Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

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The room looked like a hurricane had torn through it. Elaine lay sprawled on the floor, struggling weakly to her feet, clutching her bleeding forehead. She shuffled over to Ludwik, tears streaming down her face, "Ludwik, it's just a small accident. Don't be mad at Danny; the kid's got a temper, sure, but his heart's in the right place. A little ointment and my head will be fine."

"Daniel!" Ludwik cast a furious glance at Sammy, who sat idly by. He recalled how the boy had been anything but friendly to Elaine lately. Sammy was a loner, cool and distant, keeping his thoughts bottled up inside. Ludwik's head ached with anger. "You, stand up and explain yourself! Why did you hit your mother? Just because she pinched you downstairs, you think retaliation is the answer?"

Sammy watched his stepfather with a sneer in his heart. So, this was how his little brother was usually misunderstood by this jerk? No wonder a guy who could ditch a woman like that was blind as a bat. Sammy glanced at Elaine, who was putting on an Oscar-worthy performance of distress. But now she was up against him, and he wasn't so easy to deceive.

Sammy stood up, innocence personified, and swayed slightly, "Dad, I didn't hit Mom. I love her. How could I ever hurt her?"

Elaine's mouth twitched-those were her lines. When did the little devil learn to mimic her so perfectly? She couldn't fathom it. Hadn't he just been to the auction? How had he changed so much?

Ludwik, seeing that at least his son's demeanor was decent, softened slightly and pointed to the gruesome cut on Elaine's forehead, "Danny, the evidence is clear. Why are you lying? You can't be disrespectful like this. When you grow up, you're going to get into real trouble. Tonight, you're grounded."

"What if I told you that Mom hit herself? Would you believe me?" Sammy approached, pulling on his father's hand, batting his big eyes.

Ludwik paused, and Elaine's face changed rapidly, but Ludwik's anger rose again, "Daniel, you need to own up to your mistakes, not shift the blame. You're a man, remember what your father taught you. Have you forgotten?"

"It really was her!" Sammy protested, looking pitiful.

"Danny, even if you falsely accuse your mother, she won't blame you. After all, you're still young. I gave birth to you, raised you; how could I hold a grudge?" Elaine knelt down, gently touching the boy's head, her eyes pleading with Ludwik.

The man felt a twinge of guilt, taking her hand, "Elaine, I know you've been through a lot in this family. I'll deal with this youngster."

Just then, a recording played out of nowhere: "Ah, what are you doing, you little brat..."

"Mom, why are you holding my head down? I can't breathe. Please don't hit me..."

"Why you little... you dare to talk back..."

The child's voice begged pitifully. The woman's voice was so cold and unfamiliar to Ludwik. His expression darkened as he slowly turned to Elaine. Elaine was stunned, her eyes fixed on Sammy. When had the little scoundrel recorded this?

Sammy handed the phone to Ludwik, looking up defiantly, his eyes full of hurt, "I just brought my phone in to play games. I didn't mean to record anything. Please don't be mad at me, Mom. I know I was wrong, but please don't hit me again. I'm just a kid."

Elaine was too angry to speak. She stared at the little troublemaker, sensing that somehow, he had changed.

Ludwik's voice came from above, cold and stern, "Elaine, care to explain why you hit him?" Elaine looked up to meet his piercing gaze mixed with disappointment. Panicking, she stammered, "It wasn't on purpose. Danny was being difficult, not cooperating with his bath. I've had such a tough evening..."

She sobbed dramatically, flinging herself into his arms, desperately trying to pull him away, "Ludwik, listen to me, you know Danny has always been against me. I really couldn't take it anymore, but I barely touched him, and now he's playing tricks too!"

Ludwik frowned, unable to stop, "You called him a little devil?" The sinister voice in the recording, was that the same gentle and kind woman before him? Ludwik suddenly doubted everything.

"I misspoke in a moment of frustration, Ludwik. Have you ever considered how much I've suffered? I got beaten up by Whitney at the auction, she flaunted her wedding certificate in my face, calling me a mistress. Now, all the high society ladies in Banyan City and Emperor City mock me behind my back. Just now, some of them were messaging on Facebook, poking into my business. It hurts so much. Especially Whitney, she insulted both of us in the restroom, taunting my loneliness. I was so angry... It's been three years, you said you fell for me, but what about your actions? You've always pushed me away? Under these circumstances, Danny's disobedience, just like his birth mother, squeezing me out I just lost control..."

Ludwik's head felt like it was splitting. Her crying overwhelmed him momentarily. The sight of the woman's pitiful demeanor filled him with guilt. Whitney's meddling and mockery that evening had indeed made it difficult for Elaine to hold her head high. And himself, unable to be intimate with her, was the main culprit.

Ludwik rubbed his temples, unable to bear scolding her in the midst of her tears. He understood that no matter how genuinely she treated Danny, seeing his face would always remind her of Whitney's malice that night.

He sighed, embracing her, his voice low and husky, "No matter how unruly a child is, you shouldn't hit him! I have treated you like his mother, and if you lose his affection, you lose support. You're smart, Elaine."

"I know, I'm sorry, Ludwik..." Elaine's eyes narrowed, sensing his mix of kindness and authority. Ludwik was a man of formidable thoughts. She meekly admitted her fault.

Ludwik's voice was heavy, "Our issues should not involve the child. I've wronged you, Elaine, for not giving you the respect a woman deserves."

"I have faith you'll get better soon!" Elaine hugged him, and then added, "Tonight in the restroom was an absolute accident. I think you couldn't possibly have feelings for Whitney, unless she used some trick on you again? She knows a bit of medicine; she messed with your sleep three years ago!"

Ludwik's brow furrowed at the reminder. It's entirely possible! After all, that woman is inscrutable and has changed completely now. She's just toying with him. At the thought, Ludwik's breath turned even colder.

Elaine, seeing that her goal of sowing discord was achieved and feeling a bitter satisfaction, exaggerated the story, "I mean no harm to Whitney, but it seems like she's come back to throw our lives into chaos. Ludwik, I'm really afraid she'll take you away from me... Just like tonight, how effortlessly she charmed Bryce and Orion, and just like that, she's taken over Skye Gem Ltd."

Seducing men and playing traitor, huh? As if the company is something she can just claim back that easily. Ludwik comforted her, "Don't worry too much, you're the one I care about right now, and I won't let her provoke you!"

Elaine snuggled into his arms, feeling content and looking for reassurance said, "With those words, I feel better now. I was wrong about what happened with Danny, I'll go apologize to him right away—"

The woman then walked into the bathroom where Sammy, already dressed with the help of the maid, was waiting. Watching her put on a show of an apology, he smiled calmly, "Mommy, I'm fine, no matter how hard you hit me, I won't blame you."

Elaine's mouth twitched at the response, little schemer. Sammy glanced at his good-for-nothing dad with a polite curve to his lips, "Daddy, I'm so tired, I'm gonna head to bed."

Ludwik checked his son over carefully, concerned about the earlier comment, "Your mommy might have been a bit rough, are you sure you're not hurting?"

"Not at all, I can take care of myself!"

With a meaningful look at Elaine, Sammy bounced back to his room. That crafty look caught Elaine off guard, and she turned to Ludwik with astonishment, "Ludwik, don't you think Danny was a bit odd tonight?"