Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 786

Twenty minutes later, Whitney arrived on the scene.

It wasn't exactly pick-up time, so the crowd of parents was thin, yet the towering figures of Ludwik and Bryce standing at the nursery's main entrance were hard to miss. Especially since they looked like they were about to come to blows at any moment.

Danny and Sammy were huddled near the front office, with Natalie and a bodyguard watching over them.

Danny glared at Bryce, his little face a mirror image of Ludwik's defiance.

Sammy, on the other hand, wore a frosty expression, his brows knotted tightly.

"Ludwik, Whitney and I are married now. The custody of these kids goes to Whitney, which makes me Sammy's rightful father. I have every right to take him home.

You, without Whitney's consent, have no right to take the kids anywhere!" Bryce spat out coldly.

Ludwik sneered, "What a joke. Sammy is my and Whitney's son, not yours to claim!

Plus, the nursery records list me as the father. Whitney agreed to this when we chose this nursery for our son.

And you? What right do you have to snatch someone else's son?

So keen on playing dad, are you? I've got no interest in letting my child call someone else 'dad.'

Want a child of your own? Maybe you should've thought about that before your Audrey passed away."

Bryce's face twisted in anger at the mention of Audrey. Had Ludwik been digging into his past? Was he spreading rumors to Whitney?

But then, thinking of how Whitney had secretly acknowledged Ludwik as Sammy's father behind his back made his blood boil.

They even chose a nursery together...

That woman, how much had she hidden from him?

Bryce turned his icy gaze towards Sammy, his voice a chilling warning, "Sammy, you've disappointed me.

Have you forgotten how you came into this world?

Your mother was driven to desperation by this man, leading to your premature birth, soaked in cold sea water, battling illness from day one. It was me, Sammy, Bryce, who saved you and your mom, risking everything to give you a safe life abroad! Didn't you tell me you could never forgive Ludwik for abandoning you and your mom?"

Sammy's wise, young eyes stiffened, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Indeed, he had sworn never to forgive Ludwik easily.

Especially after mom returned home, and Ludwik hurt and abandoned her again.

But lately... he'd been won over by the Lippert family, and his brief moments with Ludwik had made him unconsciously switch sides, forgetting his mom's past grievances.

Seeing Sammy's troubled expression, Danny glared at Bryce.

That damned fool.

Turning to Whitney, Danny cunningly burst into tears, "Mommy! You're finally here. Bryce is bullying Sammy! He's so mean!"

He then rushed into Whitney's arms, a picture of fear and vulnerability.

Whitney, although not fully grasping the situation, felt a chill at the sight of Bryce pressuring Sammy and the boy's pleading eyes.

She quickly took Sammy's hand, her voice filled with cool disappointment, "Bryce, can you not say such harsh things in front of Sammy?" "Bryce, I'm just stating facts."

Seeing Whitney, Bryce immediately softened his tone, adopting a hurt and apologetic demeanor.

Ludwik scoffed without saying a word, but Whitney spoke up, "But it hurts the child's self-esteem.

Bryce, please don't morally blackmail Sammy."

She admitted that Bryce was right about Ludwik's past actions, but Bryce shouldn't force a child to make such choices.

Sammy, like Danny, was born premature and had faced many challenges since birth.

Every child's natural desire for their father's affection, like Sammy's complex feelings for Ludwik, was undeniable. Since moving in with the Lippert family, Whitney could see he was genuinely happy. Sammy was struggling with his feelings towards the Lippert family.

Whitney was happy to see this and didn't want to force the kids to choose sides.

She had only been worried that Ludwik would introduce a stepmother who wasn't right for them.

But Ludwik had assured her he wouldn't marry again, slowly easing her concerns.

Bryce's words were like salt on Sammy's wounds.

Sammy was a proud child, and no one understood him better than Whitney.

Bryce's words could make him feel upset, guilty, and ashamed of himself.

"Whitney, listen to me, I was just worried today.

I didn't expect you to send the kids to the Lippert family without telling me, so I rushed over, fearing they'd be mistreated..."

Bryce, feeling rebuked by Whitney, masked his inner coldness with a hurt expression, "I'm saying this because I feel it's unfair for you and Sammy. If it weren't for me fighting for you, Ludwik would have forced you into terminating the pregnancy. Have you forgotten all that? What has Ludwik ever done for Sammy? Why should he just take him back now?"

Whitney's face changed as memories of three years ago resurfaced.

Ludwik stepped forward, his tone icy, "Stop stirring trouble. The reason I wanted to end the pregnancy was your deceit, making me believe you and Whitney had something going on!

Bryce, should I start revealing all the dirty tricks you played three years ago?

Let me warn you, the matters between me and Whitney are none of your business."

"Bryce, you-" Bryce's face darkened, shadows pooling in his eyes.

If it weren't for Whitney standing right there, he would've thrown a punch already. What right did Ludwik have to talk back to him like this?

"Ludwik, you zip it too."

Whitney didn't spare either of them, her gaze sharp as she turned on Ludwik, scolding, "As a father, here you are causing a scene. Do you have any idea what kind of impression this is leaving on the preschool teachers?

You both claim to care about the kids, but have you actually stopped to think about them for once?

Look around, see how many people are gathered at the door, enjoying the show?"

Ludwik's lips curled at Whitney's 'as a father' remark but he quickly looked over at his sons, remorseful, "Sorry, I just didn't want Bryce to take Sammy away."

Bryce, filled with rage, felt like Whitney was undermining him in front of the preschool teachers, essentially acknowledging Ludwik as the biological father.

He retorted coldly, "Whitney, I'm your husband. It's my right to take the kids."