Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 251

After parting ways with Orion, Whitney hopped into her car and immediately opened her text messages, eagerly awaiting Tiana’s current address.

But there was no text. Tiana had backed out.

Whitney sighed. The once fearless Tiana had now become so cautious.

She had no choice but to seek help from Bryce, asking him to dig up some information.

Bryce quickly provided her with a precise address.

After thanking him, Whitney drove off.

As the GPS guided her past the bustling downtown area, the neighborhoods grew shabbier, and she finally pulled up in front of a narrow, dilapidated old building.

Staring at the worn alley and the squalid surroundings, Whitney could not believe Tiana and her parents were hiding in a place like this.

What on earth had happened in the past three years to bring the Melford family to such a state? Taking a deep breath, Whitney got out of the car and slowly entered the building.

Just as she was about to knock, the door swung open, and she came face–to–face with the last person she expected.

Valerie, holding an empty can of baby formula, looked up, and her eyes widened in shock.

The two friends stood there, tears glistening in their eyes.

“Valerie,” Whitney called softly.

“Whit… Whitney?” Valerie dropped the can, her voice trailing off as she turned and called back into the apartment, “Tiana! It’s Whitney! She’s here!”

Footsteps echoed from inside.

Tiana appeared behind the door, her formerly round cheeks now slender, her long hair cut to a bob that brushed her pale shoulders.

The sweet, brash girl Whitney remembered from three years ago had transformed into a quiet, slick woman.

Her features were soft, with a hint of motherly allure, but her eyes lacked sparkle. She looked at Whitney in shock, tears welling up.

Whitney took another deep breath, her lips trembling as she stepped inside without a word.

“Whitney… What are you doing here?”

Tiana quickly wiped her eyes and cautiously glanced outside before swiftly shutting the door.

Chapter 251

actions pained Whitney, who carefully observed Tiana and the

spacious villa the Melford family

Whitney’s eyes as she looked at the pair, her voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, Tiana, I came back too

Valerie finally snapped out of her daze and embraced Whitney, breaking down. “We thought you were dead! Thank God Bryce got out… He managed to get word to me, and I knew you were alive. These three years, Whitney, you must have suffered

dare reach out; she feared giving herself away, her wings not yet fully grown. She clenched her fists as she looked

three years,” Tiana replied with a placating smile, her gaze evasive.

made Whitney’s heart feel as if it had

to back you up,

shook her head in despair. “Whitney, you don’t understand the power

years ago and all the subsequent horrors that ensued like a flood of wild beasts, causing her

three of us have ended up like this all because of

make her feel worse,” Tíana tried

been cowards for three years because of Elaine’s

but also of Cherry and your parents. The Melford.Group was brought to its knees by a single word from Ludwik, and with Elaine manipulating behind the scenes, you’ve been pushed to the

countless wrongs, and I refuse to believe that no one

Valerie continued, “Whitney, that night three years ago, Tiana was humiliated. The next day, her photos spread throughout Banyan City, destroying her reputation overnight. Elaine twisted the story of Tiana’s visit to the sanitarium to save you, accusing you both of trying to slander her with a fake kidney donation, saying you deliberately went into early labor to spite Ludwik. That jerk believed it all

Chapter 251

family, and Elaine quietly ran them into the ground, not just

them but also leaving them with a massive debt. Tiana

more despicable is that

to this day, after so many men

face turning a ghastly

and Elaine ruthlessly finished them off. Anytime Nolan Fuller and I tried to

too. I’ve

desperate, somehow found work, only to be suppressed by Elaine’s

minions.

this, Tiana’s will was broken, and the Melford family ended up hiding in the streets,

point where she wouldn’t even see me. I could only

a fiery red. Her friends were living

Elaine, that woman was a tyrant; her

should have had her pick of the most eligible bachelors in Banyan City. All ruined, a scandal, an unwed mother, three years of

However, now that she found out about how Ludwik had destroyed Tiana’s family and how he completely ignored Elaine’s sins, Whitney’s hatred for Ludwik and

fixed on a specific

a baby’s cry emerged from the bedroom.

girl’s tender cries took everyone aback.

why are you awake already?”