Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 270

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Taryn shushed the air once more, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't go blabbing, okay? We don't want Elaine's little spies to overhear. It's our little secret!" Good ol' Taryn, always the heart of gold, watching over her comatose granny.

Sammy made a quick mental note.

So, Granny in her vegetative state needs Mom's experimental new drug?

Her fingers twitched, and Sammy gently prodded the old lady's index finger.

He rose to his feet and quietly made his way out, his little legs carrying him back to the main yard. No, he had to do something he needed to tell Mom.

He was going to step out of this mansion!

"Danny?"

Elaine was back, checking to see if the little rascal was home. Her eyes settled, and she reprimanded, "I heard from Lyra that you've been causing a fuss all morning, skipping preschool and mouthing off to Lyra and the bodyguard. You're getting too bold, young man. I might just have to discuss this with your daddy tonight."

Sammy rolled his eyes inwardly, fearless.

A sweet smile plastered on his face, "Sure, Mommy, go ahead. Let's see who Daddy believes-Lyra, who jumped to scold me, or your false accusations." Elaine's mood, previously uplifted, chilled at his words.

Lyra quickly poured poison into Elaine's ear, "Miss, see? I told you something's off with him. He never talks back like this, acting all sly."

Elaine found the kid's behavior odd but chalked it up to a sudden streak of rebellion.

Seeing that the duo had run out of steam and with his deadbeat dad not around, Sammy didn't bother keeping up the act.

He stomped upstairs, tugged at his little blazer, then, struck by inspiration, turned back down, "Mommy, I want to go shopping!"

"What?" Elaine objected outright. "No way. You tried to run away last night, and you think your daddy will let you out to gallivant? Stay put." "Why not ask him?"

having any of her nonsense. He approached the landline, dialed a familiar

Ludwik picked up swiftly.

was syrupy sweet, "I want to go out and buy some new clothes. All I have upstairs are suits, and they've become so uncomfortable lately." Ludwik was puzzled, "But didn't you always say you only wear suits? Black and white are your favorite

Daddy. Can't I like sportswear now? Or are you too stingy to spend

He liked this

out of the question, but he feared the boy

just got back and she looks tired. If Daddy worries, just send a few extra bodyguards with me. I'll be

in the

coolly at her and marched out the door, bypassing

warning Elaine, "Miss, this little tyke's suddenly charming the Boss! He's getting closer to him. If he starts to turn the Boss against you with

three-year-old possibly do? If he wants to play games with me, I've got plenty of tough lessons

wind of this little brat, Elaine

stairs for a nap, waiting for

glance, she swiftly deleted it, but the message lingered in her mind: "Elaine, it's been years, and I'm still thinking of you." Elaine closed her eyes, memories of passionate

passed with such blandness, and she was

with 'Sammy' in tow, Tiana's jaw could have hit

teddy bear, gaped at

Mister... you're so

eyes glued to 'Daniel' as she

proud, handed her a tissue, his cheeks tinting with a touch of red. "Here, wipe your drool." Tiana

his looks-it was Ludwik all over

racing, unable to keep calm, "Whitney,

But please, don't breathe a word. I made sure Valerie wasn't here before coming over. I just need you to watch him until

people know,

her mind

the incident years ago, it took her a long

Ludwik. They had been trying

sea with had also survived

silently moved. Had Whitney not

learned from Valerie's speculation,