Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Whitney raised an eyebrow and looked at Monica with amusement as if she were watching a court jester perform.

Standing beside her, L. towered with an impeccable posture, blatantly ignoring Monica as if she were beneath

his notice.

‘Let’s get going,” he said, turning with an air of distinction.

Whitney followed him, delicate and soft, which only made him seem more imposing.

Simon watched from behind, his eyes simmering with an intense, fiery anger,

“Whitney!” He barked, halting her in her tracks.

Monica’s face soured instantly.

Whitney paused, and L. glanced at her. “I need to take a call. The driver will pick you up. Can you handle that?”

She nodded with a faint smile.

With a cool glance back, Whitney watched Simon approach, eyeing L as he walked away to take his call. “Who the hell is that guy?” Simon demanded.

“None of your damn business.”

“How can you associate with riffraff? Whitney, have you sunk so low?”

“At least I’m not scavenging for coins in the gutter.”

Her words stung Monica and Simon, and onlookers struggled to suppress their laughter.

Monica’s face turned icy while Simon’s expression grew colder. He grabbed Whitney’s hand and sneered, “Riffraff without a car, right? He’s probably riding a motorcycle. I’ll take you home!”

The sound of his car keys jingled, and the headlights of a Lamborghini flashed.

Monica feigned concern as she approached. “Oh dear sister, you must have walked here, right? You should be careful, especially being pregnant, even if the father’s identity is a mystery. Let Simon and me take you home. What if something happens to you on that motorcycle?”

The elite ladies nearby cast disdainful glances at Whitney. As beautiful as she was, it baffled them why she would be with a thug.

Whitney remained silent.

of an ultra–luxury car approached, and when the onlookers recognized

edition Bugatti Veyron–not just the car, but the consecutive numbers

even the elite of Banyan City

Whose car was this?

stepped out, respectfully calling,

Ms. Valentine, not as the lady of the house, which suggested L’s directive. With a knowing smile, Whitney swept past the stunned

sped off, leaving a cloud of exhaust

gotten involved with? That license plate–only the

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15:00

Chapter 27

scorn. “She’s ruined. She’s just latched onto some guy

jealous to the core but feigning sorrow, added, “She’s disgraced our

How could Whitney know a man

him. Whitney was supposed to be his–all of her beauty, excellence, and capabilities

cars, he ahead

“Did I do well,

to drug Monica and take

had bought some dog meat to stage the

plans were derailed, and everyone witnessed her supposed madness, making her institutionalization a foregone

jumping around, but too bad for Monica–just as she stepped into high society, you kicked her out again. And that resort contract won’t do her any good now, haha,” Tiana said cheerfully. “By the way, did Mr. Lippert show

Whitney replied, distracted by her fake husband and missing her nemesis’s handsome

the car. L, already there, stood elegantly, smoking a cigarette–a mature man with a

her to wait

her with the grace

dogs bounded from the car. She knelt to greet them, her face softening. “They’re getting old,” she said. “My mother gave them to me. They’ve been with me through everything. I should’ve picked them up days ago. Thank you for your driver,

again?” L

up in the evening breeze like

lips, and his fingers loosened his

you, L. Without you, I wouldn’t have my dogs!”

“Hmph.”

pointed to the imposing Bugatti behind her. “But you really shouldn’t use that license plate.

mouth twitched

the plate

they headed towards the

you come back from a trip, or did you return

pause and deep gaze were