Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 928

"And all these misunderstandings, it's like you've been walking yourself deeper into them, step by step.

This whole mess between you two, it's really because you're too cynical about love, too chicken to give it a real shot!"

"Stop it! I did try, once, didn't I? And what came of it? He lost his memory, that's what! My brief happiness felt like stolen goods, those few days of bittersweet joy, that's all I ever had with him.

Just one Endora? Ha, isn't one Endora enough?

Look at what they've done to my family?

I'm the chicken because I knew, with Parker turning a blind eye, there'd be no place for me in Endora's world. I was afraid of exactly this outcome, sick and tired of her bullying for the past three years, sick of the deceit and manipulation!" Her words struck a nerve, echoing the gloom of the past three years.

Whitney, heart aching, wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry, Tiana, I didn't mean to call you a coward when it comes to love. I know, in the three years I was away, you and Cherry have been dodging and hiding, enduring Elaine's torment, and it's changed you." "Yes, I've become useless, and I hate myself for it! Because I have Cherry and parents who've lost everything in their old age. Despite putting on a brave face, my confidence is shattered."

Tiana's insecurity held her back from pursuing someone like Parker, a gem among men. Unexpectedly pregnant, she kept it a secret, convinced that Cherry was Barclay's child, too afraid to disrupt the natural order by seeking a relationship with Parker.

"Tiana..." Whitney silently vowed to herself, "I'll help you rebuild your confidence."

She was determined to help Tiana find her fearless self once more.

It was simple, really, just a matter of unraveling the mystery of Cherry's parentage.

home, handed her some 'medicine,' and reminded her, "You still need to follow the doctor's orders, rest in

undergo surgery today. He sent a message, forcing me to register our marriage tomorrow, and the wedding... it's set for

to delay any longer. Let's just do the registration. As long as it saves my dad's life, I don't

marrying into a decent family." She tried to appear nonchalant with a laugh, but her eyes

you, don't do anything

"Now, my only goals are to bring down Endora and to get my dad through

made a mental note, "Mr. Melford will pull through, things will turn around, I'll see to it that the

"I've also placed an order on the black market, now I just hope my dad wakes up

antidote

would still

at her watch. "Tiana, get some rest,

that thing you had to

Cherry seems to have run off back to Banyan City with Ashton. Yael told me the little one has been missing you terribly in Emperor City, not eating or

say anything?" Tiana panicked, trying to get up. "Where is she now, why isn't she

worry, Ashton took her out for some fun. Remember, your dad was just released this morning, I didn't think it was right for her to see him like that, and you've been too busy anyway." Tiana, not suspecting a

offered a faint smile, "It might not even come to that, maybe Cherry will end up with a better fate than we thought. Her coming back now might not be such a bad thing after all." "What

playing coy, "What I mean is, the wedding might not go as planned, where would

be chaos, a battlefield waiting to

-

Tiana's place, Whitney drove to

room, busy with her Legos, while Ashton, a man of considerable size, surprisingly showed a rare patience, guiding the child step by step. "Well, well, Ashton." Whitney stood at the doorway, arms crossed, teasing Ashton, "Getting sentimental