Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 967

Elaine edged closer to Endora's face, carefully scanning the dimly lit cell to ensure the other inmates were asleep. With a voice as quiet as a whisper, she spoke with a venomous chill, "Unlike me, your guilt is stamped in black and white. You're on a one-way trip to the electric chair, sweetheart. You resent me for betraying you, but did you ever stop to think why I had to do it?"

"Why? Because you're a selfish witch, trying to save your own skin at the eleventh hour. Dream on, Elaine. Parker and Whitney will never let you off the hook," Endora retorted.

"Yes, they won't let me off. But there's someone who will, someone who pities me. That's why I flipped sides last night. Endora, we're both in the same sinking ship. You can try to drag me down with you, expose me if you will. But if you pin your hopes on me, keep my secret, once I'm out, I'll cozy up to Ashton. He fancies me. Once we tie the knot... Just think about it. Even though you'll be serving time, once I become Mrs. Fuller, do you think it's impossible for me to pull some strings, get you out, or even stage your death in prison, saving your life in secret?"

Her words hung in the air.

Endora's pupils dilated with a flicker of desperate hope, her hands gripping the wooden bedpost tightly, despite her skepticism.

She caught every shift in Endora's expression, a silent witness to her crumbling resolve. Who wouldn't grasp at a lifeline when facing death?

Elaine was exploiting Endora's despair.

"Look at you, all beaten and broken by Parker! Once the cops convict you, and if Parker, still harboring resentment about Cherry's true heritage, decides to eliminate you, it would be as easy as lifting his finger. He's ruthless. Even if you don't die, you'll spend your life behind bars. You're done for! Your only hope is me."

Tears of fury and helplessness welled up in Endora's eyes as she thought of the Melford family's downfall at Parker's hands in a single day.

determined to reclaim everything

would never let her

bleakly at Elaine, her

a way to save you! What you need to do now is keep my secret. We're both struggling bugs; at least one of us should survive to save the other. I promise, once I win Ashton over and return to

trapped in a mix of

knowing you've been pulling the strings, using me to win over Parker's heart, playing me like a puppet, all for your own gain. I've been your pawn from start

my behind-the-scenes scheming, you wouldn't have gotten anywhere near marrying Parker. Your failure is on you, not being smart enough to pull it off! Remember, we're allies, not enemies. My intention was never to harm you. Your real adversaries are Tiana and Whitney, those two snakes. Don't you want to survive and get back at them? Tiana is

Endora further, Elaine played on her vengeance and

and thoughts of Tiana, couldn't accept her fate of dying in a dark cell, condemned to

Tears of frustration spilled over as she looked at her frail body, realizing that clinging to any sliver of

had to survive, to

matter if it

was a path

hissed through clenched teeth, "I know all your talk is just to save your own skin! Fine, we'll make this deal. But remember, if you abandon me

Ashton and ascend back into society, you'll have your freedom. Now, take

entire day. Glancing around, she found herself

memories, recognizing the familiar