Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 454

"Danny, what makes you think that?" Whitney straightened up in her chair, concern knitting her brow.

Danny repeated the story, "I was leaving Great-Grandma's backyard when I bumped into her. She seemed so shocked to see me? Even her maid looked a bit jittery. It was weird. If it was just because I look like Dad, her surprise wouldn't make sense. And then Florence asked me, 'Your name is Danny?' as if it's strange for me to be called that. Who else looks like me but isn't named Danny, except for Sammy?"

Whitney fell into a thoughtful silence.

She didn't trust Florence one bit, suspecting the woman had somehow known about Ludwik Jr.'s identity before she suddenly started dating him. Why Ludwik Jr. would fall for Florence was beyond Whitney's comprehension.

She pondered, recalling the photo of Florence and Ludwik Jr. at the movies in Banyan City... right after Sammy had vanished! It was impossible for Florence to have met Sammy unless... she had been lurking in Banyan City for a longer time.

Sammy was always by Whitney's side. If Florence had seen Sammy, then she must have been investigating Whitney too. A chill ran down Whitney's spine at the thought.

Florence was playing a deep game, perhaps putting in a lot of effort just to 'meet' Ludwik Jr... spying from the shadows...

Whitney looked at her son, "Danny, your suspicions are just that, without concrete evidence. Even if we confront Florence, she could easily brush us off. Whether she met Sammy before or after his disappearance is something we need to figure out. I'll keep this in mind and try to get more out of her. I know you're worried about Sammy, and so am I, but we have to believe in his smarts. He's always been capable of taking care of himself."

Danny clenched his fists, comforted by his mom's words but also forming his own plans. He was convinced Florence was up to no good. Why else would she look at him that way tonight? He was determined to find a way to expose her.

outside the Lippert mansion, Florence twisted her handkerchief anxiously, speaking to Myra. "Drew

Myra explained. "We only knew about Sammy because of Elaine's kidnapping.

a rift between them, and now Danny could be another link. Plus,

gaze sharpened. "And Drew still hasn't found that car to destroy? We can't

car with a feigned cough that grabbed his attention. He hesitated, torn between spending

left in the car. "Mom, I need to apply some ointment

him, checked his wound. "Who did you run into at

cousin from Dad's side. No biggie, I'll handle her next

one supposedly for her. Puzzled, she tossed it in the trash, a silent protest against Ludwik's half-hearted gestures. Danny, wanting to support his mom,

his emotions mixed, wondered what had drawn his dad to Florence. Maybe there was a reason behind his dad's actions after

was he with Florence, of all people, a sickly bird, when he could have had someone as caring

-

day, Whitney went to meet Bryce to discuss getting an appraisal done on a piece of

when the land is up for auction, I'll figure out how to get in touch with

business, Whitney and Bryce grabbed lunch together, but she didn't return to

said, waving