Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 156

Tears streamed down Whitney’s cheeks as she numbly slid the engagement ring onto her ring finger, only to jerk it off as if it burned her skin.

Over and over, she repeated the torturous ritual until her finger bled, but she could not feel the pain; the pain in her heart was much more immense.

“Whitney? A deep, mellow voice called from outside the door, accompanied by a gentle knocking.

Startled, she clasped a trembling hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.

“Is the baby okay?” He asked with concern.

Biting her lip, Whitney shook her head, remaining silent.

“Why are you locking yourself in there? Is that ring bothering you that much? Are you so against accepting me because of Elaine?” He rested his weight against the door, his heavy frame almost causing it to creak.

Inside, Whitney vigorously shook her head; it was not about Elaine; it was something else entirely.

He sighed, his voice turning cold, a chill that seemed to echo the death of his hope.

After a while, he walked away.

Clutching the ring to her chest, Whitney collapsed against the door. If she told him everything, what would he do to Uncle Keegan?

In the end, he would probably throw her into the abyss alongside him. After all, she had unwittingly been complicit in hurting him twice.

Whitney did not know how long she stayed in the bathroom, staring at her ghostly reflection, her face as pale as a specter.

Natalie knocked on the door, her voice laced with worry, “Whitney, are you still feeling unwell? I’m about to call the family doctor.”

“I’m fine, Mom…” Whitney quickly stood, splashing her face with cold water to reduce the swelling around her eyes before hastily opening the door.

Natalie looked at her daughter–in–law’s swollen belly and lovingly stroked it. “Little baby is being so good.”

Whitney’s gaze flickered to the empty dining table, her voice barely above a whisper, “Did he leave?”

gesturing towards the living room. “When you locked yourself in the bathroom with that ring and wouldn’t answer him, he started drinking. He’s been sick since yesterday, you know. Three bottles of red

slumped silhouette on the

trouble him, but her behavior had only added

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led her to the dining table to talk, looking at her closely. “I might be forgetful, but I’m not blind I see the love you have for him. Are you rejecting his proposal because of his difficult nature?”

Mom, it’s

“You don’t know what he’s been through. He has a half–brother from his father’s side who was always the golden boy. I was ill, so I couldn’t

name, he once stole money for my medication and got beaten by the servants publicly, even taken to the police. He was just eight years old when he developed

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Chapter 156

different, cald. I blame myself, my illness made his life miserable. But

memory may fail me sometimes, but I vividly remember his

a twinge in her heart; she had heard whispers about the Lippert family patriarch favoring the younger

can understand why he’s so easily angry. But that’s all in the past, and he’s healthy

means necessary to reach his goal, he would not just be the tycoon he is today

Natalie smiled reassuringly.

she said he had integrity and

giving up a lucrative deal. His principles and restraint had struck her.

truly been so villainous when he started

herself silently.

all his years in business, has he ever done anything

his lowest, he

“So, Whitney, you can’t

there’s anyone he truly despises and hates, it’s his brother who took everything from him. Despite my detachment

gently on the man’s shoulder.

it tightly. His drunken eyes, clouded with

drunken stupor, “I’m

her heart,

it. She touched his

him suffer and urged, “He’s fallen severely ill and refuses to take his

Taryn’s advice with a heavy heart, helping him