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."

hardened. He had a sinking feeling in his gut.

and looked right at Mrs. Nelson. "You and Mr. Nelson accepting me as Tina's mom—that's enough. That's all I've ever

want, and I don't want to put Mr. Nelson in an impossible situation. I'm just not ready for

He looked like a lion who'd just lost a

fought so hard, hoping Sandy would at least recognize how much

really that

ever felt for him? What about last night-did that mean

do you keep shutting me out? Last night-didn't it mean anything to you? What am I

hand caught her chin

meet his eyes.

was

him. She remembered the fire in her heart just

all kinds of ways to be

too forceful, never considering what she wanted, always

the boardroom, but not with

I didn't have a choice, Shane I didn't call the police because of Tina I need you to understand

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