Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1304

Whitney's mind was spinning, her head pounding like she'd chugged too many shots on an empty stomach.

Valerie was curled up on the ground, looking small and fragile—like a shrimp left out in the cold. Her usually sharp eyes were glazed over, unfocused, as if she couldn't even tell who was in front of her anymore.

She looked so weak. Just for a second, she glanced vacantly up at Whitney.

"Hurry up!" Parker barked, yanking Ashton to his feet.

The whole scene was chaos. Whitney didn't even have time to ask what had happened, and Ashton didn't spare her a glance.

The man dropped to his knees beside Valerie, his tough guy facade splintered by grief. His jaw was clenched so tight it seemed like he might crack a tooth. Reaching out with shaking hands, he tried to gather Valerie into his arms, his voice breaking. "Valerie. I'm so sorry. I'm taking you to the hospital right now, I promise."

But Valerie just shrank away, cold and distant, dragging herself backward across the dirt. Her eyes were empty, no trace of warmth left.

"Valerie, please," Ashton choked out, "I'm sorry! I should've seen it sooner. All these years... the little girl who pulled me out of the lake... it was you. I was blind,

someone shouted,

as if she were made of glass. This time, Valerie didn't resist; she just trembled in

felt like someone had dropped an ice cube down her shirt-her heart was a tangled mess of pain and

so tight his knuckles turned white. No one moved. They just watched as Nolan cradled Valerie and dashed down

cradling his head in one hand. He looked like every ounce of

crying or not. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't it didn't matter anymore. The truth had finally hit him: all those years spent blaming Valerie had

deathbed, had told Ashton Valerie was to blame, just to hurt him for choosing Valerie over her. Or maybe none of that

too late. Way too

about to comfort him. She pressed her lips together, cold as ice, and hurried after Nolan. "The car's parked just down the road,

Nolan's voice was barely audible

man. She's still alive. You'll get a chance to make

Parker reached out, Ashton shot past Whitney and bolted

staggered aside, watching Ashton's

thought of Ludwik Lippert—all that strength,