Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 765

"Awesome! Mom, we're gonna hit the hot springs later!" Danny cheered with excitement plastered all over his face. Whitney wished she could just take the boys out for a meal instead, as she wasn't exactly thrilled about the hot springs idea.

She bit her lip, "Danny, Sammy, you guys are boys, why bother with hot springs? We could just head back home, run a nice bath with some Epsom salts-much more refreshing. Plus, you know how these public pools can be...bacteria breeding grounds, easy to catch something."

Sammy stayed quiet, understanding what his mom was actually worried about it wasn't about the hot springs per se, but more about not wanting to be seen with Ludwik in such a setting.

But Danny wasn't having any of it, his face falling in disappointment, "But Dad said he booked a private hot spring resort, really big, just for us. I've always been sickly when I was little, never got to go places like this, I wanna check it out, Mom. I don't care, I wanna go." Whitney struggled with her son's discontent.

"It's a private resort, Whitney... just like three years ago when I first confessed my feelings for you at the Alpine Springs Resort, in that secluded spring," Ludwik said, his voice deep and reminiscent, moving closer to her with a look that brought back a flood of memories. "..." Whitney was instantly transported back to those days.

Not just overwhelmed by emotions, but also the playful teasing and the flirtation in the secluded waters.

Her cheeks blushed instantly, at a loss for words.

Danny immediately caught on, his interest piqued. What kid wouldn't want to know about their parents' romantic past, especially when he was rooting for a reunion, "Dad! You confessed to Mom back then? In a hot spring, no less, wow, how did you do it?" "..." Whitney.

Sammy facepalmed, "Danny... you're a boy, stop acting like you're into this gossip like a little girl. Besides, some memories are better left unvisited."

After his piece, Sammy shot Ludwik a sharp look.

Making Ludwik feel utterly exposed under his son's discerning gaze, he turned to Whitney, his apology tinged with a deep resonance, "Whitney, it wasn't my intention to bring it up, just got caught up in the nostalgia."

Yeah, nostalgia my foot, Whitney thought sarcastically, her mind a tangled mess.

But with that, any further protests to the hot springs were futile; Danny was set on going.

"So, it's settled then. The hot spring will be just for our family of four, no outsiders," Ludwik declared, looking at her decisively.

Whitney had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

Ludwik, taking the boys to change, whispered to Danny with a wink, "Did you notice? I said 'family of four,' and your mom didn't object."

There's no 'Mom'

victorious scheming, a subtle warmth

seemed Ludwik hadn't given up on Mom, putting all his effort into

suspect, Ludwik was

if Ludwik was still worthy...

-

private dining courtyard for an outdoor barbecue

its authentic Korean cuisine, promised a genuine

cutting the meat, and grilling, his attire of a half apron over a white

found an unconventional allure in his focused side

what he wore or did, Ludwik had a

features made

low and indulgent, broke the moment, "Stop staring at me, eat up before the boys polish everything off." "Who's staring at you," Whitney retorted, a flicker of embarrassment crossing

low chuckle, "What else do you want? Pork belly or shoulder? Don't

not in the mood to discuss her figure, and

he replied seriously, his movements with the barbecue tongs as graceful as

thinking, even if Ludwik fell on hard times and ended up as a waiter in a fancy restaurant, he'd probably charm the socks off every young lady and socialite

to give up on talking and

end of the meal, she and

resting at the restaurant for half an hour,

the foothills in the early winter, the chill in the air made Whitney actually look forward to soaking in the warm springs, dispelling the

Ludwik

a family pool,

opened her swimwear package

was partly fearing Ludwik might

opposite; a plain, black, almost matronly

contrast, the boys' swim trunks

a loss for

something a champion swimmer from the TV wears,