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

pained Whitney, who carefully observed Tiana and the

was so different from the spacious villa the

I came back too late. Tell me everything that’s

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

giving herself away, her wings not yet fully grown. She clenched her fists as she looked at Tiana.

say that. I’ve been okay these three years,” Tiana replied with

made Whitney’s heart feel as if

do everything I can to back you up, to restore the

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

recalled that night three years ago and all the subsequent horrors that ensued like a flood of

like this all because of Elaine Bartels.

her feel worse,” Tíana tried to interject.

years because of Elaine’s tyranny. How long will you keep hiding

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 brink

has committed countless wrongs, and I refuse

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

Chapter 251

Elaine quietly ran them into

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

more despicable is that she soon discovered she was pregnant with Cherry. Tiana’s unique

but to have the child, and to this day, after so many

her face turning a ghastly pale. “Stop

finished them off. Anytime Nolan Fuller and I tried

was threatening me, too.

and desperate, somehow found work,

minions.

Melford family ended up hiding in the

wouldn’t even see me. I could

red. Her friends were living such stifled lives, tormented to

was a tyrant; her misdeeds were

pick of the most eligible bachelors in Banyan City. All ruined, a scandal, an unwed mother,

despised Ludwik and Elaine. 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

on a specific

cry

mommy…” The infant girl’s tender cries

“Sweetheart, why are