Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

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Whitney couldn't refuse, especially after recalling Elaine's smug expression earlier in the upstairs hallway, all thanks to Ludwik's coddling. "Send it to my phone. I'll need the time and place," she said curtly.

Not giving Orion a chance to ramble, Whitney hung up.

Turning back to her son, she felt a headache coming on. There was no way Danny could come with her this afternoon.

It was too late to hire a nanny, and she wouldn't trust one anyway.

After some thought, there was only one person she could think of who could watch her son for her.

Tiana... she had Cherry, and maybe the two kids would even get along.

The plan had been to keep Sammy's existence a secret.

But plans change, and if it was just Tiana who knew, perhaps it wouldn't be too bad.

Whitney sighed and said to her son, "How about we go visit a lady friend? She has a super cute baby girl that I bet you'll love, Sammy!" Danny didn't like girls one bit. The girls at preschool would cling to him, making the boys who had crushes on them target him out of jealousy. Danny crossed his little arms and said sadly, "Are you trying to dump me with someone else, Mommy?"

"..." Oh boy.

"So soon, I'm a burden?"

"Nothing of the sort!" Whitney was at a loss for words. Lately, Sammy was being unusually sensitive and clingy.

"Mommy just doesn't want to put you in danger. You're only three and a half, still so little. Aunt Tiana is someone Mommy really trusts." "Fine, let's meet this lady," Danny relented reluctantly.

" "I

His lofty tone was too much like Ludwik's, down to the fussiness.

Whitney was seriously beginning to wonder if 'Sammy' had changed since coming back from overseas.

At Everwood Villa Estate.

The real Sammy didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky, and boy, was the bed comfortable!

The maids waited outside, curious but not daring to hurry him.

It wasn't until the little guy opened the door himself, looking fresh as a daisy in neat clothes and a bright smile showing eight tiny teeth, that the maids' jaws dropped in astonishment.

"You can dress yourself now, Master Sammy?" Maid Fleur squatted down, almost in tears of joy.

"My goodness, not only did Master Sammy dress himself, but he also brushed his teeth and washed his face!" another maid added, equally shocked.

Sammy paused, frowning slightly. Weren't these things he always did himself? He had mastered them all by the age of two without ever troubling his mother.

Hmm... Maybe his little lookalike couldn't?

Well, he quickly waved his hand dismissively at the maids, "Let's do it over."

Thump, the door closed and reopened, and a naked Sammy reappeared, "I was sleepwalking just now. Actually, I can't dress myself. Sisters, would you help me, please?"

"..." Did they look like fools?

The maids were speechless but also amused by the little guy's antics.

The laughter from upstairs reached Elaine's confidant, Lyra, who came up and glared at 'Daniel,' frowning, "Master Sammy, you've overslept again. You've missed school today, and I'll have to report this to the Boss."

Sammy, sharp as a tack, noticed something different about this maid.

Her demeanor was like the nasty woman from the night before.

The maids dressing him fell silent at the sight of Lyra, heads bowed, afraid to laugh.

Sammy pulled a face and suddenly struck a pose he'd seen on TV, puffing himself up with bravado, "Who do you think you are? If I don't want to go to school, I won't. Who are you to tell my dad? Careful, or I might find a chance to get you fired."

"You..." Lyra was stunned, was this the same reserved, withdrawn Daniel she knew?

Lyra retorted angrily, "Master Sammy, I am your mommy's personal maid."

Sammy, unfazed and mischievous, "Good to know. If I'm not happy with Mommy, she would be out of a job, let alone you!"

"..." Lyra was shocked once more.

She was rendered speechless by anger.

"Where's my daddy?" Sammy asked the maids around him.

"The Boss stayed with you last night until you fell asleep, then he went out and hasn't come back. He went straight to the office today but called to ask if you'd woken up and told us to make sure you eat a good breakfast," one maid answered honestly.

Sammy also knew his absentee dad had sat by his bed for a while last night...

It seemed he was quite fond of 'Master Sammy.'

But he hadn't forgotten how easily his dad had been swayed by the bad woman last night!

He wondered if there was any hope for the man.

Sammy thought he'd observe a little longer before deciding whether to help his dad reconcile with his mom.

By the time he finished breakfast, it was nearly noon.

Everwood Villa Estate was very quiet, and the real 'Master Sammy' had yet to return!

Sammy scratched his head, remembering last night's events. He had been 'mistakenly' brought back from the auction, which meant the real 'Danny' must be at the convention center.

He seemed to recall his mom rushing off in a hurry...

Damn, 'Master Sammy' couldn't have been mistakenly taken back by his mom, could he?

This mix-up was huge! Had he and Danny been inadvertently switched?

Sammy shook his head, amused and bewildered as he wandered the estate, looking for a way to contact 'Master Sammy.' They needed to meet up.

He covertly explored the estate's exits and entrances, but after his escape attempt last night, Ludwik had ordered the bodyguards to keep a close eye on him.

"Master Sammy, what are you wandering about for? This is your home, don't you know it well?" the head of security asked with a smile as he noticed Sammy's behavior.

Sammy cleared his throat and retracted his head, brashly claiming, "Of course I know it. I'm just bored and walking around."

He thought for a moment and then spoke haughtily, "Stop following me around. Is it that easy to earn your pay? Go weed the garden or mop the floors, or risk me complaining to Daddy!"

"..." The bodyguards were speechless. When did Master Sammy become so calculating?

He used to just space out or play by himself, but now he was sharp-tongued.

Reluctantly, the bodyguards went to fetch their tools.

Sammy quickly ran to the backyard, planning to look for another way out.

Suddenly, a kind voice stopped him, "Master Sammy, you're skipping class again today? Are you here to visit your grandma?"

Sammy turned to see a plump, smiling maid.

Feeling an inexplicable fondness, he approached and tentatively said, "Yes, I'm here to see Grandma. Where is she?"

Taryn looked at the youngster with a mix of concern and surprise. "Honey, are you confused? Your grandma's been bedridden in the single-family unit all this time. Come on, let's go see her with me."

Taryn? Was she the one mom and Aunt Yael mentioned before?

Sammy remembered her! Mom had been working on a new drug for the past three years, something about saving people who were in a vegetative state.

Aunt Yael and Torin had mentioned that mom's friend Natalie, Ludwik's mother, was in that exact situation.

That would make her the 'young master's' biological grandmother.

Maybe she was his grandmother too...

As Sammy pondered this, he quickly followed Taryn to the private room in the single-family unit.

An elderly woman lay there in quiet repose. She wasn't very old, her hair still had hints of its youthful color, but her face was pale, almost as if she was simply asleep.

After Taryn had gently washed the lady, she pulled out a pill, discreetly turned off the surveillance camera, and placed it into the woman's mouth, murmuring, "The medicine the young missus gave is almost gone, Danny. Remember what I told you the other day? Maybe your real mom will show up soon, and that could be the saving grace for your grandma.

Let me tell you, just last night, I saw your grandma's fingers twitch!"

Startled, Sammy's attention sharpened. The thought of his grandmother waking up filled him with a mix of hope and anxiety.