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.

looking after her. I'll take

presence woke Cherry

blinked her long lashes, slowly opening her eyes, confused,

healed, and she's still recovering from a mild concussion.

pursed her lips,

He... he came by the hospital earlier. He's currently talking to

little girl was

or a sister? In a few

"But didn't you have surgery,

her daughter's hand on her stomach, the realization that they shared the same

will be your real brother or sister, sharing

bewildered by adult matters but still 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. Sammy

was lost, unaware of Sammy's hopes for a sister, "He

playmate. I'll

having acknowledged her real father, the little girl was already

quickly briefing her before turning back to the matter at hand, "Cherry, Whitney wanted to ask you something important. Can you try to remember carefully?" "What's that?" Cherry tilted her head, looking

softly, "I need to know if this bad woman was the

showed Cherry a picture

looked at it, her expression blank as she

"When the police found you in the van, this bad woman was

cry, "I only remember being at the beach, then two bad people

one of those kidnappers,