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.”

you become like this?”

on the rise, and Whitney is spiraling down. There’s no such thing as forever friends. Among the Valentine sisters, the rising star is Monica, and I’m only weighing the pros and cons. Aligning

the pros and cons,

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

scoffed. “Did I? You

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

how could I have achieved my goals?”

group looked down on Whitney and Tiana

you the lead role. You’re on your way to becoming the next

you, Monica,” Stella said with a

obsequious behavior,

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

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Chapter 40

face tensed. She glanced at

in front of Whitney, and before Stella could

were about to hit her. I’m so disappointed in you. From now on, our sisterhood

over

naive fool, how dare you slap me?” Stella tried

sharp as she stood up and grabbed Stella’s hair. “Touch

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,

furious. “You blame us for not helping enough when it was Whitney who got you into the industry! You repay kindness with betrayal, and now you’re following

when Monica, thoroughly entertained, signaled for one of

spitefully. If Whitney got humiliated enough, maybe even a scandalous news story of her causing a scene in the club, coupled with plagiarism accusations, would ruin her

to be the

dogs over there, do they have a reservation? Why

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