Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 123

Whitney headed over to the cottage to join Natalie for dinner. Natalie seemed to be over the moon all day. probably after catching a glimpse of the ultrasound picture, her grin so wide it barely fit her face. She looked at Whitney, almost bursting with excitement, as if she had the most wonderful news but could not share it. Whitney was puzzled. It was just a baby, was it not? Natalie was acting like she was expecting twins or something, she was so ecstatic.

Elaine was in her apartment, waiting silently for dusk to fall.

Then she called Ashton.

No matter when she reached out, this man would appear at a moment’s notice.

She had basked in his affection and love for years, feeling utterly entitled. So what if Valerie had schemed and married him? She was nothing but a pitiful worm.

As expected, hearing Elaine’s voice laced with sobs, Ashton immediately said he would come over.

Elaine hung up with a smirk, calculating the time. She sipped a few glasses of red wine, and then the doorbell

rang.

It was Ashton, having a run–in with the security guard outside.

Ludwik’s security guard could not stop Ashton, which was precisely why she had concocted this plan.

Elaine quickly tugged at her neckline, creating a picture of disarray, and with a loud crash, she smashed a wine glass.

At the sound, Ashton kicked the door open with his long legs.

The man in a light gray coat entered with an air of cold authority. “Elaine!”

He brusquely lifted the staggering woman. Elaine looked up at him with a half–smile and teary eyes. “Ashton, you came.”

“How could you drink so much? Don’t you know your stomach is delicate?” Ashton’s brows furrowed in concern. Her eyes, mysterious and filled with hurt, looked at him as tears quickly followed. “You always remember about my stomach, Ashton. Ludwik, he knows nothing. After all these years, I’ve been nothing but open–hearted to him, yet he chose to believe Whitney’s few words instead. He fired me today, and I’m just… really upset.”

She wept pitifully, and Ashton’s handsome face turned frosty. “You’ve been hurt by him again. What has Ludwik done this time? That Whitney, I’ve told you not to be too kind–hearted. Not everyone appreciates it. You’re just too good–hearted.”

eyes narrowed slightly, knowing exactly how to project an image of

man.

been planting seeds about her helping Whitney in Ashton’s

nothing short of a goddess.

about Valerie, too. Even though she schemed to take you from me, I had no designs on you, and I never wanted to get in your way.

against you been

never missing a chance

mentioned offhandedly. “Today, Whitney presented evidence, claiming it was Valerie who told her that you. helped me bribe international judges. Because of that, Whitney misunderstood that I was using

loved Ludwik so much, but still, I almost gave up when Whitney and he had their fake marriage. Yet she keeps

indignant. I was Ludwik’s fiancée

voice trailed off

heart. “Whitney is so vicious–no wonder she and Valerie are cut from the same cloth. I heard they are best friends, birds of a feather.

You should’ve stood your ground. After a year, Ludwik was

replied, her face a mask of woeful sorrow, “Ludwik is keeping

he’s even hiding your status? What kind of man does that? Is he completely

expression darkened, feeling the injustice

called him. Ludwik had once hidden from Whitney that Elaine was his fiancée, and Elaine did not dare defy

remained unaware of

when he coldly called her his sister, Elaine’s heart ached.

trust, pretending to be the sister, waiting to take Whitney down once and for all. But now, Whitney had

being the fiancée had to be revealed to Whitney!

who always

had set her sights on Ashton that afternoon.

F

and was always

“Let it be. I can bear this grievance. Just don’t say anything to Whitney or Ludwik. Perhaps I’m not meant to marry Ludwik after all. It just hurts to

shouldn’t suffer like this!” Ashton asserted, his face chilling, “Don’t worry,

you say that means everything to me, Ashton. Maybe I should have liked you… If only I had not fallen for Ludwik a month too early.

his heart; he remembered how she had

life when she was

that gratitude close to