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.

not help frowning. “Valerie, you and

a distant look, “The Bartels of Emperor City are my kin, but Elaine is the legitimate heiress. I’m just from a side branch,

was far more complicated

were half–brothers. When Valerie was a child, her parents did business in Banyan City and were close

but one day, they claimed her mother and Ashton’s father had an

car ride also carried Valerie’s younger brother, and it ended in

left crippled.

Chapter 119

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

was now. He knew Valerie was innocent, so he pampered her as a sister,

sister who was always with him,

thought that although she had lost her parents, at least

Elaine from

nearly lost her life saving a teenage Ashton, asking her

she found a young

who saved Ashton had become Elaine.

Elaine visited Banyan City yearly, Ashton’s warmth towards Valerie turned to disdain and misunderstanding. He fell into love, blind to the

had always disliked her, became unexpectedly kinder.

memories surged, Valerie’s face twisted with pain and bitterness, her slender fingers clenching the glass, a

pulled up a photo on her phone. “Valerie, the Bartels heiress in Emperor City, Elaine, is this her?”

the saintly facade of Elaine. “I’d know her even if she

Whitney exchanged a

Valerie confirmed without a doubt. “He

an answer falling into

in the competition, Elaine who was the powerful force behind Yvonne!

was undoubtedly a move against her, and Elaine had laid her plans far too early, long before Whitney

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.

to miscarry. Clenching her

seething with rage. “I can’t believe this bitch! Not only did she try to steal Whitney’s husband, but is