Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 453

Heidi's eyes flickered with envy, "Grandma, the moment Ludwik's son shows up, you forget all about Molly?

The boy is a bully, picking on my daughter..."

Ludwik marched over to the little girl, "A troublemaker? Did your mom teach you to say that?"

"Ludwik! My daughter was just playing by the pond when your son hit her several times. She cursed back, so what?" Heidi retorted. She was still sore from last night when she got into a spat with Joanne and Ludwik used it as an excuse to demote her. Ludwik ignored her, turning to Grandma.

"Enough!" Camilla glared at Heidi and apologized to Ludwik, "Molly was a bit hostile towards Danny, no big deal. Justin, the troublemaker, egged Molly on to push Danny into the pond. Danny retaliated, and both got hurt."

Ludwik's gaze narrowed. He knew why Justin was targeting his son, and it was nothing but cowardly.

"Danny can't swim, so he hit your daughter. He wouldn't have if he wasn't provoked," Ludwik said indifferently to Heidi.

Heidi could hear the insinuation that her daughter deserved it and was furious.

"Ludwik, who's this kid's mother, huh? She sure didn't teach him manners!" Heidi tried to stir trouble.

Ludwik's cold gaze silenced her. With a huff, she reluctantly left with her daughter.

The elderly lady glanced at Danny, who had remained silent, and smiled, "Danny's temper is just like yours. He's even more handsome, which says a lot about his mother." She didn't directly ask who Danny's mom was.

But Danny liked what he heard, a small smile appearing on his face, "Great Grandma, my mom is..."

"Don't cling to your Great Grandma, we're leaving." Ludwik cut him off.

Danny gave his dad a cold look, still upset, and pouted.

The elderly lady reluctantly stood, "His backpack is in the back room, Ludwik, come with me."

Ludwik followed her inside.

Led by a servant, Danny was leaving the yard when Florence arrived.

"Ms. Sheldon, what brings you here?" the servant politely asked.

"I came to see Ludwik," the young woman replied shyly, coughing lightly.

The old servant chuckled, "Looking for your boyfriend, huh? Ludwik's in the lady's room."

Hearing this, Daniel looked up sharply, scrutinizing the pale woman. His dad's mistress? Finally, they meet!

Florence, taken aback by his gaze, paused, a flash of terror crossing her face.

"Ms. Sheldon," Myra suddenly changed her expression, "He's not..."

"Danny, this way, please," the servant called, noticing Danny's hesitation.

"Danny?" Florence's nerves jumped, her panic rising as she stared at the boy, "Is your name Danny?"

Ludwik and Whitney had another child besides Sammy? She had miscalculated!

"I'm not called Danny, what should I be called then?" Danny asked, confused and suspicious, his dark eyes showing surprise. This woman looked so much like his mom.

But what caught his attention was her shocked look. Why was she so surprised?

She seemed to recognize him, yet they had never met...

"Danny?" Ludwik appeared, equally startled by the scene.

He glanced at Florence, who quickly adjusted her expression, stepping back with a tentative, friendly smile, "Ludwik, is this your..."

"My son," Ludwik had informed her back in Banyan City.

"Oh." Florence looked down again, her smile warm and welcoming, "Nice to meet you, little guy! You look just like your daddy."

She was hiding her initial shock.

"Who is she?" Daniel, seeing his dad's unusual behavior towards this woman, felt a surge of anger.

This was a dilemma for Ludwik, facing his son's anger like a cornered animal.

He approached, placing a hand on Danny's head with a stern tone, "Don't worry about who she is. Adults' matters are not your concern. Daddy's taking you out; someone is waiting for you outside." Someone? It must be Mommy!

Dad didn't even say it directly, it's Mommy waiting for him!

Danny felt even more outraged on behalf of his mom. Ludwik reached to pick him up, but Danny coldly stopped him, "Tell me who this woman is!"

Ludwik's gaze hardened, deciding to be blunt. He lifted Danny up and started walking, murmuring sadly, "Her name is Florence, your mom's sister." "You..." Danny was stunned, then disgusted by his father's betrayal.

How could his mom's sister be this homewrecker? His mom must be heartbroken!

"I'm done with you. I won't help you anymore. You and this homewrecker can just disappear," Danny vented his anger.

Ludwik accepted his son's resentment in silence.

From the moment he and Florence made their agreement, he had forbidden anyone from telling Danny, leaving the 'harsh truth' for him to reveal.

"One day, you'll understand my helplessness," Ludwik whispered under the moonlight, his lips barely moving.

Danny, of course, didn't understand, feeling only a deep disappointment. At that moment, he wished Sammy was there; together, they could protect their mom from any harm...

Sammy... Suddenly, Danny glanced at Florence, who was following Ludwik, utterly confused, "Ludwik, what were you and the little guy talking about?"

"It's nothing."

Ludwik then noticed Florence had followed them out, frowning slightly before asking gently, "Why are you at the Lippert family's place?"

Florence fiddled with her handkerchief, "You left the Sheldon Mansion in a hurry, and I... I wanted to see you again... Oh, and I haven't done my blood pressure check tonight, Ludwik." Florence's cough echoed through the air, her usually pale complexion now flushed with effort.

Ludwik's brows furrowed in concern. "Where's your doctor?"

"He's waiting for me at my place," Florence replied, her gaze shyly meeting Ludwik's. "Could you... could you give me a ride home later, Ludwik?"

It was a request Ludwik couldn't deny. With his mother's upcoming surgery and the need for a blood transfusion, he had to keep a close eye on her condition.

"Alright, wait here for me," Ludwik said before he turned, cradling his son in his arms and making his way to the Bentley parked in the darkness.

Inside the car, Whitney watched the scene unfold, her grip tightening around the steering wheel.

The sight of Ludwik and Florence walking side by side, with Danny in Ludwik's arms, was a sharp pang in Whitney's heart. Florence was stepping into her shoes, possibly becoming Danny's stepmother, and maybe even bearing Ludwik's children... She couldn't bear to think further, her heart aching with the thought. But no matter what, she would never let her sons be taken from her.

A cold resignation settled in her eyes as she heard a knock on the car window. Whitney quickly composed herself and opened the door with a smile. "Danny! Come to Mommy."

Danny hesitated between running to his mom and staying put, his face turning cold as he addressed his father. "I hurt my ear, Dad. You need to take me and Mommy back to the hotel!"

Whitney was taken aback, her eyes darting between her son and Ludwik.

Ludwik's deep gaze met Whitney's, wondering if she would agree. He handed Felix some medicine, his lips pressed into a thin line as he leaned over to place it in the back seat, whispering, "Danny, Daddy's got something to take care of." "Dad, what could possibly be more important?" Danny's frustration was palpable. He had overheard Florence inviting his father over, and to his dismay, Ludwik had agreed, prioritizing it over taking them home.

"Next time," Ludwik tried to soothe his son, his brow furrowed with concern as he glanced at Whitney's gentle presence before turning away. "Felix, take them home."

Danny huffed, visibly upset and jealous.

"What's wrong, honey?" Whitney asked, her attention fully on her son.

Quickly, Danny blocked her view from seeing Ludwik return to Florence's side.

He changed the subject, his gaze turning icy. "Mommy, I ran into your 'lovely sister' earlier. I've got a huge question! She seemed to recognize me, but I've never seen her before. Could it be she's met Sammy?" Whitney's heart skipped a beat, her head snapping up in alarm.