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.

might harm her dogs, Whitney insisted, “I want to

a sinister smile played at the

the old lodge, Whitney crouched down to her dogs. “I’ll get you out of

to stand up, the servants suddenly hoisted her up

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all in the

this?” Whitney demanded, her eyes flashing with icy

servants threw a contract in front of her. “Sorry, Whitney, but the madam wants you to sign this deed

was a contract for a

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

the servant pressed her hand to sign. Then they left,

and her dogs remained

at the cold moon casting its

only wanted a contract, why lock her up? And why with her dogs? The night’s odd events were piecing together,

and she sensed that Yvonne’s intentions were not solely about

else could she be

innocent dogs, deep

nearing eight. The auction would

clenched, and

door

servants rushed in,

you doing? What will you do to them?” Whitney stood up, trying

servant said with lewd intent, caressing her face. “After tonight, I might just have my way

you forgotten she might be insane? Watch out, she might

quickly with the

were they planning? To kill her dogs? What was Yvonne

thought struck her–the servant’s mention of “she might be

Yvonne’s vicious plan. Whitney’s lips curled into a

immediately called her ally,

the estate and had just arrived at

F

the back hill and fumed,

was taut with urgency, “Listen, I need you to do

noticed the unusual coldness in her eyes and leaned in as Whitney instructed, “There’s a medicine pot in the

evil women, to think of such a vile scheme. Whitney, you must find a way

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Chapter 24

with intensity. Yvonne was after her dogs, and she had to save them, but she

addressing her respectfully, “Madam,

assigned to