Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 283

At the villa, buried in his room, Danny saw his smartwatch buzz. Glancing down, he caught a message from Sammy and dashed downstairs.

The sound of his footsteps, pounding down the steps, caught Ludwik's attention. "What took you so long to come down?"

Elaine, ever the gracious host, stood up with a sigh, directing a helpless look at Ludwik, "The moment I got back, Danny was throwing a tantrum, refusing to come down for dinner." "Come on, Danny, sit. Momma's gonna serve you some food."

"Get lost!"

Anxious, Danny snapped at her, irritation laced thick in his voice.

Ludwik's brows furrowed deeply, surprised at the sudden shift. Just the other day, Danny had been so polite and understanding.

What happened to that cool, collected kid?

"How dare you speak to your mother that way?"

"She's not my mom!" Danny retorted, his face scrunching up in frustration.

Elaine's face fell, but she was too stunned to react immediately, turning to size up the defiant young boy.

Taking a deep breath, Ludwik asked, "Then why did you come down?"

Danny opened his mouth to respond, breaths heavy and ragged, but found himself at a loss for words.

He was frustrated, lacking Sammy's quick wit. The upbringing he had didn't include lying, and he didn't know how to tell his dad that Sammy and his mom were in danger. This was bound to open a can of worms he wasn't ready to deal with.

Ludwik, setting his cutlery down, said firmly, "Danny, if you've got something to say, say it. Don't just sulk."

That was Danny's worst habit.

Elaine chimed in with a laugh, "Ludwik, don't you know Danny by now? If he's not happy, he won't let us be either. Don't get worked up over it."

Her words were meant to soothe but only added fuel to the fire.

shot Elaine a disgusted look, but he was at a loss on

Sammy were

find the words to tell his

turned and ran back upstairs, sending Sammy his

Sammy would understand, right?

number, Sammy got the message

sneakily took out the phone his mom kept in her back

he handed the

Whitney felt the phone

the call gone

to end the call when a taunting voice came from the other end, "What do you want, you shameless woman? Heard you got nabbed by the shareholders of

Ludwik's smug tone, instantly realizing

were right there; she

want to end up dead, hand

her eyes in secret, noting Mr. Liam and

must be wrapping things up

disdain, "Elaine orchestrated this attack, and I should apologize to her? Am

Whitney inhaled sharply, disbelief coloring her voice, "Pleading? Elaine was pulling my hair outside a hotel this morning, her face twisted in anger. She was pleading for me? You must be out of your mind." Ludwik

deliberately tell her about us at the hotel last night?" Ludwik ground out, the desire

you should ask her how much her private detective

light and mocking, "As for me and Skye Gem Ltd., Mr. Lippert need

hung up, leaving Ludwik to sense her mocking tone even through the

his mood souring. She thinks she can handle this on her own?

shareholders unyielding; they wouldn't let

and when that time came, he'd make sure to watch

---

into the living room, Ludwik found Elaine eyeing him curiously, her gaze fixated on the long, emotionally charged call. Tentatively, she asked, "Ludwik,

her, Whitney's accusations ringing in his ears. Hesitating, he asked, "Elaine, did

beat, confirming her worst

playing the victim, "Ludwik, I couldn't help it. With Whitney's return, you've been distant, and I was so afraid of losing you. I had Jaxon check on you, and he saw you with Whitney at the

and went there

was just drunk. Nothing happened between us, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell