Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1310

Tiana fell silent for a while as they walked together down the hospital corridor, then hesitantly broke the quiet. “Whitney... are you still a little uneasy around kids?”

The moment she said it, Whitney knew she was testing the waters.

She glanced back at her friend, catching the worried look in Tiana’s eyes. Whitney gave a small, reassuring smile. “What are you thinking? Seriously, your pregnancy hormones must be through the roof—you’re overthinking everything. Tiana, I don’t have any issues with her, and I don’t dislike her.”

“Really?” Tiana nodded, trying to sound understanding. “It’s okay if you aren’t comfortable, you know. Especially with Florence in the mix... He was such a jerk.”

Whitney’s eyes were clear and steady. “No, really. Everyone thinks I’d be hung up on it—Ludwik too—but honestly, I’m not. What’s done is done. There’s no point holding onto grudges.

Florence is gone. The child’s DNA? That’s mine.

If anything, I feel guilty towards her. Of course I’ll take good care of her.”

Tiana let out a long breath, visibly relieved. Even though the conversation was rushed, the thing she’d been worried about for weeks had been cleared up in minutes. Whitney really was the smartest and most clear-headed of their trio.

Tiana grinned, her lips turning rosy. “Whitney, nobody gets through life with your level of clarity. No wonder Ludwik’s so crazy about you—he’s totally smitten.”

Whitney rolled her eyes playfully. “Are you saying I’m some kind of femme fatale? Can’t you just say I’ve got charm?”

“Oh, come on! That’s exactly what I meant! I just never paid attention in English class.”

Tiana slapped her shoulder with mock enthusiasm, looking for forgiveness.

Whitney couldn’t help but laugh. “Move it. Let’s go check on Valerie; she should be out of the ER by now.”

“Look at you, future M.D., always right on schedule.”

Across the hall, Parker strolled up and gently covered Tiana’s eyes, knowing she was too soft for this kind of scene. “Beckford’s just disciplining his son—you don’t need to see that.”

“But I’m here to visit Valerie, not watch a soap opera!” Tiana protested.

“Then go on in. She just woke up.” Parker guided her forward by the arm as if she were a little kid.

Whitney glanced out the window at the tense standoff outside. Beckford’s hawk-like eyes swept over them, jaw clenched tight, clearly fuming but unwilling to make more of a scene with Valerie so ill.

Whitney gave the old man a respectful nod, then quickly followed Tiana into the room without glancing back.

Outside, things seemed to quiet down. Maybe Beckford was keeping his temper in check for Valerie’s sake. At least, Whitney thought, he still cared for her—no matter how tough he acted.