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.

could not help frowning. “Valerie, you and Elaine,

her head, nodding with 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

Valerie’s entanglement with Ashton was far more complicated than just an

a child, her parents did

as kind and gentle, but one day, they claimed her mother and Ashton’s father had an affair, which Ashton’s

car ride also carried Valerie’s younger brother, and it ended in a devastating crash. Valerie’s parents died, and her

was left crippled.

Chapter 119

Valerie from Emperor

and Ashton back then was not the cold–hearted man he was now. He knew Valerie

spread that Ashton had a sister who was always with

her parents, at least she still had

all changed when Elaine from

nearly lost her life saving a teenage Ashton, asking her distant sister. Blaine, to look

she found a young Ashton blushing with gratitude

saved Ashton

turned to disdain and misunderstanding. He fell into love, blind to the malice and hypocrisy of a true

had always disliked her,

her slender fingers clenching the glass, a wry laugh escaping her

a photo on her phone.

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

and Whitney exchanged

the person Ashton invited international judges to help?” “Exactly,” Valerie confirmed without a doubt. “He

heart, an answer

competition, Elaine who was the powerful force behind Yvonne!

laid her plans far too early,

someone with clout bore a grudge against her, but she could not pinpoint who it might be. Now, as recent

the moment Elaine showed up, she seemed hell–bent on causing Whitney to

bitch! Not only did she try to steal Whitney’s husband, but is she also after Ashton,