Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 158

As Whitney’s consciousness slowly faded, she suddenly understood why Keegan had thrown away her acupuncture kit–It was her only form of defense.

Without the antidote, her eyes fluttered as the surroundings spun around her, and she soon lost all ability to

move.

Keegan’s voice was icy as he commanded, “Drive!”

The assistant whipped the car around, and Whitney, her head swimming, realized they were not heading to the cemetery as planned.

Panic surged within her

What was Keegan plotting?

1

After a disorienting two–hour drive, they pulled up to a secluded suburban mansion. Whitney was hauled inside and unceremoniously dumped onto a chair. Her uncle followed, wheeling himself in.

Surveying the room, which resembled a home office, Whitney’s gaze landed on a sinister figure by the window. He turned, and Keegan announced, “Boss, I’ve brought Whitney.”

Boss? Whitney’s brows knitted together. Who was this man?

The man smirked at her curiosity. “You’re wondering who I am? You’ll find out soon enough, Ms. Valentine. But first, you have to do something for me.“.

Fear tightened Whitney’s chest as she looked at the sealed door. She rushed to her uncle, her voice laced with desperation as she said, “This man doesn’t seem trustworthy, Uncle. Let’s leave. We shouldn’t be part of whatever he’s planning.”

“Whitney, you need to behave,” Keegan warned, a hint of regret in his voice. “I’d rather not use the methods we did in the car again, especially now that you’re with child.”

Betrayal twisted in her gut. This was not about paying respects to her mother or grandfather.

When had her uncle become this person?

Keegan’s eyes flashed with fervor. “The final step in my revenge is today, Whitney, and you’re the key.”

enough with revenge. You might have gotten the

bag, she pulled out the contact book and turned to a crucial page. “Last night, I found that besides Ludwik, in the companies Grandpa once worked with, there was a Bartels family, a medical dynasty from Emperor

2 2 0

scapegoat. I’ve known him for five months. I don’t believe he is capable of the vile acts you accuse him of. Maybe there’s some kind of a misunderstanding.”

again! How can you doubt your uncle? I can’t say I’m sure about much, but that mask penetrating

You don’t know the

based on intuition?” Keegan

stood her ground. “I’m certain he’s not the type of person to

I’m disappointed. If you won’t see reason, then

4/2

chair. They positioned her in front of the desk where Keegan dumped out her bag,

into Whitney’s heart.

took the card from Keegan, a wicked

ready?” Keegan

man checked his watch lazily. “Eleven o’clock, perfect timing

a call. “Let him jump.”

this was related to United Realty

clenched, she reached for her phone, but Keegan had already turned it off, his frosty gaze fixed on her. “Uncle!” She cried out, her voice tinged with fear.

of the United Realty Corporation’s five–star hotel project had attempted suicide by jumping from

Descending the stairs, he listened

Whitney?” He demanded

early in the morning to visit

her love. She would

the concern returning as Félix’s anxious voice filled the space. “The man who jumped claims you refused to pay the agreed compensation.

a trap. Find out who bought that man’s

a pause, he asked, his voice

critically injured, but the panic he’s caused is the real issue. They’re all outside United Realty,

the situation was

swarmed by journalists and protesters. They were clamoring for justice, compensation, and answers, accusing him of valuing profits over lives. And

cold as ice, strode into the corporate headquarters. He commanded the executives with steely resolve, “Bring in the CEOs of the 19 companies. I

comes to