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 small two–bedroom

the spacious villa the Melford family once had. Tiana had been a

she looked at the pair, her voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, Tiana, I came back too late. Tell me everything that’s happened to you in

Whitney, breaking down. “We thought you were dead! Thank God Bryce got out… He managed to get

fully grown. She clenched her

these three years,” Tiana replied with

looked worn down and afraid, and it made Whitney’s heart feel as if it had

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

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

horrors that ensued like

the three of us have ended up like this all because of Elaine Bartels. You need to tell

don’t make her feel worse,” Tíana tried to

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

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

wrongs, and I refuse to believe that no one

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 and turned against

Chapter 251

Elaine quietly ran them into the ground, not just

them with a massive debt. Tiana was so vilified that no man would consider marrying her.

in a daze, and if she had not needed to care for her parents, she might have taken her own life by then. What’s more despicable is that she soon

but to have the child, and to this day, after so many men that night, we don’t know who the father is.”

tremble, her face turning

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

was threatening me, too. I’ve been

somehow found work,

minions.

and the Melford family ended up hiding

point where she wouldn’t even see me. I could only secretly buy some baby

a fiery red. Her friends were living such stifled lives, tormented to this extent!

woman was a tyrant; her

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

destroyed Tiana’s family and how he completely ignored Elaine’s sins, Whitney’s hatred for Ludwik

gaze was fixed on a specific

cry emerged from the bedroom.

mommy…” The infant girl’s tender cries took everyone aback.

immediately rushed in. “Sweetheart, why are you awake already?”