Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 49

“There’s gotta be a reason for it!” Tiana rubbed her hands vigorously, her eyes alight with excitement. “Whitney, this sham marriage of yours is just too wild. I can’t even begin to guess who he’ll turn out to be when the mask. comes off, or if you’ll do a double–take in shock. But I’ve gotta say, L’s move today was bold–I dig it. He fired his secretary without a second thought just to clear the air with you! I bet he’d spoil you rotten if there’s real affection between you two.”

Whitney felt her cheeks burn, and her heartbeat quickened at the thought of real affection with him.

“What are you on about, Tiana? That’s just crazy talk. Him and me? We’re worlds apart,” Plus, she was not about to open her heart again just to get hurt.

Tiana knew Whitney’s sore spots and changed the subject. “Let’s talk about that jewelry competition. Have you asked L for help?”

“I haven’t, and he hasn’t offered.”

Tiana’s voice took on a sharp edge. “He knows you’ve been wronged, and yet he doesn’t offer to grease some palms for you? What a jerk!”

Whitney defended him, albeit weakly, “I told him I wanted to keep things professional. Do you really think a guy like him would be so shameless as to offer help after I said something like that? I’m better off relying on myself.”

Despite saying this to Tiana, Whitney’s heart held different thoughts.

In the following days, L was rarely home and never brought up the sabotage during the preliminary round, nor did he offer any assistance.

Whitney could not help feeling a twinge of disappointment.

As the day of the preliminary awards ceremony drew near, the online vitriol against Whitney grew more frenzied, with many digging up her supposed sordid past–fabrications spun by Monica.

The internet trolls launched a vicious campaign against her, making her infamous throughout Banyan City as a plagiarist.

On the Monday of the awards ceremony, Whitney arrived at the Imperial Gem Corporation exhibition hall to a crowd of angry netizens who had camped out waiting for her. The moment she stepped out of the car, she was met with jeers and nearly pelted with eggs.

Thankfully, her driver and Tiana shielded her, sneaking Whitney safely into the awards hall.

“The die is cast, and that witch Monica has won. What are you even doing here?” Tiana’s face was a picture of

misery.

recorder from her

astonished. “You’re a genius, Whitney! Exposing Stella at the Royal One

“I just wish I’d thought of it sooner to start recording right after the competition

FO WEF

indirect confession! If we

not optimistic. “Aaron’s definitely in their pocket. I doubt we can get it to them. And this evidence will only cause a small ripple.” She had Stella’s testimony but could not risk Tiana getting

Monica, and

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Chapter 49

tide, we’ve got

bleakly. “I plan to approach Aaron as soon as he arrives and beg for a chance

up. “That’s the perfect way

Sis, you’re here for the awards ceremony, too?” A familiar,

down the red carpet, flanked by a posse. To Whitney’s dismay, Phebe was in

with compliments. To Phebe, the more praise Monica received from the press as a “genius designer,” the more she

defeat from that night at the Golden Hue

accolades of winning first prize seemed to buoy her

‘perfect way‘ with your BFF? Are you waiting to be kicked out of the competition to admit your plagiarism? To snatch Skye Gem away, you’re stooping so low. Please,

the crowd into a fresh uproar. “What? Whitney’s trying to take over Monica’s company? Is she here to

get lost if you have any sense left. Don’t disgrace yourself here.

suit for Whitney, the plagiarizing dog. She belongs behind bars, and it’s

Is Simon going to propose to Monica after she

Perlman family is preparing for the golden couple’s engagement.‘

but inside, she was gloating. She had

at the Golden Hue Bar had been contained; Phebe was none the

stories to win over Simon, rapidly pushing forward with

claim her prize and immediately hold the engagement party afterward.

alliance, many influential figures were seeking to collaborate with her father. She was about to make waves in Banyan City. She had bought media coverage for both the awards ceremony

the fallen rival, as a backdrop, Monica