Love Beyond the Mask

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!

17:05

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,

17:05 Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

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.

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,

17:05

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.