Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 928

"And all these misunderstandings, it's like you've been walking yourself deeper into them, step by step.

This whole mess between you two, it's really because you're too cynical about love, too chicken to give it a real shot!"

"Stop it! I did try, once, didn't I? And what came of it? He lost his memory, that's what! My brief happiness felt like stolen goods, those few days of bittersweet joy, that's all I ever had with him.

Just one Endora? Ha, isn't one Endora enough?

Look at what they've done to my family?

I'm the chicken because I knew, with Parker turning a blind eye, there'd be no place for me in Endora's world. I was afraid of exactly this outcome, sick and tired of her bullying for the past three years, sick of the deceit and manipulation!"

Her words struck a nerve, echoing the gloom of the past three years.

Whitney, heart aching, wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry, Tiana, I didn't mean to call you a coward when it comes to love. I know, in the three years I was away, you and Cherry have been dodging and hiding, enduring Elaine's torment, and it's changed you."

"Yes, I've become useless, and I hate myself for it! Because I have Cherry and parents who've lost everything in their old age. Despite putting on a brave face, my confidence is shattered."

Tiana's insecurity held her back from pursuing someone like Parker, a gem among men. Unexpectedly pregnant, she kept it a secret, convinced that Cherry was Barclay's child, too afraid to disrupt the natural order by seeking a relationship with Parker.

"Tiana..." Whitney silently vowed to herself, "I'll help you rebuild your confidence."

She was determined to help Tiana find her fearless self once more.

It was simple, really, just a matter of unraveling the mystery of Cherry's parentage.

Calming her emotions, Whitney took Tiana home, handed her some 'medicine,' and reminded her, "You still need to follow the doctor's orders, rest in bed for a few days."

Tiana shook her head, her eyes downcast. "Barclay must have been watching me undergo surgery today. He sent a message, forcing me to register our marriage tomorrow, and the wedding... it's set for three days from now."

"That soon?"

"They only gave half the antidote, my dad's life is hanging by a thread, and I don't want to delay any longer. Let's just do the registration. As long as it saves my dad's life, I don't care anymore,

I've already ruined any chance of marrying into a decent family." She tried to appear nonchalant with a laugh, but her eyes were cold with despair for the future.

Whitney clenched her fists, raising an eyebrow. "Don't talk like that, Tiana. And I warn you, don't do anything foolish on your wedding day. Some things might just turn out better than expected!"

"What good can possibly come my way?" Tiana scoffed, thinking of her life as a tragic, twisted soap opera, "Now, my only goals are to bring down Endora and to get my dad through his heart transplant surgery."

Speaking of which.

Whitney made a mental note, "Mr. Melford will pull through, things will turn around, I'll see to it that the hospital looks for a heart transplant."

"Thank you, Whitney." Tiana, exhausted, opened her laptop. "I've also placed an order on the black market, now I just hope my dad wakes up soon."

"Taking the other half of the antidote will surely bring Mr. Melford back."

So, the wedding would still have to be a sham.

Whitney sighed inwardly, glancing at her watch. "Tiana, get some rest, I've got to go."

"What was that thing you had to do this morning?" Tiana asked.

"Whitney, we're not that close, cut the sarcasm!"

Ashton, clearly not amused by her ribbing, stood up with a stern face. "What took you so long? I was about to lose my mind with her!"

"Mr. Ashton, you’re annoyed by me?" Cherry looked up with a pout, on the verge of tears.

"My little ancestor, I didn’t mean it like that," Ashton hastily explained in his gruff voice.

Whitney chuckled as she approached, "Cherry, Mr. Fuller's just a big softie pretending to be tough. See, he got you those Legos, didn’t he? No hard feelings, okay?"

"Those Legos didn't come from a shopping spree. Mr. Fuller just hauled them down from the attic, not exactly a grand gesture of generosity," Cherry revealed with a hint of smirk.

Ashton's expression darkened a shade.

Whitney, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought as her gaze drifted upstairs.

She recalled Valerie once lived here. Although Whitney had never visited the Fuller household before, she was aware that Ashton's bridal suite was on the second floor.

"Attic?" Whitney's heart felt a sting as she turned to Ashton, veering off-topic, "You bought Legos? Could it be that you knew Valerie was..." Her voice trailed off, suggesting the pregnancy.

"I never bought them. Found them in the attic, must've been... probably Valerie's idea. She went through a phase, obsessing over setting up a nursery," Ashton explained away.

Watching his clueless demeanor, Whitney was sorely tempted to hurl a bagel at him.

He was utterly oblivious. Oblivious to the fact that Valerie had been pregnant. What a clueless jerk.