Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 991

Her poor child had suffered even before it was born, all because Valerie had been trapped in a dark cloud of depression, living under Ashton's shadow. It was for the sake of the baby's health that she finally mustered the courage to divorce Ashton, hoping to escape his control and allow her body and mind to heal.

But in the end... the baby still suffered.

Now Valerie was struggling with the child's medical needs and the mounting bills, her savings dwindling fast...

Snapping back from her thoughts at the silence on the other end of the phone, Valerie propped herself up on her hospital bed, worried. "Nolan, why are you so quiet? Did your dad give you a hard time when you got home, or is he unwell?"

"Valerie, you know my dad has always been fond of you, always caring about you," Nolan seemed to hesitate.

"Yeah, I know," Valerie clutched her phone tighter, thinking of Beckford and feeling a warm sensation despite everything.

Ashton's hatred wasn't just about a childhood misunderstanding of her 'not saving him' but also involved resentment towards her mother. Valerie didn't know the details, only that her parents and Ashton's birth mother had died in the same car accident. Ashton blamed Beckford and Valerie's mother for having an affair, which he believed drove his own mother to death.

After Valerie married Ashton, he deliberately treated her coldly, wanting to hurt Beckford by hurting her.

Remembering these grievances made Valerie's heart sink, tears chillingly rolling down her cheeks. Her four-year marriage to Ashton had been anything but happy, a constant struggle of silently enduring unrequited love.

Ashton, cold and unyielding, was like a wild horse she could never tame. She had finally given up on him, removing him from her heart as painfully as if she were cutting out a piece of her flesh, yet she had survived. "Nolan, what are you trying to say?" Valerie, ever perceptive, knew Nolan wouldn't have mentioned his father without reason. A bad feeling suddenly surged within her. "Nolan, what did you say when you went home?" "I'm sorry," Nolan's voice was heavy, his breath visible in the night as he extinguished a cigarette.

"You...?"

the baby, that she's not well, that

up, her pale face turning

with the baby's life. You know why I've been going home so often? Because Ashton and my father froze my funds. I can't afford the baby's treatment, I can't give her the best medical care. I hate myself for not being strong enough. If I could bear it all, I wouldn't have gone back to the Fuller family begging. I wanted to be the strong man in front of you, to carry all this for you. I didn't want to let Ashton know because I love your child too!" His confession was just short of declaring he was

with an awkward mix of embarrassment and gratitude. Nolan had done so much for her, more than she

want to hand my child over to them, I will

it hurts. But we can't deny that, no matter how terrible Ashton may be, the powerful backing of the Fuller Group and my father's vast network are the best support for the baby. She's facing not just one surgery but potentially many, and that requires a superior medical environment to ensure she grows up healthy. We can't keep running around looking for doctors in our small town. I

eyes tightly, tears rolling down as her heart ached

revelation would cause an uproar. The last thing

be safe

even through her tears, it remained cool, "You meant well for the child, but you've hurt me.

please don't be angry. Given the situation, you know I had no choice but to do this. If there was any way to keep it a secret, I would have for your sake. My father will definitely bring you back, but he means well. Once the baby is with the Fuller family, she'll have the best medical care,

moment I return, he'll know," Valerie sobbed

him! Valerie, you don't have to deal with him at all. You two have gone your separate ways. Once

heartache at the thought of Valerie being

much he wished he

-

of night, at