Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 909

Who's bothering the Doonan family now? I heard Parker got back to Banyan City days ago; it can't possibly be him...

"Barclay." Tiana spat the name with venom.

Whitney suddenly got it, and wasn't surprised anymore. Anger flared in his chest.

"Is this jerk sick in the head or what, still not letting your family, the Melfords, live in peace?" Whitney clenched his fists, caressing his phone with a cold smirk, "Barclay is nothing but a lowlife in the Doonan clan. Let me make a few calls to the Banyan City PD, see if I can get your dad released on medical grounds."

"But Whitney, your connections in Banyan City..." Tiana hesitated.

Whitney grinned, "Can't I leverage Ludwik's network? If all else fails, a little gust from the Sheldon family in Emperor City should reach Banyan City."

He stepped aside to make the call.

Tiana waited with bated breath.

Fifteen minutes later, Whitney came back with furrowed brows. Seeing her tense expression, Tiana grew anxious. Dealing with a homicide case through the back door might not be so straightforward.

"Whitney, any chance they'll let my dad out on medical bail for his heart condition?"

"I put pressure on the Banyan City PD, dropped Ludwik and Ashton Fuller's names. They were wary at first, agreed to release your father for treatment, even promised to re-examine the crime scene... But then they called back minutes later, saying the Caldwell family had just appealed in court, presenting evidence for a murder charge. They said they couldn't sway the Caldwells, and pressing them was useless. The Caldwells are adamant about prosecuting your dad. Seems like we can only make headway if the Caldwells back down."

Whitney's tone was ice-cold, "Hit a brick wall."

But Tiana suddenly realized, the Caldwell family weren't the stubborn ones; they were just puppets.

The real person refusing to let go, clinging to her dad, was Barclay.

That damned, despicable thug.

"Tiana! Don't worry, I'll personally head to the Banyan City PD to smooth things over, make sure we get your dad out one way or another." Whitney, mindful of her pregnancy and the urgency of the matter, quickly left the police station and drove to the Banyan City PD to negotiate.

Tiana stood still, her emotions churning to a breaking point.

Then, she made a decisive call, and after what felt like an eternity, Barclay's sinister laughter oozed through, "Tiana, this your number?"

"Barclay, you're behind this, aren't you? Your mother's family backs the Caldwells; you're relatives!

You've manipulated the Caldwells into accusing my dad of murder!

Why are you doing this to my dad? What did I ever do to you in a past life for you to ruin us like this? Tell me! If I could, I'd kill you right now."

"Oh, look at you, not as dumb as I thought. Half a day back and you've figured it all out?" Barclay's perverse laughter mixed with a twisted sense of admiration.

He leaned closer to the phone, his voice slimy as a snake, chuckling, "Kill me? You won't manage that.

But, you could come and beg me in person, maybe then I'd consider letting your dad off the hook.

You know, all evidence points against him. The victim was found under his ashtray, hard to defend him, isn't it? Even with your friend Whitney stepping in, I've instructed the Caldwells to hold firm.

You've orchestrated this whole charade, so what's your end game? Ready to spill the beans now?"

"Ah, Tiana, always so sharp. Your hacking skills do outshine those dimwits at the police department, quick on the uptake, aren't you? Yes, I've set this stage precisely to bring your old man down.

It's only when your dad's in trouble that you'll be forced to play by my rules. And you, you can't afford to fight back, can you?

You wouldn't risk your dad's life, especially now. He's in need of a heart transplant, isn't he?

Imagine if he's roughed up in detention, or worse, gets convicted for manslaughter. Could he withstand such a blow? Maybe he'd kick the bucket from a heart attack right there in his cell, even before a death sentence could be pronounced."

Tiana's gaze began to fracture, revealing all her deepest fears that he had just voiced!

She could try every trick in the book to clear her dad's name, to stand up against Barclay till the bitter end, but her dad didn't have the luxury of time. His condition today was already teetering on the edge; a heart attack could claim his life at any moment!

Tiana knew she had to get her dad out, and fast.

Biting her lip, she scoffed, "All this rambling, just to make a demand, huh? So, what is it you want? Out with it!"

"There's only one thing you need to understand: as long as the Caldwell family is against your dad, he's not getting out."

"Well, say it!" Tiana roared.

Barclay's sinister gaze settled on her face, his eyebrow arching as he let out a menacing chuckle, "Marry me."