Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 142

Whitney’s hands were clenched so tightly that beads of cold sweat trickled down her skin.

Her heart grew colder inch by inch, as if wrapped in frost.

Keegan wheeled over to her, pushing her out of the Valentine mansion. His gaze was piercing into her shame–filled veins like needles. “Whitney, the Surelia District mining maps fed the Imperial Gem Corporation, catapulting it to greatness and spawning United Realty. But the irony of it is that you married him!”

She crumpled to the floor, her eyes brimming with tears.

Could it really be him?

Her mother and grandfather had died such horrific deaths, and her uncle had lived in such hardship.

Clutching her aching heart, Whitney looked up in confusion, pulling out the executive name tag and the black card that L had given her. “But uncle, you said he was behind my mom and grandpa’s death. Then why does he keep me close? He let me into United Realty and gave me a black card with no limit–shouldn’t he be wary of me?”

Keegan’s chest heaved with fury as he swept the card from her hands onto the ground, “Do you know Ludwik’s tricks? He’s got you falling for him! With these perks, could you ever leave him with your pride intact? When he met me today, he acted like nothing was amiss, probably thinking I was clueless about the past. He’s been spinning you around with a mask! Open your eyes and see the truth! Otherwise, you’re betraying your mother and grandfather!”

Whitney’s mind reeled, and she slowly collapsed to the ground. Her heart was drowning in anguish.

She had met Ludwik, carried his child, married him, and even fallen in love with him.

Why was fate mocking her?

She thought she had defeated Elaine, that she and L had finally developed a relationship, that they were finally finding happiness.

But the harsh slap of truth followed swiftly.

Her grandfather’s contact book was with Ludwik’s name. Her uncle said his mask had pierced her grandfather’s heart, that the Imperial Gem Corporation had used her grandfather’s Surelia District mining maps to build its empire.

She found it impossible to find excuses for him anymore.

Imperial Gem Corporation and Skye Gem Ltd.’s past was not just business competition.

It was blood vengeance–her mother and grandfather had died with eyes wide open!

“I know it’s hard to accept, but you need to pull yourself together. I came back to exact revenge on Ludwik! I just didn’t expect to find you… by his side,” Keegan said, gripping her hand, his eyes cold and sarcastic as he glanced at her swelling belly. “But family vengeance cannot be forgotten! You must cut ties with him completely and stand by me!”

Whitney felt shattered by his words, her heart sliced open, tears clouding her vision.

Realizing she was close to breaking, Keegan softened his tone. “You must be tired. Go home and have a rest. But don’t alert him and don’t expose me. The day after tomorrow is your mother and grandfather’s memorial. You should come, and we’ll talk more then.”

Whitney nodded. “Uncle, but you don’t have a place to stay.”

“I’ve bought an apartment before coming back. I have a small company overseas, and I’ve relocated it here.” Keegan managed a wry smile. “As for your cousin, I left her abroad.”

had a daughter gave Whitney a glimmer of solace. “Aunt is taking care of her

“Your aunt ran off long ago. In my condition, what woman would stay? I raised your

heart aching as

had been bitter, but who was to blame?

fingertips trembling as she left

watched Whitney’s retreating figure

other end had a devilish tone. “How’s the first

been a complication,” Keegan’s voice was heavy. “My niece, Whitney, the one you saw at the airport, she’s right by

darkly. “But Mr. Tennyson, is that really

resolve. “Whitney

a little pain for your niece if it means avenging your family and reclaiming what’s

flickered in Keegan’s vengeful eyes. “Yes,

with you,” the man said before hanging up.

returned to the villa, a place she had secretly dubbed ‘House of Love‘ just a fortnight

it had become, fate handed her a cruel joke.

was now

outside her window, wishing for a moment that she could dissolve into snowflakes, to avoid the pain, the conflict,

on her shoulders, Taryn was horrified and hurried to fetch a towel. “Ma’am, why didn’t you

ascended the stairs and locked herself in her room with

night, Ludwik

snowflakes,

also the first since he had met her. Maybe in the morning, he could hold her and enjoy the

etched in his brow eased slightly, though his brow remained furrowed. Donning his silver mask, he pushed open

to find Whitney collapsed on

to her side.

lost

car accident. Her uncle’s severed leg was there too, the sight of it vivid in her mind. Her mother’s face always so

Chapter 142

Why

the first time she’d

called out, as strong hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her. “Did you

see the man with a

him away with all her

mask again – the deceiver and the manipulator.

behind countless facades? The hands that now reached out to her were the same hands stained with her mother’s

Whitney stammered, her voice a mix of fear and hatred. She recoiled until her back hit the wall, seeking the cold comfort of

of confusion and concern darkening his face as he realized her hands felt icy to the touch.

143

Chapter 143

on