Chapter 252


    At that moment, Valerie passed the baby bottle to Whitney with a meaningful nce.


    “It can’t be his,” Tiana said, her tone unimpressed but noticeably colder.


    Valerie sighed inwardly and whispered to Whitney, “When Cherry was a bit over a year old, her


    features started to be more defined, and I thought she looked familiar. I mentioned it once, and


    Tiana blew up.‘


    “Why would she do that?”


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    There was a frosty edge to Tiana’s gaze as she pursed her pretty lips.


    Valerie exined, “I didn’t bring up Parker earlier, but in truth, he was the one who wanted to help


    Tiana the most back then. But she rejected him outright and gave him a tongueshing. You know


    Parker–he’s like the prince of the underworld, very proud. After that, he never contacted her again.”


    “Why the anger?” In Whitney’s memory, Parker was the most level–headed and fair of the brothers.


    “We were disappointed in Parker. He revealed in front of Ludwik that Tiana had been to TriMed


    Hospital three years ago to check on ine, which made Ludwik believe that you guys had falsely


    used ine of faking a kidney donation. Plus, the goons that kidnapped you and Tiana that night


    were sent by Parker. That’s why she hates him.”


    Whitney furrowed her brow, feeling that Tiana might have misunderstood Parker.


    They used to joke that something was brewing between Parker and Tiana.


    She never imagined that in the three years she was gone, everything would have changed so


    dramatically.


    “But this child…” Whitney looked at Cherry, who did indeed have eyes reminiscent of Parker’s, and


    said, “Tiana, maybe you don’t want to think about it, but that night three years ago, was there any


    encounter between you and Parker?”


    Tiana seemed lost in thought, her mind racing through the chaotic memories of a night overshadowed


    by multiple men’s overpowering presence and pain.


    She shook her head vehemently, tears welling up in her eyes. “I vaguely remember escaping a room in


    the club. I have no memory of what happened after, and when I woke up the next day, I was back in the


    hands of those thugs… I really don’t remember. I don’t know who it was! But I know it could be anyone


    but Parker!”


    Valerie interjected. “Apparently, Parker had a close call that night, too, saved by a woman. He’s since


    found the woman who rescued him, and it turns out to be Tiana’s cousin, Endora Melford. Parker’s


    even broken off an engagement to be with her, spoiling Endora.”


    Whitney was shocked; she knew all too well that Tiana and Endora were arch–enemies!


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    All because of Cato Melford, who had always schemed against Tiana’s father, Fabian Melford.


    Back when Tiana’s family was in good standing, they had suffered endless provocations from Endora’s


    family.


    Whitney pondered; perhaps Tiana did harbor some romantic feelings for Parker once, and his


    involvement with Endora was yet another blow.


    To Tiana, it was hate upon hate, an extra thorn in her side.


    Sighing inwardly, she hesitated before looking at Cherry and saying, “Maybe it’s just a striking


    coincidence. No matter who her father is, she’s a blessing from above.”


    When Tiana heard her daughter mentioned, her heart swelled with love, but Cherry’s little face only


    added to her burden.


    Whitney did not see her expression; instead, she silently promised the little one in her arms, “Maybe


    soon you’ll have a brother to y with.”


    No one but Bryce knew of Sammy’s existence these past three years.


    Whitney was not deliberately withholding the information from her best friend; she feared that if word


    got out, her son could be taken from her.


    She could not risk it, so it was better to wait.


    “Everything will get better, Tiana, I promise. The Melford family business wille back, and I won’t let


    you or your parents suffer anymore.”


    Before leaving, Whitney left Tiana a card with a million dors in it, sealing her promise.


    Tears filled Tiana’s eyes, a spark igniting within her that had not been there for a very long time, but she


    held back her words.


    As Whitney stepped out the door, blinking away her tears, Valerie followed, both worried and happy.


    “Tiana’s crying in there. You’ve always been her rock, and now that you’re back, it’s a huge


    encouragement for her. But while you ask about our lives, we know nothing about what you’ve endured


    these years. Where did this millione from?”


    “I earned it, of course.”


    Whitney had spent three years as an acimed acupuncturist and had not given up on her jewelry


    design, earning a tidy sum. But what she couldn’t bring herself to admit was that Sammy asionally


    supplemented their ie with hisputer skills, though she had absolutely no idea how.


    Thinking of her son brought a smile to her face, but then she thought of Cherry and felt a twinge of


    guilt. “I will make sure Cherry has a stable childhood.”


    “Don’t take on all of Tiana’s burdens…” Valerie said, “Endora’s vendetta is another reason why Tiana’s


    life has been miserable.


    That vile woman once told Tiana that Cherry could be the child of Parker’s elder brother,


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    Bary Doonan. He was at the club that night three years ago, a notorious yboy, which terrified


    Tiana. That’s why she moved here, to hide.


    We’re terrified that if Bary ever sees Cherry, he’ll badger Tiana. If the Doonan family decides to take


    the child, it would be a disaster.”


    So, that was why Tiana did not want to disclose her address.


    Suddenly, Whitney asked, “What about Parker? Has he seen Cherry?”


    Valerie shook her head. “Since Parker got engaged to Endora, Tiana has cut off allmunication with


    him. I’m curious about his reaction to Cherry, too. But now that the suspicion falls on Bary, the


    resemnce could be exined. No doubt Endora has been cozying up to ine, acting as herpdog


    to suppress Tiana.”


    It all came back to ine, still not letting go of Tiana!


    Whitney’s breathing grew heavier, her resolve crystallizing with each passing moment.


    Exhausted, she trudged back into her apartment, her mood as heavy as the city sky after a


    thunderstorm. She didn’t want Sammy to pick up on her gloomy mood, so she quickly shot off a text to


    Yael. Just then, a message from Bryce popped up, detailing an eerie case of Keegan, who had


    888


    Ludwik instructed his driver to take the kids back to Everwood Vi Estate first.


    He then took a detour to the cemetery, where he sat in quiet contemtion in front of his other son’s


    grave. It was here, in this solemn ce, that the haunting images of the woman he had seen that


    morning were swept away from his mind.


    “Take care, Jacky. Daddy’s got to go now, but I’lle see you again soon,” he murmured.


    The name Jacky was a nickname he had given to this son. This sacred ground had never felt the


    footsteps of Daniel, who remained unaware that he had once had a brother.


    With a deep breath, Ludwik drove back to the vi, where the moment he stepped in, he was weed


    by a subtle, enchanting fragrance. “You’re back,” said ine, her voice as light as her white sundress,


    which clung to her in a way that was both innocent and seductive. Her corbones peeked out from


    beneath the straps, and as she bent slightly to offer him his slippers, her cleavage was irresistibly


    alluring.


    But Ludwik merely nced at her and looked away, unmoved.


    He nced at the living room, his brow furrowing slightly. “ine, where’s Danny?”


    With a look of exasperation, ine replied, “That boy has been giving me the cold shouldertely. The


    moment he got back, he went off to Grandma’s ce.”,


    Ludwik was about to go after his son, but ine saw her chance for some alone time with him,


    17:05


    and she was not going to let that slide. She wrapped her arms around his muscr waist and asked


    with a hopeful glimmer in her eyes, “Ludwik, how did the treatment session go today?”


    Her eyes shimmered with anticipation. “The medical reports say your indicators are all normal. I knew


    this new doctor was extraordinary! Just one consultation, and you’re already showing improvement.


    Now that there’s a turning point in your condition, let’s make the most of the evening with Danny out…”


    She was blissfully unaware that the said doctor was none other than Whitney!


    Ludwik sidestepped the conversation, his face etched with fatigue. “ine, I promised my son that from


    tonight on, I’d be sleeping with him.”


    “But Danny’s still at his grandma’s, isn’t he? We have some time before bed… Let’s have dinner first.


    I’ve prepared a candlelight dinner for us,” she cooed, kissing his chin before turning towards the kitchen


    to fetch the steak she had prepared.


    Watching her retreating figure, her white dress fluttering behind her, Ludwik’s mind inexplicably


    conjured up the image of another woman in a whiteb coat, her presencemanding yet delicate.


    White, the same color, yet Whitney wore it with an entirely different grace. He had found it nearly


    impossible to look away from her that morning.


    Damn it. He caught himself thinking about her and furrowed his brows in annoyance, throwing his light


    on the table.


    “What’s wrong?” ine asked, returning with a puzzled look.