Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 294

The car fell into a profound silence.

Sammy could sense his dad's mood was as deep and hidden as the ocean, mysteriously damp and somewhat saddening. Even Felix, gripping the steering wheel, shifted uncomfortably, trying his best to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. After a while, Ludwik picked up the cigarette that had fallen on the seat. Trying to stabilize his usually cool and deep voice, he coldly asked his son, "Danny, did someone put you up to asking that?"

""Of course not! It was all me!"

Ludwik glanced back at his son, understanding well that Danny was a straightforward and sometimes aloof kid. How could he have such deep thoughts?

The man fell silent for a moment before asking in a low tone, "Did you meet with her? Did she prompt you to ask?"

"No, it wasn't Mom! It really was my own guess." Sammy hurriedly defended, not wanting his mom to take the blame.

"And what made you guess that? You're just a kid; kids shouldn't meddle in adults' business." Ludwik sharply questioned, lightly scolding but not addressing the heart of the matter.

Unexpectedly, Sammy was not Danny. Usually, if scolded, Danny would just pout and snort, dismissively shutting up. But Sammy spoke up, articulately arguing, "Why can't I guess? Dad, if you had no feelings for Mom at all, you wouldn't have looked at her today with such anger and depth. You seem to despise her, yet you cherish and worry about me so much. If I were the child of a woman you didn't love, would you care this much?"

deliberately ignored over the past three years were ruthlessly exposed by a three-and-a-half-year-old child. He scoffed, his face unable to hide his feelings, yet his gaze sank into deep darkness. A pain flickered,

man seemed to drop his tough façade slightly, his profile revealing a rare loneliness and fragility

that his father's mood had

advised from the front. The brief days of affection Mr. Lippert and Ms. Valentine shared three

destroy. When Mr. Lippert was caught in a betrayal, and his mother Natalie ended up in a coma, with Ms. Valentine being the prime suspect. No man could simply choose love over such betrayals. Let alone, the bond between Mr. Lippert and his mother Natalie, which was their lifeline! Later on, with Elaine stirring the pot and Ms. Valentine's alleged affair with Bryce. That was always a thorn in

his son's first question. His tone was cold, laced with barely discernible bitterness, "Danny, you'll grow to be a man, and dad has a piece of advice for you. Never get lost in the sea of love. The

icy abyss. The deep love turned into deep hatred, not just empty words. Over these three years, through countless sleepless nights, Ludwik experienced and resented this deeply. Yet, he couldn't be like Whitney, that heartless woman, abandoning her child, abandoning him. He wanted to hate her! Preferably that way, not letting go of himself. Because only through

woman returned nonchalantly and without regret; he wouldn't let her off easily. Why should she escape

mom, let me tell you, Danny, you can never go with her. Forget about it; you were raised by dad, and I have few dear ones left, I can't lose

harsh attitude. But seeing beneath that noble exterior, how much his father cared for Danny, his son,

illusion to Sammy.

deeply loved Mom! That dim look couldn't deceive him. And from deep love, it had turned to hatred! Ah, what a mess- It seemed even the flawed dad had

striking figure. The mature and tall man, holding a little cutie by the

after them. She had arrived a few minutes earlier, now busily on the phone, discussing