Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 263

kid's got a temper, sure, but his heart's in the right place. A little ointment and my head will be fine."

The room looked like a hurricane had torn through it. Elaine lay sprawled on the floor, struggling weakly to her feet, clutching her bleeding forehead. She shuffled over to Ludwik, tears streaming down her face, "Ludwik, it's just a small accident. Don't be mad at Danny; the "Daniel!" Ludwik cast a furious glance at Sammy, who sat idly by. He recalled how the boy had been anything but friendly to Elaine lately. Sammy was a loner, cool and distant, keeping his thoughts bottled up inside. Ludwik's head ached with anger. "You, stand up and explain yourself! Why did you hit your mother? Just because she pinched you downstairs, you think retaliation is the answer?"

Sammy watched his stepfather with a sneer in his heart. So, this was how his little brother was usually misunderstood by this jerk? No wonder a guy who could ditch a woman like that was blind as a bat. Sammy glanced at Elaine, who was putting on an Oscar-worthy performance of distress. But now she was up against him, and he wasn't so easy to deceive.

Sammy stood up, innocence personified, and swayed slightly, "Dad, I didn't hit Mom. I love her. How could I ever hurt her?"

Elaine's mouth twitched-those were her lines. When did the little devil learn to mimic her so perfectly? She couldn't fathom it. Hadn't he just been to the auction? How had he changed so much?

Ludwik, seeing that at least his son's demeanor was decent, softened slightly and pointed to the gruesome cut on Elaine's forehead, "Danny, the evidence is clear. Why are you lying? You can't be disrespectful like this. When you grow up, you're going to get into real trouble. Tonight, you're grounded."

"What if I told you that Mom hit herself? Would you believe me?" Sammy approached, pulling on his father's hand, batting his big eyes.

Ludwik paused, and Elaine's face changed rapidly, but Ludwik's anger rose again, "Daniel, you need to own up to your mistakes, not shift the blame. You're a man, remember what your father taught you. Have you forgotten?"

was her!" Sammy

blame you. After all, you're still young. I gave birth to you, raised you; how could I hold a grudge?" Elaine knelt down, gently touching

of nowhere: "Ah, what are you

holding my head down? I can't breathe. Please don't

you

slowly turned to Elaine. Elaine was stunned, her eyes fixed on Sammy. When had the little scoundrel recorded this? Sammy handed the phone to Ludwik, looking up defiantly, his eyes full of hurt, "I just brought my phone in to play games. I didn't mean to record anything. Please don't be mad at me, Mom. I know I was wrong, but please don't hit me again. I'm just a kid." Elaine was too angry to speak.

to meet his piercing gaze mixed with disappointment. Panicking, she stammered, "It

to pull him away, "Ludwik, listen to me, you know Danny has always been against me. I really couldn't take it anymore, but I barely touched him, and now he's playing tricks too!" Ludwik frowned, unable to stop, "You called him a little devil?" The sinister voice in the recording, was that the same gentle and kind woman before him? Ludwik suddenly

suffered? I got beaten up by Whitney at the auction, she flaunted her wedding certificate in my face, calling me a mistress. Now, all the high society ladies in Banyan City and Emperor City mock me behind my back. Just now, some of them were messaging on Facebook, poking into my business. It hurts so much. Especially Whitney, she insulted both of us in the restroom, taunting my loneliness. I was so angry... It's been three years, you

sight of the woman's pitiful demeanor filled him with guilt. Whitney's meddling and mockery that evening had indeed made it difficult for Elaine to hold her head high. And himself, unable

midst of her tears. He understood that no matter how genuinely she treated Danny, seeing his face would always remind

husky, "No matter how unruly a child is, you shouldn't hit him! I have treated you like his mother, and if you lose his affection, you lose support. You're smart,

and authority. Ludwik was

"Our issues should not involve the child. I've wronged you, Elaine, for not

have feelings for Whitney, unless-she used some trick on you again? She knows a bit of medicine; she messed with your sleep three

a bitter satisfaction, exaggerated the story, "I mean no harm to Whitney, but it seems like she's come back to throw our lives into chaos. Ludwik, I'm really afraid she'll take you away from me... Just