Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Hudson's stories about them were the soundtrack of their youth-love that started as a spark and twisted into something breathtaking, tangled and unforgettable, digging deep into her bones. It was beautiful, but it hurt like hell.

Those memories, so vivid, crashed through her mind, shaking up every feeling she'd tried to keep buried.

Whitney caught the faraway look in her mother's eyes-lonely, yet tinged with nostalgia. Gathering her courage, she asked quietly, "Mom, after you found out it was Holly and Emma all along—after you knew they'd set you up—can't you forgive Dad? He... he just wasn't strong enough back then. The family weighed him down, you know that."

Parisa gave a soft, almost bitter laugh. "True. In the end, it wasn't really him who ruined me. He said it took him over a decade to realize I'd lied-that I told him our daughter had died at birth. I hurt him, too. In my own way..."

Her lashes fluttered as she looked down, struggling for words. "He didn't have it easy either. I barely survived and ran off overseas, forgetting everything. He remembered every single thing. Maybe... maybe he was the one who suffered more?"

She murmured it, her eyes clouded with sorrow.

Sympathy? For Dad?

Whitney was stunned. Was it possible? Maybe this conversation was working— maybe, just maybe, her mom was finally letting go of the bitterness she held for her father.

Whitney's dark eyes shone. "Mom, so... have you forgiven him?”

"It's not really about forgiveness. He had his reasons. People make mistakes-sometimes because they're young, sometimes because they're scared, sometimes because they just can't hold on. But did I

gently. "Dad always said you were a little icy, but that's what he loved about you. He was crazy about

to his side, and he... he felt trapped,

that, it was over. Such a

Valentines from Banyan City to hurt you,

her eyes

many misunderstandings. All those years,

anymore. It's too late now. All that's in the past. No point in digging

You two found each other again because of

ет

voice and smiled sadly. "And what if we did? Whitney, I'm

whole new

maybe your dad and I

fell silent,