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 small

that was so different from the spacious villa the Melford family once

voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, Tiana, I came back too

out… He managed to get word to me, and I knew

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

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

and afraid, and it made Whitney’s heart feel

can to back you up, to restore the Melford family’s glory,” Whitney

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

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

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

worse,” Tíana tried to

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

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

countless wrongs, and I refuse to believe that no one can

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

blacklisted the Melford family, and Elaine quietly ran them

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

her parents, she might 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 prevent her from ever conceiving

after so many men that night, we don’t

her face turning a

“Ludwik abandoned her to her fate, and Elaine ruthlessly finished them off. Anytime Nolan Fuller and I tried to help Tiana, Elaine

threatening me, too. I’ve

desperate, somehow found work, only to

minions.

was broken, and the Melford family ended up hiding in the streets,

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

Her friends were living

that woman was a tyrant;

in Banyan City. All ruined, a scandal, an unwed mother, three years of

only despised Ludwik and Elaine. However, now that she found out about how Ludwik had destroyed Tiana’s family and how he completely ignored

was fixed on a

a baby’s cry emerged

infant girl’s tender cries took

in. “Sweetheart, why are you