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.

dogs, Whitney insisted,

nodded, and once Whitney was out of sight, a sinister smile played at the corners of

down to her dogs. “I’ll get you

about to stand up, the servants suddenly hoisted her up and, along

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in the

the meaning of this?” Whitney demanded,

in front of her. “Sorry, Whitney, but the madam wants you to

was a contract

expression turned icy. This property belonged to her grandfather, and she knew that even if the Valentine family had

to sign. Then they

and her dogs

casting its silvery light, Whitney

contract, why lock her up? And why with her dogs? The night’s odd events were piecing together, and Whitney did not

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

else could

innocent dogs, deep

was nearing eight. The

and

the door crashed

servants rushed in, dragging her dogs

doing? What will you do to them?”

a beauty, Whitney,” one servant said with lewd intent, caressing her face. “After tonight,

snapped, “Shut it. Have you forgotten she might

left quickly

kill her dogs? What

struck her–the servant’s mention of “she

she realized Yvonne’s vicious plan. Whitney’s lips curled into a cold smile–she

called her ally,

struggled to sneak into the estate and had just arrived at the banquet hall

F F

to the back hill and

Whitney’s face was taut with urgency, “Listen, I

her eyes and leaned in as Whitney instructed, “There’s a medicine pot in the kitchen. Here, take

darkened with the revelation. After rescuing Whitney from the basement, she ground her teeth in anger. “Those evil women, to think of

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Chapter 24

the night, her eyes ablaze with intensity. Yvonne was after her dogs, and she had

her respectfully, “Madam, is there anything you need

been assigned to her these