Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 169

In Natalie’s hospital

Elaine had been moved to the adjacent intensive care unit. Ludwik had hired the best private nurse for

her.

The man himself, Ludwik, sat alone by his mother’s bedside, a silent sentinel for over four hours.

No one knew what turmoil churned behind his stoic facade.

As dusk enveloped the city, Parker and Nolan strode into the sterile room.

Ludwik looked up, his eyes weary as he extended a hand.

Parker approached, “I got the surveillance footage from the coastal villa and the intersection where

Keegan snatched Natalie”

Ludwik, clinging to a shred of sanity, needed to see the damning evidence of Whitney’s betrayal, even

after he had expelled her from his life

But reality was a cruel mistress. The villa’s nearby camera had captured Whitney being rescued by

Keegan’s assistant and whisked away into the night.

And just a half–hour before, Keegan had kidnapped Natalie from the roadside.

After viewing both pieces of footage, a tired, hollow laugh escaped Ludwik. He waved them off, “Call

Taryn in

here.”

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When Taryn entered, Ludwik’s voice was low; “Did you hear the entire call Keegan made to my mother

that day? What did he say?”

Taryn recounted with painful accuracy, “Keegan baited her with Whitney… said her child was at risk of

miscarriage, refusing treatment. Natalie, worried for her grandchild and unable to reach you, hastily left

the villa with me and a driver, only to walk into a trap.”

Why had he been unreachable? He’d been detained at the police station.

Parker furrowed his brow, hesitating. “The video leaked from the Joyful Manor party, should we keep

digging?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Ludwik’s laugh was bitter now. “Why bother?”

He’d once shielded Whitney at those very parties; now she wielded those memories as weapons to

tear at his

heart.

Ludwik’s eyes briefly shut, “Why can women be so cruel? My mother’s frail, and yet, Whitney pushed

her towards renal failure.”

“Nolan, Parker, the doctors say even with the best care, my mother’s brain damage leaves her with a

life expectancy of three years, at best, in a vegetative state.”

“I can’t accept that.” His voice was faint, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. In the presence of a

mother, every man is but a child.

Nolan turned away, his heart aching/“Ludwik, you’ve got to stop. It’s all Whitney’s fault! New Year’s

Eve, Natalie was so full of life, laughing over the phone. She’s clung to life for your sake, knowing how

alone you’ve been.”

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“She thought I’d have a warm home, a loving wife and child. All lies. Instead, I harbored a viper, and

now I’ve lost everything”

A mirthless chuckle slipped from Ludwik as he closed his eyes, his voice icy, “Throw Keegan in jail, no

trial, life without parole. Hand over the rest of the evidence to the police and let them arrest whoever

they need to.”

It was clear he meant for Whitney to be taken away as well.

Parker started, while Nolan caught sight of Ludwik’s trembling hand. His face paled, and he nudged

Parker, whispering. “Ludwik’s hand is shaking, he’s about to have a fit.”

10-20

Parker too noticed and took a deep breath. Ludwik had been unnervingly calm since he slapped

Whitney. This tranquility was a bad sign.

“Ludwik, maybe you should call a doctor…”

“Everyone out,” Ludwik commanded, too exhausted to argue.

No one dared to disobey, and Parker and Nolan left the room, their minds heavy with concern.

At eight o’clock that night, two officers entered Whitney’s hospital room.

She was jolted awake, groggy and confused.

Tiana stood protectively in front of her, visibly shaken, “Officers, may I help you?”

“We’re looking for Whitney” The officers showed their badges and cut to the chase, “Mr. Lippert’s

attorney has submitted evidence to the authorities. On the night of Keegan’s kidnapping of Natalie, you

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were seen getting into his assistant’s car. We need to question you about your involvement in the

kidnapping.”

Whitney’s heart skipped a beat. He was sending her to jail; he would never forgive her.

Tiana, seeing Whitney’s stunned expression, pleaded, “Officers, Whitney is pregnant and at risk of

premature labor. She can’t leave the hospital. Could you please consider this in your investigation?”

One officer stepped out to consult with a doctor. Returning, he said, “We’ll take your statement here.

Please explain everything that happened that day.”

Whitney, her knuckles white, recounted everything without omission.

After the officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able to sit up straight.

“Keegan’s being sentenced tonight, life without parole. He wanted to see me.”

The swift verdict didn’t make sense. Keegan hadn’t been directly responsible for Natalie’s state. It

couldn’t be a

life sentence so soon.

It had to be Ludwik

Keegan’s health was failing, without treatment, he wouldn’t last a year in prison.

Sweat beaded on Whitney’s forehead as she scrambled out of bed.

“Whitney!” Tiana paled, reaching out to help.

“I need to see Ludwik. My uncle doesn’t deserve this sentence. I have to beg him…”

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In a frenzy, they reached Natalie’s ICU at the end of the corridor when a blood–curdling scream pierced

the silence!

A doctor burst out of the emergency room doors, clutching his neck with a pained expression, his arm

drenched in blood. He cried out, “Mr. Lippert’s gone mad! Someone call the cops!”

“Doctor, hold on a second!” Nolan intervened with his security team in tow, his face ashen as he

attempted to silence the physician.

But the doctor was hysterical, “I was just checking on his mother, and when I saw him all flushed and

short of breath, I asked if he was okay out of concern. Then he just snapped and stabbed mel He’s a

lunatic, a psycho! And he seems to have no control; he’s like a wrecking ball. You’ve got to get him out

of here before the whole hospital goes into panic!”

“We’re working on it, we’ve called in a specialist! It’s not like he wanted this to happen!” Nolan’s face

was mask of distress.

Whitney stood frozen, unable to comprehend.

What was wrong with Ludwik? What happened to him?

The sound of objects being smashed to pieces inside the room sent chills down her spine.

“Tiana, push me over there.”

“Ludwik, what’s going on?” Tiana’s voice quivered with anxiety, hesitant to move closer.

Whitney, however, abandoned her wheelchair and sprinted toward the chaos.

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