Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 266

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"Sammy, where are you?!" Panic clawed its way up Whitney's face in an instant.

Just as she was about to dash out in search, the wardrobe door creaked embarrassingly open, revealing a defiant little head. "Mommy... I'm here."

Whitney stared at the double-tiered wardrobe, baffled as to how her child had managed to climb up there. Why on earth would he hide so high up due to fear?

Her face darkened slightly as she grabbed a chair to stand on, lifting her son down. Her mouth twitched as she said, "Buddy, how did you get up there?"

Daniel glanced at the towering wardrobe, a flash of embarrassment crossing his little face. It was Ludwik's bellowing outside that had scared him. He'd only been reunited with his mom for a few hours and hadn't even had his fill of hugs. He didn't want to be dragged back! But when his old man showed up and then left without even noticing his lost little treasure, he could only pout slightly and cling to Whitney's legs, resorting to a little white lie, "I got scared because you weren't in the room!"

Whitney paused, Sammy usually wasn't this timid. He was often the first to run to her side and protect her. Could it be he was still adjusting to being back home?

Sensing his mommy's questioning gaze, Danny straightened up and huffed, "Is that guy gone? Do you want me to handle him?"

Whitney was momentarily speechless - you were hiding way up there. She smiled and laid her son back on the bed, "I've already handled him. Let's get back to sleep."

"Who is he, anyway?" If daddy came to see mommy alone, that meant they weren't completely out of touch. Danny was curious.

"Just a garbage man," Whitney lied without a hint of courtesy.

arranged to meet with Bryce, the lawyer her uncle had

had a look at the case, and the judgment against my

A month ago, the victim, Lyle, was sentenced to five years and was placed in the same cell as your uncle. The crime took place in the prison shower room. Other inmates said there was serious friction between Keegan and Lyle. One night, they suddenly heard fighting and cries for help from the showers! When they ran over, they found Keegan holding a sharpened toothbrush, while Lyle's carotid artery was punctured, and he had bled out, dead on arrival. Subsequently, several witnesses testified, and your uncle was convicted of premeditated murder, changing his life sentence to a death

"A man who suddenly gets

and healthy. As I understand, your uncle had an amputation and wasn't in good health, regularly visiting the prison hospital. If they fought,

uncle to serve his time positively,

how would he craft such a weapon? And why was Lyle his cellmate

the original cellmate was in solitary confinement, and Lyle

Elaine to stage a setup from within the prison walls. "Our immediate priority is to see Keegan. The prison is a force in this case; Keegan's testimony might be tampered with. We need to interview him personally to break through the details, which could be the turning point of the case," Kelvin urged. Whitney furrowed her brow. Unfortunately, she couldn't see her uncle right now. The Bartels family had too much influence. If

figure something out to see my uncle as soon as possible.

Kelvin nodded and left.

in the bedroom doorway, rubbing his eyes in confusion. "You're up this early, kiddo?" Her son was notorious for sleeping in when

away. Under Ludwik's strict upbringing, Danny had rarely

barefoot! And you didn't think to put on clothes?" Whitney scooped him up and settled him on her knee with a sigh. Used to being pampered, Danny stretched out his arms,

on toast. Back in the mansion, he wouldn't even glance at such

good, huh?" Whitney

said coolly with his

woman blinked. Why did his tone

dead in her tracks. There was toothpaste splattered everywhere, and the

herself to the fact that her son, in the throes

in her business suit, Whitney tried to negotiate with her son, "Mommy has to step out for a bit and I'll be back around noon. Can my Sammy stay home and be good for a few