Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 495

"Who's that kid? The one that barged in with Whitney, yelling at Florence about some kidnapping?" Emma muttered irritably from downstairs.

Hudson descended the stairs, a frown etched on his face as he spoke to Hugh, "Hugh, take Mother to the guest room to rest. I've got some family matters to attend to."

Firstly, Hudson wasn't sure how much of what Whitney said was true. Secondly, this was something Emma couldn't find out about, let alone get involved in. With a few of the house staff in tow, he headed straight for the Sheldon estate's backyard.

"Dad! You can't just open up my storage room because my sister wants to take a peek. The Sheldons have our own rules. She storms in here, demanding to search the place - on what grounds? It makes me wonder what you're thinking."

Holly was also obstructing, "Exactly, my love! Everything in this house is in perfect order. Why should we let Whitney dictate a search just like that?"

"Do you really not know why? You're suspected of kidnapping my son, and the evidence points to you," Whitney said coldly, looking at Florence who had caught up. Both she and Holly's desperate attempts to stop the search, and the guilty looks in their eyes, made their unease all too apparent.

Florence must have been caught off guard: she had the evidence. After all, she and Danny had kept their findings about Florence and Sammy's disappearance a secret, stumbling upon it by chance. Their conversation with Parker at the hospital yesterday was something Florence couldn't possibly know about. The more she tried to stop them, the more likely it was that Sammy was being held in that mansion.

"Grandpa! Sammy's in there. We might as well err on the side of caution. Please, let them break down the door!" Danny pleaded, gripping Hudson's hand in desperation.

Hudson's heart softened. Sammy was a little life, his grandson that he hadn't yet had the chance to meet. What harm was there in checking an old mansion that hadn't been opened for years?

"Break down the door, open all the windows," Hudson ordered.

Florence and Holly's faces went pale. Whitney saw it all. She contacted Parker. Soon enough, Parker arrived with a few of his best men, ready to search every possible hiding spot with utmost diligence. If Sammy was there, they were determined to find him.

Whitney and Danny rushed in, heading straight for the basement that Danny had noticed before. The mansion, modest from the outside, was surprisingly expansive on the inside. The basement was deep, the stench of dust and mildew nearly suffocating. Whitney covered Danny's mouth and nose with a damp cloth, turned on the flashlight, and instructed Parker's men, "Search everywhere, and collect fingerprints as you go."

"Understood, Ms. Valentine!"

Two hours later—

Parker received a call from Ludwik, who had returned to Emperor City and was on his way to the Sheldon estate. After delegating his men, Parker stepped outside to meet Ludwik at the bend in the driveway. Ludwik's Bentley pulled up, his appearance notably paler, his handsome features worn from the past few days. He attempted to rise, visibly in pain. Parker, noticing his discomfort, dissuaded him, joining him in the car to explain, "Whitney and I have made a significant discovery. Let me fill you in."