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.

must be tired. Let me take care

immediately kept pace with

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

it. As the man left, Elaine's gaze

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

photo frame in the cabinet, took it out, and his eyes

the photo looked stern, dressed in an expensive suit, with thin lips pursed, staring lonesomely into the

He sure looked just as handsome as himself! Except

small models, albums, and a

He pondered...

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

brother, or a sister for him? And it seemed his dad didn't know about Sammy's existence

a resolve to uncover the truth, Sammy decided it was necessary to

you ready yet?" The ominous voice

avoid suspicion, Sammy swiftly put the photo frame away and rushed to the closet, his eyes sweeping over a row of dull little suits, his mouth twitching. This 'little master' was indeed raised to be so joyless. However... glancing down at his own Big Mouth Monkey tracksuit, he suddenly understood the odd looks from his dad earlier. Quickly slipping into a little shirt, Sammy

Elaine glanced at the 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,

inwardly scoffed and

"Oh, learned some tricks, have we? Used to be as silent as a mouse... But 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

in the tub and wash up," Elaine said 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 out on

bathtub. Before he could stabilize himself,

He gasped as he was

to breathe, ready to inflict more pain with a few well-placed

wrist 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

his little brother had been bullied like this before? He wasn't Daniel, though. Despite his asthma, he had been toughened up by his mother from a young age, learning more than a few good