Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1

On the eve of her wedding, Whitney Valentine and her younger stepsister were kidnapped, but her fiancé only rescued her sister.

The kidnapper lunged at her with a sneer, tearing at her clothes with a vicious rip.

Still in disbelief, Whitney waited foolishly, yelling, "No! Please wait more... Simon Perlman said he'd pay the ransom."

With a mocking laugh, the kidnapper dialed a number and barked, "Monica Valentine, your elder sister sure is a fool!"

Whitney froze.

Her sister's mocking voice came through the phone. "You really believed that knight-in-shining-armor crap? Let me tell you the truth: I'm carrying Simon's baby!"

Whitney's face turned ashen. "When... When did you two get together?"

"Simon's always loved me. He only used you to start his business! Now that he's CEO, guess why you're the one kidnapped?"

Chills crawled up Whitney's arms as she shook her head in disbelief. "I don't believe it. Put Simon on the phone!"

Then a man’s voice that came through was cold and remorseless. "Whitney, you're no longer of any value to me. Take care on your 'journey.'"

Boom!

Whitney’s world collapsed into a pallor of despair.

Eight years of love, all just a ploy? He wanted her dead so he could take over the company!

Whitney's tears fell down her cheeks.

Monica's twisted laugh cut through. "He wanted to leave you a pretty corpse, but I'll make sure you die ugly. Have your fun with her, then leave her to the wolves!"

"Monica, I treated you like my own sister. Why are you doing this? Mom and Dad won't let you get away with this!"

"Do you think Mom and Dad really loved you?" Monica sneered coldly.

Whitney was stunned. What did Monica mean by that? Before she could ponder, she was dragged deeper into the wilderness.

The kidnappers pressed down on her with sinister grins. Whitney trembled with fear, unwilling to accept this fate.

Was she really going to be a pawn in Simon and Monica's scheme, toyed with to her death?

No, she could not let it end like this!

Suddenly, she saw a car parked strangely with its door ajar on the dark roadside below the hill.

A man sat in the back seat, his large silhouette vague, but the atmosphere was heavy with suppressed tension.

Summoning an unknown strength, she broke free from her captors and tumbled down the hill toward the car, desperately pleading, "Sir, could you please let me in to take shelter for a moment?"

"Get lost."

The man's icy gaze half-closed, his breath heavy with warning.

The kidnappers were closing in!

"Someone's trying to kill me, sir, please!" Whitney clung to his leg, crawling into the car and slamming the door shut!

Her trembling body inadvertently brushed against the man's slacks, but she was oblivious.

The predatory eyes suddenly opened wide, and the man's Adam's apple bobbed, "You're not getting out?"

"I can't!" She shook her head frantically, pleading.

"Huh. Whoever sent you, since you've come," the man's voice was a dark, cold chuckle. "Don't regret it."

In an instant, his powerful frame enveloped her.

...

When Whitney slowly came to, the man was still asleep; dawn had not broken.

Whitney picked up her clothes and fled from the car in disarray.