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, could

are my kin, but Elaine is the legitimate heiress. I’m just from a side branch, not closely related. I

far more complicated than just an Elaine

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

had an affair, which Ashton’s mother, Matilda, discovered. Convinced of their guilt, Matilda dragged Valerie’s

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

was left crippled.

Chapter 119

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

nothing, and Ashton back then was not the cold–hearted man he was now. He knew Valerie was innocent, so he pampered her as a sister, In contrast, Nolan was hostile

was always with him, like a

that although she had lost her parents, at least she

all changed when Elaine from

saving a teenage Ashton, asking

found a young Ashton blushing with gratitude towards Elaine.

hero who saved Ashton

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

Nolan, who had always disliked her, became

face twisted with pain and bitterness, her slender fingers clenching the glass, a wry laugh escaping

pulled up a photo on her phone. “Valerie,

photo, recognizing the saintly facade of Elaine. “I’d know her

exchanged a

questioned, “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 way for like that.”

realization struck Whitney’s heart, an answer falling

in the competition, Elaine who was the powerful force behind Yvonne! Although Whitney had suspicions, Valerie’s confirmation solidified the truth, a sharp chill sweeping through her.

had laid her plans far too

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

the moment Elaine showed up, she seemed hell–bent on causing Whitney to miscarry. Clenching her fists tightly, Whitney braced herself for the

was seething with rage. “I can’t believe this bitch! Not only did she try