Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

"Mom, I'm telling you, Sandy is the only one I'll ever marry," Shane said, his voice steady.

"Tina needs her real mom, not anyone else!" he insisted.

"And after those photos of me and Sandy went viral all over Manhattan, what would it look like if I just married someone else? You'd be the talk of the city for all the wrong reasons."

Mrs. Nelson was fuming, her cheeks flushed pink with anger. "So, you made this whole scandal just to force our hand, is that it?"

Gary tried to play peacemaker. "Let's just calm down, alright? Shane, you messed up. Apologize to your mother."

Shane folded his arms and shook his head. "Not until she agrees to this."

Sandy's brow furrowed, anxiety clear on her face. She wasn't naïve-Shane wasn't just cornering his parents; he was cornering her too.

And she had no intention of being pushed into marriage just because things got messy.

She tugged at Shane's sleeve, a silent plea for him to calm down. He turned, expecting a soft look, maybe even a smile.

Instead, Sandy pulled away, her voice cool and unwavering. "Shane, this is your decision, not mine. Stop trying to force me."

He had a sinking feeling in his

at Mrs. Nelson. "You and Mr. Nelson accepting me as Tina's mom—that's enough. That's all I've ever wanted. As for marrying Shane... maybe he feels guilty, maybe he thinks a wedding ring

but firm. "A marriage without your blessing isn't something I want, and I don't want to put Mr. Nelson in an

lion

least recognize how much he cared. Didn't

really that

erase every trace of love she ever felt for him? What about last

you keep shutting me out? Last night-didn't it

caught

his

there was any love left in

She remembered the fire in her heart just

all kinds of ways to be there for

forceful, never considering what

worked in the boardroom, but not

did what I had to. I didn't have a choice, Shane I

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