Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"Right! I thought Mr. Lippert had a meeting with you elsewhere," the housekeeper said with a smile.

Whitney didn't step inside. Glancing at her watch, it was almost nine o'clock.

The kids had just survived an explosion orchestrated by Bryce not too long ago. Why on earth were they not home at this hour?

And Ludwik, was he with the kids?

She turned and started walking down the lane, pulling out her phone to make a call-

Just then, a car parked in the distance down the curve. Two bodyguards got out, followed by the kids being helped down from the car.

Squinting in the distance, Whitney watched as Sammy ran up to Danny. The brothers held hands, whispering under the cloak of night as they walked towards her.

Suddenly, Danny heaved a sigh, his little brows furrowed, "Sammy, do you ever think that mom's amazing at medicine, maybe she could heal sis..." The rest of his sentence was abruptly silenced by Sammy's hand over his mouth.

They had entered the Lippert family's territory, and Sammy, wary of eavesdroppers, shot Danny a cautionary look.

Danny, not mentioning his sister's name, added, "Maybe mom could heal her?!"

Sammy sighed, giving him a stern look, "Danny, I'm sure dad has considered mom's medical skills. But in emergencies that require surgery, mom's traditional methods might not work as fast.

Like dad says, if we can't talk about it, we can't talk about it.

Right now, we need to focus on getting her the best help, fast.

But what if mom gets upset...do you think dad should worry about her feelings? It might complicate things even more and delay the process. Anyway, we just can't say."

"Can't say what?"

Out of nowhere, Whitney's voice came from above them, standing by the flower bed, startling and confusing.

Sammy and Danny jumped!

Looking up to see their mom's stunning face, they were too scared to breathe, their eyes wide with guilt.

Oh no. How long had mom been hiding there?

Danny's face went pale, his hand quickly tugging at Sammy's shirt behind his back.

He was a straightforward kid, not good at lying.

"Hmm? What can't you tell me? What were you two whispering about?" Whitney stepped down from the flower bed, moving closer to her children with an edge of sharpness and curiosity in her eyes.

That look, piercing and questioning, made Sammy think they were done for.

In a moment of carelessness, mom must have heard them and deliberately tiptoed closer.

So, they hadn't noticed mom waiting there all along.

Trying to regain his composure quickly, Sammy lifted his face to smile at his mom, "Mommy! Did you just get home? Were you waiting here for your babies?"

"So why are you guys home so late?"

Sensing the kids were diverting the topic, Whitney narrowed her eyes, following Sammy's lead but with a probing edge, "What have you two been up to? And Ludwik, why isn't he home?"

"Oh! Daddy went to meet with Mr. Doonan. We haven't seen Mr. Doonan in a while, so we went with him. You know, mommy, you weren't at the Lippert family's this morning, and we were so bored."

Sammy desperately improvised.

"You went to see Parker?" Whitney was skeptical, a chill entering her gaze, "The things you two were whispering about just now have nothing to do with Mr. Doonan.

I thought I heard you discussing my medical skills, about saving someone?

Sammy, haven't I told you not to beat around the bush with me.

And it's not the first time you've done this.

Before your dad went to Eurovoria, you were always whispering with him. Later, you kept his whereabouts from me too. Tell me, are you betraying me for your dad? What are you hiding for him?"

Her tone became heavier.

Her beautiful features remained gentle, but Sammy sensed the terror of disappointing mom.

Mom never got angry with them; her anger was always shown through disappointment.

This made Sammy incredibly conflicted and guilty.

The young boy's eyes flickered, his hands twisting on his shirt hem, his lips moving slightly before he finally said, "Mommy, you misunderstood! We weren't discussing your medical skills.

Oh... when we mentioned saving someone, we were talking about a chairman that dad knows.

The chairman had an accident, and Mr. Doonan is really worried since it's his uncle. He was asking if dad could help with treatment.

Dad thought that for surgical emergencies, your medical skills might not work as quickly.

That's what Danny and I were talking about!

Nothing else, mommy, you have to believe us."

He hastily concocted a story based on a call dad had made to Mr. Doonan on the way.

Not sure if the chairman's situation was that serious, but it was worth a shot to deflect for now.

Whitney's gaze softened under the night sky...Chairman Phineas indeed had an accident, but would Ludwik discuss such things with the kids? And even take his sons to the hospital, getting involved in Phineas's affairs?

It all sounded absurd, hardly credible.

But having pressed them this far, and with Sammy still dodging her questions, Whitney realized her son was cautious and alert; pressing further would yield no truth.

She raised her hand to touch her son's head, looking down, her eyes softening in the night light, "Let's assume you went with your dad to the hospital. What worries me is your safety, being out so late, and Ludwik not bringing you home.

You know, just a while back, you and Danny had a close call under your grandfather's watch.

With Bryce stirring trouble, the Lippert family's security is all over you two; don't cause more trouble for the adults, understand?"

Seeing their mom finally move past tonight's events, Sammy quickly nodded, putting on his best 'good boy' face, lighting up his eyes like stars, and hugging Whitney, "We understand, mommy. You love us the most, worry about us the most.

We won't be home this late again."

"Future plans?" Whitney furrowed her brows, "No more going out for now!

Dad's back, sure, but he seems swamped. You're both still under mom's watch."noveldrama

No leaving the house?

Sammy felt a rush of panic, "But what about just going out to play? Danny and I have been cooped up here for a month, we're going stir crazy. Plus, we've got classes to attend.

Besides, with dad home, he's like this unshakeable force, keeping all the shady characters in Emperor City at bay.

As long as we have enough bodyguards and stay alert, Danny and I can still go out and about.

Otherwise, we're going to die of boredom!"

Danny was vigorously nodding along, "I don't wanna, I don't wanna stay trapped in this stuffy mansion all day!" Whitney stayed silent, clearly sensing their resistance tonight was somewhat out of the ordinary.

Danny throwing a fit was understandable; that's just how he is.

But Sammy, the usually sensible Sammy, wouldn't complain about 'being bored at home' for no reason.

What could be so important that they absolutely had to leave the house?