Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1191
"Who are you calling stupid? Isn't it you?" Emma shot back, her eyes flashing with anger.
Florence's body lay there, a sight so grim it made everyone's stomach turn. Emma turned on Whitney, her voice rising with
accusation, "Whitney, don't blame your grandmother for calling you heartless-it's just the truth! After Florence was arrested, I
tried to reach out to you, begged for your help! But you? You disappeared, hid away, dragged your father into it too, and made
sure none of us could find you! No matter what Florence did to your mother, Parisa is still alive, isn't she? So why did you have to
be so cruel, Whitney? Florence died in that cell before she even got a fair trial!"
"For the last time, her death has nothing to do with me," Whitney replied, her words sharp as ice.
"It had to be you! Now that you're the one with all the power around here, of course you'd never admit it. I bet even the cops are
too scared of Ludwik to actually call you out!" Holly yelled, jabbing her finger at Whitney's face, her voice shrill.
Holly knew the only one who might help her now was Emma. The old lady didn't have any official power, but everyone knew

Emma ran the Sheldon family behind the scenes. Holly was desperate-if she could stir Emma's anger, maybe she could make
Whitney's life hell in the Sheldon family.
"Oh, I have power now? Maybe I'll use it to throw you out, keep you from even handling your daughter's remains. Sounds like
something I could do, don't you think?" Whitney replied coolly, brushing Holly's finger away.
"You-!" Holly was shaking with rage, nearly stumbling, her voice breaking as she started to sob.
Whitney shot her a mocking smile, not bothering to lower her voice even in front of the cops. "It's funny, though. When Florence
kidnapped my mom and pretended to be her daughter, where were you, Holly? Hiding in the shadows, hoping nobody would
notice? But now, suddenly, you're proud to claim Florence as your daughter? Is she even really your daughter? Because if not,
you've got no right to deal with her body or make any decisions here."
"Whitney!" Holly's face turned pale with fury and fear as she shouted, "What are you saying? How can you be so cruel? Florence
is dead because of you, and now you want her to be left unclaimed? Emma, look at her, look at how heartless she is!"
Holly sobbed even harder, turning to Emma for support.
Whitney didn't spare Emma a glance. Instead, she turned to the two police officers and the prison guard who had brought the
body, her voice steady and clear. "Excuse me, can I see the body? I want to check."

"You have no right to touch Florence!" Holly shrieked, trying to lunge forward.
Felix stepped in, holding Holly back with a cold, unyielding grip.
The lead officer, a loyal friend to Ludwik, gave Whitney a nod. "Ms. Valentine, if you're sure you want to, go ahead."
Whitney pulled back the sheet.
It was Florence, all right. Even with her face drained and stiff, she was unmistakable. The wound at her throat was gruesome-
blood everywhere, her head twisted at an unnatural angle. She must have died instantly, the back of her skull cracked open from
the fall.
Whitney covered the body again and frowned, turning to the guard. "I heard it was a sharpened toothbrush to the throat. Has
anyone been arrested?"
The guard shook his head, his face grim. "We're still checking everyone who shared the cell with Florence. It happened in the
showers, late at night, no cameras there. All we saw on the security feed were a pair of hands pushing her down the stairs. She
bled out right there."
Whitney narrowed her eyes, lips curling into a smirk. "Officers, maybe you should check the records-see who was sent to prison
right after Florence was locked up."
"Ms. Valentine, are you suggesting someone was sent in there just to kill her?" one of the cops asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Whitney shot back, her gaze flickering dangerously to Emma. "Whoever Florence had dirt on-maybe someone
like Bryce-would have every reason to get rid of her for good."