Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 917

"Yank off his hair?" Cherry was puzzled, "That sounds like a tall order. What if it hurts him and he gets mad? What if he finds out I was pulling his hair?" Whitney had considered this too. Who in their right mind would dare get close enough to Parker, a man known for his sharpness?

He was unbeatable in a scuffle, getting a lock of his hair seemed almost impossible.

But Cherry was different. Parker had a soft spot for the little tyke and let his guard down around kids.

That made Cherry the perfect candidate for the job.

Whitney smiled, "Our little genius here will figure something out. Remember, grab as many strands as you can!

And, this stays between us, okay? Not a word to anyone, not even to your mom. Got it?"

"Yep, it's a secret mission from Whitney!"

"Right, kiddo, you've got to pull it off," Whitney encouraged her gently.

She was investigating Endora, and it wouldn't be long before Endora caught on. Once she did, she'd guess Whitney's next move would be a paternity test redo!

Endora had learned well from Elaine in the art of deceit, establishing her network in Banyan City over the years. Whitney didn't want any complications, so caution was paramount. Everything would be simpler once the new paternity test results were in.

Then, it was Parker's turn to regret his mistakes, especially that ridiculous wedding plan.

Whitney frowned, her immediate concern was Mr. Melford's detoxification. If Parker refused to help, Tiana might have to accept Barclay's marriage proposal to get the antidote first. Lost in thought, she left the hospital...

-

At 7 PM, Ashton arrived at Banyan City's airport.

With his little "muffin" in tow, he stepped off the plane, carrying Cherry. Surprised to see Nolan Fuller waiting for them, Ashton's rough eyebrows furrowed as he nonchalantly asked, "Weren't you supposed to find her?" Nolan, caught off guard, knew exactly who Ashton meant.

Glancing at the night sky outside the airport, Nolan then turned back to his brother, smirking coldly, "Oh, you remember you have a wife, oh, I mean, ex-wife?"

Thinking of Valerie Bartels, with her delicate features, tall figure, and lush hair, who rarely smiled anymore. Valerie wasn't like that as a child, but over the years, her smiles faded, becoming infrequent and frozen. When she left the Fuller family, she didn't take a dime, just her belongings from when she first moved in, leaving Ashton behind along with a divorce agreement.

Perhaps being away from Emperor City had made Ashton forgetful; he almost forgot Valerie had indeed handed him divorce papers, which he tore in half.

While Elaine was around, Ashton couldn't deny thinking about divorcing Valerie, to pursue his long-held affection.

But when Valerie truly wanted to cut ties, he found himself unwilling, his heart aching intensely.

Nolan's presence starkly reminded him of his failing marriage.

Snapped back to reality, Ashton's expression darkened, and he snapped at Nolan's mockery, "Valerie is my wife until the divorce is final. Nolan, remember this, you have no right to pursue her.

She's your sister-in-law! Keep those thoughts to yourself. If you dare chase after her, I'll make sure you regret it, disgracing the Fuller family name!"

"Ashton, you're one to talk about affairs when you were the one stepping out with Elaine!" Nolan retorted fiercely, his temper flaring.

The two brothers, one rugged and the other with a youthful charm, seemed on the brink of a fight. Cherry, perched on Ashton's shoulder, timidly spoke up, "Mr. Fuller, who's this? Why did he start arguing with you as soon as he arrived?" "Never mind him. Let's go!" Ashton brushed past Nolan, barking, "Where are the car keys?"

Nolan spat out in disdain, tossing the keys on the ground with a smirk, "As if I wanted to pick you up. If Parker hadn't run into trouble, I wouldn't have rushed back!"

As Ashton bent to pick up the keys, he paused, his dark gaze fixed on Nolan, his voice rough, "Where have you been? Did you find Valerie?"

"She almost died because of you before she left the Fuller family. Do you even deserve to ask about her?"

Nolan coldly refused to answer, delivering a painful blow.

Ashton swallowed hard, pausing.

The image of Valerie's soulless, blank face before she left, not giving him another glance, darkened his mood.

Biting his lip, he muttered, "You think you can hide her forever? Sooner or later, I'll find her. I might be tied up now, but cross the line and see what happens, you brat!"

Nolan remained silent, feeling Valerie didn't deserve any of this. Hiding in the shadows, pregnant and alone, yet she chose to keep the baby...

But what about Ashton? Without Elaine, Valerie might have had a place in his heart, but whenever it came to choosing between them, Valerie was always overlooked.

Nolan couldn't fathom how Valerie endured being the backup in their marriage for over four years, her love for Ashton finally freezing over.

Nolan mustered all his courage to step in between the two, determined to put an end to it all. He wanted Valerie to finally breathe the air of true freedom and savor the only joy left, without Ashton playing the role of the returning scoundrel. Raising an eyebrow, Nolan laid it out. "She handed you the divorce papers, man. She's single by her own declaration. And as for me, I'm as free as a bird. What I decide to do about it isn't your business."

"Don't test my patience! Just you wait, I'll have the old man set you up with a marriage tomorrow!" Ashton clenched his fists in anger, though deep down, he wasn't sure of his ground. It was an open secret among their circle that Nolan harbored feelings for Valerie, perhaps even stronger than his own.

"Brother, let me lay it down for you too," Nolan shot back, his temper flaring. "Even if Dad were to hold a knife to my throat, I'd still say it loud and proud - damn it, I'm in love with my sister-in-law, and she's the only one I'll ever marry!"

As the tension between the two escalated, Cherry, visibly anxious, finally spoke up. "Mr. Fuller, I really want to find my Daddy Parker. Can you guys maybe postpone this fight for another day? I can't even follow who's trying to steal whose girl, but it sure sounds like a hot mess."

The two grown men froze, suddenly aware of the child's presence, their faces stiffening awkwardly.