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...

distant, "Ludwik, did

are better off here with me. You agreed to

she didn't know that this call was

with her words, his voice rough, "Nothing much, just

Are they doing alright?"

Danny and Sammy play

might be in the hospital, likely under police surveillance,

melancholic, she

voice," the

with the computer in the

"I won't fight you

just watch over you and them from a distance.

or have more children. Danny

have a

I've pretty

won't be a burden to

heavy, unsure if he would ever

he knew he couldn't

instinctively submits to a

listening to his somber words, was

Ludwik well. His usual arrogance and

mean by 'not marrying or

Lippert family was in trouble, it shouldn't have brought him to such despair. Had he ever

like the fierce, proud man

settling your final affairs?" Whitney asked, shocked by her

I disappeared," Ludwik's bitter self-mockery came

frowned, wanting to ask more but not wanting to seem concerned, she remained cold, "Once the case with

around her uncomfortably.

"Is there anything else?"

"Be careful with Bryce."

warned her sternly, "Bryce

to say something else but instead, he

beautiful face instantly turned cold, "What are you trying to

were, he wouldn't have made it to