Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 45

What was with that jerk? Just leaving like that was bad enough, but to send food? And then to insult her with

She was fumina

With a forced smile, she said through gritted teeth, “Thanks for making the trip, Parker. But… has my friend Tiana left siready?”

“No idea,” he replied nonchalantly.

A bit embarrassed, Whitney asked, “She’s a girl on her own. Would you mind giving her a lift, Parker, if it’s not too much trouble?”

“No trouble,” Parker said almost too easily.

Before leaving, he paused at the door, his eyes behind the gold–rimmed glasses betraying a lazy indifference. He dropped a bombshell. Is Tiana’s fiancé Gunner Lutz, the one from the Lutz family?”

Whitney was taken aback, but Parker added with a hint of mischief before she could respond, “Ran into Gunner at the hotel last week playing with some celebrity.”

Being a man, the implications of ‘playing‘ were clear.

Whitney was shocked. Was Tiana’s fiancé cheating on her?

Parker had mentioned it casually, not really concerned with the lesser–known Tiana’s family, but the Lutz clan was among the top four wealthiest families. He had seen Gunner before–a notorious playboy.

The next day, Whitney received a Facebook message from Tiana telling her to ignore the news.

Whitney guessed that her reputation must be boiling over by now. No doubt Monica had bought a legion of trolls to drag her name through the mud.

This debacle was Monica’s golden ticket to fame and fortune.

To distract Whitney, Tiana sent over several pictures of engagement rings.

Bashfully, she said, “That bastard Gunner proposed to me. I didn’t want to say yes, but our parents are pushing it. Whitney, can you help me choose? Or better yet, design a rock so big it makes him really pay!”

Whitney suddenly remembered Parker’s reminder.

badmouth Gunner, but she was still hopeful

or maybe Gunner

seriously considered several options before

to check on Natalie. Natalie was in high spirits, laughing. “Dear Whitney, your husband came home to sleep last

come home last night? She thought he was off chasing some

notice, as she softly said, “I’ll come home after I

The breakthrough in her plagiarism case hinged on Stella confessing she had given Whitney’s manuscript to

to confront Monica but had instead focused on dragging Stella

פוד

evidence, the outcome was in the

had found out Stella would be at the Golden Hue Bar tonight before leaving town for

taunting

today. She’s over your little games, you wretch. Once the prize is mine,

interested,” Whitney replied,

if she wanted to find Stella,

cloak of night, Whitney arrived at the

Monica’s celebration, and the

They were clearly there to pave the way for Monica’s integration into the

playboy, otherwise, the illegitimate son Simon would not have caught Wyatt’s

as Troy,

of these

men were carousing. There was Troy, and

a curtain in the corridor, behind which

like it,

Gunner?

Tiana’s fiancé!

had not lied; this scumbag was cheating on

marched over and yanked the curtain

off guard, paused their heated encounter and looked

shock was palpable when she saw

into a cold

Tiana’s best friend, Gunner tried to push Stella

to him, smirking provocatively at Whitney, “Fancy seeing you here.

fist, thinking of Tiana’s happiness earlier that day, sharing pictures of rings for her to choose

itching to slap