Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 119

Valene’s lips twisted into a wry smile, her gaze icy, “Nolan, who do you think Ashton is with right now? Isn’t it obvious?”

Nolan and Parker’s expressions darkened.

Whitney, ever perceptive, caught on that Ashton, Valerie’s husband, might be keeping company with another woman at this very moment..

And this woman might be someone Nolan and Parker both knew.

Was Valerie’s marriage unhappy?

Whitney pressed her lips slightly.

Furious, Nolan blurted out, “That bastard Ashton, I’ll take you to him.”

Valerie shook her head with a dark chuckle. “Forget it. I’m not in the mood to walk in on a steamy scene. That woman can turn it around on me even if I’m not involved. After all these years, if I can’t confront her, I can at least avoid her

Whitney’s head snapped towards Valerie.

Parker stood up, forcefully pulling Nolan with him. “Stop meddling in women’s affairs. It’s about time we brothers caught up.”

As Nolan left, his piercing gaze lingered on Valerie’s delicate face.

The three women sat down, and Tiana’s gossip–loving soul took over, staring at Valerie, “Valerie, I’ve noticed Nolan seems pretty concerned about you. Nolan and Ashton are brothers, right… Oh my God, I just remembered When I first met you, you said you had just moved out of the Fuller Mansion. You lived there for a decade, right? Jesus, the day you told me your husband was Ashton, it did not click in my dumb head. I was so surprised, but thinking about it now, you and Ashton, it was meant to be.”

Tiana’s eyes widened in shock, and so did Whitney’s. Valerie had such a connection with one of the top families, the Fullers?

Whitney knew Valerie even later than Tiana and was unfamiliar with her family background.

Suddenly, Whitney remembered something. Did Valerie just mention ‘Elaine?

A revelation hit her like a lightning bolt. The surname “Bartels‘ was not uncommon, but it had never occurred to her that Valerie and Elaine could share it.

“Valerie, you

a distant look, “The Bartels of Emperor City are my kin, but Elaine is the legitimate heiress. I’m just from a side branch, not closely related. I was fostered with the Fullers in Banyan

Ashton was far more complicated

half–brothers. When Valerie was a child, her parents

had an affair, which Ashton’s

younger brother, and it ended in a devastating crash. Valerie’s parents died,

was left crippled.

Chapter 119

father, feeling guilty, took Valerie from Emperor City to the Fullers

man he was now. He knew Valerie was innocent, so he pampered her as a sister, In contrast, Nolan was hostile towards

spread that Ashton had a sister who was always

she had lost her parents, at least she still had Ashton’s

from Emperor City entered the picture.

young Valerie nearly lost her life saving a teenage Ashton, asking her distant

she found a young Ashton blushing with gratitude towards Elaine.

saved Ashton had

to disdain and misunderstanding. He fell into love, blind to the malice and

always disliked

her slender fingers clenching

up a photo on her phone.

saintly facade of Elaine. “I’d know her even if she turned to ashes.

and Whitney exchanged a

“Is she also the person Ashton invited international judges to help?” “Exactly,” Valerie confirmed without a doubt. “He called Elaine after landing, mentioning that favor. There’s no one else he’d go out of his

realization struck Whitney’s heart, an answer

the powerful force behind Yvonne! Although Whitney had suspicions,

Monica was undoubtedly a move against her, and Elaine had laid her plans far too

deceit suggested to Whitney that someone with clout bore a grudge against her, but she could not pinpoint who it might be. Now, as recent events came together in her mind, a chill ran down her spine. Perhaps the inmates who had attacked her in jail

causing Whitney to miscarry. Clenching her fists

“I can’t believe this bitch! Not only did she try to steal