Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 879

The thought that Tiana might be knocked up had Endora buzzing with a wicked sort of excitement.

A flame of jealousy ignited in her eyes, growing more intense by the second.

Today, she was on a mission to persuade the head of the maternity department to fabricate a medical record for her, claiming she was infertile due to a miscarriage she allegedly had years ago. Just a couple of days ago, Parker and Ludwik had scored a massive victory in the corporate world. Parker wasted no time in showing his true colors and dumping her.

The past fortnight, filled with forced displays of affection and an ongoing engagement under duress, had pushed Parker to his limit.

All he wanted was to ensure Endora wouldn't spill the beans about him being alive.

The enemy Parker and Ludwik were aiming to bring down was Bryce.

Tiana, on the other hand, was shocked to learn from a TV news report that Parker had another identity altogether - he was the scion of the Inko Group, a major corporation in Harmonia Country! That was a position of enormous power and influence.

Endora had always known Parker as a ruthless guy, the young master of the Doonan family in Banyan City, known for their influence in both the underworld and the legitimate business world. His methods were brutal, his tactics dark, but his capabilities were undeniable. Now, this man had an even more prestigious aura about him. In some respects, he outshone Ludwik, the most influential man in Harmonia Country.

Blinded by the allure of power, Endora was more determined than ever not to give up on Parker!

These past few days, Parker had ceased his surveillance on her at the hotel, clearly ready to burn bridges. He even declared that once he returned to Banyan City, he would break off their engagement, citing her indecent lifestyle and his lack of feelings for her as reasons. Endora was seething and at a loss. She suspected that Parker was in a hurry to end their engagement so he could run back to that wench Tiana.

But as luck would have it, any scandal involving Tiana was a powerful weapon in her hands!

With a cold smirk, Endora approached the nurse's station and feigned concern, "Nurse, could you tell me what illness that woman has come down with?"

"Who?" The nurse looked up at her.

Endora flashed a dazzling smile, "Tiana, I'm her cousin. I came to visit her."

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" The nurse replied cautiously, "We're bound to keep our patients' conditions confidential."

Endora's smile didn't falter as she leaned closer to the counter, "How about now?"

She slyly slid a credit card out from under her Chanel sleeve.

The nurse's eyes locked onto the card, her demeanor changing instantly.

"Spill it, what embarrassing illness has she got?" Endora said imperiously, dropping the credit card on the counter.

The nurse pocketed it, looked around stealthily, then whispered, "She's just pregnant, not ill."

"..." Endora was momentarily stunned, her mind racing.

Her expression quickly turned into one of wicked delight, "What did you say, nurse? Tiana is really pregnant?"

"As true as I stand here, she's been pregnant for over a month."

Endora's mind instantly went to Parker, her expression turning rigid.

Pregnant for over a month? Based on what she knew, Parker had been "dead" and missing around that time, and Tiana had been searching for him. Where could they have possibly hooked up?

This illegitimate child... what a joke! A devious smile curled on Endora's lips, her mind ablaze with excitement.

Could it be that scoundrel Barclay forced himself on Tiana, or some other random guy?

Either way, the child couldn't possibly be Parker's. This was fantastic news, and she had stumbled upon it by sheer luck.

Endora couldn't hide her malicious grin, "Oh, Tiana, does Parker know about your pregnancy?"

Hmm.

Her thoughts raced, a chilling sense of scheming behind her eyes.

She glanced towards Tiana's hospital room, "Thanks, nurse. My poor cousin, so young and already causing trouble. Do you know how long she'll be staying here?"

"The patient was brought in due to abdominal pain and fainting. Her friend was worried, so she's booked for a two-day stay."

"Perfect." Endora's smirk was uncontrollable, her eyes narrowing, "And remember, keep our little chat to yourself. Do your job, and the money's yours."

The nurse was startled by the coldness in her eyes. This girl claimed to be the patient's cousin, but instead of visiting, she was more interested in paying for gossip...

The nurse felt a pang of guilt holding the credit card but ultimately nodded, swayed by the promise of easy money.

Endora, reassured, strutted away, a sinister eagerness on her face.

-

At the coffee vending machine in the hallway, Whitney listened to Ludwik's busy, deep voice on the phone, "Hmm? Whitney, why are you calling me during work hours? Something up?" His soothing tone calmed her restless heart.

After taking a sip of her bitter coffee, Whitney leaned against the window sill, her voice soft, "Can I bother you for a moment, Ludwik?"

There was a brief silence, then the sound of Ludwik moving away from the noise, "What's going on, babe?"

His tender call made Whitney's heart spill over, "Ludwik, just be my sounding board for now, no need to comment. I've got to tell you, Tiana's pregnant. We just found out when she was admitted to the hospital. The thing is, she didn't know, and now that she does, she's in denial.

It's a mess.

She's keeping the details of the pregnancy and the identity of the father a secret.

I've pressed her for answers, but she's not budging, and I'm at my wit's end.

Imagine, Cherry's not even three, and Tiana's been single for three years. Where did this baby come from unless it was an accident with some guy?

I don't know what she's thinking or planning to do.

I'm completely in the dark, but she's family..."

Ludwik could hear the distress and anxiety in her voice.

To Whitney, Tiana was as dear as family, much like Yael was to him.

Yet, Ludwik was taken aback by the sudden news of Tiana's pregnancy.

Despite his general indifference to women other than Whitney, and his typically aloof demeanor, Ludwik had always pegged Tiana as a straight-laced woman who kept her distance from men.

The only man she seemed close to... appeared to be Parker...

Ludwik paused, struck by his own thought process.

Meanwhile, Whitney was a whirlwind of sharp thoughts and suspicions, plotting her next move. "Tiana doesn't have men in her life, that much I'm sure of!

The only men she interacts with are colleagues from work, and then there's Parker.

As for Barclay, that jerk, she avoids him like the plague.

Plus, if Barclay were the father of her child, I doubt she would have reacted the way she did just now.

Now, Ludwik, I need to ask you, did Parker ever mention to you that he was recuperating on Saltland Island after his injury?

His Uncle Phineas, about a month ago, also took Tiana to Saltland Island.

I want to know, was Parker really staying on Saltland Island all this time, and did he and Tiana have a chance to meet up before? Have you asked him about any of this?"