Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 30

The message from Simon read, [I know you wouldn’t come out willingly, so I’ve got leverage. Whitney, I have your grandfather’s old phone book, the one he had before he passed away. Haven’t you been trying to dig into that accident for years now? Are you sure you don’t want it?]

Simon knew her too well, and he had found her Achilles‘ heel.

Her mom and grandfather had perished in a horrific accident, or so the story went, according to Preston.

She was too young at the time, and she was studying abroad. Upon her return, she was bluntly informed of their sudden deaths. After they were gone, it was as if a giant hand had wiped away all traces of their existence.

Whitney had never questioned it before. She just wanted to know what really caused the accident. Back when she and Simon were an item, she had asked him to track down her grandfather’s assistant and any leads. The phone book was probably what he had found.

But after being double–crossed by the Valentine family, she started suspecting their involvement in her mother’s and grandfather’s deaths.

On the day of the funeral, she had searched the Valentine Mansion to no avail; Preston had cleared out all of her mother’s and grandfather’s belongings.

The phone book could reveal who her grandfather had been in contact with. If she could get her hands on it, it would be her only lead.

Whitney decided to call him back.

Simon’s voice was smug with triumph. “So, Whitney, what have you decided?”

“Where’s the phone book?”

“Come meet me. Agree to my terms, and I’ll hand it over.”

Whitney’s eyes narrowed. With a sly edge to her voice, she spoke, “How do I know the phone book is real? Show me a video of it now, and then we’ll talk.”

Simon agreed, and about two minutes later, he sent her a video.

Whitney squinted at the footage. Aside from the yellowed pages of the phone book, she recognized the background–the furniture, the layout–it was his bachelor apartment.

En så « no s

Armed with the information she needed, Whitney did not hang up in a hurry.

said, “Meet me tomorrow night at Crystaline Bar’s private booth. You come,

Whitney agreed. “Fine.”

stand me up!” Simon

immediately contacted Tiana. “Tiana, do

before the call, asking her to

from his bachelor apartment!”

nodded, confirming the video was shot in

“So, what’s your plan?”

The following evening.

1/3

15.01

lied to Natalie, saying she would be back before

phone buzzed with a Facebook message from L, [What are you

if anything came up. She furrowed her brows, her fingertips hesitating over the screen before ultimately closing

an indifferent expression, Whitney

needed to draw Simon out to

before Whitney, gazing at her

and

alcohol on his breath. “What do you want to talk about?

the object of many a young man’s affections in Banyan City, exuding a noble elegance without a hint of vulgarity. At times,

was such a beauty; no man would want to let

baby really that thug’s?” Maybe it was the dim light, but Simon’s gaze was deep

body… It was all supposed to be mine!” He

her fists, a chill settling in her heart. Her lips curled into a sneer. “In your heart, I can die, but I can’t carry another man’s child? Is your pride hurt? Are you here because you can’t stand it? How did you weigh

Monica wrapped you around her finger with her seductions, you dropped me without a second thought. The Valentine family could

in shambles, his pretenses ripped away. He seized her shoulders. “It

escape Monica’s seductions?” Whitney

me? You’re nothing but a fallen woman. If so many men can

the core. It took her a moment to regain her composure,

trembled with a cold

trade your body for leverage. You were

with someone else, and now you want me as your secret lover? You’re despicable, Simon, and drunk to

phone vibrated again, and she glanced at it discreetly. Her expression eased, “Forget it. I don’t want the phone book anymore. I’m not

of naturally reaching for