Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 887

Once Tiana realized that the secret of her unborn child could unravel, she knew she wouldn't find peace. Danger seemed to lurk around every corner, and the thought alone was enough to send her spiraling into despair.

"Just think of me as an ostrich, sticking its head in the sand," she sighed, her voice heavy with a mix of pessimism and resignation. "I'm too weak to go through another round of Endora's cunning and spiteful schemes. If losing to Endora means finding peace, so be it." "Parker was always out of my league," she continued, her voice breaking as she spoke his name. "After what his brother, Barclay, did to me, I knew I could never have a real future with Parker. That dream died a long time ago."

She paused, taking a deep, shaky breath. "And I've made my decision. I can't keep this baby."

"What?" Whitney was taken aback by her friend's resolve.

"But Tiana, shouldn't Parker at least know? As the father, doesn't he have a right to know? It isn't fair for you to decide on your own, to just let him believe the worst of you."

Tiana offered a bitter smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's the only way he'll give up on me. If he can't let go of Endora, then what's the point of this fleeting affection? I'd rather lose him. Despite my struggles, my pride, my dignity in love remains intact. If he can't be completely mine, then I don't want him at all. Being tainted by Barclay's actions, my life's essentially over. There's no turning back for me now, Whitney."

The resolve in her voice did little to mask the pain in her eyes, a sight that deeply wounded Whitney. Why did Tiana have to suffer so much, and for so long?

The crux of Tiana's fear was the unborn child, a potential catalyst for scandal within the prestigious Doonan family and Banyan City. Her family had already borne too much, and she couldn't risk bringing more shame upon Parker. The thought of the two brothers being with the same woman would not only humiliate Parker but could also tarnish the Doonan family's reputation irreparably.

Despite her protests, Tiana's actions always seemed to consider Parker's feelings above her own, even if it meant enduring scorn and disgrace.

Whitney felt a surge of indignation on behalf of her friend, her thoughts suddenly drifting to Cherry. If Cherry had indeed been Parker's child...

When Whitney first met Cherry, the resemblance to Parker was uncanny, even Valerie had to admit the girl looked more like Parker's daughter than Barclay's. Three years ago, amidst the chaos of that fateful night at the club, it was Barclay who emerged, claiming he was the one who had wronged Tiana.

But what if there had been a mistake? What if it was Parker who had been with Tiana, not Barclay?

Driven by this sudden insight, Whitney urgently asked Tiana to reconsider the events of that night, to question whether it was indeed Barclay she had seen.

Tiana's response was filled with sorrow. "Rumors and accusations all pointed to Barclay, and in my heart, I knew they were right. But the truth is, Cherry does bear a striking resemblance to the Doonan family. It's a known fact, and nothing more than wishful thinking could change that. Cherry is Barclay's daughter..."

Whitney, however, was not convinced, especially considering the suspicious circumstances surrounding the paternity test Barclay presented. "Did he ever conduct that test in front of you?" she pressed, her intuition telling her something was amiss.

Tiana's recount of Barclay's aggressive attempt to claim Cherry and the subsequent paternity test only deepened the mystery. "I never knew when he saw Cherry or how he got her hair for the test. But the results stated she was his daughter. Considering everything that happened three years ago, I had no reason to doubt it," Tiana explained, her hopelessness palpable.

Whitney frowned, troubled by the inconsistencies and secrets that seemed to shroud the truth. The revelation that Parker might be Cherry's real father lingered in the air, casting a shadow of doubt over everything Tiana believed.

"What if it's all a hoax?" Whitney wasn't ready to jump to conclusions. "You know how sneaky and underhanded Barclay can be. This isn't news to you!"

"But why would he cook up a fake paternity test?" Tiana argued back. "Barclay, that jerk, why would he claim a kid that isn't his own?"

Whitney paused for a moment, pondering.

Maybe, just maybe, Barclay was kept in the dark too, believing Cherry was truly his?

So, this paternity test... even Barclay was duped by it.

But who would fabricate such a test, deceiving Barclay in the process?

Whitney's gaze narrowed, her mind racing to someone: Endora.

Her fingertips tensed slightly at the thought. This Endora, as Tiana had mentioned, was part of a family known for their overbearing ways. After the Melford family's downfall, Endora's parents had seized Tiana's family assets, climbing the social ladder, committing all sorts of vile deeds without remorse. And for the past three years, Endora had been acting as Elaine's lackey.

It was likely she had mastered the art of manipulation and deceit, nearly perfecting her craft!

"Tiana... have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, both you and Barclay were duped by Endora from the start?

Endora wanted Cherry to be discovered by Barclay, stirring up a storm in your life!

She definitely had the motive. I think it's crucial you get a new paternity test done for Cherry and Barclay.

Besides "

Suddenly, Whitney grabbed Tiana's phone, scrolling through to find the photos Endora had sent. She looked at them again, her lips curling into a cold smirk.