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.

look, but he was at

only Sammy

tell his dad about

his feet in frustration, Danny turned and ran back upstairs, sending Sammy his dad's number

Sammy would understand, right?

number, Sammy got the message loud

his eyes, he sneakily took out the phone his

call connected, he handed the phone to

the phone vibrate and looked

the call

the other end, "What do you want, you shameless woman?

twitched at Ludwik's smug tone, instantly

thugs were right there; she couldn't

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

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

must be wrapping things

disdain, "Elaine orchestrated this attack, and I should apologize

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

you deliberately tell her about us at the hotel last night?" Ludwik ground

things to do! Maybe you should ask her how much her private

"As for me and Skye Gem Ltd., Mr. Lippert need not

up, leaving Ludwik to sense her

thinks she can handle

shareholders unyielding; they wouldn't let

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

---

her gaze fixated on the long, emotionally charged call. Tentatively, she asked, "Ludwik, who was that

he asked, "Elaine, did you follow me to the hotel this

confirming her worst

I was so afraid of losing you. I

resist and went there myself this morning.

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