Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1033

Whitney felt a flutter of unease, a familiar sensation whenever Ludwik spoke. It wasn't like him to make idle conversation. Every word, every question had a purpose behind it. "Spit it out already!" Whitney pressed, her patience thinning.

"First, tell me, who else has been asking about your mother?" Ludwik's voice finally broke the silence.

"My uncle," Whitney replied, her lips pursed, a frown creasing her brow. "You both are so bizarre. My uncle mentioned he dreamt of grandad recently, but mom wasn't anywhere in his dreams. It unsettled him, made him speculate whether mom really perished in that car explosion...

And you, asking about my mom, questioning if she truly died. What, do you suspect she's alive? Why would you even think that?"

Ludwik took his time before responding, his gaze deepening: Had Keegan also inquired about Whitney's mom? Was it a premonition, or just a dream?

They say the departed visit you in dreams.

Had Whitney's grandfather appeared to Keegan in a dream?

"So, your uncle wasn't sure if your mom died in that car, was he?"

"He was sure. He just rushed to the scene too hastily, the explosion was so swift, his focus was entirely on grandad. He mentioned seeing shrapnel from a mask embedded in grandad's heart, so his memory of mom is a bit hazy. But he saw her clothes in the car, believed there was no miracle to be had."

Speaking of her talk with Keegan tonight, Whitney's mood dipped.

No one wished more than her for her mom to have miraculously survived that doomed explosion.

But... was it even possible?

Countless car accident reports told her otherwise. Impossible.

"So, your mother is dead?" Ludwik's voice was low, his brows furrowed, "Did the Valentine family ever retrieve any ashes from the wreckage for DNA testing, to confirm if it was indeed your grandfather and mother?"

Whitney shook her head at her phone, forgetting Ludwik couldn't see her, her face a mask of sorrow and regret. "I was sent overseas to study by Preston's scheming, wasn't home for those two years.

returned, the Valentines concealed the truth about my mother and grandfather's deaths, obliterating all evidence, even their personal belongings

was too young to

I grew up that I discovered their graves were empty, the urns probably

ashes belonged to two bodies

in a million chance

she didn't die and had fled abroad...

undergone surgery to

was far-fetched, with slim chances, but it explained

grew colder, calculating, as if

silence, he realized Whitney had been too heartbroken to speak, immediately regretting his words, "I'm sorry,

do you think she's alive? Why suddenly bring up my mom, what have

wouldn't share his thoughts if

for a moment before finally speaking, "It's related to Chairman Phineas's sudden attack. It's Bryce's move for a comeback, so I

"His motives... do they involve me? Is that why

stunned

admitted, "Yes, it's

take down Bryce for good. Don't worry about it, I'll

attack was

you suspect as

Inko Group after being dropped by Phineas." "Smart, with a keen mind," Ludwik praised lightly, "It was Bryce.

asked, does Bryce's support

in logic was

reaction, Ludwik's eyes darkened, and he quickly changed the subject,

ask me things without

deep and reassuring, "Whitney, you

me and Parker. You just need to look after our children

promise from me