Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 411

"Mom, why can't I show Dad you're changing?" Danny's innocent face blinked up at her, completely unaware of the situation.

"Turn it off, now!" Whitney's face was beet red as she hissed, trying to snatch the phone away. "Boys and girls have differences, you know that, right?" She was at her wit's end with this little rascal.

"What's the big deal? What can't Dad see?" Danny was still clueless, lacking any sort of awareness about gender differences.

Whitney felt a vein throb in frustration!

As they bickered, Ludwik on the video call hadn't moved, his gaze dark and intense. He casually sipped his coffee, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "What are you still looking at, Ludwik!" Whitney's face burned brighter as she scrambled to cover up, tugging at her clothes.

Ludwik seemed to snap out of it, his eyes shifting awkwardly as he looked away, his voice sheepish, "Sorry."

"I didn't see anything," he added, which only implied he had seen everything.

Whitney glared at his handsome profile, memories of their last night together flitting through her mind.

She bit her lip, almost asking, "Ludwik, about last night..."

grip on his cup

hesitated, then

for taking advantage of her in a drunken haze as

ended the fleeting moment

see Ludwik taking his medicine, his concern evident.

overhearing Ludwik's self-deprecating chuckle,

you a hard time? You're always so busy," Danny continued, sounding like

"Mind your own business. And," his tone hardened, "Ms. Whitney, if I find out you're neglecting Danny for

snatching the phone, her voice tight, "I can date

response was a cold

was too worried about Sammy, her missing child, to

finished their dinner of spaghetti and meatballs,

nightmare about Sammy woke her. Racing to his side, she comforted him, the mention of Emperor City striking a chord. After calming Danny, Whitney sifted through memories and clues, piecing together the

to confront the Sheldons about her

you," Keegan assured her, understanding the gravity of her decision and

twitched at Torin's concerns, which

storm head-on and returning to the Sheldon family