Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 4

On the eleventh day, after he had meticulously planned her fake ‘murder,‘ they actually went and secretly got their marriage license.

What a twist of fate!–

Whitney froze, a suffocating agony drowning her, hate that was bone–deep, and a coldness that splashed from the depths of her eyes.

The past taunted her like a sharp sword.

“Whitney, I will definitely marry you. You’ll soon be Mrs. Perlman.”

“Whitney, you’re a genius. Help Monica with her draft one more time; she must win the jewelry competition!”

“We’ll get the license after the wedding. Don’t worry, I won’t betray you.”

After the wedding, huh? But he wanted her dead!

The tight grip on her palm was released by the man standing beside her, his tall figure casting a cool shadow. He asked her, “Need a few minutes?”

Whitney pressed her pale lips together and shook her head.

A clerk politely ushered them inside.

It only took two minutes to get the license. Whitney glanced at the man working busily in the chair, then at the marriage certificate. His name in the document had only one initial: L.

Domineering, indifferent, perfunctory.

What kind of marriage was this? It seemed the license was just a way to bind her and to appease the old lady.

She knew nothing about him, nor did she know whom she had truly married.

Suddenly, Whitney spotted Simon and Monica entering another office. Monica took her purse to the restroom.

Whitney’s lips curled into a cold smirk, and she said to L, “I have something to take care of.”

Felix, the man’s assistant, looked at Whitney’s retreating figure and asked the man quietly, “Sir?”

work,

lipstick inside the restroom, crushed it into water, and smeared it all over the paper. She stuffed it into a cubicle and left

the city hall, Whitney asked the driver to stop the

tumbled down the steps in panic, screaming unabashedly,

Simon ran towards her.

said with a trembling voice, “Look… This is the horoscope for a ghost marriage, with Whitney’s name written in blood! It just appeared in my purse.

sight of the bloody paper, helping Monica up. “Nonsense. She’s

Monica’s eyes darkened, her face

a photo with her phone. The pain from her palm, punctured and raw, was unbearable, and her eyes began to fill with a bloody

ear. “Harsh? Whitney was born to shield

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Chapter 4

it, the truth cut like a knife. From now on, she would become Monica’s

twisting in a cold

of blood and deep vengeance, she would claim it all back,

“Mr. L, we can drive off

beside her divided a fraction of his attention from his work to ask,

Whitney’s resolve falter, and the tears she

for you.” He frowned, rubbing her hand gently, his

at this noble man, who commanded, “I don’t care what you’re planning; just make sure you keep yourself safe, especially what’s

you!” It was a transaction, after all. Whitney did not expect him to avenge her, especially since he doubted

and this marriage

he said as he stepped out of the car, too busy

then told the driver, “Please take me to

the VIP lounge of the funeral home, Yvonne tore the blood–stained paper with a scoff, “It’s just lipstick and water, a childish prank.

no one else knew about us giving Whitney

people have turned to

soon. Your father will announce in front of the media that all of Whitney’s inheritance will go to you. There will be

and she can’t come back,”

a triumphant smile on

in the afternoon, the funeral

Whitney Valentine, a business prodigy and stunning beauty who made a name for herself in

she was dead. And her death was as scandalous as her

core.

call from a public phone. Even with nothing to