Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 126

The door was shut tight, and his towering frame pressed down upon the bed, engulfing Valerie’s petite face in his grasp. A mix of disgust and an uncontrollable desire to touch her surged through him as he began to peel away her clothing.

As her fair skin was exposed, the fire within him raged out of control–a fire certainly kindled earlier at Elaine’s apartment.

But he could not touch Elaine, so his hunger was redirected towards this woman.

He leaned in, ready to bite.

Valerie pushed him away coldly, her voice laced with biting sarcasm as she said, “You’re here to hassle me over Elaine, right? Hypocrite, you loathe me, so when did you start craving my body? Enjoyed it last time, didn’t you?”

Ashton’s face twisted as if she had stripped away his mask, a flash of embarrassment in his eyes. He grabbed her fiercely, his voice icy with mockery. “Don’t you get it? You’re just a stand–in. Even now, it’s her I’m thinking about.”

“Get off me!” Valerie could not stand it anymore.

Her heart felt like it was being pierced with a sharp spike.

“She’s so wonderful, why don’t you go to her? Didn’t Ludwik cast her aside?”

“If she had not been in love with Ludwik, do you think I would have married you?”

So, this marriage was just charity from Elaine?

A bitter smile crossed Valerie’s heart, her face growing colder. Suddenly, she laughed. “Good thing Ludwik isn’t as blind as you. You’re the only one who treasures that woman. You have no idea how evil she is!”

Ashton gripped her chin tightly, “And you think you have the right to talk about her? She risked her life to save me once, and when I asked you to get help, you did not.”

Looking into his cold eyes, Valerie suddenly lost the will to argue.

This was why Ashton hated her.

Back then, she had saved him, nearly freezing to death while getting him clothes.

But returning, she saw Elaine administering CPR to Ashton, and Elaine even slandered her, claiming she had delayed getting help.

That was when Ashton’s heart turned cold.

Valerie did not know just how malicious Elaine was in her targeting.

Valerie had tried to explain, time and again, that she was the one who saved him.

But there was something about explanations, the more you give, the more misunderstandings grow.

Ashton saw her as a selfish woman who left him for dead.

she had given up on

could not care less about the man’s misunderstandings

Then, suddenly, a chilling voice. echoed

even he feared

smokes, why are you here.

choice but to get up

seized the chance to kick him away and distanced herself.

imposing Ludwik, a formidable presence

cold

carried an air of rebellion, but even

and kicked at Ashton, his voice a cold interrogation, “Who

footing, and returned a punch in rage, “You dare hit your friend over

meddles in my business is looking for trouble.”

Ludwik was ruthless.

stood by, uneasy in the presence

targeted Ludwik over Elaine in the past.

to Elaine, had

Whitney had provoked Ludwik

turned to anger. “Elaine was your fiancée. You’ve fallen for

a cold rage as he

smoke in the night, warning, “Ashton, say another word to Whitney, and don’t blame me for

watched, shock flickering through her as she saw Ludwik’s

her that Whitney married a mysterious man

assumed he was one of Elaine’s

Lippert but had also captured his heart. Thinking of

left in a

on Ludwik’s side, stood smoking in the night. Nolan

“Whitney asked me about it at the gala. I was shocked, Ludwik, Why lie and make met cover

Ludwik’s

mean, with such an ‘excellent sister by your

warn me?”

dares to confront you about lying

“Why didn’t you tell Whitney the truth from the start?”

who I am. How could I explain? Besides,

male pride, now

did you properly explain things to Whitney?”

listen to my explanation, insisting

vadjamad

you think Ludwik

as Ludwa shot a chilling glare, the night deepening around them.

looked at Luck with a mix of sympathy and exasperation. “You know, Whitney isn’t