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

another pressing call

tremor in her fingers. [It’s me, Tiana. I’m back, and I need to

her purse and walked with furrowed brows

eyes lighting up at the sight of the woman

you’d be such a knockout when not pregnant? My dive into the ocean three years ago to pull

sleazy eyes to yourself,

down with a

she had jumped into the sea with Sammy in her arms, only for Orion to be out fishing on a yacht in Sea Bay at the same time. She had struggled in the cold waves for hours,

why he had bothered to save her at

his crooked smile, revealing a long–term plan. “Keeping you alive to use

Twisted, but true.

return to the country, she had found that the Imperial

stolen from him had become the laughingstock

a contract across the table. “Join Imperial Gem as a jewelry designer. The pay’s great;

want me as a human target? Just by

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

choice. I saved your life three years ago, and this is your

eyes narrowed; his blatant manipulation was no secret.

why should she not

the offer. Second, she had returned with a desire to

2/4

17:09

Chapter 250

and this would be her platform to achieve just that.

lips as she signed the contract without

intimate as he lifted her chin. “I never realized you hated him

her disgust unhidden. “I have zero interest in you. And I haven’t forgotten how you

his hand and

not cut out for business, or he would not have fallen so hard in three

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

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

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, beat him just once, right?

a single round. He’s been mired in mud since childhood while I’ve lived in luxury, yet the family elders

didn’t your dad like

paused, a twisted smile forming. “Rumor has it Natalie wasn’t exactly faithful when she married my dad. Ludwik’s parentage has always been in question. The old man and Natalie had a terrible relationship, so naturally,

was palpable,