Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 823

"Daddy Parker, don't you just love BBQ ribs? I knew you were coming, so I had Nanny make some especially for you!"

Cherry was only a little over two years old, but she was precociously smart, both verbally and in her motor skills. Right now, she was using her tiny hands to clumsily grasp a large fork, climbing on the table trying her best to pick up a rib to place it in Parker's plate. This made Tiana, who had just thrown a plate down for Parker, quite jealous.

This little ingrate, barely learned how to use a fork and when has she ever tried to serve ribs to her mommy?

Please, she loved ribs too, okay?

"And this duck soup, daddy, you must try it too. I'll get you a big duck leg!"

"And there's also these little dough balls..."

Tiana: ......

"Enough!" Jealousy twisted her features as she walked over, lifting the little girl who had almost made it to the center of the table, "Are you trying to stuff him to death? Giving him all the meat, what about mommy?"

"You should eat less meat! You can't get any fatter, mommy begs you to be a bit more self-aware."

Cherry pouted, mercilessly scolding.

......

Parker's frameless glasses nearly slipped off his nose from laughter, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he glanced at Tiana's figure, curvaceous and voluptuous... Huh? What was he looking at?

The man quickly coughed, hiding his thoughts as he picked up a fork, "Let's get our little princess Cherry some of this duck soup. Can she handle noodles?"

"No, she's not quite good at slurping yet, might choke," Tiana shook her head, stopping his fork in its tracks.

Instead, she prepared a child-friendly bowl for Cherry, pouring some soup and adding in some specially prepared food by Nanny.

Watching her skillful and attentive actions, Tiana, usually so carefree, transformed into a tender mother, her affectionate gaze softening as she looked at her daughter.

For the first time, Parker noticed that Tiana, as a mother, exuded a certain feminine charm.

In his memory, she had always been the little sister type, tagging along behind Whitney, brash and brotherly, lacking a feminine touch.

Unbeknownst to him, she had changed.

Quite enchantingly so.

Perhaps sensing the heated gaze from Parker, Tiana glanced over, her round eyes slightly blushing, "Well, eat up! What are you looking at?"

"Hmph." Parker coughed, swiftly averting his gaze, "Just making sure you don't choke Cherry, that's all."

"......" Utterly speechless.

The child she had raised hand in hand... might as well have been talking to the wind.

Tiana decided not to argue any further and sat down to eat.

Just then, her phone on the table started buzzing with notifications.

Checking it, Tiana saw a stream of messages on Twitter: "Regarding Whitney's affair, a reporter interviewed Miss Elodie.

Elodie claimed that at a welcome party she hosted, she did hear some rumors, and something unspeakable happened, though she wouldn't say who was involved.

But she had openly admitted to liking Ludwik, and in today's interview, Elodie expressed her disappointment and sadness!

Elodie also advised some people to behave themselves after marriage, to avoid negative influences.

It's one thing to disgrace oneself, but at least don't ruin someone else's party.

Guess if Elodie is targeting Ms. Valentine, for seducing Ludwik and ruining her party?"

Elodie's interview ignited a firestorm, adding fuel to the already rampant speculation surrounding Whitney's affair.

Just when things seemed to be dying down, they flared up again.

"Damn it!" Tiana slammed her phone down, furious, "Elodie's still up to no good, launching this interview attack on Whitney!"

"Let me see?" Parker frowned, reaching out his hand.

Tiana tossed the phone into his broad palm, fuming, "Whitney already warned her, and yet this nosy woman is still stirring trouble, hinting without naming names. But it's obvious she's talking about Whitney and Ludwik! Coming from a high-profile heiress, her words carry weight.

Stepping forward against Whitney, Bryce must be laughing in his hideout."

Parker scoffed, rather calmly, "She knows her influence, that's why she's making a fuss now, trying to make Ludwik regret after being cornered by him and Whitney.

But this is a small matter, Ludwik will handle it."

"How's he going to handle it?" Tiana was skeptical but then decided to call Whitney.

Over at Ludwik's mansion.

Whitney was also having dinner with her two sons.

Hearing Tiana's outrage, Whitney's eyebrows raised coldly, "I've seen Elodie's interview.

Her popularity won't vanish overnight, given she's a Miller family heiress.

But Ludwik immediately released my medical report.

Bryce might be happy about Elodie's move, but he won't have much time to enjoy it, as my medical report and police report will get him summoned by the police. Once the netizens see he's being questioned for domestic violence, their sympathy for him will definitely wane."

Tiana: "Your medical report? Then this whole mess is going public, exposing the abuse..."

Whitney nodded, her expression frosty, "Ludwik said it's time to drop the pretenses.

Even if Bryce manages to talk his way out at the police station, claiming he only hit me because I cheated and he couldn't bear it, it doesn't matter.

Let him play his victim card and seek mediation.

The details don't matter.

As long as my five-billion investment offer baits him, it's all that counts."

Hearing Whitney's composed tone, Tiana's anger began to subside.

If the person concerned wasn't panicking, why should she?

Whitney and Ludwik had devised a grand scheme. It was a wait-and-see now, baiting Bryce into their trap.

"Fine, let Elodie play the fool and Bryce use her." Tiana set her phone aside, ready to dive into her meal. From the other end, Ludwik's deep voice came through, "Ms. Melford, is Parker next to you?" Huh?

Tiana grimaced, a bit caught off guard, and cleared her throat, "It was Cherry's idea to have him stay for dinner... Something up?"

"Hand him the phone."

Tiana, puzzled, passed the phone over.

Parker took it, switching off the speaker, and stood up, bracing for some urgent news, "Ludwik, what's going on?"

Ludwik's voice, flat and emotionless, cut through, "Since you're at Tiana's place, just crash there tonight. No need to come back!"

"..." Damn it, is he nagging about this again??

Parker's handsome face almost turned dark, visibly grinding his teeth in frustration, "I've given everything for you, Ludwik. And now I'm not even worthy of a place to stay? Bros before...you know what, are you even human anymore?"