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 this?”

Valentine sisters, the rising star is Monica, and I’m only weighing the pros and cons. Aligning with you would tarnish my image.

the pros and

heart shedding the last threads of warmth. “Did you delete my files from my computer? Did you leak my designs to Monica step

stiffened, then scoffed. “Did I? You

using Whitney’s trust to sabotage her career! Now, the news is painting her as a plagiarist. Do

achieved my goals?” As

their group looked down

Director Kyler will give you the lead role. You’re on your way to becoming the next big

you, Monica,” Stella

Stella’s obsequious behavior,

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 that for a long time.”

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Chapter 40

face tensed. She glanced at Whitney

front of Whitney, and before Stella could act, she slapped

were about to hit her. I’m so disappointed

over

naive fool, how dare you slap me?” Stella

as she stood up and grabbed Stella’s hair. “Touch Tiana, and I

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

us for not helping enough when it was Whitney who got you into

into a brawl when Monica, thoroughly entertained, signaled

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

be the problem here?” The manager arrived

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

sent security to remove Whitney and Tiana. “They have no money, no status. How did they even get