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.

truth about my mother and grandfather's

was too young to

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

ashes belonged to two bodies from

a one in a

and had

surgery to look like Whitney, was

far-fetched, with slim chances, but

calculating, as if shooting icy

heartbroken to speak, immediately regretting his words, "I'm sorry, Whitney, I didn't mean to

Why suddenly bring up my mom, what

thoughts if they were

"It's related to Chairman Phineas's sudden attack. It's Bryce's move for a comeback, so I need

quick-witted, "His motives... do they involve me? Is that why you're probing into my family history

stunned by her

a pause, he reluctantly admitted, "Yes, it's just a theory

working on something. I plan to take down Bryce for good.

attack

you suspect as

and the Patrick Group had major conflicts with Inko Group after being dropped by Phineas." "Smart, with a keen mind,"

does Bryce's support

in logic was

changed the subject, "It's nothing. I

secretive. If you ask me things without

Ludwik softened, his voice deep and reassuring, "Whitney, you just need to stand behind

like me and Parker. You just need

me. It's a promise from me to you, as