Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1261

“Mom, I’m telling you, Sandy is the only one I’ll ever marry,” Shane said, his voice steady.

“Tina needs her real mom, not anyone else!” he insisted.

“And after those photos of me and Sandy went viral all over Manhattan, what would it look like if I just married someone else? You’d be the talk of the city for all the wrong reasons.”

Mrs. Nelson was fuming, her cheeks flushed pink with anger. “So, you made this whole scandal just to force our hand, is that it?”

Gary tried to play peacemaker. “Let’s just calm down, alright? Shane, you messed up. Apologize to your mother.”

Shane folded his arms and shook his head. “Not until she agrees to this.”

Sandy’s brow furrowed, anxiety clear on her face. She wasn’t naïve—Shane wasn’t just cornering his parents; he was cornering her too.

And she had no intention of being pushed into marriage just because things got messy.

She tugged at Shane’s sleeve, a silent plea for him to calm down. He turned, expecting a soft look, maybe even a smile.

Instead, Sandy pulled away, her voice cool and unwavering. “Shane, this is your decision, not mine. Stop trying to force me.”

Shane’s handsome face hardened. He had a sinking feeling in his gut. “Sandy, what are you saying?”

Sandy stood tall, chin lifted, and looked right at Mrs. Nelson. “You and Mr. Nelson accepting me as Tina’s mom—that’s enough. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. As for marrying Shane… maybe he feels guilty, maybe he thinks a wedding ring will fix things, but—”

She took a breath, her voice turning gentle but firm. “A marriage without your blessing isn’t something I want, and I don’t want to put Mr. Nelson in an impossible situation. I’m just not ready for this.”

“Sandy!” Shane’s disappointment was almost palpable. He looked like a lion who’d just lost a fight, his jaw clenched in frustration.

He’d fought so hard, hoping Sandy would at least recognize how much he cared. Didn’t she feel anything for him?

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