Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 161

As Elaine’s eyes darted with malice, she lashed out with feigned distress. “Whitney, I can’t believe your

ambition. knows no bounds. To seize control of Ludwik’s Imperial Gem Corporation, you’ve plotted from

the start. You knew who he was, laid in wait, colluding with your uncle and Orion… You…”

She turned to Ludwik, her voice dipped in venom. “Remember how everyone whispered that Whitney

getting pregnant was a calculated move? Even you had your doubts. Guess it was not just idle gossip,

huh? Maybe she planned to ensnare you from the get–go, to make you fall for her!

Think about it: why else would she push me out? Why did she ‘coincidentally‘ land a job at your

company? It was all premeditated, an inside job!

She’s a CEO, Ludwik. Think about it–cold, calculating. We’ve all been played by her game!”

Her words ignited a storm in Ludwik’s icy gaze.

He sneered at Whitney, his laughter cold and piercing. “So, the child was step one in your master plan?

All an act from the start.”

“No, Ludwik, my uncle only came back later…

Whitney’s heart sank. She knew Elaine was manipulating the situation, pushing Ludwik’s buttons,

painting her love as a sinister plot.

But faced with the evidence before him, her pleas seemed hollow.

Ludwik’s laughter was bitter as he toyed with a gun, his gaze fixed on her. “I brought you into my

company to protect and cherish you. You pushed out Elaine and wormed your way in with the intent to

stab me in the heart.”

His pride had always been unassailable, and now he was at his most vulnerable.

All because he had fallen for a woman. The irony of his misplaced trust was not lost on him.

He raised the gun to her head.

Whitney turned pale. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart, petal by petal, bleeding out. In her pain,

she thought bitterly that at least he must be hurting too.

His sincere love had been trampled, his proposals and pleas a joke. He was in pain.

She deserved to die.

“What are you doing?” Keegan finally burst in, his glare fixed on Ludwik. Confined to a wheelchair, he

was at a clear disadvantage.

His hatred was palpable. “Let Whitney go! You ruined the Tennyson family, and we’re just reclaiming

what’s

ours.

You’re on the brink of ruin, Ludwik. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll sell Imperial Gem

Corporation to us tomorrow or face bankruptcy!”

“Yeah, ‘Big bro“. Four hundred billion dollars in my belly. How do you like that? I finally beat you for

once.”

Orion flicked his cigarette, nonchalantly stepping forward, his handsome features unable to

overshadow Ludwik’s striking beauty.

He smirked triumphantly at Ludwik, his eyes narrowed with deep cunning.

Ludwik glanced at Keegan before turning to Orion, his smile sharp with disdain. “Hope you can

stomach it.”

“We sure can! Ludwik, be smart and sign over the company now!”

Keegan threw a contract at him, eager to witness Ludwik’s downfall.

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But the gun suddenly pointed at him!

His face turned white.

Whitney grabbed Ludwik’s arm desperately. “Don’t do this, Ludwik Mother always said you were not

man, that you would not commit such atrocities.”

“Oh really? She never mentioned I used to be a devil” Ludwik scoffed.

His chilling gaze softened momentarily as he looked down at her like a lover whispering sweet

nothings. The been out of hell for a long time. Why turn me back into a devil?”

Whitney’s blood turned to ice.

The gun was back at her head, and he watched her with an emotionless smile. “Guess how I deal with

your uncle? And the Tennyson family?”

Whitney’s face was ashen, her whole being trembling in fear

Thinking he had the upper hand, Keegan suddenly felt a chilling dread. He wanted to rush forward to

save Whitney

But Ludwik, gripping her hair turned and handed her to a bodyguard Take this woma

“What are you doing? Ludwik! Don’t hurt Whitney

Keegan’s shouts were lost in the night as Whitney was thrust into a car. The tumultuous ride left her

stomach in knots, and she vomited unaware of her destination

When she was thrown from the vehicle, the harsh sea breeze hit her chilling her to the bone

A darkened villa loomed in the distance by the shore

Ludwik emerged from a car behind her, his attention away from her as if she no longer existed. He

approached her like a handsome devil against the night

He ordered the bodyguard Throw her in, no food or water

His voice trembling. Felix dared to remind Ludwik “Mr. Lippert Madam is with child.”

Without his mask, Ludwik’s stunning features were intoxicating yet heartbreaking for Whitney

He raised his phone, his voice cold and detached. Within a day, bankrupt Skye Gem

“No.” Whitney stumbled backward, her legs giving out, her body encased in ice

In the darkness, he towered over her, his devilish smirk audible. Keegan has a daughter doesn’t he?”

Whitney collapsed her heart searing as if fried, horror–stricken at the sight of him

She shook her head desperately unable to speak, too ashamed to beg for mercy. She had wronged

him first, had seen him as the enemy, even if coerced by her uncle. She had become the blade that

wounded him.

He had never been defeated, and she feared she was his greatest downfall. Doting on a woman had

cost him his empire

Dazed and numb, she was thrown into the dark villa by the sea

As the door closed behind her, Ludwik leaned against the car trying to light a cigarette. His hands

trembled. failing to spark a flame.

In a fit of rage, he crushed the cigarette underfoot.

Felix, Nolan, and Parker were all aware that Ludwik had struggled with demons in the past, demons

that had lan dormant for years

Leaving Whitney behind was not Ludwik’s usual style.

Chapter 161

Perhaps it was a moment of softness, a reluctance to act. He was suppressing his instincts, leaving a

sliver of

mercy.

Tears simmered in Felix’s eyes as he saw Ludwik climb into his car with a chilling demeanor.

Elaine glanced at the villa, then quickly slipped into the car herself, coaxing the man with a subtle lift of

her lips.

But he was like a statue of ice, untouchable by anyone.

Elaine clenched her fists. Whitney still weighed too heavily on his heart, causing him this turmoil, and

he had not completely let her go!

A flash of maliciousness glinted in her eyes.

That night, the business world of Banyan City was in turmoil.

Mr. Lippert had suddenly imposed economic sanctions on Skye Gem Ltd., and within hours, the jewelry

production of Skye Gem Ltd. ground to a halt.

The 19 companies that had been clamoring for damages from United Realty Corporation suddenly

changed their tune the next day, declaring they would not take Mr. Lippert to court after all.

Hearing these two pieces of news, Keegan’s face turned ashen, the sharpness in his eyes dissipating.

This was Ludwik’s doing. He had underestimated him!