Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 328

He called Ludwik's name with such ease, Tiana couldn't help but smirk. It seemed like troublemakers indeed attract their own kind. Danny had probably been a thorn in Ludwik's side for a while now. Serves him right!

Yet, Whitney's gaze dropped, her lips pressed tightly together, her heart racing too fast to respond to Danny. Sammy, noticing his mom's somber and anxious look, quickly caught on.

Always on his mom's side, he immediately said to Danny, "We can't let that jerk of a dad know about me right now. Think about it, with his wild ways, if he replaces out I'm still alive, he'd definitely fight mom for custody. Then mom would lose everything. Is that what you'd want to see?"

"But why..." Danny innocently wondered why they couldn't all live together as a family of four.

Whitney saw the flicker of hope in her son's eyes, her heart heavy and conflicted, "Danny, grown-up stuff isn't easy to explain in a sentence or two. Besides, letting him know he has two kids now would only end with Sammy being taken away by him, and then being raised by Elaine. You've already suffered enough with Elaine, I can't stand to see you or your brother get hurt anymore."

Danny understood once Elaine was mentioned. His fists clenched tightly, anger in his eyes, "Then Sammy has to keep hiding his identity. It's Ludwik's loss for keeping that wicked woman around. If he doesn't replace out about his son, it's his own fault! We can still mess with him. I'm going to expose Elaine and her schemes right now..."

"Danny, it's not going to work," Sammy shook his head, trying to stay calm, "Even if you could talk, would dad believe a three-year-old's word? And if we're trying to hide me, then Elaine would have no motive to hurt me anymore. She'd definitely replace a way to silence you without leaving any trace..."

Sammy was trembling with anger. Whitney soothed her son, already having considered his analysis. Their only hope now was the police investigation. But she was determined to avenge her sons, her eyes narrowing coldly, comforting them, "Danny, you sneak back now. We'll have plenty of time together. Remember what mom says, revenge is a dish best served cold."

Danny pouted, looking back at them several times before hurriedly leaving the hospital room.

-

As he was sneaking back to his room, Danny overheard voices from Elaine's room next door. His dad was there, and it sounded like the police were with him too.

Inside the room-

Elaine hadn't expected Ludwik to visit her. They barely exchanged a few words in private before the police, called by him, arrived to inquire about the kidnapping scene at the cave.

"All the kidnappers dead in the explosion?" Ludwik's brows furrowed, concerned about Danny's injuries; he had left the scene too hastily. It was chaotic, and he hadn't had the chance to investigate personally.

"One got away. Judging by the severed limbs, the fleeing kidnapper lost an arm. We're doing our best to track him down," the officer reported.

Ludwik took a drag from his cigarette, silent. Elaine's eyes darkened with worry. Jarvis had set off the bomb to eliminate the kidnappers, but one had escaped. That could only spell trouble later, wondering if he'd been dealt with.

As she fretted, Ludwik demanded, "The explosion in the cave was suspicious. Who rigged the bomb? I want a thorough investigation! Elaine, the police are reviewing the whole case, and as a survivor and a witness, you need to explain everything from the start to the kidnapping. Answer their questions truthfully."

Elaine, her hands clenched tightly, feigned weakness, "Ludwik, wasn't the kidnapper linked to Mr. Percy from the auction house? Does this case involve Whitney?"

Ludwik extinguished his cigarette, his gaze sharp as the sea, not answering her.

The officer started the recorder and computer, "Elaine, please relax and cooperate with our investigation. Why did you take Daniel to the bridal shop, and how did you notice the kidnappers?"

Elaine's heart raced, but she had prepared her story well. Having dared to stage this whole affair, she was confident she could clear her name. And she insisted, against all odds, that the kidnappers meant to harm Daniel, and she had protected him throughout, even getting injured in the process.

The police questioning lasted until the afternoon. Exhausted and thirsty, Elaine was left alone when Ludwik rushed to see Daniel awake. Lyra was the only one left to fetch her food...

As soon as the room's door closed, it opened again with a creak. Lifting her head irritably, she saw a figure in a white coat heading to the bathroom, returning shortly with a basin of water.

"Not time for a sponge bath yet. Which department's nurse are you? Get out!" Elaine demanded.

But instead of a reply, she heard the door lock. Something felt off, and then a shadow loomed over her. The 'nurse' removed her mask, revealing a face cold and beautiful, her eyes chilling, "You sound quite spirited."

Elaine's eyes widened in shock, "Whitney?"

"What are you doing here?" she immediately looked around the room. No Lyra, no bodyguards, just emptiness.

"Don't think about touching me, Ludwik! Ludwik, help... mmm."

Whitney didn't give her a chance to speak, removing her breathing mask and plunging her head into the cold water basin.

"Ah...!"

Whitney smirked, pressing down harder. Each time Elaine gasped in a gulp of water, she was pulled up, barely given a chance to breathe, then submerged again. Her eyes were cold, leaning in to whisper, "Heard you made my son drink filthy water? So, I added some detergent to this one. Fair, right?" "You, you... how did you know?" Elaine was in total panic. Could it be that the other kid with asthma hadn't died?

"Right guess, my Sammy's alive. And thanks to you, I found out I have two sons!"

"How is that possible..." Elaine couldn't believe it. The asthmatic child had been thrown into a deep cave, buried under rubble after the explosion, with no one aware of the existence of two children.

Elaine was beside herself with rage. The kidnapping plot she had masterminded was supposed to ensure that both her targets met their demise. Yet, not only had things not gone according to plan, but Whitney had also stumbled upon the truth!

Her face turned a shade of deep purple, so dark it seemed she could hardly breathe. She flailed wildly, desperate to engage Whitney in a physical confrontation. But how could Whitney give her such an opportunity?

Whitney pinned down Elaine's arm over a 'wound', her nails digging in cruelly, determined to make Elaine experience the same kind of agony that Sammy had endured. She was ready to resort to the most brutal measures to teach this woman a lesson.