Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 272

"Hey, let's not get into that. Mom's got plenty of admirers. What's urgent is that I needed to talk to her about something important. I saw you at the mall earlier, quite unexpectedly. Is she around?"

Danny shook his head. "Mom had something important today, so she left me in the care of a friend."

Sammy chuckled. "Babysitting, huh? Looks like we've got to swap back then."

"Swap back already?" Danny pouted, reluctant to let go. He had just snuggled into Mom's embrace last night, while time with Ludwik was less cherished.

When would he see Mom again?

Seeing the longing look in his little brother's eyes, Sammy couldn't help but ask, "Got any troubles, Danny?"

"I don't want to go back to the mansion, to face Elaine. She forces me to go to preschool and deliberately put me in a class where I get bullied. When I get hit, she's pleased, then tells Dad it's all my fault for being mischievous, making Dad think I'm always causing trouble."

"Man, that's rough! Had I known, I'd have gone to preschool in your place today and taught those kids a lesson."

Sammy frowned, a flicker of anger in his otherwise calm and clever eyes. But he quickly smiled and said, "Don't rush. After I've spoken to Mom, we'll find a chance to swap back. Then I'll sort things out at school for you and expose that wicked woman's scheme!"

Even the usually stoic Danny couldn't help but chuckle at that, feeling a bit warmer inside. Having a brother was pretty awesome.

"Deal!" Danny said coolly. "I should go back and continue to annoy Ludwik."

The two shared a laugh.

Sammy pointed at their clothes, and they quickly swapped them back. Then, putting an arm around his little brother's shoulder, Sammy said, "Let's get you a smartwatch. Modify it a bit, and you can hide it. Then we can keep in touch secretly."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "I can modify it myself."

"Really? You don't look it, but maybe you're a hacking genius like me?"

"Mediocre," Danny modestly replied. His skills were something he never showed off, afraid Elaine would find out and target him even more.

"Who's older, you or me?" Danny asked.

Sammy laughed. "We'd have to ask Mom about that. But since she doesn't know yet, let's keep it a secret for now. Wouldn't want her to faint from the shock of seeing two of us."

"Right!"

After leaving, they grabbed masks from a dispenser. Then they bought matching smartwatches and pocketed them. Sammy told Danny he should hit the candy store. He himself sprinted towards the mall's train ride.

On that side—

Tiana, in a panic, held her daughter close, shouting, "Sammy! Where have you run off to?"

Damn it, the first day taking Whitney's little treasure out and she loses her! Her anxious voice attracted a crowd. Nearby, a stunning couple was about to enter a high-end French restaurant.

Suddenly, the man with sleek glasses glanced sideways. Endora Melford, trailing behind Parker Doonan, noticed Tiana holding her daughter, searching frantically.

Parker paused, his ear catching a familiar voice. "What's the commotion outside?"

His subordinate was clueless.

Parker glanced over the crowd, then instructed, "Go check it out..."