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.

silhouette on the couch,

crisis at United Realty Corporation had been enough to trouble him, but her behavior had only added

ZEO SFO SE

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

it’s not

always the golden boy. I was ill, so I couldn’t stand up for him. He was often mistreated by his stepmother,

his 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 mental issues and was constantly irritable, and his

1/3

Chapter 156

made his life miserable. But he fought hard, stood his ground, and outshone all the other family members, earning his

watched him struggle every step of the way. My memory may fail me

heard whispers about the Lippert family patriarch

in thought, Natalie patted her hand and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m telling you this so you can understand why he’s so easily angry. But that’s all in the past, and he’s healthy now. He never let the darkness of his childhood affect his business dealings. Whitney, your man has integrity. His nobility is in his bones, and he’s worthy of

his goal, he would not just be the tycoon he is

Natalie smiled reassuringly.

best, and she said he had integrity and was not the

take advantage of Braxton, willingly giving up a lucrative

noble man, had he truly been so villainous when he started from nothing,

herself

his years in business, has

lowest, he got through it

in her eyes, “So, Whitney, you can’t give

who took everything from him. Despite my detachment from worldly matters, I’ve heard people praise your beauty and intelligence. You should stand by his

hand gently on the

drunken eyes, clouded with alcohol, seemed

he mumbled in his drunken stupor, “I’m sick;

her heart, his

bear it. She touched his forehead, which was

urged, “He’s fallen severely ill and refuses to take his medicine. Please, Madam, tell

with a heavy