Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 250

“Come on, how did you know she was pretty before I even mentioned it?”

There was an awkward silence before Daniel, resting an elbow on the bar, rolled his eyes. “You think I’m a gullible three–year–old kid, huh? A kidnapper, my foot. That was clearly a nurse with a crush on you!”

Ludwik’s lips twitched, and he shot Daniel a side–eye without a word, casually adjusting his tie.

Felix knew that Mr. Lippert fiddling with his tie was a sign he was relaxed. Daniel, the little goof, had not even suspected that the ‘kidnapper‘ was his mom.

With a chuckle, Felix teased, “Danny, did you forget you’re actually three and a half and easy to fool?”

Daniel’s mature composure took a hit. His chin jutted out in both embarrassment and defiance at the jab about his age.

For some reason, Ludwik sneezed repeatedly.

Daniel glanced over, showing slight concern with an indifferent tone, “Roll up the car window for him, will ya? The old man’s getting weaker by the day.”

Felix shivered, thinking, “Danny, your dad just got back from an andrology check–up with your mom. He’s pretty sensitive to the word ‘weak‘.”

Sure enough, Ludwik’s face darkened, and he gave Daniel a sharp look. “You’re awfully chatty today. Want me to throw you overboard?”

Daniel clamped his mouth shut reluctantly.

He sensed his old man was weighed down by worries today and not in high spirits. The sneezing had to be because someone was bad–mouthing him, right? He wanted to cheer him

1. up.

Clearly, the father–son duo was having a tense day, and his attempts to lighten the mood were not effective.

Daniel huffed in frustration.

Whitney parked her car, her phone buzzing with a new message.

It was from Tiana. [Whitney?]

She had called Tiana the night before using a new number, as her old number had been terminated three years ago. Was that why Tiana was too scared to pick up?

Whitney felt an inexplicable surge of emotion and bit her lip as she read the message over and over. Tiana’s tone seemed so casual. But could she really be unaffected by everything?

Chapter 250

sniffled, ignoring another pressing call from Orion.

in her fingers. [It’s me, Tiana. I’m

tucked her phone into her purse and walked with furrowed brows into the restaurant’s private

eyes lighting up at the

whistled. “Looking good, I see. Who knew you’d be such a knockout when not pregnant? My dive into

your sleazy eyes to

sat down with a

yacht in Sea Bay at the same time. She had struggled in the cold waves for hours,

she immediately asked why he had bothered to

plan. “Keeping you alive to use against

Twisted, but true.

the Imperial

become the laughingstock of Banyan City. Orion was barely hanging on; without a new plan, he was headed for certain

a contract across the table. “Join Imperial Gem as a jewelry designer. The pay’s great; just follow my orders to snatch deals, and we’re

was not naive and scoffed. “So you want me as a human target? Just by

out when you know the score? Don’t you want to crush Ludwik with

smirked. “You have no choice. I saved your life three years ago, and this is your chance for payback. Ready to join me in gutting

blatant

should she not

she could not refuse the offer. Second, she had returned with a

2/4

17:09

Chapter 250

her platform to achieve

lips as she signed the contract

never realized you hated him so deeply. How about marrying me instead? I must admit,

have zero interest in you. And I

his hand and settled back

lips twitched. Orion was indeed rotten to the core and oddly eccentric. He was, however, not cut out for

how much he cared for Imperial Gem, but his rakish, cavalier

piqued, Whitney asked, “Why do you hate him so much? Why go after him like

carefree heir to a fortune? But the old man didn’t like him, didn’t want him as his successor. So I had to step up, had to make something of myself,

in mud since childhood while I’ve lived

your dad like him? Isn’t he his son too?”

married my dad. Ludwik’s parentage has always been in question. The

palpable, making Whitney frown.