Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 839

"Why play dumb?" Tiana scoffed softly, "Aren't you right now keeping your fiancée company?

Once you've made your choice, stop beating around the bush. It just makes you seem indecisive, not at all like a man."

"Tiana, don't test my patience. I haven't even said anything yet; how do you know what I'm about to say?"

"So, are you or are you not with Endora, even last night?"

"I wasn't with her last night! But right now, I'm with her because..."

"Save it." Tiana thought of the medical report that declared her infertile for life, closing her eyes in resignation. Stop kidding yourself, Tiana, there's no future here, and you're not a teenager anymore. Teenagers can chase love bravely, and if they fail, they can just start over.

But as a single mom, can you afford to chase a man and lose face?

She couldn't!

She took back all her feelings, cutting off Parker mid-sentence with a cold finality, "Stay with her then. It's not like I care, because I don't like you at all!" Boom.

Snow seemed to fall inside Parker's mind, suffocating him.

She had given her answer, and it was that she didn't like him at all.

Fine then.

She didn't need his explanations because she didn't care for him.

Even if he'd been with Endora, it wouldn't upset her.

She didn't like him, so she wouldn't get jealous.

That's it, no need to flatter oneself.

Anger engulfed Parker, but beneath it was a hollow feeling, as if his body's warmth was draining away, leaving him utterly powerless.

All this time, their flirtation, could it have been just her playing him?

Him, the scion of the Doonan family, played by this woman?

Grinding his teeth, he said, "Tiana, I don't just fall for any woman. I'm giving you one more chance-do you like me or not?"

"Is your Mr. Doonan's affection supposed to be some kind of charity that I should be grateful for?"

All Tiana could think of were the photos Endora had sent her.

Clutching her phone tightly, her words laced with thorns, "You think I'd be your mistress? You're not worthy."

"Is that how you see me? Tiana, you've really got some nerve! What kind of woman do you think you are, to be worthy of me?" Parker was furious, his words cutting deep.

Tiana swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, "Well, since Mr. Doonan looks down on me, I wish you and your cousin all the best!"

Silence, a deadly silence, as the man's breaths turned fiery.

Then, he slammed the phone down.

Tiana recoiled, leaning against the wall as tears blurred her vision, obscuring the face of her daughter.

Cherry cried out in distress, "Mommy, can't you talk it out? Why do you have to fight with Daddy Parker? You obviously like him, why deny your feelings?"

"Because he chose Endora, and Mommy doesn't want to be a lovesick fool!" Tiana wiped away her tears with a self-deprecating laugh, "Let him be with Endora. Better them than hurting someone else." "Daddy Parker really, Endora is the worst, how can he not break up with her? Did a dog eat his brain?" Cherry was equally disappointed.

It seems like her mommy's search for a daddy is over.

Whimpering, she ran back to her room, seeking solace with Danny.

-

At Ludwik's mansion.

When Ludwik noticed Parker hadn't returned, he called, ready to tease him about how long he planned to mix with Tiana...suddenly, he sensed something was off on the phone. "Parker?" The man began, "Where are you, not at Tiana's place?"

"Yeah. Ludwik, I've got some stuff going on."

Parker sounded exhausted, with an undercurrent of frustration.

Ludwik frowned, his voice growing heavier, "What happened?" "Endora caught me yesterday.

Now I'm with her." Parker's brows furrowed.

Endora?

Ludwik recalled, vaguely remembering her as Parker's fiancée.

But none of the brothers took her seriously.

It was clear Parker wasn't fond of her.

"Why are you with her?" Ludwik was puzzled.

Parker bit his lip, admitting, "I tried to break off the engagement, and she threatened me. Endora figured I didn't want to go public, thinking of informing Barclay.

You know Barclay, my elder brother isn't easy to deal with."

Ludwik got it in a second, his brow furrowing, "So you're playing a waiting game with her?"

"I've got to keep her quiet, can't let your business suffer." Parker said with a bitter laugh, "Just half a month. Endora's making a scene now, but I'll cut her loose in half a month." Ludwik thought it unfair to let his brother suffer like this.

He felt guilty for the sacrifices Parker made for the Lippert family's cause.

"Parker, what about you and Tiana...she didn't misunderstand, did she?" Ludwik rarely delved into personal matters.

"Forget about her! She's not interested in me, so there's no misunderstanding. Don't try to make me look better." Parker said angrily.

"..." It seemed they had already fought.

Ludwik pinched his brow hard, "If it comes to it, we'll find a way to shut Endora up for good."

"Nothing's as safe as me keeping an eye on her myself. We can't afford any risks with Inko Group. Plus, my old man is quite fond of Endora.

I can't just kill her; I wouldn't do that."

The Doonan family valued loyalty, and Parker was Winston's chosen heir, their only hope.

This was a tough situation.

Success requires sacrifice, and it seemed Parker would have to endure for half a month longer.

Ludwik clenched his fists, "Parker, I owe you big time for this.

If you ever decide to pursue Tiana again, I'll have my wife help you out."

The first part sounded normal enough.

But the second part made Parker's mouth twitch, "Bro, you haven't even won back Whitney yet, remember? Aren't you still struggling in the trenches?"

"Speaking of the devil..." Ludwik cleared his throat awkwardly before ending the call, his pride slightly wounded.

He strode back from the balcony with his long legs.

Whitney approached, phone in hand, her brows knitted in frustration, "Ludwik, were you just talking to Parker?"

"I just hung up. What's up, Whitney?"

Whitney was visibly upset, "Call him back! I need to ask him what the heck he did to Tiana.

Tiana's been ghosting my calls. She was supposed to join me at The Sheldon Group for work today, but then Danny came running, saying Cherry was bawling her eyes out, claiming Parker doesn't want to be her daddy anymore, that he's with some other woman... Is it that Endora?"

Hearing this, Ludwik felt a headache coming on.