Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1190
“It's me. I just came to check in." Whitney said calmly, not a flicker of hesitation in her voice.
She walked over to the gurney, determined to see Florence's body with her own eyes and figure out what really happened.
But before she could get close, Holly suddenly lunged at her, her face twisted with rage. "It's you! You little witch, you're the one
behind all of this, aren't you? Officers, arrest her! She and Ludwik must have had someone kill Florence, and now you're here to
gloat? Whitney, you'll rot in hell!"
Holly screamed and flung herself at Whitney, wild as a banshee.
“I'll kill you! I'll make you pay for what you did to Florence!"
Whitney's eyes went icy cold, her expression darkening. She raised her arm to block Holly.
But Holly was like a woman possessed, clawing and reaching for Whitney's throat.
"Ms. Valentine!"

"Whitney!"
Felix and Shane rushed over at the same time. Felix grabbed Holly, trying to pull her off, but Holly fought back, kicking and
flailing. Shane narrowed his eyes and called over two security guards. "Get her away from here!"
“Shane...” Sienna piped up from the side, her tone full of accusation as she watched Shane protecting Whitney. "If Whitney really
is the one who had Florence killed, aren't you just helping her get away with it? Can't you see what happened to Florence?"
Shane shot Sienna a razor-sharp glare.
He was handsome, but when he glowered, the whole room seemed to chill. He didn't even bother responding to Sienna, just
gave a cold laugh as the guards dragged Holly away.
"Officers, do you see this?" Holly screamed, turning to the police. "They're murderers! They killed my daughter, and now
Whitney's here, acting all high and mighty, even trying to attack me right in front of you!"
Hugh sat in his wheelchair, helpless but furious, glaring daggers at Whitney. If he could, he'd have torn her apart on the spot.

"Whitney, just admit it in front of your grandparents," Hugh spat. "Wasn't it you and that Ludwik, pulling strings to have Florence
killed jail? She may have made mistakes, but she was still your sister. How could you be so
heartless? You're all Sheldons-how do you expect your grandparents to have any peace in their old age after this?"

Hugh knew exactly how to play on the Sheldon seniors' love for Florence, especially Emma.
Half his life spent crippled, Florence was his only child-and now she was gone. There was no way he'd let this go.
Holly, sobbing, rushed over and dropped to her knees in front of Emma. "Mom! Whitney is pure evil Yes, Florence made
mistakes, but she already paid the price, she was in prison. Whitney just couldn't stand her being alive, had to mak sure she
died-and so horribly too. I can't stand this, Mom. Florence didn't deserve this."
Emma's face changed as the accusations piled up. She looked coldly at Whitney, her lips trembling with anger. "Whitney, is this
true? Could you really not tolerate Florence at all? Did you really have to destroy her?"
"Who else could it be?" Sienna jumped in, fanning the flames. "She's just waiting for Florence to die, so she doesn't have to
worry about her ever again!"
Just then, Sandy rushed in from the doorway, catching Sienna's harsh words and seeing the whole Sheldon clan ganging up on
Whitney. Sandy's face flushed with anger. “Grandma, how could you accuse Whitney like that?"
She started toward them.
But Whitney's face stayed cool, her eyes steady, tinged with a hint of mockery She glanced at Emma, and though her heart hurt,
she let out a sharp cold laugh. "Really, Grandma? I'm Hudson's daughter-you own flesh and blood. After all these years, you still
don't see me as family, do you?”
"I..."
"It doesn't matter," Whitney said, her mouth curling into a bitter smile, her eyes going colder still. "I don't care what you think of
me. But I won't stand for your slander. Being manipulated by others is just as foolish as doing wrong yourself.”