Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 905

Tiana's mind was in turmoil, questioning everything from the start. Furious, she demanded, "Where is my cousin? Call him over. I want him to explain everything from start to finish on our way here!"

"Alright, I'll call your aunt."

"Mom, let's head to the Central Hospital first!"

Returning to Banyan City after months, Tiana found her childhood city unwelcoming and cold. Until she was twenty-three, she had been the darling of the Melford family, Fabian's precious daughter, living a charmed and whimsical life.

But at twenty-four, her life was shattered by Barclay, marking a turning point.

Since then, life lost its color.

The cold shoulder Banyan City gave her over these three years turned it into a cold, unwelcoming place in her eyes.

The Central Hospital was located downtown. As expected, Tiana couldn't get any information about the Caldwell family at the reception desk.

It was as if a warning had been issued; the staff were icy in their responses.

Celine, worried, said, "I don't know if the Caldwell family is deliberately making things difficult for us. This morning, your aunt and I came here, and it was only after much difficulty that we got through to Thomas's dad on the phone. He swore at us, forbidding us from seeing Thomas's body, claiming he was in the hospital himself and threatened anyone who tried to bring a coroner to the morgue with violence. Then, he had us escorted out by security."

Tiana narrowed her eyes, suspecting Matthew Caldwell's hospital stay was a front, his real intent to guard his son's body.

She pressed the nurse, "I'm asking you again, in which wing is the Caldwell family staying?"

"Miss! I've already told you, you can't invade the patient's privacy. Mr. Caldwell isn't seeing anyone, and you should forget about trying to get to the morgue," the nurse replied firmly. Tiana understood then; the hospital was likely under the Caldwell family's influence.

Otherwise, why would they be so bold with her, a Melford?

pulling

we supposed to plead with them?" Celine worried about her husband, "Your father's in detention, and I don't know if he's being mistreated. He's old and frail; I'm worried

eyes smoldering with anger, "And who said I'm approaching the Caldwell family to plead? Just their refusal to allow

over the keyboard, skillfully hacking

Thomas's father was staying

laptop shut, Tiana stood up, her gaze fixed on the security guards at the entrance to the wards, "Mom,

"Yes."

face, and quickly

-

ward building,

was the

guarded the area like sentinels, barring any Melford from nearing

from the corridor as Matthew

Finally, her cousin arrived.

Tiana's petite frame but fierce, fiery

approached her,

Tiana slapped him.

"Cousin!"

furious, "Didn't I warn you before I left Banyan City? Not to aim too high

own family's wealth, but why drag my dad into your mess? He's about to have heart surgery, did your conscience get eaten by a dog?!" "Cousin, I... I didn't know Uncle's health

eyes dark and cold, "I looked into it. Why did your loan company get involved with the Caldwell

me, and I loaned money

scoffed, "I know, a two hundred million mortgage. Tell me, how big of a bite were you trying

with their strong backing, the interest alone would sustain my whole company, so I

damn it, after two months,

loan company was on the brink of bankruptcy. That's when I had no choice but to ask Uncle for help to fudge the books and cover