Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 977

He had said too much, and Tiana's mind was buzzing, pressed against the searing heat of a man's chest. His solid muscles formed an enclosure, threatening to drown her.

He admitted he was wrong.

He shouldn't have yelled at her, been harsh with her, left her.

In his haste to make his feelings known, a joy uncontested filled his deep voice.

Pulling her into his embrace.

Her ears and heart trembled.

One phrase echoed in her mind: What was lost is found, the child is still alive.

Between hell and heaven, joy and despair, she oscillated.

With tear-filled eyes, clinging desperately to his shirt cuff, Tiana finally managed to voice, "...Where's Whitney?"

Parker looked into her wide, pleading eyes and began, "She's here too."

"I'm right here, Tiana." Whitney, worried about Tiana's overwhelming emotions, quickly made herself known.

Struggling to lift her head from the man's embrace, Tiana's gaze met Whitney's pale face, her emotions complex as tears streamed down, "Whitney, don't lie to me." "Why would I lie? I should have told you sooner," Whitney assured, smiling at Tiana's belly, "Trust me, your baby is really in there!"

Tiana's hand trembled as it touched her belly, disbelieving that her child was hidden within.

Parker, seeing her unease, suggested, "Let's get an ultrasound later. I want to see my son's face."

"It's too early to see much before three months," Whitney chuckled, then added, "But we definitely should. Seeing will convince you I'm not lying."

"Why did you keep it from me, saving it?" Tiana approached her best friend, eyes brimming with tears.

Her lips pressed tightly together, she gripped Whitney's hand gratefully, filled with relief and regret, "Thank goodness for you... otherwise, I... I would've regretted it so much..."

Whitney gently wiped away her tears, sighing softly, "You can't blame yourself! At that time, you didn't know Cherry's background. I had my suspicions that Cherry probably wasn't Barclay's daughter. I was also anxious, afraid that you and Parker might not end up together, which would mean my decision was wrong. But I didn't want my dear Tiana to miss out on a chance for happiness! In a moment of rashness, I took a risk."

"So, you suspected Cherry's background back then?" Parker turned, his gaze filled with mixed feelings towards Whitney, this kind-hearted woman who had worried so much for them.

Whitney glanced at him, then earnestly looked at them, sharing her thoughts, "I'm Tiana's best friend, but family can't make decisions for family. In other words, I had no right to meddle in her life. Thus, even with my suspicions, I couldn't rashly reveal them. Because I didn't know what Tiana and your future held, I could only set up this chess game in the dark, revealing all truths. The rest, your relationship issues, I left for you to handle. Fortunately, the risk I took was the right decision. You both want this child, and Tiana couldn't part with it. So, I didn't do anything wrong!"

She smiled, relieved.

Parker, sincerely, said, "Whitney, I really owe you big time."

"..." That sounded a bit off.

Whitney laughed it off, not minding.

Tiana, moved to tears, silently cried, "You did so much for me."

"Of course, I had to! Remember when Ludwik and I had that huge fallout three years ago, almost to the brink of death? Who stood by me? It was you!" Whitney always felt indebted to Tiana.