Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



He watched her little face turn pale, her breath uneven, clearly in bad shape.

It was then that Whitney realized she had neglected her other son over the past three days.

She got up and walked over, touching his small wrist only to feel an alarming heat. A wave of guilt washed over her. "You have a fever, Danny!" Danny silently hung his head. "Dad set up an IV for me, but I don't want it. I almost wish it would just end me."

"Why would you say something like that, sweetie?"

Whitney had an epiphany, guilt flooding her eyes. She blamed herself; she had another son. These past few days, consumed by the search for Sammy, she had completely forgotten about Danny, who was always the more fragile one.

"Mommy, it's all my fault, isn't it? Why wasn't it me taken by Elaine?

I'd rather it have been me! You and Sammy are so close, I can't stand to see you hurt.

Why is it always Sammy who steps up, and he's the one who suffers? I hate feeling so useless. I'm the older brother, and I couldn't protect him. That day, it was my idea to send Sammy to visit Grandma. If I hadn't spoken up, none of this would've happened...

And now he's gone, just gone!"

Danny clung to Whitney's legs, his sorrow barely contained, his little hands gripping her jeans tightly. Whitney could see how much he blamed himself.

Her heart ached, and she immediately scooped him into her arms, enveloping him in her embrace. The little guy was so sensitive, blaming himself for everything.

Whitney couldn't bear to see him so upset, whispering soothingly, "It's okay, Danny. Sammy just took a bit more of the nutrients in the womb, which made him stronger. He should be the one looking out for his big brother.

You know, you fought for six months in an incubator, battling just like Sammy. You're both my heartaches.

And remember, we're all still looking for Sammy. We won't give up..."

"We won't give up, Mommy. Please don't give up."

Whitney's heart ached fiercely, nodding vigorously as she took his hand and walked down the corridor. "Didn't you say Grandma was looking for us? Let's take your IV bag and go to her room..."

In the ICU, Natalie woke up, her eyes clear despite the oxygen mask.

Seeing Whitney enter, she gestured weakly, a heavy sigh escaping her.

"Ludwik says Sammy hasn't been found yet..." Natalie removed her mask, her gaze dimming.

Whitney bit her lip to prevent her eyes from reddening, her voice steady, "We're still searching. Maybe in a couple of days, we'll find him. That kid is incredibly smart; he might just save himself..."

"Whitney." Natalie closed her eyes momentarily, breaking through Whitney's facade.

Tears welled up in the old woman's eyes as she slowly pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. "I was rushed to the hospital the other day... didn't notice it then. It was only yesterday when the nurse told me it fell out of my hospital gown...

My eyesight's not what it used to be; I can't read it clearly, but I remember that night... Sammy wrote it, take a look..."

Her voice choked up as she remembered, "That night, Sammy said it was safe? He wanted to get me out, but I was too weak and passed out soon after. In a haze, I heard the child crying, running out...

I wonder if he went to get help? Or was he taken by Elaine outside?

How could he just... disappear?" Tears streaked down Natalie's face as she fell silent.

Whitney's heart raced, unfolding the paper. The writing, smeared with dirt, was undoubtedly a child's scribble.

Her hands trembled as she made out the words, Sammy's message to her.

"Mommy, if something happens to me, don't be sad.

You wanted to save Grandma, and I wanted to be brave for her, not let her die here!

I went outside, I was brave, I'll always love you. If the worst happens... I really don't make it, I hope I can still be your good little kid next time." Whitney clutched the note, her sorrow overwhelming as she gasped for air, her strength leaving her as she collapsed.

"Whitney?" Natalie, alarmed by her state, quickly asked, "What did the child write?"

"It's nothing." Whitney shook her head lightly, tears rolling down her cheeks, her face a portrait of despair at Sammy's words.

What next time? Nonsense. He's fine. He has to be!

But with no sign of him after days, if Elaine knew where he was, why would she withstand Ludwik's pressure and say nothing? Whitney felt as though she was standing over a grave with no way out.

Was her Sammy really gone?

She couldn't believe it...!

Unable to control her emotions, she stood up abruptly, lips pressed tightly, "I need to step out for a bit, Danny. Stay here and keep Grandma company, okay?"

After leaving the hospital, Whitney let her tears fall freely in the rain, desperately calling Parker again.

Accustomed to her numerous daily calls, Parker patiently answered, regret in his voice, "I'm sorry, Whitney. We've looked everywhere, but so far, there's no..."

Whitney fainted from the shock.

When she awoke, she found herself in her apartment, Ludwik standing beside her bed.

The man, in a dark suit, despite his stern expression, couldn't hide his exhaustion. His towering figure cast a shadow, darkening the already gloomy room even further.

Clutching the note taken from her hands, Ludwik's facade crumbled upon reading Sammy's words.

He hadn't even had the chance to meet his son, only to lose him before they could truly connect.

He had been searching with Parker, wondering how he would ever explain this to Whitney.

Swallowing hard, he leaned down, his large hand reaching for her fragile shoulder, "Whitney..." She coldly shrugged off his touch.

Moving slightly away, she turned her head, her eyes cold yet filled with sorrow, barely managing to say, "He's gone, isn't he?

After all this time searching, you can't even get a straight answer out of Elaine."

"It's only been three days, Whitney. Don't lose hope!" Ludwik's gaze was intense, filled with a promise of reassurance.

"It's all your fault." Whitney's eyes dropped, then lifted again, filled with a mix of sorrow and detachment. "He wouldn't be missing if you had just acted sooner, if only you had gone to save him earlier, or if you hadn't trusted Elaine!"

Ludwik felt her blame anchor him to the spot.

Despite her soft appearance and gentle voice, her words carried a weight that nearly condemned him.

He knew he was late, even after clearing up the three years of misunderstanding and all the lies spun by Elaine.

But Sammy's disappearance made everything too late.

The look she gave him was a mix of disappointment, despair, and anger.

"I'll keep looking for Sammy,

Whitney. Why don't you have some soup to keep your strength up? Don't let yourself get too run down..." He tried to comfort her, turning away from the intensity of her gaze

UMS

Tiana brought in the soup, uncertain if she should offer it to Ludwik, noticing his desire to feed Whitney himself.

"Just go! And don't come back. I can't bear to see you right now."

Whitney turned away, her fragile silhouette visibly thinner and filled with a cold resentment towards him.

Ludwik's expression stiffened, feeling as if cold water had been splashed over him. His throat tightened, realizing she despised him to the point of not wanting to see him at all.

He gave a bitter smile, his features clouded with a cold determination, reluctant to leave.

His phone suddenly rang, an urgent call that Tiana hesitantly brought to his attention due to the icy aura surrounding him. "Mr. Lippert, you're getting

a call?"Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Seeing it was from Natalie's specialist, Ludwik's brows knitted together in concern. He had no choice but to step outside to answer.

"Mr. Lippert, can you come to the hospital right away? Your mother's blood tests have come back, and we've found a significant issue. The outlook

isn't good..."

"What did you say?" The news hit

Ludwik like a cold shock. He glanced back at Whitney's room before striding out of the apartment, his expression darkened. "I'll be there immediately!" S