Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 983

Last night, she had been waiting for a call from one of Parker's guys, but exhaustion must have taken over, plunging her into a deep sleep.

By the crack of dawn, considering the efficiency of Parker's crew, she was puzzled by the lack of contact.

A wave of unease washed over her, and just as Whitney furrowed her brows in worry, her phone lit up with Ashton's name.

Her frown deepened, and she answered the call with a cool, "Ashton, what's got you up so early?"

"Whitney! I can't believe how cruel and heartless you are, hiring a thug to take out Elaine. Her heart was nearly pierced!" Ashton's voice thundered with rage.

Whitney was momentarily stunned, her sleepy eyes suddenly sharp with suspicion.

"What are you talking about?" she demanded, her grip tightening on the phone.

Was there a screw-up on Parker's end?

"You're playing dumb now! Can't you just let Elaine be? Hiring someone to kill her is illegal, Whitney. Even if you have Ludwik on your side, you can't just do whatever you want in Banyan City. The Fuller family won't stand for it, and neither will I!"

Ashton was livid, his voice dark and biting, "Elaine's hanging by a thread. And I don't get it, why push her so far?

She's already at her breaking point!

She even admitted her mistakes to me, expressing shame for her past actions and a desire to make amends. Now, with nowhere to go and her parents ill, she thought of returning to Banyan City to find a way to survive.

Maybe she hoped to turn to me, owing her life and all. That makes sense to me.

And you know what?

I made it clear to her last night that I'm done. After sending a final text, she even replied, saying she'd leave Banyan City once she got better.

I had no intention of getting entangled with her anymore. My heart's not in it.

So what are you so worried about? If your grudge against Elaine is because of Valerie, then you're just meddling.

And if it's about holding onto past grievances, then I'd say you're being petty!

She's barely hanging on to life as it is. Isn't that enough for you? Yet, you conspire with Parker, showing no humanity at all."

Whitney listened to his barrage of accusations, her head spinning with anger.

"Hold on," she interjected, her lips pressed into a thin line, her brows knitting together in frustration. "Who stabbed her heart?"

"The person you hired! And that hitman was one of Parker's, damn it..." Ashton was fuming.

Whitney's frown deepened, a cold laugh escaping her, "Ashton, think for a second. As a law-abiding citizen, would I really orchestrate a murder?

I wanted to scare Elaine off, make her leave Banyan City for good, but I never ordered anyone to stab her heart. Are you just taking her word for it?"