Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 139

Whitney’s breath hitched as the man’s brooding exhalation traveled across the phone line. He didn’t hung up which meant he’d give her a few seconds to explain

“Listen, this is the last time I went to see him Whitney rushed to explain. “I needed to retrieve a family heirloom from him, something of my grandpa’s. Then I have to track down my uncle. He’s all the family I have left. And I’ve got it now, so can you please not get all jealous?”

The man on the other end paused, his voice still frosty. “Looking for family? Fine, I’ll forgive you. Now get yourself home!

“I’m on my way,” she muttered, driving with a mixture of irritation and resignation. “You’re being paranoid. Everyone has some secrets, and you’ve already dug into mine. But you…”

Whitney trailed off, her thoughts suddenly snagging on something Elaine had said before leaving–something utterly baffling

She’d hinted that ‘L‘ was harboring a secret about someone who had once saved his life.

Whitney pursed her lips, blurting out without thinking, “And speaking of the past, what about you? Do you harbor someone in your heart?”

Silence came from the other end of the line.

Then the flight attendant’s announcement filtered through.

Felix reminded him that it was time to board his plane.

His response to Whitney was clipped. “Enough talk. I’m off on a business trip. While I’m gone, stay out of

trouble.”

And with that, he hung up.

Whitney stared at her phone, her delicate brows knitting together. Did he react to her question, or was he hiding something?

Could there really be such a saviour in his life? Or maybe Elaine was just stirring the pot? Whitney let out a sigh, realizing there was no point in clinging to his past.

Resolved, she pressed down harder on the gas pedal, her spirits lifting as she drove.

Back at the villa, Whitney pulled out the small, well–worn contact book from her bag, cradling it like a precious relic. She stroked its cover, her eyes welling up with tears.

like seeing her grandpa and

when Whitney was sent abroad for middle school. By the time

she found that all of her grandpa and mother’s belongings had disappeared. She’d secretly been searching for her

grandpa had been a well–known businessman in Banyan City, with a reputation that preceded him and extensive properties. Not adept with

deeply and slowly opened it.

indeed in her grandpa’s handwriting. Her

was thin, with several pages clearly

if her grandpa had ripped them out

1/4

went straight to look for her uncle’s

was a name “Keegan“. Below it was a

grandpa as a child, and quickly decoded the letters into

the numbers came to life on

page.

Was he protecting

dialed the number.

the call connected, and a voice spoke through the veil of time, “Is that you, Whitney?”

was her uncle’s voice!

vigorously, “Uncle Keegan,

His voice was laced with joy and sorrow, almost quivering. “Whitney, you finally called. Do you have any

waiting for

Whitney’s mind as her uncle choked up, “Before he died, my dad told me to go into hiding abroad. He said when you grew up, if you could find this number, it would mean you were ready to stand by me and fight with me. Whitney,

jolt hit

know the reason behind her grandpa and mother’s deaths? Were they killed by the Valentine

you now. When are you coming back?” Whitney asked

need another half month of treatment, but I’ll make it back for your mother and grandpa’s anniversary,” her uncle replied with a mix of excitement and a hint of a cold laugh. “Ten years… It’s finally the

knew nothing of the past. “Uncle, what happened to you? Is it related to the

through these years. But now that I’ve found you, I’ll explain everything to you

ended the call, still

she had finally connected with her

through the contact

one name kept cropping