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.

foolish, enduring all this for him. He’s about to get engaged to Elaine, do

care of him to

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

that he’s in trouble, I can’t let go.

away Whitney’s tears. “But he has Elaine. It’s strange, Elaine’s such an opportunist, and yet she sticks with him even after his downfall… Never mind, you better

didn’t come for the banquet. I’ll just wear a mask and keep an eye on him from the sidelines,”

her head, pinching her friend’s naturally stunning, slender face. “You don’t need makeup to look more beautiful. You’re a natural, go on

into the venue with the Invitation, donning

summit began, and the banquet hall was bustling..

figure. Kaden, dressed in a sharp tuxedo, and Rylie,

compliments of

Imperial Gem Corporation, remember us

hear you’re giving a strong push to the smart car industry

son. “Orion studied abroad and

it’ll be dominated by the Lipperts!”

fists, fixating on the family of

speculating. “Will Ludwik show up?”

his head “Family feuds are brutal. Ludwik’s era is over. If he shows up, he’s just asking for

that I wonder if Ludwik is even

how could Rylie have usurped Natalie so easily and

perked up. What were they talking about? But the conversation quickly shifted. “The only one

they’re unveiling a new product tonight. Most of us are

no machine can

entrance. Has the owner of Skyfaith shown up? His net worth is in

leaving Orion’s side,

darkened. All this hype; I want to see what this

smart chips. Make sure to forge a good

abuzz, and the

through the crowd, “Is it the owner

their expressions frozen in shock and awe.

hand tightly clutching the medicine Then,

highlighted his broad