Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 838

At such a critical juncture, any news about him couldn't leak out.

Pushing this woman too far might lead her straight to Barclay with her grievances, and that would screw everything up.

Moreover, he couldn't let Tiana catch even a glimpse of that medical report. Real or not, she'd jump to all the wrong conclusions about him!

So, he had no choice but to hold back, his thin lips releasing a shadowy warning, "We'll postpone breaking off the engagement for a few days. But, Endora, you better not stir up trouble!"

Ludwik's collaboration with Inko Group was about to hit the headlines.

Upon hearing this, Endora smirked triumphantly, boldly flirting, "That's more like it, Parker. Keeping me close is safest for you. Treat me well, and I'll be in a good mood, with no reason to bother Barclay. Right?"

Parker, fed up, shoved her aside and slammed the hotel room door shut with a resounding 'click'.

-

Endora felt discarded like trash, fuming and stomping her feet. Yet, the thought of successfully blackmailing him brought a smug smile to her face. Tiana thought she could tear her and Parker apart. Foolish girl, thinking she could outplay me.

After Tiana sent that email to Parker, he didn't reply that night.

Disappointment hung heavy on her heart.

She also fretted over whether he had even seen it. But if he had time to take Endora back to her hotel, what was he doing instead of reading her email?

Just thinking about it made Tiana's heart ache.

She spent a sleepless night.

Early the next morning, Cherry, that sly little thing, dashed into her bedroom asking, "Mommy, didn't you show Daddy Parker evidence of that nasty woman's flirtations yesterday? What did Daddy Parker say? Did he decide to break up with her, realizing you're the good woman he should be with?"

Her daughter's chattering made Tiana tap her little forehead, "Self-praise much? Don't stir up trouble without knowing the full story."

"I might not speak clearly, but I understand the gist!"

"Why don't you call Daddy Parker and find out what he thinks?"

Tiana glanced at her phone, lips pressed tightly together.

He hadn't replied to her message; why call and show how desperately she hoped he'd regret his involvement with Endora?

She wasn't one to gossip.

Nor did she want to seem overly concerned about his love life.

Tiana hesitated.

Cherry, annoyed at her mom's emotional ostrich act, quickly grabbed the phone and handed it to her, "Come on, call him! If neither of you takes the initiative, who will?"

"...What nonsense have you been watching now?" Tiana nearly turned purple with frustration.

"Danny told me about it. He said he didn't get it, but he planned to tell his parents to make up quickly!"

Tiana sighed internally for Whitney, burdened with such a troublesome son, constantly plotting.

"Come on... Oh, a message! Is it Daddy Parker?"

Cherry heard the notification but couldn't read the text on the phone.

Tiana picked up the phone to see an unknown number.

She swiped to answer.

Immediately, Endora's mocking laughter came through, "Tiana, you're not waiting for Parker's call, are you? Think he'd dump me over those photos? You're a joke! He stayed with me all night; he had no time for your attempts to drive us apart. Guess what we're doing now?"

Endora's triumphant rant ended abruptly with a click, not waiting for Tiana's response.

In less than a second, Tiana's phone was bombarded with Facebook notifications.

Her face turned pale as she silently opened them to find photos of Parker with Endora at the hotel, having breakfast, their figures inseparable and seemingly intimate.

There were also pictures of him taking her to the hospital. Always close, they looked very much in love.

Then, Endora sent a diagnostic report.

Her mocking message almost leapt off the screen: No matter what I do, Parker treats me the same. Want to know why? Because I miscarried his child three years ago and can never conceive again! He was worried, so he took me to the doctor today. See how kind and responsible he is? What are you in comparison, a nobody. You'll never stand a chance with Parker.

It wasn't Endora's insults that hurt the most.

It was the diagnosis: unable to conceive again.

And Parker's actions that morning.

This gesture slapped Tiana harder than anything else!

He didn't care about Endora's misdeeds... it seemed he truly loved Endora.

Love or not, a woman who could no longer bear his children meant he'd never escape her.

After spending the entire night and showing such care in the morning, Tiana had her epiphany.

His interest in her was just a whim.

Men, after all, stray when their fiancées aren't around, don't they?

If it wasn't true love, why did he ask if she liked him?

Did he think she was easy because of her past?

A wave of despair washed over Tiana from head to toe; she had thought Parker was different, but he clearly didn't care.

Since he chose his fiancée, why bother with her?

Her eyes reddened, her heart aching and breath hard to come by.

Just then, the phone vibrated.

Seeing her mom teary-eyed and heartbroken, Cherry was distressed. She whispered, checking the caller ID, "Mommy, Daddy Parker is calling." Fearing her mom wouldn't answer, Cherry quickly accepted the call.

Parker's deep, soothing voice filled the line, "Tiana?"

Tiana remained icily silent.

Hearing no response, Parker coughed lightly, his tone gentle, "Tiana, what are you doing?"

"Is the signal bad? Can you hear me?" he asked, concern in his voice.

His voice, usually so pleasant, now grated on her nerves.

Tiana fought to catch her breath, her voice carrying an unprecedented chill, "Is there something else, Mr. Doonan?"

"I saw the email you sent me," Parker said, his emotions guarded, pondering.

"Oh."

Tiana's eyebrows lifted slightly, her smirk almost a sneer, dripping with sarcasm, "Consider my actions a moot point, Mr. Doonan. Pretend you never saw it."

"What are you talking about?" Parker was confused, unable to grasp her tone.

He hadn't mentioned that he had called off his engagement to Endora, but she seemed angry nonetheless.

Just as he was about to explain, Tiana, unable to hold back any longer, snapped, "What, you can't understand me? Or does Mr. Doonan fancy playing the field, keeping a trophy wife at home while having a bit on the side? Feeling good about yourself, are you?" "What on earth are you talking about, Tiana?" Parker's mood darkened.

This woman, always so brash and direct, it drove him mad.

He couldn't for the life of him figure out what got into her.