Love beyond the mask201-300

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Chapter_297

“Mama, can you please think this over? This decision is too sudden. I… I can’t bear the thought of leaving you.”

Danny’s plea echoed his inner turmoil. It had taken him a long time to truly acknowledge Whitney as his mother, and the few moments they’d shared made those encounters all the more precious.

Whitney froze as Danny—no, ‘Sammy’ as he’d been called for now—clung tightly to her legs. His face was full of distress, quickly shifting back to the stoic demeanor of the ‘Sammy’ she knew so well. But she could see the cracks, the vulnerability behind his words.

With a heavy sigh, driven by a fierce desire to protect him, Whitney began to move towards the bedroom. “Sammy, I need to pack your bags. You’ll be back before you know it, and Maelstrom Country will be good for you.”

Suits me better, my foot, Danny thought bitterly. He’d never been abroad in his life, and the idea of leaving everything behind was suffocating.

Panic began to set in. Danny felt trapped, and in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable, he collapsed onto the floor. “Ah, my head! It hurts so much!” he moaned dramatically.

“Sammy?” Bryce, who’d been watching the scene unfold, raised an eyebrow. He’d caught on immediately, a smirk pulling at his lips as he realized what Danny was doing.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Your head or your stomach?” Whitney rushed over, her concern palpable.

“My head… it’s splitting…” Danny groaned, sticking to the lie as he clutched his forehead, hoping it would work.

For a moment, Whitney seemed taken aback, her worry deepening as she checked his pulse. The seconds stretched on in tense silence.

Bryce watched quietly, his gaze shifting between Whitney and the little boy on the floor. It was clear to him that something was off.

Whitney frowned, sensing the change in the atmosphere. “Stop pretending, Sammy,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation. “You’re really going to fake being sick to avoid going abroad?”

Danny squeezed his eyes shut tighter, playing the unconscious card. But Whitney wasn’t fooled. She gently sat him up, her voice tinged with both patience and mild annoyance. “Come on, Sammy. You’re not fooling anyone. You used to be more creative with your schemes.”

Caught in the act, Danny felt a sting of embarrassment. Had he really fallen short of Sammy’s usual cleverness?

“Sammy,” Whitney said, her tone softening. “Is it really that hard for you to leave me?”

Danny gave a muffled response, but it was clear from his clenched fists and stubborn demeanor that he wasn’t giving up just yet.

Bryce, observing the situation with quiet amusement, crossed his arms and spoke up. “If he’s so against going, forcing him to leave might just make things worse. Have you considered the risks? If Ludwik finds out he’s abroad and tries to take him, it could be even worse for you.”

Whitney’s fists clenched, the weight of Bryce’s words sinking in. Ludwik was a force to be reckoned with, and she couldn’t afford to make a wrong move.

Her gaze softened as she looked down at Danny, torn between her desire to keep him safe and her fear of losing him.

Danny, sensing the shift in her thoughts, tugged at her sleeve with newfound urgency. “What if Dad hides me away somewhere? What if you never see me again?”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Whitney snapped, but the fear in her voice was unmistakable.

Bryce let out a soft sigh, then offered a suggestion. “Why not keep Sammy close for now? We can arrange extra protection, watch Ludwik’s moves. If he tries to fight for custody, you’ve been the one raising him these past years, not…”

Whitney’s pleading look silenced Bryce’s words before he could finish. She didn’t want to bring up the painful history with Ludwik, especially in front of Danny. But the truth lingered between them, unspoken yet understood.

Bryce nodded, standing up to take care of the luggage. “Let me make lunch while you two talk. You must be exhausted.”

“Thank you, Bryce,” Whitney said gratefully, her smile softening as she leaned against the doorframe.

Danny, still unsettled by the entire situation, watched Bryce with narrowed eyes. The man had a strange way of getting into their business, and Danny wasn’t sure he trusted him.

After a few minutes, Danny quietly slipped into the kitchen. Bryce was there, sorting through ingredients for lunch.

“Hungry?” Bryce asked, his voice friendly but guarded.

Danny crossed his arms, watching the man carefully. “You think I don’t know what you’re up to? You’re just trying to keep my mom here. You don’t want me to go abroad because then she’d leave. You’re after her, aren’t you?”

Bryce raised an eyebrow, his amusement evident but his expression hardening slightly. “Yes, I’ve been fond of your mom for a long time. I think you can see how I feel about her.”

Danny huffed, his stance unwavering. “I don’t know about that. My parents are just on a break. They’re doing it for me. They’ll get back together, make a family again. You’re just trying to wedge in. Not cool, Bryce. My dad can cook too, you know. If she hasn’t said yes to you by now, maybe you should take the hint.”

Bryce’s expression shifted, a mix of frustration and respect crossing his face. The boy was sharp, but he wasn’t backing down.

Danny stood his ground, arms still crossed, feeling a small satisfaction at having made his point.

Bryce watched him closely, his gaze intense. After a long pause, he suddenly approached Danny, his towering presence looming over him.

“Sammy,” Bryce said, his voice low and measured. “Are you really Sammy?”

Danny froze, his heart skipping a beat. The man’s gaze was sharp, too sharp, and it sent a shiver down his spine. He instinctively stiffened, feeling small under Bryce’s scrutiny.

“What do you mean?” Danny stammered, trying to maintain his composure, but the guilt was starting to eat at him. “Of course, I’m Sammy! Who else would I be?”

Bryce’s lips quirked, the hint of a smile in his eyes. But the smile didn’t quite reach the depths of his gaze. Something was off.

Danny’s stomach churned as he backed away, unable to meet Bryce’s unyielding stare. There was no hiding now. Bryce knew.

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