Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1307

Tiana rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle she didn't sprain something.

"Anyway, after Valerie came back, she and Ashton just couldn't stop fighting. At first, it was all about the kid's parentage. They finally got a DNA test done, and then-bam-Beckford slapped Ashton right across the face.

That was when Ashton finally started waking up.

Valerie, honestly, was just swallowing her pride and soldiering on. Once Ashton found out the kid was his, he kept butting in with the treatment.

And don't even get me started on Elaine, flouncing in and out of the hospital with that sugar-sweet act, always hanging around the kid, driving Valerie up the wall. I can't even count how many times she and Ashton have fought because of it."

"Ashton's kind of screwed, if you ask me," Parker cut in. "He told me he never once made a move toward Elaine. He's been terrified Valerie would get the wrong idea.

But Valerie's just on edge all the time, convinced he brought Elaine around on purpose. She's always throwing barbs at him about it.

And you know Ashton-he's blunt as a brick, can't stand being treated unfairly. Of course they kept fighting."

lot, but he can't even manage to get rid of Elaine. Just kick her out of Banyan

half as decisive as he should've been, would Elaine have

to the point where

what he deserves," Parker said quietly. "He's stubborn as hell, always convinced he owes Elaine his life. The

surprise, surprise—he learns the one who saved him as a kid wasn't even Elaine. All these years, he gave his heart to the wrong person and treated the one who really loved

up

just cracking open the black sky, a thick winter fog brushing up against the windows, cold and

cast deep shadows as he stared out. "The mess between Ashton and Valerie? There's his mom's death

no cameras by the lake

the more Ashton hated the idea, and the less he believed

her deathbed for Ashton to finally see the truth. Only then did he realize, with gut-wrenching clarity, just how badly

a while," Tiana huffed. She didn't have a

attitude was

Hospital-main

said, frowning as he