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.

disgusted look, but he was at a loss on

Sammy were

tell his dad about the danger his mom

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

Sammy would understand, right?

receiving the number, Sammy got the message

to be the dreaded dad's number. With a roll of his eyes, he sneakily took out the phone his mom kept in her back pocket and

the call connected, he handed the

phone vibrate and looked down,

had the call

when a taunting voice came from the other end, "What do you want, you shameless

at Ludwik's smug tone, instantly realizing the

shareholders and their thugs were

to beg me now? Fine. If you don't want to end up dead, hand over Mr. Rufus's negatives, give

rolled her eyes in secret, noting Mr. Liam and Mr.

be wrapping things up by

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

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 coloring her voice, "Pleading? Elaine was pulling my hair outside a hotel this morning, her face twisted in anger.

last night?" Ludwik ground out, the

Maybe you should ask

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

those final words, she hung up, leaving Ludwik to sense her mocking

his mood souring. She thinks she can handle this on her own? Let's see

those shareholders unyielding; they wouldn't let

when that time

---

fixated on the long, emotionally charged call. Tentatively, she asked, "Ludwik, who

ears. Hesitating, he asked, "Elaine, did you

beat, confirming

Whitney's return, you've been distant, and I was so afraid of losing you. I had Jaxon check on you, and

went there myself this

drunk. Nothing happened between us,