Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 979

"Cherry's been hanging out here," Tiana said, glancing up and pointing toward the lounge next door. "When I left Doonan Mansion this afternoon, she was so worried about me and her dad possibly fighting again that she insisted on coming with me." "Cherry always worries too much," Whitney said with a chuckle.

"What did you want to ask her?"

"It's about Elaine again." Whitney's smile faded, her expression turning grim. "She's been released. Endora didn't rat her out. They must've cut some deal in secret."

"What?" Tiana clenched her fists, her disappointment evident.

"Has Endora lost her mind? How does Elaine, that witch, always find a way to slither out of trouble? Just when you think she's done for, she survives!" Tiana seethed, recalling how her daughter almost lost her life because of Elaine. Whitney's gaze darkened. "Elaine's a master at manipulation, preying on Endora's own survival instincts with promises of freedom. Ashton picked her up after she was released. I had a standoff with him right outside the police station.

But Ashton, that blind fool, just trusts the police investigation blindly and believes Elaine wasn't involved in the kidnapping.

'Everyone's got it wrong about her,' he says, thinking this vile woman has turned over a new leaf."

"Damn it! Ashton is just like Ludwik three years ago. Elaine plays the victim, and he sees her as this helpless woman we've all misunderstood. It's infuriating."

Tiana's frustration was palpable.

Whitney patted her arm, "Calm down, your health can't take this stress. Let's talk to Cherry first. And if Ashton insists on protecting Elaine, I've got enough tricks up my sleeve to handle that nuisance!"

"Not just you, Parker would be the first to not let Elaine off the hook," Tiana huffed.

They entered the lounge.

Cherry was lying on the bed, a chubby little hand sticking out from the blankets, an IV needle taped to the back of it.

She was receiving fluids.

nurse, "Thank you for looking after

Cherry from her

her long lashes, slowly opening her eyes, confused, "Mommy, Whitney? What are you

rebuke Tiana, "Her injuries haven't fully healed, and she's still recovering from a mild concussion. You and Parker

pursed her

the hospital earlier. He's currently talking to your grandma about something important. Whitney's done us a huge favor, and the misunderstanding between him and me has been cleared

little girl was

little brother or a sister?

to her mom's belly, "But didn't you have surgery, mommy?

hand on her stomach, the realization that they shared the

or sister, sharing the same daddy. Are

exclaimed happily, "That's awesome! So, there's still a baby in mommy's tummy? I want a sister, but anything's fine! Sammy and Danny are close, but they're both boys.

a sister, "He never mentioned that to me, Cherry. Let's not drag me

Either way, I'm getting my own little playmate. I'll cherish them, but they can't

having acknowledged her real father, the little girl was already

to the matter at hand, "Cherry, Whitney wanted to ask you something important. Can you try to

the hand with the IV, asking softly, "I need to know if this bad

showed Cherry a picture of Elaine on

at it, her expression blank as she tried to remember, furrowing

van, this bad

remember being at the beach, then two bad people tied me up and put me in a car. They took me to a deserted place, then on a boat, far away. They hit me, starved me... but I can't remember this woman being

of those kidnappers, Cherry. You