Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Whitney glanced back over her shoulder, her lips curled in a smile that never reached her eyes. "Felix, I've always treated you well, haven't I? Meddling in people's marriages is dangerous business-you get that, right?"

Felix just stared, caught off guard. He mimed zipping his lips shut. "Alright, alright, you win, boss lady. I'm not crossing you."

"Good. You're done for the day." Her smile warmed, brightening her whole face.

She was gorgeous, and her moods flipped in a heartbeat-Felix could only stand there, speechless.

Mr. Lippert had told Felix to keep trying to "talk some sense into Ms. Valentine," but at this point, Felix was officially out. He shook his head and beat a hasty retreat.

At the door to Parisa's hospital room, Whitney peeked inside. To her surprise, her dad was still there.

A flicker of hope lit up in her chest. But then she saw Hudson picking up his coat from the sofa-he was about to leave. She hurried over and knocked on the door. "Dad? Mom?"

Parisa was propped up on the bed, but didn't react to the sound of Whitney's voice. Her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks; her beautiful face was frozen in thought.

off with her mom, Whitney

as ever, glanced at Parisa and raised a finger

stopped in her

brow furrowed, his gaze lingering on the woman by the bed. Finally, he let out a

you be. I should get

lashes fluttering. He waited. After a long pause, she gave the faintest

took a slow breath. A faint smile touched his lips as he nodded in return. Slinging his suit jacket over his arm, he stepped out into the hallway,

the crack in the door, then hurried to catch

remember. Everything I could piece together

look so... heavy-hearted?" Whitney

of it was easy. None of it was happy," Hudson said with a bitter laugh, his voice low and rough. "She said she wanted the truth she could make peace with the past. I was just the messenger...... Whitney, I could tell she doesn't feel anything for me

her, okay? And, Whitney... do you know if your mom

written

Mom came back for a brief moment—like a

hopes up, only to have them dashed again—it was the cruelest thing of