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, barreling through the

scooping Valerie up as gently as if she were made of glass. This

had dropped an ice cube down her shirt-her heart was a tangled mess of pain and confusion, but she

one moved. They just watched as Nolan cradled Valerie and dashed down the embankment, blood dotting the

his head in one

Ashton was crying or not. Maybe he was, maybe

on her deathbed, had told Ashton Valerie was to blame, just to hurt him for choosing Valerie

too late. Way

together, cold as ice, and hurried after Nolan. "The car's parked just down the

Nolan's voice was barely audible over the roar

a chance to make things right... eventually.” He tried to soun@tough, but it was clear this hurt him

Parker reached out, Ashton shot past Whitney

aside, watching Ashton's

of Ludwik Lippert—all that strength,