Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 296 The provocation was unprecedented, leaving Adriel staring in disbelief at Daniel, who had never spoken up before.

A kid nearby caught on and snickered, "Adriel, Daniel called you a meatball and said you're as burnt as toast!" Adriel, inheriting his mother's chubby cheeks, despised comments about his weight and complexion the most. Fuming, he charged forward, "Daniel, you little orphan, looking for trouble? I'll turn you into a punching bag. Con, guys, let's get him." A group of kids circled around.

Sammy, cool as a cucumber amidst the chaos, flicked something from his pocket.

With a snap, he threw down spopping candy, startling everyone with the noise.

Then, taking a puff of his asthma inhaler just in case, he raised his fists, "I learned judo from my mom, taste this!" Moments later, several kids lay defeated.

Adriel got the worst of it, nose bleeding, he ran off sobbing like a baby, "Teacher, teacher, Daniel's gone mad, hitting everyone!" Sammy, unfazed, just smiled.

This was perfect, especially if it led to parents being called.

This was his chance to turn the tables on Elaine's scheme, having noticed her leaving with Jemima...

Struths needed to be exposed, especially to his worthless dad, oblivious to his son's struggles.

Sammy's smile faded as he slipped behind the stairs, swiftly texting on his smartwatch.

In no time, Danny called back.

"Is mom not hyet?" Danny replied, "I sneaked out of Everwood Villa Estate pretty quick, messaged mom too. She's probably still on her way back. What's going on, Sammy?" Sammy recounted the morning's incident, where mom and the deadbeat dad had a run-in.

Danny gasped, "Does that mean one of us got exposed?" "That's why I told you to go to the apartment, to comfort mom, and keep our secret from dad. If he finds out there's two of us, he'll try to take everything. Mom can't compete with his wealth." Danny sighed, unable to believe they were discussing themselves as if they were objects.

Sammy, attempting to lighten the mood, shared, "Why can't mom and dad just get along and be a family? We're two adorable kids, they should consider themselves lucky to have us." "..." Sammy couldn't help but feel Danny inherited their dad's arrogance and self-love.

"I dream of a complete family, not being laughed at in kindergarten for not looking like my stepmom and being called an orphan," Danny shared, feeling down.

Sammy comforted him, "Don't be negative, Danny! After sdigging, I'm convinced dad once loved mom. And mom, despite never mentioning dad these past years, I've seen her cry in her sleep. They argue without listening to each other, harboring hate because of misunderstandings. They need us to play cupid and sort things out." Danny lit up, "Sammy, are you finally on board with getting mom and dad back together?" Sammy, reluctantly admitting, "I saw dad a bit pitiable today. There must've been smisunderstanding between him and mom. Plus, he seems to care about you. If there's been a schby svile woman driving them apart, it's up to us to expose her. Once she's out of the picture, mom and dad can clear up their misunderstandings." Danny rarely praised anyone, but Sammy deserved it for his optimism.

Feeling slightly ashamed, Danny admitted, "Sammy, I've felt the sbut struggled against Elaine. She's too convincing, and dad believes her, makingso angry I shut down." Sammy chuckled, "Danny, you're too pure. You've been living in luxury, unaware of the real world. I've been toughened up by mom. Wait till I deal with Elaine today. Oh, and Adriel? I knocked him out with a single punch." "Sammy, you're amazing..." As they were patting each other's backs, the apartment door swung open, and Whitney rushed in, panicked, "Sammy?" "Danny, remember, act likeand comfort mom!" Sammy quickly advised before hanging up.

Hearing his mom's distressed voice, Sammy's heart ached, and he ended the call.

Danny, hiding his smartwatch, hurried to her, "Mom, I'm here!" "God, you're home, troublemaker." Whitney nearly cried with relief, embracing her son tightly, "You scaredto death. Why didn't you fight back when he took you from the restroom?" And then, puzzled, "How did you manage to escape? And why is your smartwatch number off by one digit?" Faced with a barrage of questions, Danny, prepared by his chat with Sammy, did his best to mimic Sammy's spirited demeanor, saying, "I didn't resist to protect you from dad. Once he took me, I threatened to jump out of the car if he didn't letgo!" "Sammy!" Whitney scolded, shocked.

"I was just intimidating him. It was dad's first tdealing with me, after all. He had to learn somehow," Danny explained with flair, embodying Sammy's spirit.

Whitney looked at Ludwik's claim with a pinch of skepticism. "Ludwik... I mean, your dad, he's not someone who caves under pressure." Bryce, standing behind, eyed 'Sammy' closely. "Sammy, you gotta tell the truth. Let your mom understand what's really going on." "It's true!" Daniel felt a burst of rivalry towards Bryce, his dad's 'love rival'.

"I even opened the car door myself, told him I didn't like him, that I only ΟΠ loved mom, and dad was so mom 011Y disappointed. He just met his son, he wouldn't want him dead, right? So, he angrily letgo."

Whitney's heart swelled with warmth, hugging her son tightly and planting a kiss on his forehead. "Mommy's so proud of you. I thought you'd just trot off with him." "As if. What's he to me?" Danny said, feeling a twinge of guilt. To cheer his mom up, he had to sacrifice his old man a bit.

Whitney released her son, her eyes turning cold with a hint of unease and frostiness. "Bryce, bookme-acticket. I'm sending Sammy back to Maelstrom Country right away. If he stays here, Ludwik will stop at nothing to take him away. I can't lose my only son." What? Danny froze. Did he not comfort his mom enough? She was sending him... away?? The little guy's eyes widened in shock as he stood up to protest. "Mommy, I don't want to go to Maelstrom Country..." "You have to go back, Sammy. Listen to me, it's for our future together." "But, but..." Danny was on the verge of tears, his little face turning beet red.

But mom, you don't just have one son. You have Danny too, I am Danny...

Besides, if he got sent out of the country, wouldn't that mean he'd never see Ludwik again? Oh no, he still loved his dad, couldn't bear the thought of leaving!