Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 112

“Yep!” Tiana watched Whitney quickly regain her composure, returning to the familiar friend she knew and loved. “You think Elaine put Hannah up to framing you at the party? Let’s dig up some proof.”

“There’s more to it,” Whitney mused, sensing that Elaine’s preparedness meant her hostility ran deeper than it seemed. She was certain Elaine had designs on L, a possessive desire to steal him away.

“Oh, right, let me just butt in for a second.” Tiana, beaming, booted up her laptop. “Haven’t you been waiting for Valerie’s investigation? About how Monica got propped up by foreign Judges, and who’s the bigwig backing her? Valerie got in touch with me today. Just hang on…”

Tiana immediately connected with Valerie, who was halfway across the world.

Whitney frowned slightly, a thought from Tiana earlier that morning echoing in her head, “You’ve been like a trouble magnet lately!“.

Monica’s miraculous comeback in the competition, followed by the scheme framing her for buying fake gemstones and landing her in jail, seemed unrelated to her recent entanglements with L

But were they truly unrelated?

A bold idea sprouted in Whitney’s mind–if the person behind Monica was…

At that moment, the call connected, and Valerie’s voice came through. She was the epitome of sophistication, and even after a long absence, there was no excitement in her greeting, just a slight smile and pressed lips. “Whitney, long time no see.”

Among the three, Tiana was bubbly, Whitney mischievous, but Valerie was always the grounded one, like a glass of clear water with a few floating leaves–understated at first glance but with a lingering, mellow taste. If Whitney’s edge lay beneath the surface, Valerie’s was right out in the open.

Among the three of them, Valerie contacted the least, having been abroad for studies and only briefly reuniting with them when she returned home.

But that was how their friendship was–Stella, despite being in constant touch, turned out to be nothing more than a fair–weather friend.

“How’s the investigation into the judges going, Valerie?” Tiana asked eagerly.

“There was definitely someone pulling strings to get those foreign judges to boost Monica, Valerie said, taking a sip of water. A hint of amusement crossed her face.

pressed, certain that this person was either Monica’s backer or

she gave a thin smile. “It’s

“What?”

and Tiana gaped

“Sorry, it’s hardly what you’d call a marriage. I did not see the point in

man you’ve always loved?” Despite Valerie’s private nature, Whitney remembered bits and pieces. “When

“A year ago.”

from us while studying abroad? That’s not cool. But

male hand appeared on Valerie’s

the laptop fell to the floor, cutting to

Banyan City’s second–most handsome man

black screen, deep in

effortlessly. She was slender, with a model’s physique: delicate in front,

and Imposing, with sharp features and a cropped haircut that accented his

without a hint

murmuring another woman’s

pain that felt like a knife

so, tired of the torment, she grabbed his sturdy neck, her face cold with rage. “Open your eyes, Ashton! I’m not her, not your

with deep loathing

“Valerie, you’ve been whispering poison in Dad’s ear, saying I’ve neglected you since our wedding a year ago. Aren’t you just lonely and desperate? Forced by him to come here for a honeymoon, I ignore you, so you start digging into that judge’s affair, trying to get my

her like a cold

wrapped her arms around

think you’re so clean? I despise women like you. If it weren’t for her needing a liver transplant urgently, do you think I would’ve married you under duress? You’re just like your mother, all high and mighty on the outside but a whore on the inside. I hate

foolish hope that he might fall in love with her to experiencing

him away from his first love. No, that was not true. Valerie scoffed bitterly, enduring the pain as she glared

was never with you; she was sweet on another man, and oh, that man happens to be your best friend. In the end, you’re

across her face silenced her for