Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 184

“I’ve got no interest in your nauseating love games.”

Valerie curled her lip, casting a cold, mocking glance at him. “Ashton, she’s practically engaged, yet here she is, fixing your tie, keeping you on a string. Face it, she’s just stringing you along as her backup plan. Ever think of that? Or is your head too thick?”

Ashton froze, stung by the insult.

Today, Valerie was clad in an ice–blue evening gown that accentuated her aloof elegance. Her face was bare save for the striking red of her lipstick.

He narrowed his eyes, intending to grab her and give her a piece of his mind.

But Valerie twisted away, repulsed by the scent of Elaine’s perfume clinging to him. His hand was hot, though, as it encircled her wrist. Valerie’s eyes flashed frostily. “Let go, I’m leaving!”

“You’re my wife, where do you think you’re going?” Ashton’s eyes gleamed with the thrill of seeing her so riled

Up

“You never treated me like a wife. You never took me to any event before, and today, for some bizarre reason, you want me here. But thanks anyway.” Valerie spat out the words with sarcasm and left.

Thanks? Ashton was baffled. It was Elaine who had mentioned bringing Valerie, and that’s why he had.

Outside the hotel doors, Valerie wrapped herself in her coat and made a beeline for the corner.

Whitney stepped out of the car, handing her an invitation.

“Thanks, Valerie, but can’t you go back in?”

“Nope, it’s one person per card. You will take my place.”

Valerie gripped Whitney’s hand, her expression darkening. “Whitney, you’ve been keeping secrets! Mr. Lippert is pushing you toward divorce, and you’re still looking out for him? What were you up to yesterday?”

Whitney stiffened. “Who told you this?”

“I overheard Elaine and Ashton talking. What’s your plan?”

Whitney’s face paled, realizing she couldn’t keep it hidden any longer. She briefly explained the events of the previous day.

brows knitting together. “You’re being foolish, enduring all this for him. He’s about to get engaged to Elaine, do you

well,” Whitney said with a bittersweet smile. “I’m taking care of him

moisture in Whitney’s eyes, Valerie felt a tug at

in trouble, I can’t let

has Elaine. It’s strange, Elaine’s such an opportunist, and yet she sticks with him even after his downfall… Never mind, you better change

mask and

naturally stunning, slender face. “You don’t need

the venue with the Invitation, donning a

the banquet hall was bustling..

tuxedo, and Rylie, now Mrs. Lippert, elegantly beautiful, flanked him

of the elite,

the new CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation, remember

giving a strong push to the smart car industry

for his son. “Orion studied abroad and has a keen vision for the future

looks like it’ll be dominated by the

fists, fixating on the family of three.

“Will

“Family feuds are brutal. Ludwik’s era is over. If he

so much so that I wonder if Ludwik is even

could Rylie

quickly shifted. “The only one who could rival Orion tonight

tonight. Most of us are here for that. Every business in Banyan,City

without them, no machine can run.

head to the entrance. Has the owner of Skyfaith shown up? His net worth is in the trillions.”

anticipation, leaving Orion’s

face darkened. All this hype; I want to

advised, ‘Patience, son. Your car enterprise needs those smart chips. Make sure to forge a good relationship

entrance was abuzz, and the room

the crowd, “Is

their expressions frozen in shock and awe. “It’s…

the medicine Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw a

in a sleek black suit that highlighted his broad shoulders and