Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Fugitive?

Tiana felt so enraged she could spit blood. She had definitely let her guard down in a moment of sheer frustration thanks to her scumbag uncle and cousin. Now, they had her cornered.

She could see their henchmen, a hundred meters away, shining flashlights in her direction.

Panicking, Tiana turned on her heels, ready to make a run for it.

"Freeze!" Parker's voice, cold yet somehow laced with a dangerous allure, cut through the night air. "Where do you think you're going?"

Before Tiana could utter a word, Parker, tall and imposing, dashed towards her with the speed of lightning.

Tiana, frightened by Parker's ferocity, stepped back until her feet hit the cold seawater, shivering from the chill. "Parker, are you even human? How could you side with your uncle to capture me?

I didn't even confront you about last night or your accusations this morning.

What more do you want?

Let me tell you, if you force me to go back, I'll jump into the sea right now and end it all...ah!"

Before she could finish, Parker was already in front of her, sweeping her off her feet in one swift motion.

"Ah! Let me go! I don't want your kind of help!"

"Enough already. You're so noisy," Parker retorted, his peachy eyes showing a hint of cold indifference.

"Put me down!"noveldrama

"And let you jump into the sea?" He scoffed, detached.

"I refuse to be taken back by you!"

"Do you think I want to bring you back? If it weren't for my uncle pressuring me... Besides, this island is home to wild beasts, and the sea is infested with sharks. Are you sure you want to spend the night here and end up as a pile of bones?"

Tiana glanced nervously at the sea behind her, shivering at the thought.

Sharks in such shallow waters? Was he bluffing?

"If you don't believe me, go ahead and try."

Parker's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ever heard of the infamous tiger sharks of Saltland Island? They can swallow a person whole."

Damn.

Tiger sharks?!

After a second of consideration, Tiana's resolve wavered as she clung tighter to Parker's neck, albeit subtly. "I-I'm not scared of your scare tactics! You think I'm easily frightened?"

She refused to admit her fear.

"Is that so?" Parker glanced at her, finding her puffed-up cheeks and wide, nervous eyes somewhat adorable, like a little squirrel. He smirked, "Then perhaps you shouldn't cling to me so tightly."

"...Who's clinging to you!"

"Oh?" Parker raised an eyebrow, deliberately loosening his grip.

"Ah, what are you doing..." Tiana's legs dipped into the icy water!

The cold sensation spiked her fear of lurking sharks. "Damn it, Parker, why are you tormenting me?"

"You're not scared, right? Just a tiger shark, and you're panicking?" His lips curled up mockingly.

His mischievous and careless demeanor reminded her of a rascal teasing a young girl.

But he was too handsome, his playfulness only partially concealed by his rimless glasses. The Parker she knew was always ruthless yet discreet. Now, under the moonlight, the man before her seemed indifferent, adding a layer of aloofness to his bad-boy charm.

Tiana was dazzled by his sexiness but also infuriated by his taunts, her face flushing with anger. "Are you done?" "Are you getting in or not?" he asked, losing patience.

"Go to hell." Tiana exploded. "Last night was a mistake. I won't be used by you and your uncle as a cure anymore. Parker, you've disappointed me profoundly. You're heartless. Just stay here and rot. I'm going back to Emperor City." Her words were laced with fury.

"Without my permission, you're not going anywhere!

Who knows what you're up to sneaking in here? If you don't explain yourself and think you can take my nephew away, think again." Phineas's voice echoed from afar.

Tiana scoffed, "Right, I came here to kill your nephew as revenge.

It just so happened he fought back.

There, I've explained. Can I go now?"

"

Phineas was speechless, clearly detecting the sarcasm in her voice.

His face stiffened as he turned to Parker, "Bring her up!"

"I won't..."

"Stop moving!" Parker was at his limit, glaring at the woman in his arms. Did she even realize where her hands were wandering? Damn it, the memories of last night were too vivid in his mind.

Just a slight touch from her, and his body reacted immediately. Annoyed, he threatened, "Still claiming you didn't seduce me last night?

Your hands seem pretty skilled. Be mindful of where they are."

Tiana looked down, mortified to realize where her hand had landed.

If she could, she'd chop off her own hand right then and there.

Her face turned beet red. "I-it wasn't on purpose."

"Heh." His snort conveyed his disdain.

After tossing her into the car, Tiana's thigh hit the seat, making her wince in pain. "Why did you throw me? That hurts, you know?"

"Where does it hurt?" he asked, clearly uninterested.

Tiana's face turned an even deeper shade of red, unable to articulate her discomfort, and just glared at him.

Gently, she touched her bruised waist.

Seeing her frail yet furious demeanor, her cheeks flushed with a touch of red, Parker paused, then awkwardly realized, "Below, does it hurt?" "..." Damn, why did he have to say it out loud? She wished the ground would swallow her up.

Biting her lip, Tiana felt utterly humiliated.

Meanwhile, an older man stood nearby, overhearing their entire conversation.

Feeling cornered, Tiana covered her waist, "Just shut up!"

"You should get back and have it treated. A little ointment should do the trick."

"Easy for you to say! Try it yourself!" She was on the verge of exploding, unable to believe he could be so insensitive even after losing his memory.

"I'm not a woman, how would I try? Anyway, there won't be a next time."

Parker spoke indifferently, then furrowed his brows as he checked her forehead, noticing her flush wasn't quite right.

Sure enough, within seconds, Tiana was staring daggers at him before passing out.

He turned to Phineas, "She's got a fever."

Phineas nodded, "Bring her back, lock her up, and we'll deal with the fever first."

Tiana couldn't tell how long she had been unconscious when she finally awoke, feeling parched and disoriented.

Noticing the IV in her hand and finding herself in a bed, she scanned the room. She was indeed in a bedroom, but with two bodyguards standing at the door.

Clearly, she was being held captive again, though the conditions were slightly better than a dungeon.

Her frustration was bubbling up inside, waiting for the IV drip to finish, as her strength slowly crept back to almost full capacity.

Tiana called out to the security guard at the door, "I'm parched."

One of the guards replied, "I'll get the doctor and fetch you some water."

"Be careful with her. Even though Mr. Wilson considers her a prisoner, he also mentioned she might be the key to young master's curse," another guard cautioned.

Hearing this, Tiana narrowed her eyes, a spark of thought flickering through her mind. "Hey, you, come here for a sec!"