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

Sammy were

find the words to tell his

turned and ran back upstairs,

Sammy would understand, right?

got

of his eyes, he sneakily took out the phone

he handed

Whitney felt the phone vibrate and looked

had the call gone

do you want, you shameless woman? Heard you got nabbed by the shareholders

twitched at Ludwik's smug tone, instantly

thugs were right

hang up, Ludwik's voice boomed with arrogance, "Looking to beg me now? Fine. If you don't want to

eyes in secret, noting Mr.

be wrapping

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

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. She was pleading for me? You must be out of

her about us at the hotel last night?" Ludwik ground out, the desire to strangle Whitney

things to do! Maybe you should

woman's voice was light and mocking, "As for me and Skye

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

souring. She thinks she can handle this on her

the power to make those shareholders unyielding; they

begging for mercy, and when

---

Ludwik found Elaine eyeing him curiously, her gaze fixated on the long, emotionally charged call. Tentatively,

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

skipped a beat, confirming her worst fears

you've been distant, and I was so afraid of losing you. I had Jaxon check on you, and he saw you with Whitney

and went there myself this morning. Am

her cry, felt a twinge of guilt. "I was just drunk. Nothing happened