Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Jason confessed, "It was me who called the press! Florence was freaking out, saying people were gossiping about her 'showing up with a bun in the oven,' looking for your support. The Lippert family doesn't need this kind of drama. You better spend some quality time with her and stay away from the media to protect your image."

Jason's words didn't seem to bother Ludwik, let alone his image. Squinting his eyes, a cold glint flickered through his deep gaze. Pondering something, he paused in his tracks.

Seeing an opportunity, Florence gently grabbed his arm, "Ludwik, Jason's just thinking about the Lippert family's reputation. Please, just bear with it and come with me to pick out some baby clothes."

Ludwik remained unnervingly calm, not refusing, and let Florence lead him towards a baby boutique.

That afternoon, Ludwik accompanying his fiancée Florence on a baby shopping spree made headlines, overshadowing even Whitney and Bryce's modest wedding announcement.

Whitney saw the news when she got home from work. A notification popped up on her phone with a handsome profile picture of Ludwik with Florence at the baby store. She took a moment, emotionless, then moved her hand away from the screen to unlock her front door.

The TV in the living room, connected to the inte, was also broadcasting the celebrity gossip, showing Ludwik and Florence at the baby store. Tiana frowned, a complex look crossing her face.

Just as she was about to change the channel, Danny stormed down the stairs, throwing a bag of stuff onto the floor.

"Danny? What's the matter?" Tiana looked up.

Danny glared at the TV screen showing the gossip news, a look of realization and disappointment on his face. He threw the toys Jason had given him into the trash bin.

"That Lego set was worth a fortune! You could've given it to Cherry, your little sister, if you didn't want it," Tiana lamented the waste, attempting to pick them up.

"I don't want them!" Danny growled.

Tiana looked at him, then back at the TV, "The gift was from your dad, and now he's out buying clothes for his new baby with Florence. Is that why you're upset?"

"Liar!" Danny muttered, finally understanding, "Grandpa's a liar; he never really cared about me. Ha, using me to lure dad out, and the moment I leave, that witch shows up. Grandpa prefers the witch's brat in her belly! And dad?"

Danny slumped to the ground, angry and heartbroken, "Is he also more concerned about Florence's baby? They're all liars... This morning, he looked so heartbroken and helpless about mom getting married, as if he was about to die."

Tiana quickly turned off the TV and sat down next to Danny, gently touching his reddened eyes, sharing her thoughts, "Your dad's a real piece of work. Sure, he's heartbroken, but he's not sitting around doing nothing. Seeing your mom's marriage as a done deal, he moved on pretty fast, didn't he? Might as well. It probably means that your dad's over your mom's remarriage, not holding onto it hysterically. As long as he doesn't mess up the wedding, your mom's ceremony can go on smoothly!"

Whitney, listening at the door, lowered her gaze, thinking about the moment Ludwik and Florence looked so sweet together. His attitude on the phone that day had made Whitney anxious. He said he wouldn't let her go! But then he turned around and started building a relationship with Florence...

Maybe he had already moved on. Threatening her was just because he couldn't stand losing. He would have a new family too, probably too busy to ruin her wedding.

Whitney took a deep breath,

suddenly feeling relieved, but then she heard her son's sob, "I'm so conflicted wish dad would come and stop the wedding, take mom back! But I don't want to see mom hopeless! This morning I told dad, if mom gets remarried, it could make her happy. I begged him not to interfere. Tiana, do you know what he said?"

Tiana was also curious about Ludwik's stance, "What did your dad say?"

"He said, he wants to make mom happy the most," Danny said pensively, "I think that was his honest feeling. Making mom unhappy is also his source of pain. He asked me, if he leaves mom, would that make her happy?"

Tiana bit her lip.

Danny covered his face, saddened, "Maybe that statement means he's ready to let go. At that moment, I was both happy and sad! Him letting go means no chaos. But if he lets go, I'll never have a complete family again."

Whitney, leaning on the doorframe, stepped inside and hugged her son, who was trying to hold back tears, "Danny, mom will always love you and Sammy. He will too, always love you guys. It's just that the four of us can't be together, and I'm sorry I can't give you a complete family. But happiness will come in another form, you'll be happy again soon, trust me."

As soon as Sammy comes back, her wedding would be complete.

Danny turned around, his lips

pursed, a melancholic look on his face, "I know you and he can't be together anymore. Mom, I'venovelbin

accepted that, I don't blame you'

I

Alright, I'm not that upset, I'm just mad at what dad's up to, why he's out buying baby clothes with that witch, I'm jealous! I'll just call him and give him a piece of my mind."

The little guy changed the subject and ran upstairs.

Whitney stood up, Tiana holding her back with a complex expression, "If Danny's saying that, he's probably ready to let you go. It's rare for Ludwik to come to terms with it. For such a dominant man, I thought his vocabulary only included aggression. Looks like your wedding with Bryce will go smoothly then."

"Yeah," Whitney smiled, feeling relieved, "Who says new love isn't the best cure for old wounds?"

Tiana understood she was referring to Ludwik and Florence. Just what was going through Ludwik's mind, huh? How could he so swiftly accept Florence's kid as his own? His fickleness was just too much. It clearly showed he wasn't all that into Whitney. But, whatever. The fact that he was willing to let Whitney go was a blessing in disguise.

Upstairs. When Danny made the call, it was Felix who picked up.

"Put Ludwik on the phone. I'm fuming. I've got a bone to pick with him!" Danny was livid. Sammy was still missing, and yet, here was Ludwik, already showing affection towards Florence's child. Even though Sammy would undoubtedly end up living with their mom. The thought of Ludwik dividing his love still cut Danny deep!