Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 661

At the crossroads between the bustling downtown and the quiet residential areas, the afternoon sun was blazing, leaving the streets relatively deserted.

Whitney darted into an alley, quickly sharing her location with Tiana via Facebook.

She soon spotted Tiana in a corner of a flower shop, looking utterly exhausted with red, sleep-deprived eyes - a clear sign she hadn't slept in days while searching for Parker. "Tiana, over here," Whitney whispered.

Tiana hopped down from a stack of flower pots, grasping her hand, and peered around. "Barclay's guys just ran past this street."

"Then we head the opposite way."

"Okay."

But no sooner had the two women rounded the corner than they were abruptly stopped by a towering man.

Whitney looked up, getting her first clear view of Barclay - his features harsh, his gaze roaming over Whitney with a chilling sneer. "Tiana, your friend's quite a looker. Here to help, sweetheart? Don't worry, you two together still wouldn't stand a chance against me!" Tiana, with a mix of disgust and fear, retorted, "Barclay, I'm not going anywhere with you. I've told you, I haven't found Parker either. I've given you his last known location!"

"Endora said you never tell the truth! Whether your info is real or not, let's talk about us, Tiana. I've known for a while that it was me you slept with three years ago at that club, and I heard you had my daughter. Endora showed me the pictures. You've been ducking and weaving through Banyan City, playing cat and mouse with me, but now that I've caught you in Emperor City, you're not getting away! I deserve to see my daughter! You think I'd let you and my brother run off with her under my nose?"

Spitting venomously, Barclay's menace was palpable.

Whitney, observing him coldly, thought how some men, even brothers, could be worlds apart. Parker's aura, though menacing, was founded on justice. At first glance, he seemed scholarly with his glasses; at a second, strikingly sharp. But Barclay? Likely the black sheep of the Doonan family, not just brutish but also foul-mouthed.

Feeling Tiana trembling beside her, Whitney realized the extent of Barclay's harassment back in Banyan City. "Barclay, is it? Tiana's daughter has nothing to do with you. You never raised her; what right do you have to see her? We've told you all we know about Parker. Now let Tiana go."

who

pulling Tiana back. "Barclay, maybe you should inquire who

you're the Sheldon heiress,

with disdain, "I don't

approached from the

Sheldon heiress. Tiana is my dearest friend. You mess with

back as Barclay attempted to grab Tiana's hair.

Whitney, the

down, "Bodyguards,

had the numbers,

here? Stop!" commanded the

a punctured balloon, had no choice but to restrain himself. This was Emperor City, not

You have no idea the power his mother wields. You think the Sheldons can protect

the car, finally felt a sense of relief, scornfully dismissing Barclay, "He thinks he can

ominous words about the Doonan family's unknown depths and Ludwik's potential peril, shook off the thought and drove off, turning to Tiana with concern,

wanted to pick up some flowers to cheer up Cherry on my way home. Who would've thought Barclay would

I lost a handful of hair in the struggle. At least

hurt anymore,

gave her a helpless look, "Let's get you checked by a doctor when we get home." "Yeah..." Tiana gazed out of the window, her exhaustion palpable. Suddenly, she added, "Whitney, I have this feeling...

night with Ludwik, searching the area where Parker went missing. We covered hundreds of miles,

factory where he disappeared? It's perched right on the cliff, overlooking the

in the factory.

Parker's. I heard he