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.

but he was at a loss on how to

only Sammy

the words to tell his dad about the

feet in frustration, Danny turned and ran back upstairs, sending Sammy his

Sammy would understand, right?

number, Sammy got the message loud and

number. With a roll of his eyes, he sneakily took out

connected, he handed

clothes, Whitney felt the phone vibrate and looked down, her

the call gone through

end, "What do you want, you shameless woman? Heard you got nabbed by the shareholders of Skye Gem Ltd. Serves

Ludwik's smug tone,

shareholders and their thugs were right there;

"Looking to beg me now? Fine. If you don't want to end up dead,

her eyes in secret, noting Mr. Liam and Mr. Percy's

must be wrapping things

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

darkening with each word. "Whitney, you're beyond help. Elaine was just pleading on your behalf not a moment ago. It seems you don't learn until you see the coffin." Whitney inhaled sharply, disbelief

us at the hotel last night?" Ludwik

do! Maybe you should ask her how

and Skye Gem Ltd., Mr. Lippert

leaving Ludwik to sense

chuckled darkly, his mood souring. She thinks she can handle this on her

make those shareholders unyielding; they wouldn't let

later, she'd call begging for mercy, and when that time came,

---

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

Whitney's accusations ringing in his ears. Hesitating, he asked,

a beat, confirming her

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

there myself this morning.

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