Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1048

Sammy gave his mom a look that was half exasperation, half amusement. "I've never come across that saying before. Is that one of your originals? Enjoying sweets is a kid's delight, Mom. You can set the limits, but you can't strip away the joy. Just a friendly reminder." Whitney's pretty face darkened instantly.

Arguing with Sammy was a battle she seldom won. His points were always well articulated, delivered with a gentleman's grace and a seriousness that left little room for rebuttal.

She pursed her lips in frustration, pointing at the two of them as she muttered, "Bringing up two little troublemakers just to give me grief. Boys just don't have the same knack for thoughtfulness as girls."

The room fell silent.

Danny's brain buzzed, and his heart skipped a beat. He looked up thoughtfully and whispered, "Mom... would you have liked a daughter?"

"What?" Whitney was puzzled.

"Danny!" Sammy quickly intervened, fearing his brother might blurt out more than necessary. He chuckled, "What mom hasn't dreamt of having a daughter at some point? You've had those moments too, haven't you, Mom?" That caught Whitney off guard.

She scrunched up her nose, her beautiful face looking a bit bewildered as she scratched her head, thinking hard.

Actually, she shook her head, "I haven't really thought about it. I was young when I had you guys, and that year was so filled with ups and downs with your father, there was hardly a good moment. Without positive feelings, how could I have fantasized about having another child, a daughter?"

Danny felt a pang of disappointment.

He understood the probing nature of Sammy's question.

Clearly, Mom had no clue about once being pregnant.

The embryo, their sister, was taken away before Mom could even know... Just thinking about it was painful. How to broach this subject with Mom to make her understand?

Sammy's expression dimmed as he softly smiled, "Mom, life sometimes throws unexpected surprises our way. Maybe down the line, you and Dad will have another baby, a girl. Our family would flourish even more."

"That's impossible. And I don't want anything to do with him."

Just thinking about Ludwik, that icy man, filled Whitney with indignation, and she instantly rejected the idea.

Danny shot Sammy a helpless glance.

Sammy signaled him to zip it.

topic was

as she ruffled her children's hair, "Arguing and

you. If you're not eating, you can go hungry.

strict, she

knew this all too well

taking Danny by the hand

head, and picked up the dinner

quick cleanup, she washed her hands

denied them dessert, she still wanted to make

glasses of milk, Whitney carried the tray upstairs to

feet warm, ensuring a silent walk up

then, she paused, her delicate

unlikely the boys

their behavior over the past few days,

from the hospital the day before yesterday, they hadn't asked

despite her prohibition against going out, the boys hadn't protested these past two days. Moreover, their spirits were low, and they were hardly eating. If it wasn't illness, then they were hiding

was

lips together, silently turned the doorknob, and peeped in, curious about what

reveal the spacious, quiet children's room. LEGO sets and toy trucks lay untouched on the shiny floor. The boys

leaned in, her sharp gaze scanning

huddled together at the desk by the window, whispering to each

Her brows furrowed.

seclude themselves

set the tray down and tiptoed

in the black market? What if they're not

for the money,

testing the waters. You never know who might take the job in the black

are they better than

its experts. It's different for every medical

then glanced at his smartwatch, small but internet-capable. He muttered, "I've been looking at dolls these past few days." Sammy shot him a

into a shy smirk, "Why are you looking at me like that! Here I am, a hardcore dude, forced to start paying attention to these darn Barbies, figuring

chuckle escape him, "And