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 think he has

him to atone for my uncle’s sins. And, I just can’t let

eyes, Valerie felt a tug at her heart. “No one asked you to

now that he’s in trouble, I can’t let go. I want to

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 change into your

a mask and keep an eye on him from the sidelines,” Whitney

stunning, slender face. “You don’t need makeup to look more beautiful. You’re

with the Invitation, donning a mask to hide in the

summit began, and the banquet hall

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

of the elite,

congratulations! As the new CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation, remember us when

push to the smart

pride at the praise for his son. “Orion studied

looks like it’ll be dominated by the

her fists, fixating on the family

were speculating. “Will Ludwik show up?”

is over. If he shows up, he’s just asking for humiliation. A

that I wonder if Ludwik is even his

not be. Otherwise, how could Rylie have usurped Natalie so easily

shifted. “The only one who could rival Orion tonight is the reclusive owner

a new product tonight. Most

them, no machine can run.

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

with anticipation, leaving Orion’s

face darkened. All this hype; I want to see what this old man looks

those smart chips. Make sure to

abuzz, and the room then fell eerily

murmur went through the crowd, “Is it the

shock and

to the fringes, was preoccupied with finding Ludwik, her hand tightly clutching the medicine Then, from the corner of her

impeccable in a sleek black suit that highlighted his broad shoulders