Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1094

In the chilly recesses of Parisa's heart, a flicker of hope lingered—perhaps her brother wasn't dead after all. Maybe he was with her real daughter...

Her eyes, sharp like a frozen lake, held a mix of anger and disappointment, but there was a spark of renewed hope, a steely determination. She had to escape her current predicament! How dare those deceitful people try to trick her? Did they really think Parisa was so easily fooled?

Florence hurried after her, her eyes on Parisa's striking face. As she thought about their impending flight to Emperor City, she tried to persuade her once more, "Mom, when we get back to New York, you really should disguise yourself. You might be safe from Ludwik here in Springfield, but in New York, he won't let you go so easily. For your own safety, you can't let Ludwik recognize you and try to take you down again!"

Parisa abruptly stopped, a sardonic glint flashing in her icy eyes. She raised a brow, as if about to question something, but ultimately held back. What was once just a suspicion about the need for a disguise now seemed a guilty conscience laid bare.

Her real daughter was in New York, wasn't she? They feared someone—a daughter or an old acquaintance—might recognize her. Parisa was now more eager than ever to return. She responded with cold indifference, "A disguise? When danger comes, do you think I won't know how to avoid it? Ludwik isn't some mythical beast. Why should I be so afraid of him?"

"Mom, don't underestimate him!" Florence called, struggling to keep up as Parisa climbed into the car.

Florence narrowed her eyes, contemplating something sinister. Suddenly, she turned to Erik, saying, "I just remembered, I left my bag in the hotel lobby. Erik, can you and Mom wait for me in the car?"

Erik glanced at her, nodded without a word. Florence hurried back into the hotel, not to retrieve a forgotten bag, but to make a discreet call to Bryce from the restroom, ensuring Erik hadn't followed her.

Bryce picked up, "What is it?"

"Parisa, that cunning old woman, I think she might have remembered something. She left the cemetery halfway!"

"What? Florence, I told you to keep a close eye on her!"

"…Really?"

"Absolutely. Someone in the Valentine family might recognize her and have told her something. Florence, did Parisa act strangely after you found her?"

"She was acting odd at the hotel. She suddenly insisted on heading back to New York, completely ignoring Keegan’s grave."

"She must have found out something..." Bryce muttered, gritting his teeth, a shadow crossing his face. "What does this woman know? Why the rush to New York? I’ll send people to deal with the Valentine family. They can't be left as loose ends. Damn it, as if this isn't bad enough, I just heard Whitney is in Springfield today, too."

"Whitney's back?" Florence's eyes widened, doubting it was mere coincidence. "Why would she return?"