Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"Hey, let's not get into that. Mom's got plenty of admirers. What's urgent is that I needed to talk to her about something important. I saw you at the mall earlier, quite unexpectedly. Is she around?"

Danny shook his head. "Mom had something important today, so she left me in the care of a friend."

Sammy chuckled. "Babysitting, huh? Looks like we've got to swap back then."

"Swap back already?" Danny pouted, reluctant to let go. He had just snuggled into Mom's embrace last night, while time with Ludwik was less cherished.

When would he see Mom again?

Seeing the longing look in his little brother's eyes, Sammy couldn't help but ask, "Got any troubles, Danny?"

"I don't want to go back to the mansion, to face Elaine. She forces me to go to preschool and deliberately put me in a class where I get bullied. When I get hit, she's pleased, then tells Dad it's all my fault for being mischievous, making Dad think I'm always causing trouble."

"Man, that's rough! Had I known, I'd have gone to preschool in your place today and taught those kids a lesson."

Sammy frowned, a flicker of anger in his otherwise calm and clever eyes. But he quickly smiled and said, "Don't rush. After I've spoken to Mom, we'll find a chance to swap back. Then I'll sort things out at school for you and expose that wicked woman's scheme!"

Even the usually stoic Danny couldn't help but chuckle at that, feeling a bit warmer inside. Having a brother was pretty awesome.

"Deal!" Danny said coolly. "I should go back and continue to annoy Ludwik."

The two shared a laugh.

Sammy pointed at their clothes, and they quickly swapped them back. Then, putting an arm around his little brother's shoulder, Sammy said, "Let's get you a smartwatch. Modify it a bit, and you can hide it. Then we can keep in touch secretly."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "I can modify it myself."

"Really? You don't look it, but maybe you're a hacking genius like me?"

"Mediocre," Danny modestly replied. His skills were something he never showed off, afraid Elaine would find out and target him even more. "Who's older, you or me?" Danny asked.

Sammy laughed. "We'd have to ask Mom about that. But since she doesn't know yet, let's keep it a secret for now. Wouldn't want her to faint from the shock of seeing two of us."

"Right!"

After leaving, they grabbed masks from a dispenser. Then they bought matching smartwatches and pocketed them. Sammy told Danny he should hit the candy store. He himself sprinted towards the mall's train ride.

On that side-

Tiana, in a panic, held her daughter close, shouting, "Sammy! Where have you run off to?"

Damn it, the first day taking Whitney's little treasure out and she loses her! Her anxious voice attracted a crowd. Nearby, a stunning couple was about to enter a high-end French restaurant.

Suddenly, the man with sleek glasses glanced sideways. Endora Melford, trailing behind Parker Doonan, noticed Tiana holding her daughter, searching frantically.

Parker paused, his ear catching a familiar voice. "What's the commotion outside?"

His subordinate was clueless.

Parker glanced over the crowd, then instructed, "Go check it out..."

"Parker!" Endora's eyes flashed, immediately clinging to his arm. "It's just a woman looking for her child. What does it have to do with us? I'm hungry, let's order. This chef is my favorite, and he'll be off soon."

She led him deeper into the restaurant, towards a lavish private room.

Parker looked down. Perhaps he was mistaken? That sweet, soft voice sounded so much like Tiana. He hadn't seen her in years, three to be exact. Banyan City wasn't that big, and he'd heard from Nolan Fuller how badly she was doing. But why did she reject his help so vehemently, acting so ungrateful?

Parker's feelings toward Tiana were complicated. They weren't close three years ago, but Whitney often contacted him, sticking close. Parker naturally assumed she liked him. But she cut ties so cleanly. Over these three years, he's been slightly annoyed, harboring a hint of regret.

"What are you thinking about? You're zoning out," Endora asked coyly.

Parker stiffened, his handsome features turning rigid. Damn it, why was he thinking about that irrelevant woman? He already had Endora, and he was mostly grateful for her saving him that night.

"Nothing, let's go eat," Parker said, his expression neutral as he led her inside. Endora clung tighter to him, blocking his view and attention. Once the private room's door shut, Endora's eyes darkened. She was relieved Parker hadn't seen Tiana and her daughter!

Damn it, why was Tiana, broke as she was, loitering in upscale places? She couldn't let Parker find out about Cherry's resemblance...

Endora plotted, knowing this couldn't go on. She needed to somehow link Cherry and Parker's older brother, Barclay Doonan. She had to marry Parker smoothly. As for Tiana, she'd better not get in the way!

Tiana was about to head to the service desk for a missing child announcement. Suddenly, a small figure dashed through the crowd towards her. The little shadow chased after her for a few meters, then a young, warm voice called out, "Pretty lady! I'm right here."

Tiana turned around to see Sammy, dressed neatly, with a calm demeanor, and paused in shock. This proud little guy called her a 'pretty lady'? She took a deep breath, hurried back, and squatted down to hug her daughter, looking at Sammy, almost rolling her eyes. "Where have you been? Sammy, we were enjoying the train ride. I know you don't like childish games, but your sister wanted to ride. If you didn't want to, you should've told me..."

Whoa, Mom's friend sure can talk.

Sammy slightly smiled, his dark eyes sparkling as he saw Tiana struggling to hold her daughter. He reached out with his little hands, hoisting 2-year- old Cherry into his arms, his voice full of an earnest apology, "It was my oversight, sorry about that. I dashed to the bathroom, bladder emergency, didn't have a chance to tell you. Won't happen again, promise."

Tiana was genuinely taken aback, her eyebrows arching in surprise. She scrutinized the handsome Sammy carefully. If not for his familiar face and clothes, she could almost swear he was a different person. Had the icy Alaskan suddenly transformed into a warm-hearted Golden Retriever?

The three-and-a-half-year-old brother, lean and handsome, was clearly struggling a bit to hold his two-year-old chubby sister. Sammy looked down to see his sister staring up at him with wide eyes, drooling.

"What a cute little thing," he murmured, gently touching her soft hair. "Sis, where do you wanna go next? Big bro's here to hang with you." Cherry's eyes sparkled as she cheered, "Big bro, you like me now? Mommy, mommy, big bro's so cool, even cooler than his tough guy act earlier..." "And when you grow up, would you wanna marry your big brother?"

Sammy's lips curled in an innocent smile, these lines clearly picked up from TV shows, and he was nailing them. He was well aware of the trouble his cute face could attract.

Tiana was speechless.

She didn't have hearing problems, did she? Watching Sammy's warm smile, Tiana deeply empathized with Whitney's predicament. This quick switch in personality was really something!Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

She hastily pulled out her phone, sending a hesitant text to Whitney. It was five in the afternoon, but no reply came from Whitney.

In the CEO's office, as the workday neared its end. Ludwik closed the file in front of him, a sharp contour flashing across his face. This morning, Elaine had faced Whitney's wrath again... He had to stand up for her.

The man frowned, standing up to grab his blazer, and instructed his driver through the intercom, “Bring the car around. I'm heading to Lanting Apartments!"

Lanting Apartments, that was where the woman lived.