Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 69

She knew too much, so he couldn’t shake her off just yet!

With the Valentine Corporation in peril and Yvonne’s uncle, who had invested in the corporation multiple times, he suddenly remembered Yvonne’s worth. Preston’s face turned thunderous as he tried to help her up.

But Yvonne, filled with resentment, shrugged him off and straightened up, heading upstairs with dignity, “You better remember who can save the Valentine Corporation in its hour of need and be grateful to me!”

Her flawless makeup took years off her face. That night, Yvonne arrived at a five–star hotel and knocked on a door.

The man who opened the door was fat and lavish, in his fifties or sixties. His eyes lit up at the sight of Yvonne, “You’ve come, my dear niece.”

Yvonne pushed away his wandering hands with a playful scold, “Just let me in first, Uncle Kyler. then we can talk.”

And “talk” unfolded in its most intimate ways.

This man, Kyler, was an “uncle” Yvonne called in her younger days when she was involved in the entertainment industry. He ran a large company in Emperor City..

But Yvonne’s sights were set not on him, but on his wife’s illustrious family, the Bartels of Emperor City.

Emperor City was a rich and powerful place that everyone envied. It made her hometown of Banyan City insignificant.

The Bartels were a force to be reckoned with, a true dynasty, and Kyler’s wife, whom Yvonne called her Auntie, was just a distant relation of that family.

Over the years, Yvonne had been currying favor and aiming to weasel her way into the Bartels‘ main family. She proudly claimed to be their niece, and it gave her an edge in society.

“Uncle Kyler, you must help me,” Yvonne implored tearfully. “Could you plead with the Bartels on behalf of your poor niece and her daughter?”

After her ‘ministrations,‘ she secured a 500 million dollar investment for the Valentine Corporation.

The next day, Kyler brought astonishing news – he had the Bartels‘ heiress coming to meet them, who was moved by their plight.

For Yvonne, this was an unprecedented honor.

She had never been able to break into the Bartels‘ inner circle, let alone meet the renowned Elaine Bartels.

dumbstruck, “Mom, is that the cousin you’ve always told me about? The most

to cling to power and status. She

the pristine entrance of the Valentine Mansion,

up. Monica thought her

when the woman stepped out, her presence was anything but understated. Surveying

which rivaled that of Whitney, the woman she

young; her eyes were twinkling with an effortless aristocracy and

the low–key but exceedingly

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Chapter 69

such grandeur, the mother and

coffee with a discerning eye, seemingly

nervousness, managed to stutter out,

us alone.” Elaine

Kyler hastily complied.

voice, “Uncle Kyler told me that you are some kind of relatives of his. Hearing your

spat with

smile held a hint

the power to bring you back from the brink and ensure you stay in the competition. And this is the condition: follow my instructions to the letter, keep my identity secret, and remember your place.

the sheer

trembled with the prospect of staying in the competition and

bag, placing it on the table with a chill in her tone, “This is your comeback design. Learn it well. In two

Monica assured her, astonished by the design. “Cousin Elaine, are you

hint of disdain in her voice, “What is she, after all? With my support, you two just need to be obedient, and

beautiful yet intimidating face.

shivered as Yvonne enthusiastically invited Elaine to dine, and Monica cordially offered her a tour of the

piqued, “Where is

sensing a cold interest from Elaine. Did she know Whitney too? Did she also have a

be perfect! Monica thought

Monica’s bedroom, she caught sight of a striking jade half

that?” Elaine’s expression shifted as

followed and saw it was a half–ring made of crystal–clear, high–quality jade – an

possession?” Her icy eyes were fixed

shivered under the penetrating gaze of her older cousin. Steadfast in her honesty, she confessed, “This… this belonged to Whitney! saw her bring it home years ago, and she put it on her desk. I thought it looked really valuable, so I… I took it. Too bad it’s only half a ring, otherwise it would’ve fetched a fortune