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.

frowning. “Valerie, you and Elaine, could you possibly be…

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

more complicated than just an Elaine

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

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

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

was left

Chapter 119

guilty, took Valerie from Emperor City to the Fullers to raise her.

not the cold–hearted man he was now. He knew Valerie was innocent, so he pampered her as a sister, In contrast, Nolan

had a sister who was always with him, like a little shadow.

lost her parents, at least she still

when Elaine from Emperor City entered

life saving a teenage Ashton, asking her distant sister. Blaine, to look after him while

she returned, she found a young

Ashton had become

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

always disliked her, became unexpectedly kinder.

memories surged, Valerie’s face twisted with pain and bitterness, her slender fingers clenching the glass, a wry laugh escaping her lips.

pulled up a photo on her phone. “Valerie, the Bartels heiress

at the photo, recognizing the saintly facade of Elaine. “I’d know her even if she turned to ashes. Do you know her too?”

and Whitney exchanged a look.

she also the person Ashton invited international judges to help?” “Exactly,” Valerie confirmed without a doubt. “He called Elaine after landing, mentioning

heart, an answer

Yvonne! Although Whitney had suspicions, Valerie’s confirmation solidified the

against her, and Elaine had laid her plans far too early, long before Whitney had any

off when Monica framed her, leading to her wrongful imprisonment over counterfeit gems. The scale of the deceit suggested to Whitney that someone with clout bore a grudge against her, but she could not pinpoint who it might

she seemed hell–bent on causing Whitney to miscarry. Clenching her fists tightly, Whitney braced herself

she try to steal Whitney’s husband, but is she