Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Joanne was shell-shocked, a tsunami of tears crashed down her cheeks as she collapsed onto the floor of the hallway, a wreck of despair. "Oh, Justin, my boy!

It's all because of your dad, ignoring Ludwik's advice. Now it's too late, that Jarvis turned you into a fool.

Oh, that cursed Jarvis!"

"I'm going to get rid of Jarvis, I swear I'll take down the Patricks, those snakes!

Didn't our family, the Lipperts, help out the Patricks enough in the past? Where's Thea? Thea, where are you?

Heidi, tell me where Thea is!" Riley was beside himself, pounding his chest and leaning against the wall in despair.

Heidi's eyes were brimming with tears, her face a mask of helplessness; she didn't know where her mother was. Ever since the Lipperts fell from grace, Thea had disappeared.

Her father was ill, and yet Thea never visited.

Her mother's heart had completely turned to the Patricks.

"Uncle, I..." Heidi was struggling too.

With eyes red from crying, Riley slumped to the ground, "Big brother, what do we do now? Justin's been made a fool by Jarvis, you're sick, and Ludwik's been arrested. Our family, the Lipperts, it's all falling apart..."

Felix wiped the corner of his eye, lips tightly pressed, "Riley, Mr. Lippert won't just let this go."

"But what can he possibly do? He's charged with kidnapping, he can hardly save himself now.

With rumors flying everywhere, those old influential friends of ours won't step forward. They're all too busy pledging loyalty to the Patricks. If Ludwik refuses to speak, he won't be getting out of jail."

Riley's eyes were filled with defeat.

Felix clenched his fist; he had already contacted Ashton, and they were on their way to Emperor City by helicopter.

Felix had another plan, which involved seeking help from the Nelsons, represented by Shane.

He was determined to try, no matter what.

At 8 in the morning.

Danny, with red eyes, saw Uncle Ashton and Uncle Nolan Fuller.

Hiding behind the door, he listened as Felix briefed the two uncles.

In bits and pieces, Danny pieced together the horrifying news that his dad had been arrested.

The Lippert Group had crashed overnight since yesterday; a chip contract was breached, making headlines worldwide.

Even without a business mind, Danny knew his grandfather's company was in trouble, his dad was in trouble!

Uncle Parker was missing too!

Feeling helpless, unsure where his mom was or what to do, the only person he could turn to was Sammy.

Instinctively, he called Sammy, "Hey, uh... Sammy, dad came back alone!

But because he kidnapped mom, he was reported by Keegan and that jerk Bryce, and got arrested.

The Lipperts are in big trouble, Uncle Parker is missing, it's all a mess. Can you find a way to sneak out and come with me to the police station to see dad?"

His usually cool voice was now shaky with tears, utterly lost.

Sammy understood; Danny was worried about their worthless dad, instinctively feeling sorry for him.

But Sammy's thoughts weren't as simple as Danny's.

He knew their dad was back, but why didn't he bring mom back with him?

Where exactly had he taken mom, and what had he done to her?

For a whole month, Sammy didn't know if his mom was safe.

Initially, he had negotiated with their dad to disrupt the wedding and take mom away.

But he never allowed their dad to selfishly hide mom away.

Sammy was angry.

"Danny, I'm not going to the police station," he replied.

"Why?" Danny sounded heartbroken, "Are you still mad at dad? Mad he hurt mom?"

"Even if I could get past all the times he hurt mom before, who's to say he hasn't hurt her this past month? We don't know."

Sammy spoke calmly and coolly, glancing at the little computer hidden under his desk, tracking the movements of Hugh and Florence. During this month, he'd gradually figured out the outside world.

Sammy knew their grandfather, Hudson, had been shot and left comatose by his uncle Hugh's scheming.

The Sheldon family's company was now under Hugh's control.

Two months ago, mom had tried to steal Hugh's hair but nearly got killed by him, only saved by their dad's intervention.

Sammy couldn't understand why mom would risk stealing Hugh's hair.

But after that incident, mom

successfully operated on Grandpa

Hudson, Hugh seemed wary of something and didn't make another move on the comatose grandpa.

UMS

Sammy gradually picked up pieces of the puzzle, especially after Ryan got drunk once and revealed a shocking secret. Florence wasn't a legitimate daughter born to their grandfather; she was Hugh's illegitimate daughter!

Suddenly, Sammy understood why mom wanted Hugh's hair; she planned to expose Hugh and Florence! Hugh was scared, so he struck a deal to keep up appearances with mom.

But now with mom missing and the Lipperts fallen, Florence would be like an ant on a hot pan, desperate to secure her position in the Sheldon Group Hugh might take advantage of the situation to harm grandpa again.

Sammy was smart, quickly realizing he had a mission.noveldrama

He had to protect his grandpa while his mom was away, so she wouldn't be heartbroken upon return. "Danny, I need to watch over grandpa's safety lately. It's not that I don't want to see dad with you, don't be sad. Besides, even though Florence is too busy to bother with me, I can't be too reckless."

"There's something she has, I haven't gotten it yet," Sammy's gentle eyes suddenly turned cold.

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Danny's sobbing stopped, finally finding some comfort, "Okay, I'll go with Uncle Ashton to see Dad. pretend you're still a bit worried about Dad."

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"Sammy, thanks for looking out for everyone. Without you, I wouldn't know how to protect Grandpa.

By the way, what is it that you need to get from Florence?"

Amniotic fluid!

Sammy couldn't reveal it now, he gently comforted Danny, "You've grown up with that deadbeat dad, so naturally, you feel differently about him.

I get how hard it is for you, buddy. Even if I hate him, I won't stop you from caring about him.

Let's each do our part. I'll look after Mom, so you don't have to worry about her."

"Who says I'm not worried about her? I'm really worried about Mom! I know what you're thinking, you think Dad has hurt her again.

Otherwise, why didn't Dad bring her back?

I'm sorry, Sammy, our deadbeat dad is really terrible, but he's also down on his luck now."

Sammy rubbed his furrowed brow, unsure of what to say next.

The Lippert Group was suddenly in turmoil overnight. It must be hard for him too.

At the police station.

After visiting the Nelson family, Ashton and Nolan quickly headed here.

As Ashton entered the main door, he bumped into Keegan and Bryce coming out of the lobby!

Keegan was limping with a cane, struggling to walk. Seeing Ashton and his group, his face darkened—