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

who carefully observed Tiana

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

voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, Tiana, I came back too late. Tell me everything that’s

dead! Thank God Bryce got out… He managed to get word to me, and I knew you were alive.

giving herself away, her wings not yet fully grown. She clenched her fists as she looked at Tiana. “My biggest regret is dragging

I’ve been okay these three years,” Tiana replied with a placating smile, her gaze

Whitney’s

Tiana, don’t be afraid. I’ll do everything I can to back you up, to restore the Melford family’s glory,” Whitney said with heartache.

the power of Ludwik Lippert, the influence of the Bartels

ensued like a flood of wild beasts, causing her to shake her head almost immediately.

ended up like this all because of Elaine Bartels. You

worse,” Tíana

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

knees by a single word from Ludwik, and with

and I refuse

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

the Melford family, and Elaine quietly ran them

Tiana was so vilified that no man would

more despicable is that she

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

face turning a ghastly

continued to hold her, “Ludwik abandoned her to her fate, and Elaine ruthlessly finished them off. Anytime Nolan Fuller

me, too. I’ve been useless!

found work, only to be suppressed

minions.

Melford family ended up

giving birth to her child, Tiana became increasingly wary, to the point where she wouldn’t even see me. I could only secretly buy some baby formula

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

Elaine, that woman was a tyrant; her misdeeds were

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

she found out about how Ludwik had destroyed Tiana’s family and

gaze was fixed on

baby’s cry emerged from the bedroom.

girl’s tender cries took everyone aback.

“Sweetheart, why