Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 410

Elaine's mind was racing with thoughts of revenge.

The mother-daughter duo were known to be formidable opponents. Upon Whitney's return to the Sheldon family, Elaine was sure she wouldn't have an easy time.

Seeing Whitney miserable, especially if a man she fancied was snatched away by Florence, would bring Elaine great joy. And in the chaos that ensued, perhaps Elaine saw a sliver of opportunity to benefit herself...

Elaine coughed violently, struggling to speak, "I don't have any ulterior motives. You can pin the Tennyson family's grudge on the Bartels, but your mother's vendetta isn't something I'll acknowledge. I just don't want you harping on me anymore." Whitney squinted, hardly believing her.

Elaine definitely had her reasons for sending Whitney back to the Sheldons.

But Whitney was currently engulfed in hatred. If Mrs. Sheldon was responsible for her mother's death, she was determined to investigate and wouldn't let the Sheldons off the hook.

"I'll give you another reason to go to Emperor City," Elaine said with a sly smirk, "Your son, he might be in Emperor City."

Whitney's grip tightened, turning Elaine's face purple. "You better have proof! Don't throw around Sammy's name lightly, or I'll strangle you here and now!"

"Cough cough... I have no proof, but believe what you want!" Elaine screamed, struggling.

Whitney let her go, gasping for breath. She knew she wouldn't get anything out of Elaine, who insisted on Sammy being lost and even the police were helpless.

Killing Elaine would be easy, but for Sammy's sake, she spared her life for now.

Whitney left the hospital, not heading home but driving straight to the Valentine Mansion.

It had been a while since her last visit, and the mansion's state of disrepair was shocking, but not surprising given that the Valentine Corporation had been defeated by Whitney three years prior, leading to their bankruptcy when her uncle returned. Upstairs, Yvonne was bedridden, with no sign of Preston.

Monica, once so proud, now appeared disheveled and worn, her hands rough with calluses.

Seeing Whitney, both mother and daughter were shocked, their expressions a mix of complexity and fear.

"Whitney?"

provided the poison when you tried to poison my mother? Was

sat up at the sight of the check. Nowadays, she dared not play

the time your mother was ill, she did receive calls from Emperor City. She seemed very agitated, saying 'even if you kill me, he won't love you,' before becoming

go off in her

words were pointed, stirring a

Monica, Whitney turned

needed the money from the check to better her life. She begrudgingly tried to curry favor with Whitney, "Sister, this was your bedroom. You haven't been back in three years, but I've packed your things. Do you want to check if there's anything else

aware of Monica's desperation to rekindle

dresser, as if remembering something. Blocking Whitney's path, she seemed eager to please, "Sister, I have a secret about Elaine to tell

eyebrow,

seven years ago, you

she suddenly took that half-ring. I never understood why until I saw Elaine getting engaged to Mr. Lippert. Mr. Lippert had a benefactor who saved him years ago, and Elaine used the ring to pretend to be that person! Then it hit me, that ring came from you, so Elaine was impersonating you, wasn't she?" Whitney froze,

from hysteria in a neighboring

had forgotten about the incident, and losing the ring didn't seem

be that the

so oblivious? Even when she saved him from another bout of hysteria three years ago in the hospital, she didn't

Ludwik's savior from seven years ago, hence

extraordinarily

because of that underlying fact!

revelation. So, her connection with

of them had realized

stifling as she locked eyes with Monica. In her mind, Monica's

Whitney managed to nod

Monica offered with

her mind a tumultuous sea of thoughts and worries. She

Danny, freshly back from the hospital, sitting at the coffee

about to say, 'Don't just eat bread, sweetie, let me make you

and slightly cold voice emanated from Danny's phone, "Is this what your mom feeds you? Why doesn't she cook

her eyes meeting Ludwik's through the video

light accentuated his sharp features and deep-set eyes, which when they met hers, were filled with surprise and