’s brows knitted together, and she hurried outside.

Yvonne had her servants subdue Whitney’s two dogs and approached her with a veneer of civility. “These dogs have been quite unruly lately. Just now, they nearly bit a little guest. Whitney, you are their owner; you would be responsible if they actually hurt someone. I’m going to have them taken away. Is that alright?”

Whitney scrutinized the whimpering little girl and then her agitated dogs, who communicated through their eyes that they had not bitten anyone.

She knew her dogs were intelligent creatures. Reluctantly, given the circumstances, Whitney agreed. “Where will you take them?”

“To the old lodge by the back hill,” Yvonne said, watching her intently.

Whitney insisted, “I

was out of sight, a sinister smile played

crouched down to her dogs. “I’ll get you out of

stand up, the servants suddenly hoisted her up and, along with the dogs,

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in

is the meaning of this?” Whitney demanded, her eyes flashing with

front of her. “Sorry, Whitney, but the madam wants you to sign this deed of transfer as a

contract for

she knew that even if the Valentine family had seized control, a transfer

to sign. Then they left,

her dogs

moon casting its silvery light, Whitney felt a growing

her dogs? The night’s odd events were piecing together, and Whitney did not understand why Yvonne had brought out

heartbeat quickened, and she sensed that Yvonne’s intentions were not solely about the

could she be

to her innocent dogs, deep in

was nearing eight. The auction would

clenched, and

the door crashed

male servants rushed in,

are you doing? What will you do to them?” Whitney

intent, caressing her face. “After tonight,

other snapped, “Shut it. Have you forgotten she might be insane? Watch out, she might

quickly with

her dogs? What

Whitney paced the room, a thought struck her–the servant’s mention of “she might be

Whitney’s lips curled into a

immediately called her

the estate and had just arrived at the banquet hall when she received

F3 F F

the back hill and fumed, “They dared

taut with urgency, “Listen, I need

eyes and leaned in as Whitney instructed, “There’s a

ground her teeth in anger. “Those evil women, to think

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Chapter 24

her dogs, and she had

addressing her

to her these past days. She guessed