Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1018

Sammy tugged at Danny, rushing them down the stairs, while Whitney, worried the kids might stumble in their sleepy state, had already gone ahead to swing open the living room door. She was about to mention that their dad hadn't mentioned his whereabouts yet when a sudden intuition struck her. Casually glancing towards the mansion's front gate, under the soft morning light, she spotted Ludwik's towering figure.

He had stepped out of his car, leaning against the door for reasons unknown. The mature contours of his face, normally enough to turn heads, looked somewhat pale today. His thick brows were furrowed, lips tightly pressed together as if deep in thought, and his heavy gaze was fixed towards the house.

Unexpectedly, their eyes met.

Ludwik's gaze froze for a moment, then his previously tense expression softened as he deeply looked at Whitney.

Whitney felt as if she was drowning in his gaze, his long-missed intense look causing her cheeks to warm up and turn a soft shade of pink, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

She stood there, locked in eye contact with him...

And the kids had already spotted their dad, excitedly running towards Ludwik.

"Daddy! I've been counting the days on my fingers, all fourteen of them! If you didn't come back, I was starting to think you'd found a new family and were about to ditch Sammy and Mommy!" Danny ran towards him, his voice filled with mock indignation yet clearly overjoyed.

Sammy, on the other hand, looked towards the car anxiously, wondering if their little sister was inside.

Daddy must have brought her back, right? Known for his calm demeanor, Sammy was on the verge of tears this time.

His gaze didn't leave the car, and as Danny clung to their dad's leg, Sammy took the chance to sprint to the car window, shielding his eyes from the glare to peek inside.

Suddenly, he found himself staring into Felix's awkward gaze.

The car window rolled down, and Felix seemed to understand what Sammy was searching for.

But Mr. Lippert remained silent, the child still at Shane's hospital.

Felix, not daring to speak out of turn, simply exchanged a helpless look with Sammy. "Er, Master Sammy!"

Sammy had no time for Felix, his anxious gaze scanning the passenger seat before moving to the spacious back seat, finding it empty.

carrier, no sound

going on... where's my

to look at his

awkwardly seeking affection. "Old man, did you even miss your kids while you were out there? Let me tell you, Sammy and I almost kicked

boy." Ludwik's response was nonchalant as he gently patted his son's head before nudging him

never left Whitney, standing at

revealing her delicate toes. She looked particularly unadorned, her hair casually framing her beautiful face, perhaps from sleeping

calling out to her,

and resonant, seemed to strike

Why don't you call for me? You only have eyes for Mommy..." Danny, seeing his father completely ignoring him, let out a frustrated

brushed him off,

a pouting Danny, feeling

man was

loss, and even a bit

going on? Had they grown distant after not

to begin with, so what was there to

herself, Whitney stood even

you been?" she asked,

"Eurovoria."

Was he trying to annoy

"Germinia."

answered her questions seriously, his gaze fixed on her face, watching as her expressions shifted from tense to

Ms.

even said not to bother calling because she

told her, "That doesn't matter,

you're back. Leave when you

smiled, a chill

of her, his towering figure casting a large shadow over her, bringing with it an