Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 168

Ludwik stared at her, his heart perforated and bleeding from the night of the once beloved face that

now caused him indescribable pain A pain that might never heal as long as he lived.

Once the heart empties, it hardens, turning cold and unyielding like bedrock, alicing through him with

the chill of a bone–piercing wind. “My mother’s been miserable, thanks to you. Tos condemned to suffer

for a lifetime You love me? That’s the cheapest, most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard!!

“Oh right,” he growled, capturing her tiny wrists and pinning her against the wall, his grip tightening on

her

throat.

He leaned in, his voice a sneer of cold mockery, “Your uncle came for vengeance, thinking I’d killed

your grandfather? Let me tell you, the day your mother and grandfather had that car crash, was the one

who tried

I to save them, but I failed. There was never anything but normal discord between me and your

grandfather. Are you satisfied now?”

Her heart felt pierced by countless swords, all stabbing her at once.

Whitney became rigid as stone.

In the sluggish recesses of her disbelief, only one thought circled: He had tried to save them.

That’s why her uncle saw the mask in the wrecked carl

Why? Why had it come to this?

After she had hurt him, only then did she learn the truth.

He had always been honorable, never a thief or usurper!

Why did fate play such cruel games? The gentlest cut of all was delivered by his hand.

Whitney clutched her chest, nearly fainting from the pain. Everything was lost, all was wrong.

Seeing her pain contorted face, Ludwik’s heart numbed a fraction.

He released her abruptly, hurling her away, his eyes bloodshot like a demon’s, “Get lost! I never want to

see you again! There’s nothing left between us but hate.”

Hate?

Whitney collapsed at the doorway, her hands covering her face as tears breached her defenses,

unstoppable.

The baby inside her seemed to sense the father’s words, moving desperately in distress.

She curled up, biting her tongue so hard she nearly suffocated from the pain. Through her tear–blurred

vision, she saw Elaine on the hospital bed, giving her a cold, faint smile.

It was a perfect trap. Her uncle’s revenge, Elaine the opportunist, exploiting her uncle’s hatred to

weave this intricate web. But she was not innocent.

Whitney’s heart broke at the thought.

Ludwik’s mother had become a vegetable, how much must he be suffering?

If it weren’t for her uncle’s kidnapping, none of this would have happened.

It was Elaine – Natalie’s kidney failure was no coincidence!

Whitney struggled to rise, kneeling at the doorway, desperately knocking, her voice weak and hoarse,

“Ludwik, listen to me, please… I didn’t Hurt your mother…

With a thud, darkness claimed her, and she collapsed to the ground.

“Miss…” Taryn stood aside, noticing the blood on the back of Whitney’s white coat, her expression

finally

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shifting slightly.

Nolan and Parker exchanged frowns of concern.

“Whitney, how did you end up like this?” Someone pried open her parched lips and forced water in

Whitney slowly opened her eyes, the harsh white light blinding her

“The patient is pregnant and at risk of preterm labor due to trauma. The baby’s over five months along,

and she’s been starving for three to four days. If she doesn’t rest, both will be in danger the doctor

stated solemnly

“I’m sorry, doctor, we’ve only just found her.”

Was that Tiana’s voice? Whitney’s pale hand immediately went to her stomach.

“Whitney’s awakel Valerie approached her.

“My baby…

“You’ve been bleeding internally. You need to rest. The doctor said you’ve had several injuries, Tiana

fretted, looking at Whitney with mixed emotions.

“I shouldn’t have gone back to the old family home for New Year’s Eve. It’s only the fourth day of the

year, and can’t understand what’s happened L is actually Ludwik, the CEO of Imperial Gem

Corporation. And Whitney, how could you and your uncle… were you really seeking revenge for the

Tennyson family? You’re so confused, how could you kidnap Natalie? And why didn’t you tell any of

us? if we’d known, we would have helped you! You wouldn’t be in this situation alone…”

Whitney shook her head, tears streaking her face, Tm sorry How could I involve you in this? It’s not

right”

At first, she believed her uncle’s evidence, thinking Ludwik was the enemy. Later, when it was too late,

she alone played the role of her uncle’s ‘accomplice‘ She couldn’t drag her friends into it.

“You’re so foolish. No wonder you’ve been in such pain lately, and you wouldn’t tell us anything You

and your uncle took such a wrong path, and now Ludwik’s mother is a vegetable. Did you really cause

it? Nolan said… Tiana was torn, reluctant to believe.

The thought of Natalie lying in the hospital forever made Whitney clutch her heart and take deep

breaths. She shook her head in denial, “The night my uncle kidnapped Natalie, I went alone to save

her, but Elaine ambushed me and took Natalie away. By the time I got to the hospital today, Natalie had

become a vegetable.”

Valerie’s eyes hardened, and she let out a scoff, “I suspected as much. Anything involving Elaine is

never straightforward”

“Tiana, don’t just take Nolan’s word for it. We should side with Whitney. Even with a family feud, I can

see that Whitney loves Mr. Lippert. She wouldn’t harm Natalie, either emotionally or logically”

“And knowing Elaine, she takes great care of herself. She’s too selfish to donate a kidney lightly.

Unless there’s a huge benefit or scheme involved.”

Whitney closed her eyes tightly, Valerie had hit the nail on the head.

Tiana’s face tensed with anger, “So Whitney! You’re innocent in the kidnapping, right?”

“Yes, how could I harm Natalie? She’s been so good to me…” Whitney’s lips quivered with bitterness

as she finally showed her vulnerability.

“But now, Ludwik’s got you all wrong,” Tiana said, her voice cracking as she clenched her fists.

“Everyone around him has turned their back on you. When we got to the hospital, you were lying there

in the corridor all alone, not a single soul to look after you. We’ve gotta clear things up with Ludwik!”

“How can I possibly explain?” Whitney replied with a helpless, bitter smile, speaking sarcastically, “I’ve

got a record for ‘sabotaging‘ Imperial Gem Corporation, and to him, the idea that I’d harm his mother

just fits the pattern.”

Chapter 168

*Besides, it was just Elaine and me that night. The only living witness Natalie is now in a coma.”

She felt utterly defenseless, branded in his heart as some sort of ruthless femme fatale.

The trust he had in her before had turned into pure loathing!

He even said that there was only hate left between them.

Just thinking about those words made her heart feel like it was being torn into pieces. Whitney clutched

at her chest, overwhelmed by the pain.

She couldn’t accept it, this rift between them.

Seeing her tearful and increasingly pale, Valerie tried to comfort her, “Don’t panic. Focus on taking care

of the baby for now. No matter how tough it gets, you’ve got us. And regardless of his

misunderstandings, I believe time will prove everything. Besides, you and Mr. Lippert have a child

together that’s an unbreakable bond.”

Whitney touched her belly with a sad smile, the baby, now her only leverage, her last hope.

–

She thought back to the night of the escape and Natalie’s earnest words that felt so heartwarming at

the time.

Little did she know, those would be Natalie’s last wishes.

Whitney closed her eyes, determined to fulfill Natalie’s request. She had to be strong; she couldn’t give

up on them!

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