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.

you

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

entanglement with Ashton was far more complicated than just an Elaine

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

Ashton’s father 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. Valerie’s parents died,

was left crippled.

Chapter 119

Emperor City to the

Valerie understood 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 towards

Ashton had a sister who was always with him, like a little

that although she had lost her parents, at least she still had Ashton’s warmth.

Elaine from Emperor

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

returned, she found a young Ashton blushing with

who saved Ashton had become Elaine.

Elaine visited Banyan City yearly, Ashton’s warmth towards Valerie turned to disdain and misunderstanding. He

Nolan, who had always disliked her, became unexpectedly

with pain and bitterness, her slender fingers clenching

things together, quickly pulled up a photo on her phone. “Valerie, the Bartels heiress in Emperor City,

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

and Whitney exchanged a

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

Whitney’s heart, an answer

competition, Elaine who was the powerful force behind Yvonne! Although Whitney had suspicions, Valerie’s

undoubtedly a move against her, and Elaine had laid her plans

grudge against her, but she could not pinpoint who it might be. Now,

Whitney to miscarry. Clenching her fists tightly, Whitney braced herself for the

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