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 of a baby's

on...

turning to look at

was hugging Ludwik's leg, struggling between wanting to act spoiled and maintaining his pride, awkwardly seeking affection. "Old man, did you even miss your kids while you were out there?

Ludwik's response was nonchalant as he gently

Whitney, standing

bathed in the morning light, seemed to radiate a soft glow, still in her pajamas with slippers on, revealing her delicate toes. She looked particularly unadorned, her hair casually framing her beautiful face, perhaps from sleeping with the

spoke, calling out to her,

voice, deep and resonant, seemed

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

brushed him

glanced at a pouting Danny,

was

there, somewhat at a loss, and

distant after not

hadn't reconciled to begin with, so what was there to be

herself, Whitney stood even

she asked, her

"Eurovoria."

been to Eurovoria. Was he trying to annoy her? "Where

"Germinia."

gaze fixed on her face, watching as her expressions shifted from tense to flushed

Felix's words about Ms. Valentine being quite upset with his

not to bother calling because she wouldn't pick

softened as he told her, "That doesn't matter, Whitney. I'm

back. Leave when you want, come back

a chill in

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