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.

but she was still

maybe Gunner was just playing

considered several options before making

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

last night? She thought he was off

not even notice, as she softly said, “I’ll

still things to do. The breakthrough in her plagiarism case hinged on Stella confessing

Monica but had instead focused on

פוד

outcome was in the

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

then, Monica’s taunting call came

the top prize. The media are all over me. Phebe praised my talents today. She’s over your little games, you wretch. Once the prize is mine, it’ll be time for my engagement

replied, dismissing

if she wanted to find Stella, tonight was her

of night, Whitney arrived at the Golden

out the entire bar for Monica’s celebration, and the Perlman

daughter of the family, Falth Perlman. They were clearly there to

was a known playboy, otherwise, the illegitimate son Simon would not

same mother as Troy, was determined to

clear of these people, going straight for

There was Troy, and Faith,

Whitney noticed a curtain in the corridor, behind which muffled

you like it, you

Gunner?

Tiana’s fiancé!

this scumbag was

over and yanked the curtain

couple inside, caught off guard, paused their heated

when she saw the woman’s

turned into a cold smirk

Tiana’s best friend, Gunner tried to push

smirking provocatively at Whitney, “Fancy seeing you here. Who are you looking for?

thinking of Tiana’s happiness earlier that day, sharing

to slap Stella