Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 252

At that moment, Valerie passed the baby bottle to Whitney with a meaningful glance.

“It can’t be his,” Tiana said, her tone unimpressed but noticeably colder.

Valerie sighed inwardly and whispered to Whitney, “When Cherry was a bit over a year

old, her features started to become more defined, and I thought she looked familiar. I

mentioned it once, and Tiana blew up.‘

“Why would she do that?”

There was a frosty edge to Tiana’s gaze as she pursed her pretty lips.

Valerie explained, “I didn’t bring up Parker earlier, but in truth, he was the one who

wanted to help Tiana the most back then. But she rejected him outright and gave him a

tongue–lashing. You know Parker–he’s like the prince of the underworld, very proud. After

that, he never contacted her again.”

“Why the anger?” In Whitney’s memory, Parker was the most level–headed and fair of the

brothers.

“We were disappointed in Parker. He revealed in front of Ludwik that Tiana had been to

TriMed Hospital three years ago to check on Elaine, which made Ludwik believe that you

guys had falsely accused Elaine of faking a kidney donation. Plus, the goons that

kidnapped you and Tiana that night were sent by Parker. That’s why she hates him.”

Whitney furrowed her brow, feeling that Tiana might have misunderstood Parker.

They used to joke that something was brewing between Parker and Tiana.

She never imagined that in the three years she was gone, everything would have changed

so dramatically.

“But this child…” Whitney looked at Cherry, who did indeed have eyes reminiscent of

Parker’s, and said, “Tiana, maybe you don’t want to think about it, but that night three

years ago, was there any encounter between you and Parker?”

Tiana seemed lost in thought, her mind racing through the chaotic memories of a night

overshadowed by multiple men’s overpowering presence and pain.

She shook her head vehemently, tears welling up in her eyes. “I vaguely remember

escaping a room in the club. I have no memory of what happened after, and when I woke

up the next day, I was back in the hands of those thugs… I really don’t remember. I don’t

know who it was! But I know it could be anyone but Parker!”

Valerie interjected. “Apparently, Parker had a close call that night, too, saved by a woman.

He’s since found the woman who rescued him, and it turns out to be Tiana’s cousin,

Endora Melford. Parker’s even broken off an engagement to be with her, spoiling Endora.”

Whitney was shocked; she knew all too well that Tiana and Endora were arch–enemies!

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All because of Cato Melford, who had always schemed against Tiana’s father, Fabian

Melford.

Back when Tiana’s family was in good standing, they had suffered endless provocations

from Endora’s family.

Whitney pondered; perhaps Tiana did harbor some romantic feelings for Parker once, and

his involvement with Endora was yet another blow.

To Tiana, it was hate upon hate, an extra thorn in her side.

Sighing inwardly, she hesitated before looking at Cherry and saying, “Maybe it’s just a

striking coincidence. No matter who her father is, she’s a blessing from above.”

When Tiana heard her daughter mentioned, her heart swelled with love, but Cherry’s little

face only added to her burden.

Whitney did not see her expression; instead, she silently promised the little one in her

arms, “Maybe soon you’ll have a brother to play with.”

No one but Bryce knew of Sammy’s existence these past three years.

Whitney was not deliberately withholding the information from her best friend; she feared

that if word got out, her son could be taken from her.

She could not risk it, so it was better to wait.

“Everything will get better, Tiana, I promise. The Melford family business will come back,

and I won’t let you or your parents suffer anymore.”

Before leaving, Whitney left Tiana a card with a million dollars in it, sealing her promise.

Tears filled Tiana’s eyes, a spark igniting within her that had not been there for a very long

time, but she held back her words.

As Whitney stepped out the door, blinking away her tears, Valerie followed, both worried

and happy. “Tiana’s crying in there. You’ve always been her rock, and now that you’re

back, it’s a huge encouragement for her. But while you ask about our lives, we know

nothing about what you’ve endured these years. Where did this million come from?”

“I earned it, of course.”

Whitney had spent three years as an acclaimed acupuncturist and had not given up on her

jewelry design, earning a tidy sum. But what she couldn’t bring herself to admit was that

Sammy occasionally supplemented their income with his computer skills, though she had

absolutely no idea how.

Thinking of her son brought a smile to her face, but then she thought of Cherry and felt a

twinge of guilt. “I will make sure Cherry has a stable childhood.”

“Don’t take on all of Tiana’s burdens…” Valerie said, “Endora’s vendetta is another reason

why Tiana’s life has been miserable.

That vile woman once told Tiana that Cherry could be the child of Parker’s elder brother,

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Barclay Doonan. He was at the club that night three years ago, a notorious playboy, which

terrified Tiana. That’s why she moved here, to hide.

We’re terrified that if Barclay ever sees Cherry, he’ll badger Tiana. If the Doonan family

decides to take the child, it would be a disaster.”

So, that was why Tiana did not want to disclose her address.

Suddenly, Whitney asked, “What about Parker? Has he seen Cherry?”

Valerie shook her head. “Since Parker got engaged to Endora, Tiana has cut off all

communication with him. I’m curious about his reaction to Cherry, too. But now that the

suspicion falls on Barclay, the resemblance could be explained. No doubt Endora has been

cozying up to Elaine, acting as her lapdog to suppress Tiana.”

It all came back to Elaine, still not letting go of Tiana!

Whitney’s breathing grew heavier, her resolve crystallizing with each passing moment.

Exhausted, she trudged back into her apartment, her mood as heavy as the city sky after

a thunderstorm. She didn’t want Sammy to pick up on her gloomy mood, so she quickly

shot off a text to Yael. Just then, a message from Bryce popped up, detailing an eerie case

of Keegan, who had committed murder behind bars. She leaned into the case files and

studied them carefully.

888

Ludwik instructed his driver to take the kids back to Everwood Villa Estate first.

He then took a detour to the cemetery, where he sat in quiet contemplation in front of his

other son’s grave. It was here, in this solemn place, that the haunting images of the

woman he had seen that morning were swept away from his mind.

“Take care, Jacky. Daddy’s got to go now, but I’ll come see you again soon,” he murmured.

The name Jacky was a nickname he had given to this son. This sacred ground had never

felt the footsteps of Daniel, who remained unaware that he had once had a brother.

With a deep breath, Ludwik drove back to the villa, where the moment he stepped in, he

was welcomed by a subtle, enchanting fragrance. “You’re back,” said Elaine, her voice as

light as her white sundress, which clung to her in a way that was both innocent and

seductive. Her collarbones peeked out from beneath the straps, and as she bent slightly to

offer him his slippers, her cleavage was irresistibly alluring.

But Ludwik merely glanced at her and looked away, unmoved.

He glanced at the living room, his brow furrowing slightly. “Elaine, where’s Danny?”

With a look of exasperation, Elaine replied, “That boy has been giving me the cold

shoulder lately. The moment he got back, he went off to Grandma’s place.”,

Ludwik was about to go after his son, but Elaine saw her chance for some alone time with

him,

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and she was not going to let that slide. She wrapped her arms around his muscular waist

and asked with a hopeful glimmer in her eyes, “Ludwik, how did the treatment session go

today?”

Her eyes shimmered with anticipation. “The medical reports say your indicators are all

normal. I knew this new doctor was extraordinary! Just one consultation, and you’re

already showing improvement. Now that there’s a turning point in your condition, let’s

make the most of the evening with Danny out…”

She was blissfully unaware that the said doctor was none other than Whitney!

Ludwik sidestepped the conversation, his face etched with fatigue. “Elaine, I promised my

son that from tonight on, I’d be sleeping with him.”

“But Danny’s still at his grandma’s, isn’t he? We have some time before bed… Let’s have

dinner first. I’ve prepared a candlelight dinner for us,” she cooed, kissing his chin before

turning towards the kitchen to fetch the steak she had prepared.

Watching her retreating figure, her white dress fluttering behind her, Ludwik’s mind

inexplicably conjured up the image of another woman in a white lab coat, her presence

commanding yet delicate.

White, the same color, yet Whitney wore it with an entirely different grace. He had found it

nearly impossible to look away from her that morning.

Damn it. He caught himself thinking about her and furrowed his brows in annoyance,

throwing his light on the table.

“What’s wrong?” Elaine asked, returning with a puzzled look.

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