Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1184

"Yeah, Mr. Sheldon's going through the company reports again. Whitney, you

really ought to talk to him. He never takes a break, not even with that cast on his hand. He keeps flipping through those files-can't be good for his bones to heal like this."

"I wouldn't dare," the maid replied with a worried frown. Despite Hudson's polite and elegant manners, the air around him was always so intense. Whenever he was quiet, he felt even harder to approach. Honestly, among all the Sheldon staff, Hudson was the one people tiptoed around-not the old man.

Whitney smirked a little. She knew her dad's temperament better than anyone.

He didn't look scary, but he definitely gave off that cold, distant vibe-like someone you'd see in a marble bust, not at the family dinner table.

"I'll go talk to him."

"Oh, great! And Whitney, could you bring in the chicken noodle soup Mrs. Sheldon made? You know your dad wouldn't let the Sheldons come in to see him. He's so stubborn." The maid handed over the thermos.

Whitney took it, walked to the study door, and knocked softly—twice.

"Who is it?" came Hudson's deep voice from inside.

"It's me, Dad."

pushed open

enough, there he was, lounging on the couch, his injured leg propped up on the coffee table, a nurse's pillow under it. Even in hospital scrubs, he had that same cool, dignified look-like a CEO who'd just walked out of a magazine shoot. For

"Whitney?"

He took them off, pinched the bridge, and managed a faint smile. "You've finally got time to visit your old man? I heard

to see her?"

She looks just like you, you know When you were born, I missed out on watching you grow up Lots of regrets there. You must've been just as adorable as she is

rough,

the blurred lines on the documents, finally asking in a low, hesitant voice,

gentle sorrow in the way

and said, "Dad, if you care so much, why don't you just go downstairs and see Mom for

see me. To her, I'm just... the villain. The one who hurt

his cold blue eyes going distant,

a

back, unable to help

chance, you're acting like a