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

about the

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

even he feared that

“Holy smokes, why are you

choice but to get up and straighten

to kick him

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

cold

but even he fell short in

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

his footing, and returned a punch in rage,

business is looking

Ludwik was ruthless.

in

Ludwik over Elaine in the past.

indifferent to Elaine, had looked the other

touching on Whitney had provoked Ludwik to

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

and I were done,” Ludwik said, his voice dropping into a cold rage as

warning, “Ashton, say another word to Whitney, and don’t blame

shock flickering through her as she saw Ludwik’s

that Whitney married a mysterious man of unknown status, likely a

was one of Elaine’s many

not only married the renowned Ludwik Lippert but had also captured his heart. Thinking of

downstairs, Ashton left in a cold fury.

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 for

you, too?” Ludwik’s eyes turned

mean, with such an ‘excellent sister

think to warn me?” Ludwik’s voice was

his eyes, complaining inwardly. “Who dares to confront you

you tell Whitney the truth from

doesn’t even know who I am. How could I explain? Besides, I didn’t

pride, now

shook his head. “Then did you

turmedics. She refused to listen to my

vadjamad

adjusted his glasses, chucking Do you think Ludwik is

a chilling glare, the night deepening around them.

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