Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Sammy whipped out a lighter, flicked it on with a sharp snap, aiming it at his own eyes and hair in a defiant gesture. "Let me go! Whoever you are, you're not taking me with you. Bad guy! Ken! Dr. Ryan! Take me with you, please, take me away," he cried, his voice

breaking with sobs and his words clashing against each other.

The child's crying and his words shattered the calm facade Ludwik had been desperately holding onto, hitting him like a punch to the gut. Seeing Sammy like this broke his heart. He had finally found his son, but his son was refusing to be saved. What on earth had happened? It was as if someone had brainwashed Sammy, turning him against his own family, making him see his captor as a protector. How heartbroken Whitney would be if she knew?

Ludwik couldn't bear to think further, his eyes cold as ice, as if trying to see through Sammy's unfamiliar gaze. He feared his son might hurt himself, cleared his throat nervously, and raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not going to touch you. I'm not the bad guy... Can you just listen to me for a moment? You're in danger, Sammy. You've been kidnapped and held captive for over a month..."

"You're lying! I don't believe anyone but Ms. Sheldon! Stay away from me!" After screaming, Sammy backed away, holding the lighter defensively, while Ludwik remained still, kneeling on the ground. Sammy immediately ran to a bodyguard, "Ken, let's go, take me home." Ryan looked pale, confused by Sammy's dangerous antics. It was almost impossible to tell if Sammy was acting or had genuinely changed. "Sammy...you..."

"Let him go. We can't let him get hurt," Ludwik said, his voice choked with emotion, his eyes scanning the scene with concern and caution.

Parker arrived just in time to witness the scene. Sammy was not only disowning Ludwik but also resisting the idea of going home with him, preferring instead to go with Florence's thugs?! The child had called Ludwik a bad guy, showing no respect for him, and even asked Florence's bodyguard to take him 'home'? It was beyond belief!

If it weren't for the boy's face, so similar to Danny's, Parker would never have recognized this as the Sammy he had heard so much about from Danny over the past month. "Ludwik, there seems to be something wrong with Sammy. Why doesn't he recognize anyone, and why does he think Florence is a good person?" Parker asked, concerned, standing next to Ludwik.

sturdy figure a shadow in the night, looking defeated. "It's not a small issue." His cold tone made Parker realize the gravity of

let him go, are you?" Parker

to Ryan, who looked lost. "Parker, the only opponent left is that bodyguard who took Sammy. Kidnap

he turned, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, he fixed on

Florence had ordered. Without time for further questions,

of dawn breaking, the surroundings were still dark. Sammy

doctor there. Sammy wanted to uncover everything about the lab, to fully expose this wicked woman. He knew he had to risk himself to achieve his goal. He was very aware that Florence and Ryan must

milk, and make the bed for me, I need to sleep more! If I behave, could you tell Ms. Sheldon? Then maybe I won't get punished, and

the window,

his smile naive, as he

wnto

and dull, stubbornly mistaking those around him for his allies, seeing his captors as his guardians. Ludwik clenched his fists until knuckles turned white, his eyes bloodshot with pain and helplessness. This was not Whitney's Sammy. Yet, he

breath was cold

he's been mind controlled? It seems during his month in Emperor City, he's suffered more than we can imagine! Florence hiding him in this