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.

something was off with her mom, Whitney started to step

as ever, glanced at Parisa and raised a finger to his lips, signaling Whitney

in

furrowed, his gaze lingering on the woman by

you be. I should

blinked, her lashes fluttering. He waited. After a long pause, she gave

rose and fell as he took a slow breath. A faint smile touched his lips as he nodded in return. Slinging his suit jacket

through the crack in the door, then hurried to catch up as he walked away. “Dad, did you tell

pensive. "Everything I remember. Everything I could piece together about

look so... heavy-hearted?" Whitney

with the past. I was just

sadness in his eyes. "Go in and check on her, okay? And, Whitney... do you know if

could see the heartbreak written all over

been numb. Then, out of nowhere, Mom came back for a brief moment—like a firefly on

only to have them dashed again—it was