Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 40

Whitney scrolled through the latest entertainment news about Stella on her phone, glancing over at her friend. “Tiana, let’s head upstairs. Can you get us a private suite?”

Tiana was off like a shot, making a beeline for the club’s manager. Securing a private suite was next to impossible without a reservation, but with a bit of cash persuasion, she managed to wrangle a room for an hour.

But why did Whitney want a private suite?

Whitney’s eyes were calm and unreadable as she said, “An hour will be enough.”

She took a seat, logged into a burner account, and sent a message into the digital ether,

In less than six minutes, the click–clack of high heels approached. Stella, who had claimed to be too busy, hurried in with a smile plastered on her face. “Monica, has Kyler arrived yet?”

The moment she entered, her expression turned to stone.

Even Whitney felt a twinge of stiffness for her.

Tiana, out of breath and pale, was the first to confront her. “Stella, whose name did you just call? Since when are you friends with Monica? Do you have any idea what she did to Whitney?”

Stella snapped back to reality, quickly putting two and two together after seeing the message.

Her demeanor chilled as she turned to Whitney. “You always were the sharpest one among us.”

“Why betray me?” Whitney’s question was straightforward.

Leaning against the wall, Stella no longer bothered to fake a smile. Annoyance flickered in her eyes. “Why do you think, Whitney? Standing beside you now, I feel embarrassed. You’re not worthy anymore.”

become like

star is Monica, and I’m only weighing the pros and cons. Aligning with you would tarnish my image. Don’t blame me for making the

pros and

turned icy, her heart shedding the last threads of warmth. “Did you delete my files

“Did I? You have

the news is painting her as a plagiarist. Do you want to ruin her

have achieved my goals?” As they spoke, Monica entered with

their group looked down on Whitney and

give you the lead role. You’re on your

Monica,” Stella said with

Stella’s obsequious behavior, Tiana

Monica continued. “You need to prove your loyalty. Slap Whitney right here and drive her out. The Royal One Club is no place for a washed–up has–been like her, and I believe you’ve wanted to do

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Chapter 40

She glanced at Whitney

before Stella could act, she

to hit her. I’m so disappointed in you. From now

over

naive fool, how dare you slap me?”

as she stood up and grabbed Stella’s hair. “Touch Tiana, and I won’t

see you try,” Stella spat venomously. “Is it not your fault I’ve become like this? When you were the darling of high society, knowing my family was struggling, with a little help from you, I could have been a star by now! But you had to talk about hard work, as if that meant anything in Hollywood. You can’t stand to see me climb over you, so fine, I’ll step over you without

“You blame us for not helping enough when it was Whitney who got you into the industry! You repay kindness

into a brawl when Monica, thoroughly entertained, signaled for one of the

If Whitney got humiliated enough, maybe even a scandalous news story of her causing a scene in the club,

be the problem here?”

“Those two rabid dogs over there, do they have a reservation? Why are they hogging the room? I have my eye on this room

Tiana. “They have no money, no status. How did they even get