Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 967

Elaine edged closer to Endora's face, carefully scanning the dimly lit cell to ensure the other inmates were asleep. With a voice as quiet as a whisper, she spoke with a venomous chill, "Unlike me, your guilt is stamped in black and white. You're on a one-way trip to the electric chair, sweetheart. You resent me for betraying you, but did you ever stop to think why I had to do it?"

"Why? Because you're a selfish witch, trying to save your own skin at the eleventh hour. Dream on, Elaine. Parker and Whitney will never let you off the hook," Endora retorted.

"Yes, they won't let me off. But there's someone who will, someone who pities me. That's why I flipped sides last night. Endora, we're both in the same sinking ship. You can try to drag me down with you, expose me if you will. But if you pin your hopes on me, keep my secret, once I'm out, I'll cozy up to Ashton. He fancies me. Once we tie the knot... Just think about it. Even though you'll be serving time, once I become Mrs. Fuller, do you think it's impossible for me to pull some strings, get you out, or even stage your death in prison, saving your life in secret?"

Her words hung in the air.

Endora's pupils dilated with a flicker of desperate hope, her hands gripping the wooden bedpost tightly, despite her skepticism.

She caught every shift in Endora's expression, a silent witness to her crumbling resolve. Who wouldn't grasp at a lifeline when facing death?

Elaine was exploiting Endora's despair.

"Look at you, all beaten and broken by Parker! Once the cops convict you, and if Parker, still harboring resentment about Cherry's true heritage, decides to eliminate you, it would be as easy as lifting his finger. He's ruthless. Even if you don't die, you'll spend your life behind bars. You're done for! Your only hope is me."

Tears of fury and helplessness welled up in Endora's eyes as she thought of the Melford family's downfall at Parker's hands in a single day.

This man was merciless, determined to reclaim everything for Tiana.

He would never let her live.

Endora stared bleakly at Elaine, her eyes gradually dulling.

Elaine's lips curled into a smirk, lifting Endora's chin, "Hear me out, your only shot at freedom is through me. Yes, I betrayed you to save myself, but what of it? I can also find a way to save you! What you need to do now is keep my secret. We're both struggling bugs; at least one of us should survive to save the other. I promise, once I win Ashton over and return to high society, I'll find a way to get you out. You take the fall now, keep tight-lipped!"

Endora glared at her, trapped in a mix of rage and despair.

"Me keeping silent about you... I really hate to let you off the hook, knowing you've been pulling the strings, using me to win over Parker's heart, playing me like a puppet, all for your own gain. I've been your pawn from start to finish!"

Facing Endora's bitterness, Elaine appeared calm, her eyes narrowing into a cold sneer, "What's the use of saying all this now? You should actually be thanking me. Without my behind-the-scenes scheming, you wouldn't have gotten anywhere near marrying Parker. Your failure is on you, not being smart enough to pull it off! Remember, we're allies, not enemies. My intention was never to harm you. Your real adversaries are Tiana and Whitney, those two snakes. Don't you want to survive and get back at them? Tiana is bound to end up with Parker. Are you really okay with that?"

Provoking Endora further, Elaine played on her vengeance and despair.

Endora, filled with hatred and thoughts of Tiana, couldn't accept her fate of dying in a dark cell, condemned to death.

No... Tears of frustration spilled over as she looked at her frail body, realizing that clinging to any sliver of hope was better than none.

She had to survive, to have a chance at revenge.

What did it matter if it played into Elaine's hands?

It was a path to a possible future.

Slowly lifting her venomous gaze, Endora hissed through clenched teeth, "I know all your talk is just to save your own skin! Fine, we'll make this deal. But remember, if you abandon me after getting out, you'll be cursed!"

Elaine, sensing a shift, relaxed slightly and assured with a faint smile, "Our goals align. I want a comeback; you want to live. Once I secure Ashton and ascend back into society, you'll have your freedom. Now, take the blame and stay silent." Endora stared at her with a mix of hatred and helplessness.

The next day, Tiana was jolted awake by a ringing phone. It was Whitney calling, but she missed it, only realizing she had slept through an entire day. Glancing around, she found herself in an unfamiliar room, its stark, masculine decor suggesting it belonged to a man. The large bedroom hinted at the presence of servants outside.

Rubbing her slightly aching abdomen, Tiana pieced together her memories, recognizing the familiar masculine scent on the bed. This had to be Parker's room.

Her heart skipped, lips parting slightly in shock.

She had fainted, only to be whisked away to the Doonan Mansion by Parker without her consent.

What was he thinking?

Where had Cherry been taken?

After the discomfort in her abdomen eased, Tiana gingerly got out of bed, planning to step out and ask one of the maids about the child's whereabouts-

Suddenly, she saw two maids standing in front of the living room's TV, buzzing with excitement over something.

On the TV, the financial channel of Banyan City was on, broadcasting a piece of news that caught her off guard-One of Banyan City's renowned construction firms, the Melford Group, had its annual shareholders' meeting yesterday, where the chairman of three years shockingly announced his resignation! He relinquished all his shares, declaring his intention to hand them back to his brother, Fabian. The Melford Group was to return to Fabian's hands...