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

not care less about the man’s misunderstandings and

tormented any longer. Then, suddenly, a

even he feared that

down. “Holy smokes, why are you here.

forehead, had no choice but

chance to kick him away and distanced herself.

imposing Ludwik, a formidable presence that made one’s

cold

carried an air of rebellion, but even he fell short

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

footing, and returned a punch in rage, “You dare

who meddles in my business is

Ludwik was ruthless.

uneasy in

over Elaine in the

indifferent to Elaine, had looked the other

touching on Whitney had provoked

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

into a cold rage as he was reminded of how Whitney did

and walked away to smoke in the night, warning, “Ashton, say another word to

balcony, Valerie watched, shock flickering through

that Whitney married a mysterious man of

one of Elaine’s

did she know, Whitney had not only married the renowned Ludwik Lippert but had also captured his heart. Thinking of Elaine, Valerie felt

unfolded downstairs, Ashton left in a

smoking in the night. Nolan looked

I was shocked, Ludwik, Why lie and make met cover for

Ludwik’s eyes

reasoned, “She must have suspected something, I mean, with such an

you didn’t think to warn

confront you about lying to your wife,

you tell Whitney the truth from

who I am. How could I explain? Besides, I didn’t want

male pride, now

you properly explain things

to my explanation, insisting she’s

vadjamad

Do you think Ludwik is the type to coax a woman? Please.”

knowing as Ludwa shot a chilling glare, the night

a mix of sympathy and exasperation. “You