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.

it was like seeing her grandpa

had died in a terrible accident when Whitney was sent abroad for middle school. By the time

her grandpa and mother’s belongings had disappeared. She’d secretly been searching for

grandpa had been a well–known businessman in Banyan City, with a reputation that preceded him

inhaled deeply and slowly opened it.

in her grandpa’s handwriting. Her eyes burnt with fresh tears.

thin, with

she wondered if her grandpa had ripped them out or if someone

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look for her uncle’s

the third page, there was a name “Keegan“. Below

letter puzzles with her grandpa as a

as the numbers came to

page.

grandpa hidden it? Was he protecting her

hesitation, Whitney dialed

her breath as the call connected, and a voice spoke through

her uncle’s

nodded vigorously, “Uncle Keegan,

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

had been waiting for her all this time?

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

jolt hit Whitney’s brain.

uncle know the reason behind her grandpa and mother’s deaths? Were they

are you coming back?” Whitney asked

grandpa’s anniversary,” her uncle replied with a mix of excitement and a hint of a cold

“Uncle, what happened to

have no idea what I’ve been through these years. But now that I’ve found you, I’ll explain everything to you when I return. Wait for me, Whitney.”

Whitney ended the

elaborate, but she had

number to her phone, Whitney continued to flip through the contact book. Her grandpa had recorded

one name kept