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.

with her mom,

raised

stopped in

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

be. I should get going now," he

blinked, her lashes fluttering. He waited. After a long

his lips as he nodded in return. Slinging his suit jacket over his

the door, then hurried to catch up as he walked

Everything I could piece

why did Mom look so...

she could make peace with the past. I was just the messenger...... Whitney, I could tell she

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

heartbreak written all over her father's

for a brief moment—like a firefly on a summer night, lighting up everything. But

his hopes up, only to have them