Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 920

Ashton lingered, his mood as tangled as his crossed legs. With a frosty gaze, he looked at the man slumped before him. "So, you hate Tiana, fine. Consider it a favor to me and Whitney. Right now, me and Ludwik, we don't have the pull you do in Banyan City. Besides, this whole Fabian Melford mess, the truth is your brother screwed Tiana over. And your Endora, she's probably not innocent in all this either... You've always been about fairness. Are you really going to side with Endora? You don't even like her! Poor Fabian's got a serious heart condition. You wouldn't want to bring trouble to his folks, right?"

Ashton was doing his best to convince him to save the day.

Parker's brows knitted together tightly as he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. His cold eyes shifted to his subordinate beside him.

He had already asked for an investigation that morning.

But now, he couldn't care less about anything related to the Melford family.

Catching Parker's eye and seeing Ashton there, the subordinate finally dared to speak up, "Boss, I looked into it. Three days ago, Fabian got into a fight with Thomas at the Caldwell Estate, ended up killing Thomas. The Caldwell family accused him of murder, and now he's locked up.

Tiana came back because of this.

The Caldwell family, I checked them out too. Turns out they're related to Barclay's mother's side..."

Parker's eyelids twitched, his pupils narrowing.

Ashton chimed in again, reminding him, "Tiana going after Endora today wasn't without reason. Endora's no angel. Are you really going to be the villain in this story?

Then, how could Tiana not hate you?"

"Hate me? So she marries Barclay? She dares to marry the man who ruined her father, all for the sake of that bastard in her belly and a touch of luxury!" Parker spat out, still bitter. Alright, he was trapped in his own resentment.

Everything boiled down to him believing that Tiana's child wasn't his.

That was, in his eyes, Tiana's unforgivable crime.

What the hell was he still talking about?

Any man would be crushed by such deception. Tiana keeping him in the dark was digging her own grave.

Disheartened, Ashton stood up, his expression somber, "Think about it, to save or not, I'll leave it up to you. Also, I brought Cherry over. She's outside, eager to see you.

She's calling you daddy..."

"Take her away." Parker's expression darkened instantly, his eyes complex and icy. The word 'daddy' was now a cruel joke to him.

Because Cherry was Barclay's seed!

He didn't hate Cherry, he just couldn't bear to face her.

"Seriously?" Ashton glared at him, "They say love me, love my dog. Are you really going to blame the child now? She's so adorable, rushing all the way from Emperor City to see you. That kind of love and trust weighs a ton. Are you really going to hurt her over adult issues..." Ashton couldn't bear it any longer.

Parker's heart twitched slightly, a pang of pain shooting through it.

He loved Cherry, more than just liked - it was an instinctual affection, evident from their first meeting.

Her big, watery eyes calling him 'daddy', her soft body cuddled in his arms like a little cotton ball, Parker never imagined what his daughter would be like until Cherry came along.

Yes, he hated Tiana, but he couldn't bring himself to blame Cherry at all.

After a suffocating silence, he leaned back on the couch and let down his guard, his voice hoarse, "If she hasn't left, bring her in."

Ashton, seeing his cold demeanor, straightened his lips with worry for Cherry.

But he turned and walked out to the Lamborghini, knocking on Cherry's window.

Inside, Parker stood up, his tall figure moving to the window, his cold fingers lifting a curtain. He saw Ashton bending down, talking to someone in the car.

The endless night swallowed the Lamborghini, along with the light in Parker's eyes.

His gaze deep, he silently closed his eyes and gestured with his hand.

"Boss, you..."

Parker clenched his teeth, his voice low and gravelly, "Tomorrow morning, go talk to the chief. On my behalf, let him name his price, but get Fabian out." The subordinate was stunned!

Just moments ago, with Ashton there, the boss was unyielding, cold to the core.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" the subordinate asked softly.

If only he knew the reason.

Despite Tiana trampling on his pride time and again, why was he still extending a helping hand? He didn't know the answer... Perhaps it was simply his inability to tolerate Barclay's wrongdoing. He had caught a glimpse of Cherry's little face. So young, yet facing the loss of her grandfather?

Parker despised his own weakness, the softest part of his heart still reserved for that woman and her child.

Turning around, his dark eyes glanced at the couch, the floor littered with bottles. He straightened up, tore off his tie, and headed for the bathroom, "Clean this up."

The servants sprang into action.

The subordinate, standing behind, watched the boss's tall and straight figure.

He was going to shower, perhaps to meet the child, and wanted the room cleaned up.

The boss's tenderness, all saved for that little girl.

Too bad, she was Barclay's seed. The subordinate felt indignant for the boss!

Pretending to be something he's not, the subordinate scoffed internally, lightly saying, 'Get Fabian out,' as if the boss would go through great lengths just for a good deed. Impossible. Deep down, it was his unwillingness to see Tiana's father die.

When would Tiana understand the boss's heart?

With a mix of frustration and resignation, the subordinate left.

-

"Yay! Daddy Parker really agreed to see me?" Cherry scrambled out of the car upon hearing the news, her little mouth stained with lollipop, drool everywhere, as Nolan wiped her mouth clean. Ashton extended his hand, "Let me take you inside."

"Mr. Fuller, wait a sec, do I look okay? Is my hair a mess? Can either of you do a ponytail? I think I need to redo it..."

Ashton frowned, barely concealing his impatience, "I don't do ponytails!"

Cherry turned her hopeful eyes towards Nolan, expecting a gentler response.

"Don't look at me, kiddo. I'm clueless about hair."

"You guys are really hopeless," Cherry mumbled dejectedly, her tiny hands fumbling with her pigtails, which Yael had meticulously done for her. They must have been a mess after all the running around. She looked up at Ashton with a pout, her concern evident, "I'm worried Daddy Parker will be mad at me... He's already really upset with mommy..."

Ashton felt a tug at his heartstrings.

He realized how young she was, yet so perceptive. She was aware of Parker's anger...

Perhaps growing up without a father's shield had made her so attuned to others' emotions.

He sighed internally, giving her hand a gentle squeeze, "Don't worry. If Parker dares to be mean to you, you've got two uncles right outside, ready to come in and set him straight!"