Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 33

“Sotankadent The door knocked, and Xandra came in with a tray of warm comfort food, saying. Ser asked me to prepare something light for you. The old lady has already eaten. No need to wait up for her?

When did he instruct Xandra? They had been arguing all the way here

Whitney took the trey sullenly

The rise had spent quite a while in the bathroom, doing who knows what. After he came out, Whitney finally went in wash her hands.

That was when she spotted a jade ring on the vanity, but it was only half of one as if it had been snapped in

two

Because of her background in jewelry design, Whitney instinctively picked it up. A memory surfaced unbidden–the man she saved that year gave her a half–ring as a token of gratitude. At the time, Whitney had not paid much attention. After her business bid failed, she had returned to the Valentine family, and within a few days, the ring was lost.

Their meeting was a fleeting connection, and Whitney had long stopped dwelling on his promise of repayment. But whose half–ring was this? Whitney lifted her head and walked out, bumping straight into L, who was returning to the room.

The man saw the object in her hand and immediately took it, saying. “Thank you.”

Whitney watched him carefully pocket it, treating it with such importance. “Is it something very important?”

“Yeah

So important, who gave it to him?

Whitney’s eyes deepened. She could not help but ask, “Mr. L, is this from a girlfriend?”

The man glanced over, his tone teasing, “What are you trying to find out?”

Whitney immediately pursed her lips, pretending to be indifferent, “Before you and I entered our marriage agreement, did you perhaps have a girlfriend?”

He propped his hand against his chiseled jaw, chuckling, “Who was it just now who wanted to set clear boundaries, and now you’re prying into my private affairs? Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction?”

Whitney turned red–faced, caught off guard. “No one wants to know. If you won’t tell, then don’t.”

The man walked back to the door, his lips curling slightly, “I have a wife, but she’s not very obedient.”

He stepped out, and his assistant asked him in a low voice, “Sir, are you still giving the departure gift to Madam?”

The man spoke indifferently, “A little ingrate, what’s the point? Toss it in the trash.”

The assistant was speechless.

Very astutely, he walked in and threw something into the trash can next to Whitney’s feet.

Sipping her soup, Whitney looked down and saw “Gemstone Gazette“! She was surprised and quickly picked it up. This was an original, hard to come by. It contained jewelry knowledge compiled by the world–renowned master L.C., a mysterious prodigy who gained fame at a young age and was Whitney’s idol. Unfortunately, he was so low–profile and rarely released his work!

Whitney clutched the book to her chest in adoration. Then her face went blank.

Was this the gift L brought her from his trip? How did he know she was preparing for a design competition? Oh, she had let it slip while having spaghetti that day.

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Chapter

fluttered like ripples on

looked at the table full

man, was he good or bad? Or was he just too sophisticated, his aloofness hiding the kind of attention to detail and allure that women found irresistible, and he had perfected the art? And that

him, mysterious men were too

orbit

needed to

saw Ludwik approaching, smoking a cigarette, his stern

this Whitney? Were you planning on continuing your advances

glanced at him, uninterested in

a file, “Sir, there’s been–no progress on the night you were set up, and whether Ms.

“Keep investigating.”

lady. In his high position, he’s naturally suspicious. Plus, Natalie’s safety is paramount. But while he doesn’t trust easily, he can’t resist teasing the girl in his loneliness. He’s not far from letting passion cloud his

cigarette butt and fixed Parker with a cold, inscrutable look, then strode away with

Parker chuckled softly.

in the hospital for recovery,

baby was five weeks along, just over a month

pressure at the villa, seeing the tiny seahorse–like

to start coming to terms

plan to keep it? After a year, to give the child to L and cut all ties, returning to a state of strangers–could she

Whitney’s mind as she looked at the path

vital to pacifying Natalie’s health for

seahorse

by her bedside, opening her laptop to start on her

it, the evening had fallen, and the tall figure of the man entered, his suit jacket elegantly slung over

but the

a commanding warmth enveloped her from behind did she realize he was there.

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Chapter 33

like ripples on the

table full of appetizers, biting her

was he just too sophisticated, his aloofness hiding the kind of attention to detail and allure that women found irresistible, and he had perfected the art?

mysterious men were too dangerous, drawing

orbit.

to

Ludwik approaching, smoking a

your deal with this Whitney? Were

barely glanced at him, uninterested in

file, “Sir, there’s been no progress on the night you were set up, and whether Ms. Valentine is a suspect is

“Keep investigating.”

In his high position, he’s naturally suspicious. Plus, Natalie’s safety is paramount. But while he doesn’t trust

fixed Parker with a cold, inscrutable look, then strode away

Parker chuckled softly.

in the hospital for

weeks along, just over a

blood pressure at the villa,

Whitney’s emotions a

strange and

1. ex.