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

less about the man’s misunderstandings

longer. Then, suddenly, a chilling voice. echoed

even he feared that voice.

rushed down. “Holy smokes,

no choice but to get up and

seized the chance to kick him away and distanced

Ashton emerged to face the imposing Ludwik, a formidable

cold

but even

kicked at Ashton, his voice a cold interrogation, “Who gave you the right to wag your tongue about

regaining his footing, and returned a punch in

meddles in my business is

Ludwik was ruthless.

Parker stood by, uneasy in the presence of Ludwik’s

targeted Ludwik over Elaine in the past.

Elaine, had looked the other

Whitney had provoked Ludwik

your fiancée.

were done,” Ludwik said, his voice dropping into a cold rage as he was reminded of how Whitney

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

the upstairs balcony, Valerie watched, shock flickering through her as she saw

that Whitney married a mysterious man of unknown

had assumed he was one of

the renowned Ludwik Lippert but had also captured his heart. Thinking of Elaine, Valerie felt a

unfolded downstairs, Ashton left

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

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

asked you, too?” Ludwik’s

I mean, with such an ‘excellent sister by

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

inwardly. “Who dares to confront

tell Whitney the truth from the start?”

I am. How could I explain? Besides, I didn’t want trouble,” Ludwik said

pride, now complicating matters.

shook his head. “Then did you properly explain things to

page turmedics. She refused to listen to

vadjamad

chucking Do you think Ludwik is the type to

Ludwa shot a chilling glare, the

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