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.

that? Before she could ponder, she was

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

fate.

be a pawn in Simon and Monica’s scheme,

not let it end like

parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark roadside below the

the back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere was heavy

tension.

her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, “Sir, could you please let me in to take shelter for

“Get lost.”

man’s icy gaze half–closed, his breath

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were closing

kill me, sir, please!” Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into the car

brushed against the man’s slacks, but

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

can’t!” She shook her

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

slowly came to, the man was still asleep;

up her clothes and

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

barely alive, finally made it back to the Valentine family in Banyan

endured hunger and

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

Dad never loved her. Recalling the injustices

believe it, so she returned

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

rest until we find the body!”

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

was her father,

expressionless face stripped bare by the cold, and her

out of her even

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

I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave here

her reputation. Monica and Simon will take over her company. Her grandfather’s legacy, her

and devils walked the

lip to keep