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.

given up

not care less about the man’s misunderstandings and

longer. Then, suddenly, a chilling voice. echoed from downstairs, “Ashton,

he feared

Nolan rushed down. “Holy smokes, why are you here. Ludwik?“.

a hand to his forehead, had no choice but

the chance to kick him away

emerged to face the imposing Ludwik, a formidable presence that made one’s blood run

cold

an air of rebellion, but even he fell

strede over with icy determination and kicked at Ashton, his voice a cold interrogation, “Who gave you the right to wag your tongue

footing, and returned a punch in rage, “You

my business is looking for

Ludwik was ruthless.

uneasy in the presence

targeted Ludwik over Elaine in the

Elaine, had

this time, touching on Whitney had provoked

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

his voice dropping into a cold rage as he was reminded of how Whitney did not

punch on Ashton and walked away to smoke in the night, warning, “Ashton, say another word to Whitney, and don’t blame me for ending our friendship for good.”

balcony, Valerie watched, shock flickering through her as she saw Ludwik’s gorgeous face.

a mysterious man of unknown

was one of

Lippert but had also captured his heart. Thinking

downstairs, Ashton left in

on Ludwik’s side, stood smoking

about it at the gala. I was shocked, Ludwik, Why lie and make met

you, too?” Ludwik’s eyes turned frosty.

with such an ‘excellent sister by your side, which woman would

you didn’t think to warn me?” Ludwik’s

inwardly. “Who dares to confront you about

“Why didn’t you tell Whitney the truth

complex. Whitney doesn’t even know who I am. How could I

male pride, now complicating

“Then did you properly explain things to Whitney?”

listen to my explanation, insisting she’s become the mistress.”

vadjamad

Ludwik is the type to coax a woman?

shot a chilling

looked at Luck with a mix of sympathy and exasperation. “You