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

observed Tiana and the

was so different from the spacious villa the Melford family once had. Tiana

she looked at the pair, her voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, Tiana, I came back too late. Tell me everything

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

grown. She clenched her fists as she looked at Tiana.

I’ve been okay these three years,” Tiana

Whitney’s heart feel as if it

now, Tiana, don’t be afraid. I’ll do everything I can to back you

her head in despair. “Whitney, you don’t understand the power of Ludwik Lippert, the influence of

that ensued like a flood of wild beasts, causing her to shake

sorrow and anger. “Tiana, the three of us have ended up like this all because of Elaine Bartels. You

feel worse,”

in her eyes, insisted. “We’ve been cowards for three years because of Elaine’s tyranny. How long will you keep

only of yourself but also of Cherry and your parents. The Melford.Group was brought to its knees by a single word from Ludwik, and

and I refuse to believe

her reputation overnight. Elaine twisted the story of Tiana’s visit to the sanitarium to save you,

Chapter 251

Melford family, and Elaine quietly ran them into the ground,

leaving them with a massive debt. Tiana was so vilified that no man would

have taken her own life by then. What’s more despicable is that she soon discovered she was pregnant with Cherry. Tiana’s unique condition meant that terminating the pregnancy would

no choice but to have the child, and to this day, after so many men that night, we don’t know who the father

face turning a

them off. Anytime Nolan Fuller and I tried to help Tiana, Elaine would whisper in Ludwik’s ear, and the Fuller

me, too. I’ve

and desperate, somehow found work, only to be suppressed by

minions.

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

became increasingly wary, to the point where she wouldn’t even see me. I could only secretly buy some

Her friends were living such stifled lives, tormented to this

a tyrant; her misdeeds

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

out about how Ludwik had destroyed Tiana’s family and how he completely ignored Elaine’s

fixed on a specific spot…

cry

girl’s tender cries took

rushed in. “Sweetheart, why are