Behind the Mask of Love

Chapter 1

Life has a funny way of surprising you. One minute, you’re just another guy, and the next, you’re inexplicably married to a beautiful nurse—Elisabeth Morgan, with a seemingly glittering future ahead. I thought marrying her would tie everything up in a neat little bow, but that was before I caught a glimpse of a reality I never asked for.

It was ten at night when I found myself waiting outside the spa, calculating the hours until I could close a deal that had lingered over me for weeks. If all went as planned, tomorrow I’d seal the pharmaceutical order with Kingston General Hospital. That meant a nice little bonus for me, but that night, rest was nowhere on my horizon. So, there I was, waiting.

A familiar face emerged from the shadows—William Smith, my client from the hospital. As eager as I was to greet him, I abruptly froze. My gaze shifted, and there she was. Elisabeth, laughing and flirting with another man, heading into The King's Inn. Her silhouette was unmistakable, and despite the distance, there was no mistaking her.

I felt my heart drop. The couple looked tight-knit, sharing smiles that felt like daggers in my gut. Just as I contemplated marching over to confront them, I heard a voice behind me.

“Hey, Chen, what’s up? Need to grab a smoke?” It was Liam Davis, my intern. His words were innocent, a distraction. But they only fueled the fire brewing inside me.

“No, I’ve got it handled. Just go help William into the car, and I’ll catch up in a minute,” I snapped, my tone sharper than intended. My mind was a whirlpool of disbelief and rage.

I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Elisabeth, my heart racing as I hoped she wouldn’t answer. But the reality I didn’t want to confront hit hard—she pulled her phone out, glancing at it with a look of surprise. It was the moment everything inside me shattered. I could feel the heat rising in my face, the urge to confront her burning like an ember in my chest.

“Chen, what’s taking so long?” Liam’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

Forcing myself to hang up, I pocketed my phone with trembling hands. I couldn’t move forward. Any confrontation now would just add salt to an invisible wound. Instead, I took a deep breath, gaining my composure before heading back.

“Sorry, I grabbed some smokes for William earlier,” I offered as I returned, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. William perked up at my words, his grumpiness fading.

“Good. I knew you’d come through. Let’s head back now; contract signing tomorrow, right?” William chirped, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing just out of sight.

Half an hour passed before I found myself back at home, pondering what had just transpired. The apartment felt colder than usual, emptiness thick in the air. I couldn’t shake the image of Elisabeth with another man. My fists clenched tightly as I recommitted to my resolve.

“Divorce. I have to get out of this,” I muttered to myself.

As I paced, the front door creaked open, and there she was—Elisabeth, in the same figure-hugging dress she wore earlier. My heart raced, anger flaring bright. I wasn’t going to let her walk away from this without a confrontation.

But the moment she walked in, her face lit up with that trademark cheeriness. “Arthur! More cigarettes? You know you shouldn’t smoke in here,” she chastised me like I was a misbehaving child.

Two months had passed since our whirlwind marriage, an accident born from an unexpected night of passion. I couldn’t fathom how I’d ended up here, forever at her mercy. I’d expected a fairytale, but what I got was a nightmare clad in designer clothing.

She had turned cold, treating me like her personal punching bag, always finding a way to dig deeper. And, worse still, our marriage had been consummated only in that initial spark—after that, our bed lay untouched.

For a while, I convinced myself that we were just adjusting, that with time and effort, I could bridge this vast chasm between us. But tonight, standing there, I realized it wasn’t my fault. This wasn’t a case of getting over it; it was punishment. She was getting back at me for something I had yet to figure out.

“Enough.” The word erupted from my lips, unrestrained. “Elisabeth, how long are you going to keep punishing me for whatever stupid reason you have? Do you think I ruined your life? Do I look like someone who deserves this?”

Her face shifted from surprise to anger in an instant. “What are you talking about? You think I’ve been unfaithful? Where is this coming from?”

“Do you seriously think I’d make something like this up?” I didn’t hold back. “You’re at a hotel, after all, aren’t you? With another guy?”

Before I could take another breath, her palm met my cheek with the kind of force that sent shockwaves through me.

“Arthur, you bastard,” she gasped, her eyes glistening with hurt. The innocence she feigned was too perfect, even as the truth hung in the air like a weight on my shoulders.

I stepped back, stunned. The rage roiling inside me collided with the reality of what I had uncovered. “Guess you can’t take the heat of your own game.”

I didn’t care if she slapped me again. What mattered now was the truth, and it was long overdue that I fought back.

Chapter 2

I was reeling, the sting from that slap still echoing off my skin, but the warmth quickly turned into a searing rage.

“Sure, I’m a jerk. But if I’m such a piece of work, then why did you shamelessly marry me in the first place? Did you enjoy it? Was it fun?”

“Smack!”

The sound rang in my ears again.

I didn’t flinch; the ache in my heart was far worse than whatever pain was blooming across my cheek. I was furious and confused, thinking that after pouring my heart out over the last two months, I’d have a chance to win her back. Instead, I ended up with betrayal, and I was done. Not another second of this.

“Let’s just get a divorce. You can leave with nothing.” My voice was flat, but Elisabeth Morgan looked completely taken aback, stunned into silence.

“You’re kidding, right? A divorce? And you think I’ll just walk away empty-handed? Dream on.”

I kept my mouth shut, staring at her coldly. I didn’t know why, but the porcelain skin and enticing figure that once captivated me now seemed dirty. It was clear this mismatched marriage had reached its end.

“What, you’ve gotten addicted to this? Or do you like playing the role of someone else’s wife?”

I had no qualms about letting the venom drip from my words, and her expression shifted from shock to rage, her hand raised for another slap.

“You bastard.”

“Can’t handle it, huh? Getting all flustered now.” I didn’t let up; pushing her buttons felt like the only way to get a reaction from her. I wasn’t going to stop.

“Elisabeth Morgan, there was a time when you begged me to marry you, and I thought you were so innocent. But now, it’s clear you’ve appeared to be something else entirely. Yes, I’m a jerk. I’m scum. But I’ve never done anything to hurt you. I’ve gone above and beyond for you, and this is how you repay me?”

“Just get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again.”

She was trembling with fury, her fragile frame almost breaking under the pressure.

“Get lost, just get out of here.”

I stayed put, unable to suppress a smile; for the first time in two months, I felt a sort of relief wash over me. My smile widened.

“Get lost already.”

Tears were rolling down her cheeks, but I recognized it for what it was—crocodile tears.

She needed time to calm down, and I worried if I pushed her further, she might do something reckless. Without a second thought, I turned and walked out.

I thought I’d strut out of there, all swagger and no regrets. But before I even got halfway down the hall, regret twisted in my gut.

Seeing Elisabeth on the floor, broken and tear-streaked, made me worry about her health.

I instinctively paused, almost turning back, but the image of the two of us, so close yet so far from what we once had, stopped me dead in my tracks.

“No turning back. She betrayed me; I haven’t done anything wrong. She deserves this.”

I repeated it like a mantra as I hurried away, not stopping until I found myself standing in front of a bar.

The ache in my chest was unbearable, and I felt the pull of booze, a craving to drown myself in drink. I stumbled inside, ordering anything that came to mind—whiskey, wine, beer, it didn’t matter.

I lost track of time as I drank; the alcohol felt unreal, each shot only enhancing the despair.

“Get me another round! I need to blackout!”

Yelling across the bar, I barely noticed as the bartender shook his head, “Sir, you’re already intoxicated. Do you need me to call you a cab?”

“Call a cab? I don’t have a home anymore! I’ve got nowhere to go. Just give me the booze, I can pay!”

I fished out the last of my cash and threw it on the counter, the bartender took one look at me before shaking his head again, resigned.

That time, I was really drunk. I lost track of everything, not even realizing when my mind spiraled back to the night I first met Elisabeth Morgan.

It was another bar—our company’s big bash, the boss picking up the tab. I tagged along, thinking it’d be fun.

She was a knockout and at first, I only stared from across the room. I was single, and she seemed to be too. My friends egged me on, and I approached, thinking I’d get rejected flatly. To my surprise, she’d already had a few too many drinks herself, and soon we were toasting and laughing.

Back then, she pushed me away, claiming she was waiting for someone. But I wasn’t about to miss this chance; I was good with words, determined to keep her there. It didn’t take long, and I coaxed her into downing shot after shot.

The details after that were hazy, but I woke up the next day with her—Elisabeth Morgan—tangled up in my sheets.

I was blindsided, initially thrilled. After all, how often does a guy snag a girl that stunning? But my joy was cut short when my laughter woke her up.

She was furious, screaming and hitting me, branding me as a lowlife.

She vented for what felt like hours, and I just took it. I didn’t want to walk away, knowing she was too furious to call the cops.

But the bizarre twist came afterward. Despite storming out of my apartment, she wanted my contact info, and three days later, she showed up at my office, demanding I marry her and take responsibility.

I was stunned but eventually gave in—it felt like a win, and I figured, what could possibly go wrong?

Yet as the weeks turned into months, regret settled in, especially today. If I could go back, I’d skip that wild night altogether.

I loathed Elisabeth Morgan, but more than that, I loathed myself. The only option left now was to get that divorce.

Chapter 3

The next afternoon, I groggily woke up in The King’s Inn, unsure of where I was.

I had lost track of how many drinks I’d downed the night before or who had brought me to the hotel. All I knew was that my head felt like it was splitting open and my phone was buzzing with missed calls.

Most of them were from Grace Hawthorne, but there were a few from Elisabeth Morgan mixed in. I couldn’t tell if she was worried or just wanted to confront me. Thinking about what had happened the night before sent a fresh wave of anger surging through me.

I had enough tolerance for Elisabeth Morgan, but betrayal was a line I couldn’t cross. I was done with this marriage.

Fueled by rage, I skipped going home and headed straight to Taylor Enterprises. On the way, I suddenly remembered I needed to go to Kingston General Hospital to sign some contracts today.

A wave of cold sweat washed over me as I realized why Grace was trying to reach me.

Grace was my boss, the sales manager, and she was a hardass. Even with her striking looks and killer figure, her temper and high standards meant she had few friends in the office. She took everything seriously, from the smallest tasks to the big deals. If she found out I had blown off William Smith this morning, I’d be in serious trouble.

Sure enough, just as that thought crossed my mind, Grace’s call came through. I didn’t dare pick up. I knew her well enough to avoid that confrontation. I just wanted to make it to the office first, explain myself, and hope for the best. When I finally arrived, the office was eerily calm. I asked Liam Davis what was going on and learned that the hospital had said to hold tight, that they were still considering their options.

Normally, I would’ve been furious, but with the events of the previous night lingering in my mind, I just sighed in resignation. At least I had a small favor from fate today. The rest of the afternoon passed by in a haze.

To everyone else, I looked like a guy who’d been stood up again, but my mind was circling around divorce plans.

Before I knew it, it was six o'clock, and I bolted from the office, urgency driving me home—I had to finalize this divorce. I figured a night was enough for Elisabeth to cool down. Even if she was still in her defensive mode, I was ready with a plan to make her see things my way.

Admittedly, it was a low blow, but I was willing to sink to any level for the freedom I craved.

When I opened the door to our apartment, I found Elisabeth in the kitchen, cooking. She paused when she saw me, her expression blank. Without a word, she quietly set a plate down and walked out of the room.

Her calmness threw me. I wasn’t sure if she was ready to apologize or just playing the stoic card. I took a deep breath and approached her, summoning my courage to lay it all out.

“I know you have things to deal with. Let’s eat first.”

Her tone was eerily calm, reminiscent of the day she first asked me to marry her, a serenity that was unsettling.

I didn’t respond, simply glanced at the dining table, where I noticed two sets of chopsticks laid out.

“You already knew I’d come back.”

My disbelief washed over me as I processed that detail. Deep down, despite her betrayal, there was no way she didn’t care at least a little. The bond of marriage, however strained, had to mean something. My resolve wavered.

“I don’t know,” she said after a moment, barely looking at me as she continued to eat.

My mind raced. Was that second set of chopsticks for him?

In an instant, the plan I’d prepared shattered, and with it, my anger flared brighter.

“Elisabeth, enough is enough! You went behind my back, and after just one day, you’re bringing that guy home? Do you really think I wouldn’t find out? Was the hotel not thrilling enough, and now you need the excitement of home?”

My voice emerged in a furious shout, all pretense stripped away, just the raw humiliation spilling forth.

“Is this what you wanted?” she asked, putting down her chopsticks, her voice as devoid of emotion as the ocean on a foggy day.

I was taken aback by the indifference in her eyes, my heart racing, a tremor of disbelief coursing through me.

“Oh, a satisfied response from you? You…you truly think I’d just sit here while you indulge yourself?” I stammered, the humiliation cascading over me. I felt dizzy, suffocating in a reality I never thought I’d face.

In a wild surge, I started smashing the table, throwing food across the room, almost as if I was attacking the specter of that man instead of the meal.

“Are you done making a scene? When you’re finished, let’s talk about the real issue,” Elisabeth replied, commanding a quiet authority as she evaded my frenzied swings.

Surprisingly, as I vented my anger, I could sense that she was unaffected, just watching me wear myself down. After a few deep breaths, I started to calm down, examining how her eyes reflected disappointment.

“Fine, let’s talk business. Elisabeth, if you’re ready to end this, I won’t fight you. I’ll walk away with nothing; let’s just go to the courthouse in the morning.”

Exhausted, I laid bare my willingness to let go, thinking she might finally agree. But then I noticed the way she shook her head slowly.

“What if I don’t want to?”

“What do you mean? You want to keep me on this ride of misery? Why would you want that?” My voice climbed again, the frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

Elisabeth remained silent, her coolness reminding me how futile my outbursts were. I had to switch my tactics.

“Look, I’ll leave with nothing. Just say the word, and we can get this over with tomorrow morning.”

I surrendered my fight. I just wanted out. To my astonishment, Elisabeth burst into laughter, a cold, mirthless sound that sent chills down my spine.

“What do you have to offer? Cash or connections? Think again. You really believe that act of stepping down will avenge my heartache? No, you’re mistaken. This barely scratches the surface of the agony I felt those three days. Each coming day will blur the line of suffering, and divorce? Not a chance.”

Chapter 4

I felt the panic creep in, and it was real. I was genuinely scared.

Elisabeth Morgan's gaze sent chills down my spine, especially the calm that barely concealed her simmering resentment. My heart twisted in response.

“Are you out of your mind? Have you lost it entirely?”

“Yeah, I’m crazy. Crazy enough to hit the bar, crazy enough to run into you, and crazy enough to marry you, Arthur Langley. Happy now? Have I made enough of a scene?" Elisabeth's words were resolute, and I knew she wasn't joking. This time, there was no pretense; her hatred poured out unabashedly.

I fell silent, the weight of her words obliterating any desire I had left.

“I’m heading out tonight. Clean this place up; you know I can’t stand chaos,” she said, stepping toward the door.

I shot upright, a flicker of life breaking through my stupor. “What in the world are you doing going out so late?”

Elisabeth shot me a look of surprise, as if she couldn't believe I cared about her plans after the meltdown we just had. But in that moment, I needed to know.

“Just like you wanted.”

Her words sliced through me like a dagger, shattering what little dignity I had left.

Just a day ago, I was hustling at work, raking in money while basking in the playful jabs from my coworkers about marrying the stunning Elisabeth Morgan. I had even entertained the notion that maybe, just maybe, it could turn into something meaningful. But Elisabeth had taken a single night, a single scene, to obliterate my every dream.

Now I had no idea what to do. Watching Elisabeth walk out that door, the urge to throw everything away hit me like a freight train.

I didn't tidy up the mess. I didn't even chase after her. What was the point? My heart had sunk to a depth of despair I had never imagined.

The entire night was a blur, and when I finally came to, a phone call from Grace Hawthorne, the office tyrant, blasted through my fog of confusion.

I was ready to throw my phone against the wall, but before I could, the call dropped, and a text chimed in.

“Get to the office ASAP. You’ve got a screw-up on that deal.”

I paused, caught off guard by the urgency in her words.

Ignoring her message seemed like the easiest option. After all, I had lost my dignity; why would I care about a lost deal?

Whatever. Nothing mattered anymore.

I reached for the bottle instead, drowning the night away at home.

“Riiing! Riiing! The office tyrant's calling again, it’s time to answer or face the consequences!” The ringtone I'd set for Grace—tailored to remind me of her nagging tone—echoed unhelpfully. I had intended to ignore it, but in my drunken haze, the dread of hearing her voice kicked in.

“Hey, Yun Jie, I was with a client until sunrise. I’ll be late, I swear. You can ask Liam Davis…” The words stumbled out before I had even registered them. The voice on the other end seemed taken aback.

“You're drunk.”

“Drunk? No way! I wouldn’t…” I blurted out, but as the reality of my situation sank in, I had to admit, “Okay, fine, I had a drink, but only because of a client! I’m not a mess, really—I was just…”

I didn't know what was happening to me, but I found myself repeating excuses as if they were a lifeline.

Before I could grasp it fully, I woke up again, practically jumping at the sight of the woman before me.

“Who are you? Elisabeth Morgan? What are you doing here?” I spat, instinctively recoiling as if I’d seen a ghost.

Fear burrowed deep in me. I didn’t want to dream of her ever again.

“What’s wrong with you? Did you and Elisabeth have a fight?” The voice was familiar, but my mind was still foggy.

“I didn’t fight! Who are you? Who the hell are you?” Panic surged, and I shot questions like arrows.

She must have sensed my disorientation. With a hint of concern in her eyes, she introduced herself.

“I’m Grace Hawthorne. You don’t remember me?”

“Grace Hawthorne. The office tyrant.” The name echoed in my head. I finally recognized her—the woman who always waited by the front door, watching the clock like a hawk.

I opened my mouth, ready to ask why she was here, but my earlier words kicked in and I felt the need to clarify. “No, wait! Not you! I didn’t mean you—”

Her expression was a mix of confusion and sympathy, but I could see the concern lingering as I fumbled for my words.

She had no idea what I’d been through, or how I ended up in this state. All she knew was that I was a mess, and she rushed to my side, asking question after question, her concern invading my haze—she even suggested a trip to the hospital.

“Arthur Langley, stop scaring me. If you don’t get it together, I’ll call an ambulance,” she insisted, firmer now, pulling out her phone.

That jolted me back to reality. I couldn’t risk being carted off to a mental hospital—not with the way I’d been carrying on. So, I forced a smile that felt like a splinter in my chest. “No, no. I’m fine, really. No need for a hospital.”

“Are you sure?” She eyed me skeptically, the doubt thick in the air.

I nodded, scrambling to sound normal as I prattled on about the mundane office dramas.

At least Grace seemed to relax a little, finally accepting that I was not, in fact, about to lose my mind.

“You really scared me, Arthur. The last time I called, you sounded like you were losing it, rattling off excuses. When I showed up and saw you passed out drunk, I thought you’d be fine. But you just freaked me out again,” she said, genuinely relieved to see I was still standing.

I couldn’t help but stare at her a moment longer than necessary, suddenly aware of the way my heart raced. But then the memory of my previous fears surged back, and I flinched at the idea of continuing down this path.

“Look, it's still early. Get your act together and come with me to the office. The deal you’ve been working on for over a month fell through. They're considering signing with our competitors now. If we hustle over, it might not be too late to salvage it. Hurry, don’t waste time!”

My shock stung again, and the bitter reality tightened my chest.

“Forget it. Let them have it. I’m done with it,” I sighed, weariness crashing down on me like a heavy wave.

Chapter 5

“What are you saying? You already knew?” Grace Hawthorne's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me.

I blinked, the wheels turning in my head. “What’s going on, Grace? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Her surprise morphed into a sigh, and she began to explain.

It turned out the deal itself wasn’t the problem—William Smith was on board. The snag was that a rival company undercut our offer with a lower price and even made slightly better promises on the side. My gut twisted. There had to be a mole in our ranks.

“Who is it?” I gritted my teeth, but Elisabeth Morgan was seething.

This deal was a goldmine. If I pulled it off, I wouldn’t have to worry about cash for the next three months. So, the fact that something could go wrong right now was infuriating, making me zero in on the issue at hand.

“The intern you’ve been mentoring, Liam Davis. He’s already admitted it,” Grace said, her tone serious. She was clearly trying to gauge my reaction.

“What? It can’t be him!” I felt disbelief wash over me. The guy was charming and seemed harmless—definitely not someone I’d expect to stab me in the back.

Grace reaffirmed the news, and my frustration boiled over. I started smashing things in the office.

“Damn it! They’re all scumbags!”

Grace watched quietly, knowing I was spiraling out. She let me vent before stepping in.

“I know you’re mad, but anger isn’t going to fix anything. I haven’t reported Liam yet; I’m waiting for you to decide what to do. But that’s not the main issue here. I suspect someone else is behind him. He’s just an intern and hasn’t been with you long enough to have the guts for this. There has to be another traitor in the company, and they’re targeting you.”

“Are you sure? Someone in the company is trying to sabotage me? Why?” The skepticism in my voice was palpable.

“I don’t know the exact reason, but the timing suggests they’re trying to cut you off completely. Everyone knows this deal is huge and vital to the company. If you land it, you’ll be in the spotlight for a promotion. But if it falls through, not only could you get fired, but I could also face consequences because I backed you up,” she explained, shaking her head gravely.

I fell silent, mulling over the gravity of my situation. I had dismissed the potential fallout too lightly. I could throw in the towel for myself, but I couldn’t let them drag Grace down with me.

Though Grace and I were just friends, she had gone out of her way to help me since I started at the company. I hadn’t forgotten her kindness, and even if I lost my job, I owed it to her to root out the mole.

Clearly, this wasn’t just about me; they were also gunning for Grace.

But I had only been at the company for a little over a year, and I liked to think I had decent rapport with my coworkers. I couldn’t imagine who could hold a grudge.

“Let’s not get lost in who it is right now. We need to put out the fire. We’ve put too much work into this deal to let it go to waste. Losing money is one thing, but if the company puts the blame on us, both of us could be in hot water,” Grace urged, seeing my indecisiveness.

I knew she was anxious to salvage the situation and was worried about me. Since I couldn’t think of anyone who’d want to screw me over, I nodded, getting myself ready.

But just as I stood up, my eyes caught our wedding photo with Elisabeth Morgan, and I froze.

Could she be behind this? Was this her way of getting back at me, orchestrating my downfall from the inside?

That thought sent a cold shiver down my spine. But then again, it made sense, didn’t it?

Elisabeth wasn’t your average woman. It had been evident since our marriage. Instead of retaliating head-on, she preferred to torture her enemies with subtlety.

Like the divorce… she knew I had caught wind of her dirty little secrets yet refused to agree to the split. This had to be revenge.

My anger flared up again, begging for an outlet, but I soon recalled our argument yesterday and felt despondent.

“Forget it. Let them do their worst. I’m done caring,” I resigned, feeling trapped, much like I had last night.

“What do you mean? You’re not actually bailing on this?” Grace’s astonishment was palpable. She looked at me, fire blazing in her eyes, as if she couldn’t fathom my change of heart.

I understood why she was upset and realized I was letting her down, but my confidence was shot.

If it was indeed Elisabeth’s design to undermine me, then showing up wouldn’t change much. Whether I went to the hospital or stayed put, the outcome would be the same. Part of me wished I could vent my feelings to Grace, but recalling how all of this started shut me down.

“I’m sorry.”

“Arthur Langley, you need to understand how long I’ve worked on this deal for you. You have no idea how much effort I’ve put into smoothing things over for you. Now that trouble’s brewing, you don’t even want to try to fix it? Just a simple ‘sorry’ isn’t enough.” Grace had snapped, transforming into the fierce ‘take no prisoners’ persona everyone knew her to have.

“I know, but…” The words hung in my throat, and I couldn’t muster the courage to say them.

I was a man. How could I possibly admit that I was being played like a fool?

“I might not know what you’re dealing with, but it’s clear you’re having a tough time, probably one of the worst. I won’t pry into your personal life, but you need to realize how important this deal is. If you just throw in the towel, the company will fire you, and you might even get blacklisted in the whole industry.”

“I get that you’re not afraid anymore and are ready to self-destruct, but think about it—who benefits from this? You really going to let them win like that? If you’re just going to roll over and admit you’re a coward, I can’t help you,” she challenged, and the last thing she said hit me hard.

Her words stung; especially the coward part. I nearly blurted out the truth.

But then, I thought of Elisabeth again and instinctively shook my head.

Even if I unmasked the traitor, I wouldn’t be free of her grip. It would still come back to bite me.

“Not saying anything now, huh? Pretending to be mute? Fine, Arthur Langley. I’ll lay it out straight: If you plan to ditch me, go ahead and wallow in your misery. I’m curious to see if Elisabeth will still want you like this. If you remember any of the help I’ve given you, stand up and face this with me,” Grace said, frustration pouring out of her voice.

I was torn inside, my resolve faltering, hesitation evident on my face.

Grace must have sensed my wavering. Without waiting for a response, she added, “I’ll give you ten minutes to think about it. Whether you choose to come or not is up to you. Just know that I really hope you won’t let me down again.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out.

There are limited chapters to put here, click the button below to continue reading "Behind the Mask of Love"

(It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app).

❤️Click to read more exciting content❤️