Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 160
Elaine stormed into the CEO’s office, disbelief etched on her face “What on earth is Whitney thinking? Ludwik, why would she
siphon off 400 billion of your liquid assets? What’s her endgame?”
Even Felix could not temper Elaine’s fury because, indeed, Whitney’s move was akin to pushing the CEO into a corner with no
way out.
Why would she do this?
“Mr. Lippert, we’ve located Madam!”
“Where?” Ludwik’s face was a mask, cold and unmoving. He stood up, ready to leave.
He remained deaf to the clamor outside, his bodyguards blocking anyone from approaching, his mind and sight filled with
thoughts of that woman.
Did Orion coerce her?
He could not believe it. He refused to believe that she would drain all the funds from his company, forcing him into the brink of
bankruptcy.
Elaine followed him into the car, staying close by his side.
Felix pulled out the investigation results, his brow furrowed. “Mr. Lippert, I’ve double–checked. The 400 billion was transferred to
an offshore construction company that just won the bid for the Braxton property a couple of days ago. It’s Orion’s.”
The revelation hit like thunder.
Ludwik’s gaze was icy as the depths of hell.
Whitney had made a mistake in the bidding documents, causing him to lose the hotel project.
He thought it was an accident and was willing to trust her.
Now, with the hotel project scrapped and a 120 billion compensation looming, Whitney transferred his 400 billion dollars away.
No, he could not believe it. How could she be involved with Orion? He just could not believe it.

His heart was ice–cold as he rode in silence.
Soon, the car arrived at a villa in the suburbs. Felix signaled the armed bodyguards to split into two teams and sneak in.
Ludwik did not wait for the bodyguards to clear the way; his lean, frosty hand pushed open the villa’s front door.
There were voices in the lit living room, and the door closed tight.

His ears caught the woman’s voice he could not be more familiar with.
“Have you had enough of hurting Ludwik? I think it’s enough. Let me go!”
“Whitney, it’s ‘we‘–the three of us took our revenge! Thanks to Boss’s help, Ludwik’s downfall came quickly. I’ve been hiding for
ten years, and now that his liquid assets are gone, all the investment companies will turn on him. Imperial Gem Corporation is on
the verge of collapse, and with his money, we’ll take over his company, and the Tennyson family legacy will be restored!”
Whitney watched her uncle’s manic excitement and did not recognize him anymore. Who was the real corporate predator?
Perhaps revenge was just a pretext, she thought chillingly.
She just wanted to escape, to return to his side no matter what. He must be going through a hard time right
now
But her uncle would not let her go. After a day of torment, Whitney felt her sanity was fraying.
She echoed mockingly. “Yes, we did it together. We hurt him. Uncle, open the door. I want to leave.”
“Sister–in–law, we’re in this together now. You can’t leave...” The sinister man approached, lifting Whitney’s chin.

“You... Orion?” Whitney’s face turned as pale as frost as she finally got her answer.
A gunshot shattered the silence, and the tightly closed door burst open!
In the aftermath, the door slowly cracked, revealing the endless cold night outside.
From the darkness emerged a figure, imposing like a deron from hell, the man’s tall frame clad in a black suit that seemed to
herald doom.
Yet his face was deathly pale, and his chilling gaze fixed on Orion, touching Whitney’s chin with a smirk
The woman sat in a chair, her words echoing in Ludwik’s ears.
She called Orion by name, and she knew him well.
And she, oh, had long known his true identity. What a cunning woman she was.
She spoke of their joint revenge as if they had accomplished some great deed together?
Ludwik stared at the woman, her delicate face pale with terror. He laughed–a laugh that rang with the coldness of an icy river.
“Lud.. L?” Whitney saw him, her body stiffening with dread. Her face was ashen.
Why was he here? Was he looking for her? How much of her desperate lies, forced by circumstances, had he heard?
Her fingers trembled violently as she stood up from her chair.
Ludwik gestured with his gun, stepping forward with a silent and deadly grace. Beneath his cold–blooded demeanor, his heart
was shattered beyond repair.

“So, Whitney, you’re in league with Orion?” He asked with a laugh that was both sinister and cold.
“No, Ludwik, I...” Whitney stammered out.
His laugh grew more chilling and cruel. “When did you find out who I am? Such a flawless act.”
“Listen to me...” She tried to approach him.
He halted, his stance rigid like twin blades. Suddenly, his expression vanished. “You said you’d come into my life, into my
company, and give it your all. You wouldn’t leave me alone. This morning, you said that we’d face it together when you woke up.
I wonder why I’ve been so out of it all day. And why you were suddenly willing to wear the ring? Turns out, it was all a sweet
trap.” His laughter echoed, carrying the chill of icy waters.
“Ludwik...” Whitney’s breath caught as though she inhaled knives, pain wracking her body.
She suddenly realized that she could no longer explain herself to Ludwik.
She had lost her chance the moment he saw her with Orion.
Natalie had said, “If there’s anyone he truly despises and hates, it’s his brother who took everything from him.”
But Whitney did not know–she had no idea that the man her uncle brought in was Orion!
How could she be with his most hated person in a ‘conspiracy‘ to transfer his assets?
Whitney could not even begin to imagine the pain he must be feeling, how deeply wounded he was.
Chapter 160
Tears of extreme sorrow fell from her eyes as she stood trembling, fearful as a child. “Ludwik, listen to me, it’s
not like that...”
“You said you love me? To conspire with your uncle and Orion to take over my company, is this your love? I’ve felt it.” His voice
was harsh and desolate.
For him, heartbreak was nothing new.

His lips pressed tight, and then no sound came out of his throat. His gaze grew colder, piercing her to the
marrow.
Whitney’s heart bled, a sweet, metallic tang rising in her throat. The taste of fresh blood made her shudder violently as she
looked at him with utter despair in her eyes.
She shook her head vehemently, yet she still yearned to move towards him, towards this noble man who had gambled
everything because of her mistake.
“Don’t you touch Ludwik, Whitney!”
Elaine stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Ludwik. A cold smirk played on her lips she had not expected
Orion to get involved in Keegan’s mess. This was a stroke of luck for her.
She knew all too well how much Ludwik loathed Orion.
The fact that Whitney had conspired with him was Ludwik’s Achilles‘ heel!.