Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 927

Whitney found herself at a loss for words. Ashton had spent the whole of last night trying to reason with Parker, telling him the child was actually his, but Parker wouldn't hear of it. It seemed his hatred for Tiana had grown too deep, fortified by her many lies which had now taken the shape of truth in his heart. Tiana's fleeting hope extinguished once more at Whitney's silence. She laughed bitterly, "He rejected the idea, didn't he? I know Parker too well; he loathes me."

"But sometimes, actions speak louder than words, Tiana! If he despises you but still can't bear to see you in trouble, doesn't that tell you something? It means he loves you, Tiana," Whitney argued, her brows knitting in concern.

Tiana couldn't bear to entertain notions that shook her resolve. She scoffed, "Whitney, you must be living under a rock. The Doonans have just announced Parker and Endora's engagement. He's clearly moved on." Resolved, she made her way to the infusion chair.

A nurse approached with a syringe and an IV bag labeled with the name of an anesthetic. Tiana took a deep breath, "Go ahead."

Whitney sighed inwardly, realizing she couldn't sway her friend. She gave the nurse a subtle nod.

As the needle pierced her skin, Tiana felt the cold liquid seep into her veins, her eyes brimming with tears at the thought of losing the child...

Waking up on a navy-blue operating table, confusion gave way to a heart-wrenching realization as she touched her stomach - the child was gone.

"What... It's done?" She looked questioningly at a nurse tidying up nearby, tears streaming down her face.

"Of course, it's done," Whitney appeared, parting the curtains and coming in. She held Tiana's hand firmly, trying to offer some comfort. "The procedure's over, you knew nothing because of the anesthesia. Time to move on."

"I... I just didn't expect it to be so... painless," Tiana managed to say between sobs and laughter, an ugly expression of her turmoil.

Whitney, feeling her heart clench at the sight, tried to lighten the mood, "Well, it wouldn't be called a painless procedure if you felt anything, right?"

The nurse chimed in, "Exactly, modern medicine is quite advanced. Some women go back to work the same afternoon. You'll be fine once the dizziness wears off."

Tiana, trying to hide her profound sadness, didn't dare to look at the tools being cleaned, the sight of blood making her shiver. She got dressed, surprised at how easily she could move.

"Whitney, was everything about the operation alright? Where's Dr. Bill? I didn't feel any pain at all," she whispered, frowning.

Whitney exchanged a look with the nurse, "Dr. Bill had to rush to another surgery. Don't worry, many young women go through this. You'll feel more when the anesthesia fully wears off." Back in the operating room, Whitney instructed the nurse, "Make sure there's no trace left."

The nurse assured, "Don't worry, Ms. Valentine. I've aired out the sedative smell too."

"And have Dr. Bill prescribe some herbal medicine to stimulate abdominal discomfort," Whitney added, ensuring the deception was complete.

Outside, Tiana stood still, her doubts momentarily calmed by Whitney's care. Despite her initial suspicion, she trusted Whitney not to deceive her.

As they left, Whitney's heart ached at Tiana's acceptance of the harsh realities of life, remembering her own naive hopes for love and forgiveness from Ludwik. But life had taught them both the hard lesson that happiness doesn't always come from clinging to someone else.

Whitney was wrestling with a torrent of thoughts, all because of the little one on the way. Doubts about Cherry and Parker's relationship swirled in her mind, making her subconsciously root for Tiana and Parker to end up together. She couldn't help but play matchmaker, despite questioning her own decisions.

Glancing down at her belly, she clenched her hand. There was no turning back now; she'd already set things in motion.

"Tiana, when I was utterly disillusioned with Ludwik, I taught you that we women must stand strong and independent, never to live in the shadow of a man's love. That advice still holds true.

But... our situations are different. What you and Parker have, it's special! You might not get what I'm saying right now, and there's something I can't fully disclose yet because I don't have all the answers myself. But believe me, Parker's life isn't a soap opera like Ludwik's was. Sure, there's Endora, whom he can't stand, but other than that, his world is much simpler. His biggest issue with you is a deep misunderstanding!" Whitney's words were earnest, filled with a mix of hope and concern. She wanted more than anything for Tiana to see the potential for something real with Parker, beyond the complications and the mix-ups.