Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 262

Curiosity getting the better of him, Sammy felt there were too many things to investigate if he was to successfully blend in here. So he shook his head innocently, "Nope, what strange lady?"

Ludwik breathed a sigh of relief. This kid, Daniel, was behaving so well, almost like a different person. What was his game?

Elaine's gaze was cool and piercing as she watched the boy.

Feeling scrutinized by the woman, Sammy's eyes darted before he reached out a small hand, "Daddy, I'm sleepy. Can you take me to my room?" He had no idea where the room was!

Ludwik smiled, about to pick him up, when he suddenly noticed the vicious nail marks on his son's wrist. "What happened here?" Sammy quickly glanced at Elaine, speaking with tentative caution, "Mommy pinched me a while ago. I think it was an accident." Ludwik turned, his eyes questioning. He was already somewhat blaming Elaine for the night's events with Danny.

"What are you talking about, Danny?" Elaine was taken aback by the sudden accusation and inwardly seethed at the boy, but quickly she resorted to her usual act, "Why would Mommy pinch you, dear? I must have been too eager to see you and got a bit too firm. Ludwik, my nails are a bit long tonight..."

Ludwik gently traced the marks on the tender skin, which seemed to have been made with considerable force. He didn't want to believe Elaine had malicious intentions; after all, she had raised Danny since he was little. But his tone was stern, "Elaine, as a mother, you should keep your nails trimmed!"

With that, he carried his son upstairs.

"Ludwik," Elaine followed, eager to speak with him. She hadn't had a proper conversation with him all evening, having been preoccupied with the boy.

Whitney, that wicked woman, had made a dramatic return tonight, publicly humbling her into the role of the other woman. Elaine's plans to take over Skye Gem Ltd. had also gone down the drain.

She needed to vent and turn Ludwik's sympathies back in her favor!

Moreover, Ludwik had been visibly stirred by that woman's antics, and Elaine was desperate to prove it was a fluke, to reconnect with him...

"What is it?" Ludwik turned back.

"You've been looking for your son all night, and you must be tired. Let me take care of him. I'll give Danny a bath and tuck him in, then I'll fix you some late-night snacks, okay?" Her caring offer softened

kept

the nursery, Sammy noted, this must be where the 'little master' stayed. Filled with curiosity yet cautious of revealing himself, he said, "I think I'll rest a bit on my own before bath time." Elaine smiled warmly, "No problem, Mommy will

it. As the man left, Elaine's gaze turned icy as she watched

room with wonder! What did the 'little master' who lived here actually look like, capable of being mistaken for him by his wretched

legs darted around, eventually stopping by the desk. He quickly found a photo frame in the cabinet, took it out, and his eyes widened in surprise- Holy smokes,

dressed in an expensive suit, with thin lips

the little master named Danny? He sure looked just as handsome as himself! Except with a

some small models, albums, and a

He pondered...

the offspring of the wicked woman and the worthless dad. But, if he looked exactly like himself, could

had never mentioned having another son, a brother, or a sister for him? And it seemed his dad didn't know about Sammy's existence either... What was going

full of questions and a resolve to uncover the truth, Sammy decided it was necessary to

ominous voice

his mouth twitching. This 'little master' was indeed raised to be so joyless. However... glancing down

closed office door, then yanked the boy's collar and dragged him into the bathroom. Once the door shut, she tossed Sammy to the floor, "What's with the dawdling? You

nature revealed, Sammy inwardly scoffed

now you're quite the chatterbox, huh? Daring to snitch on me downstairs! I think you haven't had enough hardship, you little bastard..." She hissed the insults, eyeing the boy's slender frame. The frustration from Whitney's treatment of her earlier that evening was

with a sinister smile. Whitney, you don't know, do you? Your sickly child is in my hands. Tonight, after making me drink from the toilet, I'll take it

into the water-filled bathtub. Before he could stabilize himself, his head was suddenly

as he

as the boy struggled to breathe, ready to

froze, and the silver needle she held changed direction, stabbing toward her

what are you doing, you little fiend..." Elaine cried out in pain and dizziness, hardly believing the agility of the

Daniel, though. Despite his asthma, he had been toughened up by his mother from