Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Whitney's eyes dimmed with exhaustion, too weary to feel anger anymore. There were things she hadn't known, and it seemed the answers might lie with two little rascals...

She put her phone away, leaning heavily on the kitchen counter, replaying her conversation with Ludwik in her mind, searching for clues among the tangled words. The question that haunted her was about her mother, a topic dredged up from the depths of her heart where it had been buried for years.

Whitney had come to terms with her mother's supposed death long ago...

But what if there was more to the story?

Unfortunately, the car accident from years ago had become a cold case, covered up by the Valentine family, leaving no records to be found at the Banyan City police station, let alone reopening the investigation.

Her mother...

If she hadn't died...

Whitney clutched at her chest, a tightness gripping her heart at the thought. The world was vast; if her mother was alive somewhere, why hadn't she come forward?

Impossible, she thought, as the fleeting hope in her eyes faded back to resignation.

At the hospital.

When Phineas was wheeled out on a stretcher, his head wrapped in thick bandages and hooked up to a monitor, Parker's eyes turned red as he rushed over, "Uncle."

Mrs. Wilson, with her children by her side, was also crying out in distress, "Phineas! Phineas?"

"Please, everyone, make way. The patient can't stay in a contaminated environment; we need to move him to the ICU immediately," the doctor instructed.

Mrs. Wilson turned pale. "Doctor, didn't you tell us half an hour ago that his surgery went well?"

"The surgery was successful, yes, in that Mr. Wilson didn't suffer any heart or brain failure during the procedure, which is excellent news. But that doesn't mean he's out of the woods yet. He's in a coma, and we can't predict when he'll wake up. We also can't assure you he'll regain consciousness immediately after the anesthesia wears off. The bullet was millimeters from vital nerves; it's a miracle Mr. Wilson is alive."

Parker understood the gravity of the situation. Surgery had saved his uncle's life, but his awakening was uncertain. "Is there a chance he'll become vegetative?" Parker couldn't help but blame himself for thinking such a thought.

Ludwik, gripping Parker's arm, scolded, "Parker, don't scare Mrs. Wilson with possibilities the doctor hasn't mentioned!"

The doctor nodded, offering a reassuring smile to Parker, "Mr. Doonan, Mr. Wilson has brain activity. Think of the gunshot wound as a severe trauma that didn't damage the entire skull. Deep down, he's conscious. It's just that his injuries are too severe for him to wake up now. Do you understand?"

"He won't become vegetative?" Parker asked, still anxious.

"Of course not!" Ludwik shot him a look, "Mr. Wilson will wake up eventually; it's just a matter of time. For now, he's merely in a coma."

After ensuring Phineas was settled in the ICU with a respirator and brain monitor, the medical team left, sealing the sterile environment behind the glass door.

Outside, Ludwik signaled to Parker, who quickly understood and blocked the doctor's path, speaking with urgency, "Doctor, first off, thank you for everything. But we must keep the news of Mr. Wilson's successful surgery within these walls. My uncle's survival must not leak out. Do you understand? The only news you should spread is that my uncle is now vegetative, forever lost to us."

Or," Ludwik interjected, "you could even declare Mr. Wilson dead."

"What?" Mrs. Wilson, who had been quiet, frowned, her gaze shifting from Ludwik's imposing presence to Parker, her eyes cold yet gentle, "Mr. Doonan, Phineas isn't dead. Why declare him so? It's a great disrespect!"noveldrama

Parker stepped forward, understanding Ludwik's intentions. "Aunt, the situation at Inko Group is dire. The person who shot Uncle is still out there, watching. Our plan is to ensure Uncle can recover in peace. If the shooter knows Uncle is alive, they might strike again. And with Inko Group leaderless, there's no telling what the shareholders might do. It's a strategy that serves multiple purposes."

Mrs. Wilson shook her head. "No. I don't care about your intentions; even suggesting he's vegetative is too much. Declaring him dead would cause enormous confusion. How would we explain when he wakes up? How do we face the board and our family?"

She firmly refused.

Ludwik's gaze softened, nodding in understanding. While declaring Phineas dead would make waves, he hadn't considered the family's feelings. "Mrs. Wilson, I apologize. We didn't fully consider the implications. And thank you for allowing us to say he's vegetative. It'll draw out the culprit sooner. And, there's another matter. With Mr. Wilson incapacitated, you have a say in Inko Group's future," Ludwik spoke with a gravity that acknowledged the weight of their decisions and the challenges ahead.

Mrs. Wilson gently held back her son, shaking her head softly, "The matters of Inko Group, being a woman, even if I'm on the board, those shareholders might not listen to me. They might even have their reservations about me.

Previously, Mr. Doonan had been seen around Phineas at the company a few times, and the board is aware of Phineas's high regard for Mr. Doonan.

If there's nothing major happening with the company at the moment, I'm thinking of delegating my authority to Mr. Doonan, to have you handle affairs both big and small for me. Would you be okay with that?"

After saying this, she first looked at her ten-year-old son, "Honey, what do you think about Brother Parker?"

The child, innocent yet with a layer of cultivated wisdom in his eyes, bore, at a glance, a semblance to Phineas despite his young age.

The boy pondered for a moment, then looked towards Parker. Without a word, he nodded.

Having received her son's approval, Mrs. Wilson then turned to Parker, awaiting his response.

The heavy responsibility unexpectedly landed on him, and he was surprised at Mrs. Wilson's trust in him.

Parker was silent for a moment. With his personality, he was sure to refuse.

After all, he was just Phineas's nephew, not a direct heir of the Wilson family.

But then, he thought of the secret Ludwik shared with him this afternoon-

Parker clenched his slender fist.