Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 339

"He... he's the kid from the supermarket downstairs,\" Whitney explained guiltily, giving Sammy a warning look before handing him a bill, \"Alright, kiddo, you better head home now!\" \"Uncle, you're so cool! Tall and strong, way cooler than my deadbeat dad,\" Sammy, looking up at Ludwik, chimed in.

Whitney felt a wave of panic wash over her.

\"Deadbeat dad?\" Ludwik frowned, puzzled. For some reason, he found himself not disliking the masked boy in front of him. There was a strange connection, perhaps because he and Danny were of similar age and height.

"Yeah, my dad's the worst! Cheated on my mom while she was pregnant, sent her to a psychiatric ward, and then caused her to have a premature birth. Took off with me to escape it all. And guess what? He's still lost in his affair, refusing to see sense. Tell me, uncle, isn't he the worst?\"

Ludwik's brow furrowed deeper, sensing an odd parallel between the boy's story and his own life with Whitney. But he was determined not to be that kind of man.

He cleared his throat, \"A guy like that, you're better off without.\"

Whitney and Danny exchanged glances.

Sammy, unimpressed, added, \"Right, I also think Mom's better off without him. Unless he comes crawling back, begging for forgiveness, maybe after hitting rock bottom, like, ninety-nine times.\"

Ludwik responded with a noncommittal grunt, choosing not to comment further.

Whitney couldn't help but pull a face.

"Wow, seeing you three together makes me so jealous. Ma'am, can I stay and play for a bit?\" Sammy asked cautiously.

Whitney felt like she was about to implode. 'Ma'am'? When did she get promoted?

Before she could respond, Ludwik, struck by the phrase 'a family of three,' gave Whitney and Danny a long, thoughtful look. A pang of something like hope or perhaps a fleeting dream hit him. \"Sure," he said cheerfully. \"Danny, why don't you show our guest to the living room?\" Ludwik commanded, taking on the role of the man of the house.

Who do you think you are?

Whitney watched, a mix of amusement and despair, as the two boys ran off hand in hand to the living room.

\"Isn't your dinner ready?\" Ludwik turned, his noble posture imposing.

Whitney, at a mere five feet five, seemed almost diminutive in front of him. She rolled her eyes, ignoring him, and walked into the kitchen, soon returning with a hearty spread. "Danny, dinner's ready!\" she called out.

Ludwik, lured by the aroma, felt his stomach grumble. He took his seat with a dignified air.

take off your mask and join us for dinner?\"

Whitney tensed...

shook his head, \"No, uncle, I can't

not?\" Ludwik

afraid I might infect you!\" Sammy replied with a wry smile, even pretending

irritation, trying to calm

someone with a strong penchant for cleanliness, he immediately distanced Danny further from Sammy, dropping the subject. Danny couldn't help

clever, Sammy. You're about to break

a subtle lift of his

Danny, let's eat,\" Whitney admonished the two

well-fed;

lack of a place setting before him, his

haven't eaten?\" Whitney

out ribs for

He had to admit, Whitney's cooking skills had indeed improved over the

way to the kitchen to serve himself,

face turned stormy as he marched back, \"Whitney.

house. Oh, my cooking is far inferior to your fiancée's, I wouldn't dare offer it. You should head home for dinner!\" Ludwik's face grew colder, a sharp edge to his voice, \"You really know how to hold a grudge, overhearing conversations between me and

I'm still

tomato sauce silenced them both, stirring up sweet memories and complex

softened, almost involuntarily, \"Make me

you paying?\" Whitney

check for a million

headed to the kitchen, only to return

with elegance, all the while eyeing

removing bones from the fish and feeding him. Danny ate with complete

gentle nurturing mirrored his own behavior, tender and

across the table, including Sammy, the stand-in for their

of four... A pang of heartache hit him. That fleeting sense of happiness was out of reach; Jacky was gone, and

left the table for the balcony

Daddy?\" Danny asked, his mouth full of sweet and

have been, a

cemetery, but he never talks about it with me. Sometimes, he just goes there, alone.\"