Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

"What the heck? What kind of stunt is Grandma pulling this time? She's lost her mind, humiliating us in front of the Nelson family like that." Hudson's face darkened with anger as he spoke.

He turned to Whitney. "She's really thinking of kicking you out? She's completely lost it!"

Whitney finally let her guard down in front of her father, her voice tinged with wry self-mockery. "Ever since Florence died, Grandma's hated me with a vengeance. She thinks you don't care enough about Florence's death, and now that you've handed over the reins of the Sheldon Group to me, she's terrified she'll lose her influence. That's why she's trying to use Sienna to control the Nelsons."

"As if the Nelson family would be so easily manipulated," she added, shaking her head.

"But don't worry, Dad. The Nelsons might be mad, but I've managed to keep Shane on our side."

"She's trying to marry Shane off to Sandy? He'd never cut ties with us over that," Whitney assured him.

Hudson blinked, clearly caught off guard. "He wants to marry Sandy?"

Whitney chuckled softly. "I'll explain that later. Right now, I'm guessing Grandma's threatening you with another one of her melodramatic suicide stunts?"

her down. She's gone

family apart-again? Years ago, she'd meddled endlessly in his marriage to Holly Walker, but he'd always let it slide because she was his mother. For the

trying to drag his own daughter into her

ended up like this! Your grandma is short-sighted and manipulative. If she's trying to threaten me to force you out... I

sharp and decisive. "Take a team of security and go to the Sheldon house. If the Sheldon

to her

go to war with Grandma. She was grateful for his support, but she couldn't help but worry. His health was

not actually going to do anything, but she wants to make you feel guilty. She's embarrassed herself in front of the Nelsons, and she blames me. She just wants to get back at

to get caught in the middle, let me handle

Whitney. I love you. Maybe it was selfish of me to make you CEO, but I did it for a reason. I won't let anyone in the family hurt

Dad," Whitney said, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She quickly blinked them away

her life, then threaten her right back-with Sienna's reputation. Sienna's been secretly