Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel 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, I—”

“Get away from her!” someone shouted, barreling through the mess.

Nolan Fuller swooped in, scooping Valerie up as gently as if she were made of glass. This time, Valerie didn’t resist; she just trembled in his arms, finally letting herself be carried.

Whitney felt like someone had dropped an ice cube down her shirt—her heart was a tangled mess of pain and confusion, but she kept silent.

Parker’s fists were clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. No one moved. They just watched as Nolan cradled Valerie and dashed down the embankment, blood dotting the ground behind them.

“Valerie…” Ashton’s long legs buckled, and he collapsed onto his knees, cradling his head in one hand. He looked like every ounce of fight had been drained out of him.

The rush of water from the dam drowned everything else out. Whitney couldn’t tell if Ashton was crying or not. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t—it didn’t matter anymore. The truth had finally hit him: all those years spent blaming Valerie had been a mistake.

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