Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 681

"Sweetie, Mommy will always be here for you," Whitney promised, her brows knitting thoughtfully. "Danny, now that Bryce will be staying with us, if you ever find yourself in that kind of situation again, remember to call me, okay?" Danny's lips, previously pressed into a thin line, relaxed into a smile. Yay, Mommy doesn't like being close to Bryce!

It seemed he had found his answer and, feigning innocence, he asked, "Mommy, do you not like it when Bryce hugs you?"

"...Let's not talk about grown-up stuff, honey," Whitney brushed off, continuing with the bath, though internally sighing. She didn't want to involve the kids, but if it meant keeping the peace for one more day...

Perhaps it was still too soon. After all, she had just separated from Ludwik and wasn't ready to welcome another man into her life just yet. Maybe she was just old-fashioned.

Lost in her thoughts, Whitney finished bathing Danny and carried him upstairs to the kids' room, only to find Sammy missing.

Her instincts kicked in, "Where's your brother?"

"Sammy? Oh, he's in the study messing with the computer, said he had some work to do."

Whitney remembered Sammy handling some matters for Natalie, likely involving some payments. He was always so mature for his age.

"I'll go find your brother, you..."

Turning around, Whitney saw Danny holding her phone, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Danny, what are you doing with my phone? If you want to play games, I can get you the tablet..."

"Mommy, it's Daddy... he called."

Danny said hesitantly, scratching his head, "And I kinda answered it by accident."

"..." Whitney paused for a moment.

She took the phone from Danny, her brows furrowed, and stepped onto the balcony, closing the door behind her. There was silence on the other end of the line.

The night air of October was cool, blowing her hair around her face as if to stifle her breath.

For a moment, she thought the call had been disconnected.

Looking down, she saw the call was still connected, but the man on the other end remained silent.

Whitney wasn't sure what to say, having heard from Shane that Ludwik had been injured in jail...

somewhat distant, "Ludwik, did

injured. If that's the case, the kids are better off here with me. You agreed to that last time, letting me take

know that this

played along with her words, his voice rough, "Nothing much, just wanted to hear their

Are they doing alright?"

and Sammy play together happily

guessed he might be in the hospital, likely under police surveillance,

melancholic, she added, "If

Sammy's voice,"

with the computer in

you for the

just watch over you and them from a distance.

I'm not likely to marry or have

used to have a fortune to leave

I've pretty much lost

won't be a burden to

felt heavy, unsure if he would ever

at his lowest, he knew he couldn't be the source of happiness

longer instinctively submits to

his somber words,

arrogance and cold dominance

he mean by 'not

shouldn't have

like the

you talking like you're settling your final affairs?" Whitney

probably be happy if I disappeared," Ludwik's

seem concerned, she remained cold, "Once the case with Parker is settled,

ears tingled, his husky voice wrapping around her uncomfortably. He sounded so

"Is there anything else?"

"Be careful with Bryce."

her sternly, "Bryce is far from

to say something else but instead, he was

face instantly turned cold, "What are you

he wouldn't have