Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 887

Once Tiana realized that the secret of her unborn child could unravel, she knew she wouldn't find peace. Danger seemed to lurk around every corner, and the thought alone was enough to send her spiraling into despair.

"Just think of me as an ostrich, sticking its head in the sand," she sighed, her voice heavy with a mix of pessimism and resignation. "I'm too weak to go through another round of Endora's cunning and spiteful schemes. If losing to Endora means finding peace, so be it." "Parker was always out of my league," she continued, her voice breaking as she spoke his name. "After what his brother, Barclay, did to me, I knew I could never have a real future with Parker. That dream died a long time ago."

She paused, taking a deep, shaky breath. "And I've made my decision. I can't keep this baby."

"What?" Whitney was taken aback by her friend's resolve.

"But Tiana, shouldn't Parker at least know? As the father, doesn't he have a right to know? It isn't fair for you to decide on your own, to just let him believe the worst of you."

Tiana offered a bitter smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's the only way he'll give up on me. If he can't let go of Endora, then what's the point of this fleeting affection? I'd rather lose him. Despite my struggles, my pride, my dignity in love remains intact. If he can't be completely mine, then I don't want him at all. Being tainted by Barclay's actions, my life's essentially over. There's no turning back for me now, Whitney."

The resolve in her voice did little to mask the pain in her eyes, a sight that deeply wounded Whitney. Why did Tiana have to suffer so much, and for so long?

The crux of Tiana's fear was the unborn child, a potential catalyst for scandal within the prestigious Doonan family and Banyan City. Her family had already borne too much, and she couldn't risk bringing more shame upon Parker. The thought of the two brothers being with the same woman would not only humiliate Parker but could also tarnish the Doonan family's reputation irreparably.

Despite her protests, Tiana's actions always seemed to consider Parker's feelings above her own, even if it meant enduring scorn and disgrace.

surge of indignation on behalf of her friend, her thoughts suddenly drifting to Cherry. If Cherry had indeed been Parker's

the girl looked more like Parker's daughter than Barclay's. Three

if

events of that night, to question whether it was indeed Barclay she

response was filled with sorrow. "Rumors and accusations all pointed to Barclay, and in my heart, I knew they were right. But the truth is, Cherry does bear a striking resemblance to the Doonan family. It's a known fact, and nothing more than wishful

especially considering the suspicious circumstances surrounding the paternity test Barclay presented. "Did he ever conduct that test in front of you?" she pressed,

subsequent paternity test only deepened the mystery. "I never knew when he saw Cherry or how he got her hair for the test. But the results stated she was his daughter. Considering everything that happened three years ago, I had no reason to doubt it," Tiana explained,

troubled by the inconsistencies and secrets that seemed to shroud the truth. The revelation that Parker might be Cherry's real father lingered in the air, casting a

to conclusions. "You know

argued back. "Barclay, that jerk, why would he claim a kid that

for a moment,

the dark too, believing Cherry

even Barclay was duped

a test, deceiving

gaze narrowed, her mind racing to someone:

part of a family known for their overbearing ways. After the Melford family's downfall, Endora's parents had seized Tiana's family assets, climbing the social ladder, committing all sorts of vile deeds without remorse. And for the past three