Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 900

After all, a girl barely in her twenties having a miscarriage, it's not exactly something to brag about.

We were also afraid the Doonans wouldn't have her... Now bringing this up, Endora was cornered by you, her three years of love can't just be thrown away like that," Alice sobbed uncontrollably, drawing the attention of passersby in the hallway. Winston's expression grew darker.

Parker remained unmoved, smirking softly, "So you're desperate! So your family immediately released the news that she can't get pregnant, willing to shame yourselves in front of the whole town, making a scene, thinking you can pressure me into marrying her?" The man's narrow, cold eyes turned towards his father, not believing his father couldn't see through the Melfords' schemes.

Winston's icy gaze pierced through Cato and Alice, making them squirm uneasily.

"Winston, of course, we didn't leak the news! We were too busy hiding it for our daughter's sake! Parker, you can't slander us like this," Cato quickly defended.

Parker looked straight at his father, "Dad, can't you see? This is nothing but a forced marriage in disguise?

You've got some nerve.

But I, Parker, have never been threatened by anyone since I was born.

Try me!"

-

"Parker, what do you mean by that? Endora is hanging between life and death, all of Banyan City is watching, are you really going to cold-heartedly abandon her? Is this how the Doonan family operates?

Oh, the Doonan family plays both sides, we can't compete. But the public sees everything, Winston, the failings of a child are the father's failings!

My pure daughter engaged to him for three years, only to be driven to suicide by Parker, if this gets out, can your family still hold its head high in Banyan City, in business and status?" Cato insinuated with a sneer. The atmosphere turned dead silent, a pin drop away from exploding!

Parker's eyes darkened, and he stepped forward menacingly, "You dare to push the Doonans too far? She was driven to suicide by me, is that it? Perhaps you two should take her place—"

Cato and Alice recoiled at his glare.

Just as anger was about to boil over.

"Enough! You insolent child." Winston spoke up, his contemplative eyes flashing coldly, before finally barking at his son, "Come here, I have a few words for you."

"Dear..." Parker's mother approached, her expression cold yet pleading.

"Nobody interrupt us," Winston spoke again.

Parker's mother's expression froze, growing colder.

Barclay's mother glanced at this seductress, a smirk forming on her lips. She couldn't wait for Parker's scandal to blow up even bigger, beyond control. For once, Parker had slipped up, making her son Barclay seem not so irresponsible by comparison. Oh. She excitedly moved aside, picking up her phone to call her son Barclay.

Just the other day, he had called her, exclaiming, "Mom, I'm gonna step up, I'm gonna beat Parker for the Doonan family fortune, to become the rightful heir again."

Carmen was shocked, had her son lost his mind?

But she was comforted, after all the years of posturing before the old man, her son was finally not a wastrel. He said someone was helping him, then asked her to hurry and handle something. Carmen was on it, just waiting for Barclay to come back and stir things up, especially taking advantage of Parker's misstep. Once Parker disappointed the old man, he would fall out of favor! He and his seductress mother would have to crawl back to Emperor City!

The office door clanged shut.

Winston sat down on the sofa, not old, but still holding a cane, black steel. Parker had felt the cane's force before, capable of shattering a man's kneecap.

The old man had once used it to settle disputes among Banyan City's underground factions, with the Doonans leading.

Over the years, the Doonans had shared the business spoils of Banyan City evenly with the Lippert family, neck and neck.

The old man had also gradually legitimized his entertainment businesses, now the Doonans were a respectable business dynasty in Banyan City.

Still, if there was dirty work to be done, everyone knew to come to the Doonans.

Only the Doonans had the power and means to handle the underworld.

"Sit."

With a single word from Winston, Parker snapped back to reality, his father's tone as cold as the deep sea.

Parker sat down next to him, looking up, "What did you want to say?"

Winston turned his head, extinguishing his nearly burnt-out cigar, his words ruthless, "Parker.

If you didn't like Endora, you should've said so sooner, you had three years!

I don't care if you officially ended things with her in private,

You've handled this situation terribly, leaving me to clean up your mess.

Listen, once those operating room doors open, as long as Endora's alive, no matter her condition, you're marrying her.

If she's dead, just be glad you only have to compensate the Melfords."

Parker frowned, his expression turning icy, "Dad, I won't marry her!

I've done my duty by speaking out. She dared to scheme against me, I'll make sure she regrets it."

"You no longer have a choice." Winston's hand left the ashtray, his face half in shadow.

Not a bit of warmth.

Parker stood up coldly, "Dad! I said she's physically fine, capable of getting pregnant, I don't need to take responsibility for her life.

Pregnant three years ago and had a miscarriage? I don't buy it.

The Melford clan was playing with fire, thinking they could just dump their mess onto the Doonans. Dream on.

Winston rose to his feet, not as tall as Parker but his presence was overpowering. "Listen here, I never asked you to take responsibility for her. I see through the Melfords' schemes clearer than you ever could. What I'm asking is for you to take responsibility for the entire Doonan clan!

You made a mess, now you've got to clean it up. Trade your marriage for the Doonan's stability in Banyan City, got it?

I don't want to hear a single word against the Doonans out there.

Sure, the Doonans have their dark spots, but our family's name and reputation mean everything to me.

And we're not about to let the Melfords play us for fools!

That girl, scheming and calculating, marry her to keep the peace. But once this storm passes, I'll make sure the Melfords get what's coming to them."

The old man tightened his grip on his cane, a murderous glint in his eyes.

Parker was momentarily taken aback, understanding his father's intent. Marrying for peace, sure, but his father had no intention of letting the Melfords off easy, once the current scandal blew over.

Yet, he remained defiant.

He lifted his chin, his eyes icy, "What happens to the Doonans isn't my concern.

I'm not about to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of family stability.

I'll take up the mantle of heir if I can, if not, go bother my elder brother!"

"You ungrateful brat! Parker, you think I'm giving you an option here?"

"I'm not my mother, I won't be schooled by you!"

"Don't you dare speak of your mother that way."

Parker met his father's gaze with a cold indifference, "I found my uncle in Emperor City. The Wilsons are a distinguished family. My mother spent years with the Doonans, never once mentioning her own family. Speaks volumes about your 'tutelage'! Dad, if you trust me, we don't need to marry Endora off. The Doonans will weather this storm under my watch."