Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 806

Whitney struggled against his grasp, but the more she fought, the tighter Bryce held her. Her heart pounded like a drum, and she tried to maintain her composure, "I'm not unwilling... Bryce, I just need a little more time." "More time?" Bryce wasn't placated by her explanation.

Instead, the thought that she'd prefer to hide in a bathroom and be touched by Ludwik, a eunuch of sorts, rather than let him close, ignited the anger that had been simmering for days, making it uncontrollable.

He almost couldn't suppress it and fiercely grabbed her wrist.

"What... are you going to start domestic violence now?" Whitney showed a pitiful, aggrieved face, her voice trembling with tears.

As if her words were a wake-up call, Bryce narrowed his eyes, realizing this woman wasn't fully his yet.

He swallowed his anger, his body stiffly relaxed as he let go, then pulled her into a tight embrace, apologizing with deep affection, "Silly girl, how could I bear to lay a hand on you again, Whitney? Don't misunderstand me. My love for you is so strong; I just want to be close to you. Can't you feel it?"

Whitney stiffened, her whole body shaking with revulsion and rejection.

She had felt it, a wave of disgust and rejection flooding her heart. His demands were now laid bare, utterly unmasked.

Thankfully, she had been aware and had already sent Ryder to prepare.

She didn't want to play this game any longer, to stay under the same roof as him. She was in constant danger. Whitney feigned a shy bitterness, "I don't know what's wrong with me, Bryce. Can you give me a few more days, please?"

"Every time I try to get close, you push me away. What are you resisting?" Bryce self-deprecatingly mocked himself, his gaze tightening, "I'll wait until this Friday. I have to go on a business trip the day after tomorrow. Whitney, don't disappoint me again." Whitney clenched her hand; time was running out!

But she heard he was going on a business trip...

Lost in her thoughts, Bryce released her with disappointment, "Fine, you should sleep in the guest room tonight."

"Okay." Whitney felt like she had been granted a reprieve, hurrying upstairs.

Bryce watched the dinner table in disarray, his irritation growing. He was about to head to his study when his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and narrowed his eyes before moving to a quiet spot to answer, "Clive, what's up?"

It was his confidant on the line, "Mr. Lutz, I have bad news. During the office cleanup today, the cleaning staff found a little gadget hidden in the bookshelf. I checked it thoroughly and discovered it's a surveillance bug."

"A bug?" Bryce's expression changed, a shadow passing over his otherwise calm eyes, "Who placed it there? How long has it been?"

"Mr. Lutz, that's unclear."

"Keep looking! See if my office has been bugged elsewhere!"

Bryce hung up the phone in a rage, his gaze slowly shifting, suddenly darting towards the upstairs, his eyes narrowing, a dark light flickering within.

-

On the waters of Saltland Island.

Parker Doonan was back.

He had met with Ludwik in Emperor City to secretly discuss cooperating with Inko Group, planning to play a trick on both the Patrick family and the Lutz Group. He hadn't forgotten about Tiana Melford, whom Phineas said was still on the island, recovering. After inquiring about the situation in Emperor City, Parker hurried back.

He was there to take Tiana away.

Upon disembarking, the news of the young master's return quickly spread throughout the villa.

In the central mansion on the island, Tiana, locked in her room, trembled slightly upon hearing the news, immediately stopping a maid, "I need to see Parker, take me to see your young master!"

That man had disappeared for five days straight after leaving her room that morning.

Phineas had locked Tiana in her room during these days, forcing her to recuperate.

She was clueless about what had happened outside.

Parker, with his mysterious ailment and memory loss, where could he have gone, what had he done?

"Uncle, is Ms. Melford in there?"

Suddenly, a deep, cold male voice came from outside the door.

Familiar, it was Parker!

Tiana quickly put on a coat, climbing out of bed at the sound of the man's voice that made her heart flutter. She unconsciously licked her lips, remembering the madness of those three days he had claimed her, her cheeks flushing even as she fumbled with her hair, not paying attention.

It wasn't until she saw the reflection of the woman in the mirror fixing herself up.

She paused, a thought crossing her mind: women dress for the men they love.

Damn, what was she doing?

In frustration, Tiana mussed her neatly arranged hair again, just as the maid gently opened her room door,

Phineas's voice, meaningful and profound, came through, "I've kept her here these past days to recuperate, didn't let her leave, Parkie... why don't you go see her first?

There are a lot of things between you two that need to be talked out, need to be resolved."

"What things?" Parker was clueless, "Wasn't Tiana just here to find me on the island and then got locked up by you? Did I meet her during my amnesia?"

Phineas was at a loss for words.

Just then, Tiana walked out of her room.

Parker turned his head, catching a glimpse of the familiar, delicate face of the woman, her features striking yet tender, though her gaze shifted from surprise to bemusement upon seeing him.

"Parker?" Tiana's voice was almost uncertain.

Parker's dark eyes noticed her in pajamas, the neckline slightly ajar, instinctively blocking the view of his uncle and the maid, but his gaze remained politely restrained, turning aside, "Tiana, you've been wronged these past days. My uncle misunderstood you. I'm here to take you back to Emperor City, but you should get dressed properly before we talk."

Tiana glanced at her pajamas, not really inappropriate.

But the key was his strangely detached and distant demeanor towards her.

It was like... how he used to be. Since their encounter on the island, his amnesia made him shameless, cold yet extremely passionate towards her, almost unable to keep his hands off her whenever she was near. Something struck her, her eyes widening in realization.

"Parker? Have you... have you regained your memory?" Tiana's voice was dry, a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"Yeah," Parker affirmed with a nod, "That day when I fell into the sea, everything just came rushing back to me. I immediately got things straightened out with Uncle over the past month.

Then, I took off to Emperor City to finalize the deal with Ludwik and the Inko Group. Uncle mentioned you took a risk coming to find me, and then he had you locked up on the island for nearly two weeks...

I came back as soon as I could to get you.

I'm sorry, Tiana, for having you locked up for so long. I heard you got seriously hurt?

How did that happen? Were you attacked on your way here? Where were you injured?

How are you healing now, can you walk?"

Tiana looked into his refined yet devilishly charming face, falling into silence. Her mind was a tangled mess, staring at his oblivious expression, his clear-cut features, calm and deep eyes.

Her intense warmth and affection for him suddenly felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her. It was as if those three days of indulgence with him, never leaving the bed, were just a dream, abruptly woken from. "Parker, you don't remember?" she asked softly, questioning him.

"What?" Parker raised his eyebrows in confusion.