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.

was?” Whitney pressed, certain that this person was either Monica’s backer or closely connected to them.

Valerie’s eyes, and she gave a thin smile.

“What?”

married?” Whitney and

you’d call a marriage. I did not see the

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

“A year ago.”

you kept from us while studying abroad? That’s not cool. But Ashton–he’s the Fuller

male hand appeared on

up, and the laptop fell to the floor, cutting

Banyan City’s second–most handsome man after Mr.

black screen,

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

eyes were bloodshot with drink. He was tall and Imposing, with sharp features and a cropped haircut that

tossed Valerie onto the bed without a hint of tenderness

murmuring another

which had been distant, suddenly froze with pain, a pain that felt like a knife twisting in

your eyes, Ashton! I’m not her, not your first love. If you’re drunk, go find

gaze filled with deep loathing as he saw her

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 attention

through her like a cold wind.

arms around his neck. “You’re overthinking. I just don’t want to catch anything.”

would’ve married you under duress? You’re just like your mother, all

she had gone from a foolish hope that he might fall in love with her to

No, that was not

I stole your love. Her heart was never with you; she was sweet on another man, and

slap across her face silenced her for good.