Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 992

Cora whispered over the phone, her voice barely a rustle against the backdrop of the Fuller Mansion's expansive backyard, where the shadows of the night seemed to hold their breath. "Elaine, it's dead quiet back here. Nobody around. well-being... Then I lost the thread."

Around ten, Nolan stormed in, had a blazing row with the old man. I accidentally overheard him on the phone, calling someone 'Valerie'. He was saying something about getting a child back for treatment, claiming the Fuller family would spare no expense for the baby's "What?" Elaine gasped, her mind a whirlwind of shock and speculation.

Cora was an informant Elaine had planted within the Fuller household, a pawn in her game to curry favor with Ashton by feeding her insider information-bought with cash and promises.

But this...

Nolan calling 'Valerie' had to mean he was contacting her directly.

But... a child? What in the world?

Elaine's eyes widened in disbelief. Could Valerie have secretly had a child?

How could this be? That woman, silently plotting, hoping to trap Ashton with a child?

A dark fury blazed within Elaine, her breath hitched in panic at the thought. If that woman had indeed borne Ashton's child and he found out, Elaine's own schemes would become even more complicated. Her fists clenched tight, a mix of rage and malice coursing through her. If Valerie dared to show up with a child in tow...

She wouldn't hesitate to fight for Ashton's attention...

-

Emperor City.

Whitney stepped off the plane, a bundle of nerves, and rushed back to the Lippert family's quaint newly-purchased cottage.

a fresh afternoon, just after a light shower, the air crisp and inviting. Camilla was out in

of footsteps, her eyes warm and a touch awkward-after all, it was Jason

alone in Delight Mansion, with Ludwik abroad, she longed for her

in Banyan City, Natalie had stepped in to help look after

a hint of surprise

her watering can and turned, her white hair catching the light. "Oh dear, you're back! Did you settle everything in Banyan City?" Whitney searched for her children as she spoke, "Camilla, Natalie, I've sorted things out.

with Bryce, not wanting to alarm

Ludwik and his brothers gone from Emperor City, and Jason overprotective as ever, he's kept them indoors. They haven't been out much, got a bit stir-crazy, so I

something was

have been scared, and perhaps Jason or Camilla were unaware of

napping now? I'll go up and

voice as

the door, Whitney sanitized her hands and made her way to the children's room on the

her presence, Sammy sat up in bed, his big eyes fixing on her

of blood on his forehead. "Sammy heard you downstairs and woke

forehead! What

out,

a finger to his lips, signaling her to keep

urging her to sit

LEGO workshop when Sammy noticed a bomb. He got

Bryce did

He's been watching us around the clock. That's how he knew we left the Lippert estate for the workshop," Sammy said, his young voice

happened exactly? Did Grandpa take you? Didn't he notice anything odd?"

a LEGO class. But we never expected danger there! Bryce, that monster, had tampered with the classroom. Grandpa wasn't there, and the teacher had stepped out, leaving just us. Thankfully, Sammy was prepared. He'd bought

he noticed a small red dot under the table. Curiosity got the best of us, and we crawled underneath to find a timer attached. Instantly, we suspected