Beneath The Loving Mask Novel by Caterine Cross _ Novel




Beneath The Loving Mask Chapter 01

Penelope Sloane went to pick up her friend’s child from preschool, but she ended up seeing something shocking. Her husband was happily reaching out to catch a little boy about three or four. 
His voice held a tenderness Penelope had never heard before. He said, “Skylar, are you happy Daddy came to pick you up today?” 
The little boy laughed with joy and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. “Yes! I want to give Daddy a sweet reward!” 
“My good boy, I want a reward too!” 
A beautiful woman in a red dress approached, smiling with half–lidded eyes. “Give mommy a kiss, too!” 
Penelope’s ears rang. She gripped her hands tightly, hoping the sharp pain would prove she wasn’t imagining things. But no matter how hard she tried, the man in the sleek black designer suit had a red mole at the corner of his eye–cold yet attractive. It was her husband, Caiden Henderson. 
The same man who had donated his heart to her. The man who stood against everyone to stay by her side, swearing he’d love only her. 
And the woman in the red dress? She was none other than Zoey Breslin, his so–called “innocent” childhood friend, 
“A child, a father, and a mother? 
“Could it be…‘ 
They looked like a perfect happy family. So what did that make her?  
Every word hit Penelope like a dagger, cutting deep into her heart and forcing her to face the truth. 
It turned out that Caiden had betrayed her long ago with Zoey, and they even had a child together! 
Tears filled Penelope’s eyes as old memories raced through her mind. 
When she was ten, Caiden folded 1,000 paper cranes, wishing for her safety and peace. His eyes were gentle as he looked at her affectionately and said, “Penelope, don’t ever think less of yourself just because you’re the housekeeper’s daughter. You’re special to me. 
“I’ll protect you from now on. No one will hurt you again.” 
After that, he pulled her into his world domineeringly. 
In her teens, he didn’t let her talk to boys. At school, she wasn’t allowed near the basketball courts where boys hung out. Once, he saw her answer a male teacher’s question and got so jealous that he hurt himself by cutting his arm ten times. 
His intense jealousy scared her so much that she stopped talking to any boys at all. 
At 16, when a rich boy tried to pursue her, Caiden ruined the boy’s entire family the very next day. After that, the rich families in San Antonio stayed far away from her. 
At 18, Penelope got into a fatal car accident. Without hesitation, Caiden gave her his own heart to save her, staying alive only with the help of an artificial heart. He smiled and said, “Penelope, I’ll give you everything I have, even my life.” 
But because she was the daughter of the housekeeper, his family never accepted her.
To marry her, Caiden gave up his title as the heir of the Henderson family. Even after being beaten nearly to death by his grandfather, he still said no to the arranged marriage they wanted for him. He fought against his family for five long years–until they finally married. 
After they got married, Caiden treated her like a treasure and always stayed close to her. 
Even when he had meetings with senior executives, he kept her on his lap and didn’t want to let go. But one day, she walked in on him by chance. Inside a private room, she saw Zoey sitting on his legs, and the two of them were kissing passionately. 
In that instant, it felt like her whole world had shattered. She turned and ran out without thinking. 
She couldn’t understand how Caiden, who claimed to love her deeply, could cheat on her with Zoey. He had clearly told her before that Zoey was just an old friend and nothing more. 
Caiden chased after her, looking nervous. He grabbed her in his arms and quickly tried to explain, “Penelope, it’s not what you think! It was just a stupid punishment from a card game Zoey lost. I only kissed her, that’s it. I swear, I’ve never done anything to truly betray you! 
“I promise there won’t be a next time!” 
Penelope, furious and heartbroken, packed up and left the house. 
After countless failed attempts to win her back, Caiden did the unthinkable–he started a live stream in front of the entire nation. During the stream, a man pointed a gun at his own head, his eyes bloodshot. He said, “Penelope, if you really won’t come back to me, then I will die to apologize to you!”
A loud gunshot echoed. On the live stream, he dropped to the floor, covered in blood. 
Penelope had never been one to tolerate betrayal. But seeing him collapse from a gunshot shook her deeply. She rushed to the hospital, terrified. After a week in the ICU, Caiden finally survived. Her heart softened, and she chose to forgive him. 
But what she didn’t expect was that her kindness would be returned with even worse betrayal… 
If Caiden couldn’t stay faithful, then she didn’t want him anymore! 
Clutching the cold metal gate at the preschool, Penelope forced herself to stay calm. She turned away and went to walk her friend’s child home. 
She got into the car, feeling empty and in shock. She rushed to the Social Security Administration to change her identity records, applied for a new passport, and booked a flight to Paris that would leave in three days. 
Penelope drove home, lost in her thoughts. Just as her hand reached for the light switch, the room lit up by itself. Dozens of white roses floated 
Caiden appeared, walking toward her with a loving look in his eyes. Without saying a word, he hugged her tightly and placed a cold blue sapphire necklace around her collarbone. “Penelope, I came back early from my trip to England and had this necklace made just for you. It’s called ‘True Love.‘ Are you surprised?” 
down from above, landing softly on her shoulders 4 
The cold from the sapphire made her shiver. 
Not long ago, she had seen him acting like a caring father and devoted husband to another woman. 
Now, the sweet look in his eyes, the familiar warmth, and even the necklace all felt like a cruel joke. 
Penelope’s stomach turned. She shoved him away, tore off the necklace, and pushed it back into his hands. Her voice cracked as she said, “I don’t like it.” 
Caiden stared at her in shock. Then, as if nothing was wrong, he pulled her back into his arms, gently bit her earlobe, and whispered, his breath hot, “Who upset my baby? Tell me, and I’ll take care of them for you!” 
Penelope’s eyes burned with tears, but she forced them back down. 
Wasn’t he the one who had hurt her the most? The one who deceived her the most? 
How could he act like he was a loyal and caring husband? 
Penelope pulled away from his embrace, turned around, and hurried upstairs. “I’m just feeling a bit tired.” 
Caiden remarked, “Alright, get some rest. I’ll put the food away in the fridge.” 
He gave a gentle smile and made his way to the kitchen. Just then, his phone buzzed 
He glanced at the screen, his expression darkened slightly, and he quickly stepped onto the balcony. 
As if possessed, Penelope followed behind. She saw him on the phone and whispered harshly, “Don’t let anyone know about Skylar’s identity. If Renelope finds out, I will never let you off easily!” 
Since the balcony door wasn’t fully shut, the other person’s voice could be heard clearly, “I know you love Penelope deeply. I won’t say anything. 
But Zoey is from a respected family. She’s been staying by your side all this time without any status. It’s unfair that her child has to be hidden.” 
this time without any s 
Caiden answered coldly, but firmly, “Penelope is the one I love, and she will be the only Mrs. Henderson. But I won’t let her have my child. 
“As for the company, I’ll hand it over to Skylar one day as compensation to Zoey.” 
His words shattered all of Penelope’s self–deception. 
So all along, when he said he didn’t want her to suffer through childbirth, it was never about protecting her–it was because he thought she was never worthy of carrying the Henderson family’s bloodline. 
All the affection he showed was just a trap, meant to keep her in a role to make her feel cherished while being denied what truly mattered. 
She had been so naive to believe that his love would rise above judgment and status.
Her fingers curled tightly into her hands, breaking the skin, blood starting to seep out. She could barely stay standing. 
Numbly, she walked upstairs to gather her belongings. Just then, Caiden walked in with a plate in hand. He pulled her close with force, his eyes full of emotion. “Penelope, try the honey garlic ribs I made just for you…‘ 
Penelope couldn’t resist him in the end and reluctantly took a bite. Suddenly, a soft kiss landed on her lips as he whispered, “Good girl. Once you’ve finished eating, I will treat you extra well.” 
Right after he said that, Caiden’s phone lit up once more. 
Caiden glanced over. Penelope caught the sudden shift in his eyes. He quickly got up and said, “Penelope, something urgent came up at work. I  might not come home tonight. Don’t wait up–just get some rest.”
Before she could respond, he had already walked out in a rush, not realizing that his watch had been left on the nightstand. 
As she watched him leave, a deep ache gripped Penelope’s chest. 
“Had all those nights he claimed to be working late actually been spent with Zoey and their child instead? 
“How could someone love two different people at the same time?” she wondered. 
She ran to the bathroom, leaned over the sink, and threw up the honey garlic ribs she had just eaten. She thought to herself, “Caiden, in three days, I’ll disappear from your life forever.” 

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