Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 246

He clenched his tiny fists tightly, unable to articulate a defense against the stinging words.

Ludwik furrowed his brow as he thought about his son, Daniel. The boy was reticent, aloof, and had always been a loner, playing by himself since he could crawl. The only person he ever opened up to was Ludwik, his father, and that was only during their love–hate squabbles. The pediatrician had once commented that Daniel’s solitude bordered on autism.

Elaine had mentioned that the boy struggled to fit in at preschool and often resorted to hitting other children.

It troubled Ludwik deeply. If mainstreaming him in a regular class could improve his social skills, then it was worth a shot.

“Alright, we’ll do it your way,” he decided, siding with Elaine, his wife.

Daniel’s hopeful eyes, which had been looking for his dad to object, dimmed at the words. He felt betrayed. His father never truly inquired about his feelings, always taking Elaine’s side.

With his little fists balled up, the frail boy stood up and stormed off to the backyard.

“He always runs off to his grandmother whenever things don’t go his way. Kids these days…” Ludwik sighed, hoping his son would grow up healthy and sociable.

“Don’t overthink it, Ludwik,” Elaine consoled, aware of why the boy was upset. In her heart, she reveled in the discord she sowed between father and son. It was exactly what she wanted.

That old lady in the backyard, who had been hanging on for three years, was a thorn in her side. But what could the child really confide in her, and could she even hear him?

A child without a mother was easy prey for her schemes. It was unfortunate for Whitney to have passed so young.

Elaine silently gloated, knowing she held all the cards now. With Whitney’s uncle on the brink of a life sentence, the Bartels family would soon have nothing to fear.

Once she cured Ludwik of his erectile dysfunction, she would be the happiest woman alive, in both body and soul.

She smiled to herself, adjusting Ludwik’s tie with feigned affection. “Ludwik, take a couple of hours off for the hospital appointment, okay?”

Ludwik grunted, clearly unenthusiastic, and headed out, calling the caretaker as he left. “Make sure Taryn feeds Danny well, and then get him off to preschool.”

“Taryn, you were right. She’s not my real mommy. She pinches and hits me.”

In the quiet solitude of the caretaker’s room, Daniel confided in Taryn beside his comatose grandmother’s bed.

Taryn looked at the bruises on Daniel’s arm with a heavy heart. The boy was thin, a precious soul brought up with great care by Ludwik. Ludwik was good at everything but trusting that woman too much.

was two, Elaine had coaxed

quietly disapproved. By the time Daniel turned three and grew more discerning, Taryn made sure to remind

Elaine sometimes resorted to underhanded tactics with Daniel, and Taryn would reveal them to the boy in secret.

Chapter 246

you cold water to drink, making you sick. We’re under her roof; we have to play by her rules. It took me a long time to

a fist on the bed. “She deliberately put me in a regular class with a bully who picks on me. Stinky

trusts her blindly with your education… He can’t attend to everything. I feel powerless. It’s been three years, and your grandmother hasn’t woken up. If only your mother were here. Danny, just hold on a little longer. Your mom said she’d come back

G•

on her way back right now, and you’ll have your real mommy soon, free from that

a tear, feeling a mix of sadness and hope. She never believed the story that Ms. Valentine had abandoned her son to run away. It had to be

big eyes filled with confusion.

real mother. Could it be true?

his dad never mentioned her,

mother?

Did she even know she had a precious child waiting for her? Why had

little boy’s expression turned cold

but to her surprise, the director promoted her

as if she

animal.

at a traditional medical school. Can she

Valentine cured an intractable case of epilepsy

“With just acupuncture?”

“With just acupuncture.”

“That’s incredible.”

The chatter continued,

smile, “When it comes to the nervous system, acupuncture

I’m only taking this one case for

arranged her placement, so the director dared not object, especially since her abilities were

cases had been cured by the young woman standing before them, who looked to be in

is on the second floor to the

Whitney’s appearance, while the female doctors chuckled at the mention

their reactions until she arrived at her office on the second floor. The large sign that read “andrology” caused her to crack

Andrology…

broad range of