Love beyond the mask201-300

Novel Catalog

Chapter_298

Bryce fidgeted with his fingers, his gaze narrowing as his mind whirred with calculations. There was something unsettling about the situation, a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface. He pulled out his smartphone, his fingers flying over the screen as he sent a text to one of his subordinates.

“Dig up the prenatal check-up reports for Whitney from three years ago. And keep an eye on Ludwik’s mansion.”

For three years, Ludwik had kept his personal life under a tight seal. Nothing leaked out—not a whisper of truth. Rumors floated around, though. Whispers that he and Elaine had a child together.

But if those rumors were wrong, and Ludwik really had a child…

Bryce’s thoughts turned dark as they settled on ‘Sammy’, the child often seen around Whitney. His mind sharpened, the pieces of the puzzle slowly beginning to fall into place. Trouble, no doubt, was brewing.

At the preschool, the tense atmosphere was palpable.

“Daniel, report to the office immediately!”

The sharp, irate voice of the teacher echoed through the classroom. Sammy smirked slightly, unfazed. He’d heard it all before.

The other kids peeked out from behind their desks, their eyes full of confusion and suspicion. No wonder Danny hated school. It was one thing to be a target, but Sammy? Sammy wasn’t even accepted. Always the outsider, always called to the office.

Calmly, Sammy began snapping a few photos of the classroom’s dilapidated condition with his modified smartwatch, storing the images away. Then, without a hint of hesitation, he walked into the office.

“Ma’am…” he said sweetly, his voice smooth, every word calculated.

“Stand in the corner as punishment!” the teacher snapped, pointing to the empty corner of the room. “Daniel, why did you hit your classmates like that?”

Jemima, a larger woman with a furious glare, pointed at Sammy’s face. “You little brat! My son’s bleeding so much, you’ll pay for this!”

The teacher tried to intervene, her voice strained. “Jemima, calm down. I’ve already called Daniel’s mom.”

“This isn’t over!” Jemima hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

Sammy narrowed his eyes, his smirk never fading. He offered no explanation, merely turning to the teacher with a sweet, innocent smile. “Ma’am, I know I hit someone, so I’ve called my dad over.”

“What?” The teacher blinked, caught off guard by his calm response.

Elaine had slipped her a bribe earlier to ensure the call was only made to her, to allow Jemima to escalate the matter and make Danny’s life miserable. But Sammy wasn’t playing by those rules.

“I’m supposed to consult with you before calling a parent,” the teacher said, suddenly flustered. “Usually, we only call the mother!”

Sammy blinked innocently, his voice laced with playful sarcasm. “Why can’t I call my dad? Are you afraid of something, ma’am?”

The teacher’s face grew flushed. She couldn’t figure out whether it was the child’s sudden bravado or something deeper that unsettled her.

“You know,” the teacher said, trying to regain control, “I’m worried your dad might come in here and—”

“Whether he spanks me or not is none of your concern. Perhaps you should worry about yourself instead,” Sammy interrupted smoothly.

His words were so disarmingly innocent that the teacher felt a chill run down her spine. But then, she pushed the thought aside, thinking she had everything under control.

If Daniel’s family had any significant background, Elaine would have mentioned it by now. After all, a father who never visited school couldn’t know much, right?

But before she could dial Elaine, the office door opened, and a commanding presence entered.

Ludwik.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward the tall, striking figure who dominated the doorway. Even Jemima froze, momentarily stunned by Ludwik’s exceptional appearance.

The teacher, a professional despite her nerves, blushed slightly, trying to mask her surprise as she greeted him warmly. “Hello, sir. How can I assist you?”

Ludwik didn’t acknowledge her. His eyes immediately found Sammy, and his gaze sharpened. He noticed a bruise on the boy’s forehead. The others in the room were no better off—bruises, scratches, all marking some kind of conflict.

Finally, Ludwik turned to the teacher, his voice cold. “You’re Daniel’s teacher?”

The teacher, suddenly feeling the weight of his gaze, hesitated. She was about to flirtatiously respond, but Ludwik’s commanding presence made her words falter.

“Are you Daniel’s father?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Jemima, emboldened by her brother’s position on the school board, immediately confronted Ludwik. “How do you discipline your child? He’s been fighting, and my Adriel is bleeding badly. You’ll pay for this—$10,000 for medical expenses, or this won’t be over!”

Ludwik didn’t even flinch at her demands. His focus remained solely on the teacher. “Is this the situation?” His voice held an icy finality, demanding answers.

The teacher, clearly intimidated by Ludwik’s unspoken authority, hesitated again before answering.

Before she could speak, Elaine breezed in, casually fixing her hair. She froze as soon as she saw Ludwik.

Ludwik’s gaze landed on her, his eyes narrowing. “Three, Ludwik?” she stammered, recalling their recent rendezvous. His tone grew colder, his expression unreadable.

“Danny’s had a conflict with classmates,” Ludwik said, his voice tight with frustration. “I’ve been here for five minutes. Where were you?”

“I, I…” Elaine stumbled over her words, her mind racing for an excuse. She quickly shifted the blame to Danny, turning to the teacher with feigned helplessness. “Has Danny been bullying his classmates again?”

The teacher, steadied by Elaine’s presence, played along. “Yes, Mrs. Danny, he’s always had trouble getting along. Today, after a slight provocation from Adriel, Danny lashed out, injuring several children.”

“Danny, honey, you need to be more friendly,” Elaine crouched, gently touching the boy’s hand, her voice soft but laced with a hidden agenda. She glanced at Ludwik, her eyes betraying a flash of guilt, then sighed. “Ludwik, this is the reality of Danny’s situation at school. I’ve been hesitant to tell you, fearing your disappointment.”

She turned to Jemima next, her tone apologetic. “Danny was out of line. I apologize on his behalf. But kids fight… it happens.”

“How can you say that’s normal? Daniel has hit my Adriel multiple times,” Jemima shot back, her voice rising. “This is unacceptable!”

Ludwik’s expression darkened, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Elaine’s subtle gleam of satisfaction didn’t escape him. She had her own agenda.

“So, how shall we resolve this?” Jemima asked, her tone dripping with triumph. “You have two options. Take him home and pull him out of school, or I’ll be forced to press charges for your ill-mannered child.”

Elaine glanced nervously at Ludwik, her face momentarily showing uncertainty. “Ludwik, this isn’t the first time. With the way Danny’s been acting, even throwing money at the problem won’t keep the other parents quiet.”

Ludwik’s deep, calculating eyes turned toward his son. “Danny,” he said softly, but there was an edge to his voice, “Don’t be silent. Speak up. What exactly happened?”

Elaine’s voice interjected, “Ludwik… with all the parents and teachers here, maybe this isn’t the best approach.”

But Sammy, eyes glinting with mischievous satisfaction, spoke up. “So, what would be the right approach in mommy’s eyes? Should I just get expelled? Or maybe we should head straight to court?”

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