Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 41
Whitney bit her lip, anxiety etching her features.
“Ha!” Monica scoffed as if she had just heard the world’s funniest joke, expressing her disdain. “Turns out he’s not here to rescue
you. Whitney. Look at you, disgraced and abandoned. Not even the street thugs want you now Pathetic. Hey, manager! Get them
out of here!”
Parker caught up in a few strides, saying, “Bro, she’s pregnant! You’re so worked up you’re ready to abandon your kid?”
L swept him with an icy glance.
Parker got the message, his laugh trailing off as he spun on his heel.
Security hoisted up Whitney and Tiana while Monica, with a sly nod, urged the socialites to shove Whitney down the stairs.
With a gust of cold air, Parker was there, shoving the women aside. “Let those ladies go!” he bellowed.
Caught off guard and not recognizing Parker, Monica assumed he was just another nobody from the streets. She yelled, “Who
the heck are you to push me around? Manager, don’t you dare let them go. Throw them out, along with this guy!”
Parker’s smile was thin, his patience wearing thin. “Manager, what are you waiting for?”
The manager, now pale as a ghost, knew better than to cross Parker, a friend of the big boss. His previous flattering of Monica
now turned to disgust as he directed the security to encircle Monica and her posse.
“What are you waiting for? Get them out of here!”
“What?” Monica’s voice was incredulous, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? I’m a VIP member of this club,
the darling of the Valentine Corporation. You wouldn’t dare...”
When the women resisted, the security grabbed Monica and Stella, dragging them to the carpeted stairs and throwing them
down without ceremony.
Monica stumbled and landed with a thud, her hair and clothes in disarray.
Stella, in her high heels, fell gracelessly to the ground floor.

The entire floor of wealthy businessmen and socialites watched the scene unfold, some even pulling out their phones to capture
the moment.
Monica’s face turned an angry shade of blue.
Stella, a celebrity, covered her face and screamed, “Stop filming!”
Tiana stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at Stella with a cool, mocking laugh, “Stella, this is the rising. star you’ve been
clinging to.”
Stella spun around, her face dropping several degrees at the sight of Whitney’s indifferent expression.

Parker smiled at Whitney.
“Thanks,” Whitney replied, having seen this bespectacled man at the hospital before. His eyes, behind his glasses, hinted at a
deceptively cunning persona.
“Your man’s dining at the other private suite. Want to join?” Parker offered.
Recalling the man who showed no interest in coming to her aid, Whitney shook her head. “No, thanks.”
But Tiana was already piecing things together. The man behind the mask? Of course, he was Whitney’s enigmatic husband!

She immediately clung to Whitney, her eyes twinkling. “Why not go? It would be lovely for you two to dine
Chapter 41.

together. I’m starving!”
And with that, Tiana dragged Whitney into the private suite, but as soon as they entered, the chill from the man silenced Tiana,
and it took her a moment to muster a compliment. “You must be the renowned Mr. L7 Whitney always speaks of you. Truly,
meeting you exceeds all the rumors. You’re the epitome of elegance and maturity–a natural–born leader!”
The room fell into a silence as cold as the snow.
Tiana, fesling out of place, nudged Whitney. “Go on, call him honey“.”
Rigid and uncomfortable, Whitney pressed her lips together, feeling entirely out of place.
Parker cleared his throat and pulled out a chair for her. “Whitney, please, take a seat. Manager, the menu, please.”
Respectfully, the manager presented two copies, landing in the hands of Whitney and Mr. L.
Just a few light dishes,” the man spoke up, his voice deep and resonant.
He sat back his posture impeccable, his legs crossed, his face as cold as ice.
Parker, with a mischievous grin, glanced at Whitney. “Why don’t you order some of your favorites?”
Whitney passed the menu to Tiana, who glared at her as if to say, “No way!”
Whitney forced herself to look composed, her appetite returning as she scanned the menu. “Let’s have some caramelized
bananas, spicy braised lamb chops...”

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Before she could finish, Tiana snatched the menu back, her voice honeyed but her intention clear. “Whitney, I thought you
preferred lighter fare, just like Mr. L? Besides, you’ve been so down lately you’ve barely eaten a thing. Why pretend now?”
Inside, Whitney bristled
Tiana shot her a lethal warning look, then glanced at the man.
Whitney caught a glimpse of the stoic man and thought, why should she cater to his tastes?
Under the table, Tiana pinched her.
Hating the pain, Whitney glared at Tiana before reluctantly ordering some lighter dishes.

Parker watched the exchange with amusement. Young girls were just too cute.
He looked up to see L, who remained expressionless, his aura growing colder by the second.
Clearly, Whitney’s choices had not pleased him.
In this oppressive atmosphere, the four of them ate a meal that did little for their digestion.
The tall man stood up, the epitome of cool sophistication, as he adjusted his suit. Parker asked, “Which room are we going to?”
“Doesn’t matter,” L replied indifferently, not even glancing at Whitney’s way.
Fed up with his cold shoulder, Whitney wanted to leave, but Tiana was already probing. “Parker, what’s next on the agenda?”
“Poker,” Parker said quickly, adding after a pause, “My bro’s in a foul mood, just like Whitney. Maybe a game will cheer him up.”
L shot Parker a frosty glare before departing.
Whitney watched his retreating figure, tall and distant.
“Poker sound great. Whitney, you’re an ace at cards, aren’t you, Whitney?” Tiana stirred the pot.
Chapter 41
Whitney remained silent, her frustration mounting.

Parker’s lips curved in a smirk. “Oh? I’d love to see that. Join us in the 2033 sulte.”
Once they left, Whitney turned to Tiana, her anger barely contained. “What are you trying to do, forcing things like this? Can’t you
see he clearly despises us?”
“You have no idea how a man’s mind works, do you? Especially one who’s always playing his cards so close to his chest? L is as
mysterious as they come, the ultimate brooding gentleman. No wonder he’s got you all twisted ip
“Who says I’m twisted up?” Whitney retorted With a chill in her voice that could freeze the Pacific.
“Oh, come on. Aren’t you the one who got all jealous over a simple phone call?” Tiana teased with a sly grin.
Whitney shot her a look that could kill, and Tiana quickly raised her hands in surrender. “I just mean, the guy did save our skins,
after all.”
“It was Parker who saved us, not him.”
“And you think Parker would have turned up without L giving him the nod? Plus, he did give us a good laugh putting that jerk in
his place, Tiana nudged her, pushing her towards the action. “Look at you, all wound up. This sham marriage is getting under
your skin, and with today’s fiasco at the competition, you’ve got enough on your plate. I say, make up with him. It’ll clear your
head so you can take down Monica. Besides, a guy with his bank account might just come in handy.”
Before Whitney could protest, Tiana had already dragged her into the VIP lounge, Suite 2033.
They entered a poker room that screamed luxury, its floors covered in the finest cashmere carpeting. Whitney could not help but
wonder who owned the Royal One Club to afford such extravagance.
As she was reluctantly ushered in, the room was bustling with well–dressed men and scantily clad women. Her eyes immediately
found L, nestled on a plush sofa with ladies on either side.
The sight was like a punch to the gut, and she suddenly found it hard to breathe.
She had not been wrong about him. He was a player, and these past few days, he had likely left a trail of conquests.
Just moments ago, Whitney had thought Tiana might have a point. But now, with the sting of betrayal in her eyes, she spun on
her heel, determined to leave, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.