Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

"What... what did you just say?" Mrs. Nelson stared at Sandy in utter disbelief, her face freezing over as the emotion in her eyes twisted sharply from cool

indifference into icy contempt.

She turned to Shane, disappointment heavy in her voice. "So, for this woman— who once ditched her own kid to marry rich, who played you like a fiddle-you're willing to throw Sienna under the bus? Just because she's your child's birth mother?"

"I told you, I'm not," Shane snapped back, his patience gone, his tone cold as steel. "What exactly has Sienna done wrong? Why is it you'd rather believe anyone but your own son?"

Sandy went pale, humiliation burning on her cheeks. But something in Shane's words made her heart skip a beat. She followed his gaze, trying to guess what he was thinking.

A knot tightened in her stomach. "Is Sienna... is she here?"

"You think you get to speak now?" Mrs. Nelson shot back, her voice sharp as broken glass. She'd never liked Tina's birth mother. Now, with her son dragging this messy truth into the open, she was livid.

along, waiting for the perfect moment to bring her in and

You stay right there. Don't you dare set foot in the Nelson house. The things you've

the facts! She hasn't

didn't want Mrs. Nelson to think she was weak. Her background might be messy, but she still had her pride. She stood tall, her voice steady and clear. "Gary, Mrs. Nelson, I apologize for showing up unannounced today. But I haven't played any games, and I've never tried to hurt anyone. I

disdain. She clearly didn't buy it. "Oh, please,

It was your son who insisted on digging up

got caught by Sienna, and then tried to silence Sienna by having someone assault her! Isn't that what

story? Absolute nonsense!" Shane exploded, storming toward the guest room. "Sienna, get out here! You pull that stunt last night and then try to pin it on someone

low and angry. "You realize how bad this looks for you, idiot?

games,"

room, Emma jumped to her feet the