Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 171

“You’ve got to do something. My head is pounding, I can’t control it!” Ludwik gritted his teeth, barely

holding on. Before he could finish his plea, his right hand began to tremble violently. Unconsciously, he

seized Elaine’s throat, lifting her off the ground with a man’s fury that seemed boundless.

“Ludwik–what are you doing? Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of color in sheer terror.

She had never seen such a bloodthirsty frenzy in a man–so foreign, so detached from his usual poise

and grace. He was like a perilous cheetah, and she did not fancy him this way.

It frightened her even more. She cherished her life dearly. Her intention upon entering had been to

flaunt her Importance to Ludwik in front of Whitney and to show off before Nolan and the others. But

she had no clue how to cure him!

If she stayed, she feared he would strangle her in his blind rage.

He was beyond recognizing anyone

now!

In a desperate flurry, Elaine’s eyes darted around until they fell upon a vase. She snatched it up and

crashed it onto his head. As he staggered from the pain, she quickly jabbed a needle into his neck.

The man collapsed to the floor, knocked out by the forceful intervention.

Elaine crouched beside him, her face a mask of frustration, unsure what to do next. She dared not jab

needles into his skull again–what if it left him with brain damage?

She would not allow for any mishap that might affect his intelligence or capabilities.

She needed a perfect man, damn it!

Outside, Parker heard the commotion die down and knocked on the door, “Elaine, did your treatment

work? Shall I call in the psychiatrist now?”

Elaine’s face shifted hues, and before she could protest, Parker had already let the doctor in.

The doctor arrived with his equipment and after a thorough check, frowned deeply, casting a glance at

Elaine. “Miss, you’ve merely knocked the patient out. He can’t stay unconscious forever, and when he

wakes, he’ll be just as violent. You haven’t started treatment, have you?”

Elaine’s face stiffened.

Nolan and Parker exchanged a look, their brows furrowed as they turned to her. “How could you hit

Ludwik?”

Elaine, flustered and annoyed, defended herself, “He was delirious, attacking me. I had no choice but

to do this, but rest assured, I’ll find a way to heal him.”

Nolan, always the hothead and worried for Ludwik, snapped, “Are you even capable?”

“Of course, I am. Just give me some time,” Elaine argued.

Parker massaged his temples. “But nobody’s giving Ludwik time. Someone’s leaked word of his

outburst to the Lippert family, and now Kaden, Orion, with the shareholders of Imperial Gem

Corporation, are on their way here. They’re eager to seize power and blow this whole incident out of

proportion, pushing for Orion to take over at Imperial Gem!”

“Those vultures!” Nolan cursed.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Parker’s brow knotted; he’d stationed double security outside, but it seemed the Lippert family’s

influence had broken through,

“Let’s go see what’s happening,” he urged urgently.

Nolan’s face turned cold as he dialed Ashton on his phone.

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Chapter 171

“You’ve got to do something. My head is pounding, I can’t control it!” Ludwik gritted his teeth, barely

holding on. Before he could finish his plea, his right hand began to tremble violently. Unconsciously, he

seized Elaine’s throat, lifting her off the ground with a man’s fury that seemed boundless.

“Ludwik–what are you doing? Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of color in sheer terror.

She had never seen such a bloodthirsty frenzy in a man–so foreign, so detached from his usual poise

and grace. He was like a perilous cheetah, and she did not fancy him this way.

It frightened her even more. She cherished her life dearly. Her intention upon entering had been to

flaunt her importance to Ludwik in front of Whitney and to show off before Nolan and the others. But

she had no clue how to cure him!

If she stayed, she feared he would strangle her in his blind rage,

He was beyond recognizing anyone now!

In a desperate flurry, Elaine’s eyes darted around until they fell upon a vase. She snatched it up and

crashed it onto his head. As he staggered from the pain, she quickly jabbed a needle into his neck.

The man collapsed to the floor, knocked out by the forceful intervention.

Elaine crouched beside him, her face a mask of frustration, unsure what to do next. She dared not jab

needles into his skull again–what if it left him with brain damage?

She would not allow for any mishap that might affect his intelligence or capabilities.

She needed a perfect man, damn it!

Outside, Parker heard the commotion die down and knocked on the door. “Elaine, did your treatment

work? Shall I call in the psychiatrist now?”

Elaine’s face shifted hues, and before she could protest, Parker had already let the doctor in.

The doctor arrived with his equipment and after a thorough check, frowned deeply, casting a glance at

Elaine. “Miss, you’ve merely knocked the patient out. He can’t stay unconscious forever, and when he

wakes, he’ll be just as violent. You haven’t started treatment, have you?”

Elaine’s face stiffened.

Nolan and Parker exchanged a look, their brows furrowed as they turned to her. “How could you hit

Ludwik?” Elaine, flustered and annoyed, defended herself, “He was delirious, attacking me. I had no

choice but to do this, but rest assured, I’ll find a way to heal him.”

Nolan, always the hothead and worried for Ludwik, snapped, “Are you even capable?”

“Of course, I am. Just give me some time,” Elaine argued.

Parker massaged his temples. “But nobody’s giving Ludwik time. Someone’s leaked word of his

outburst to the Lippert family, and now Kaden, Orion, with the shareholders of Imperial Gem

Corporation, are on their way here. They’re eager to seize power and blow this whole incident out of

proportion, pushing for Orion to take over at Imperial Gem!”

“Those vultures!” Nolan cursed.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Parker’s brow knotted; he’d stationed double security outside, but it seemed the Lippert family’s

influence had broken through.

“Let’s go see what’s happening,” he urged urgently.

Nolan’s face turned cold as he dialed Ashton on his phone.

18.22

No sooner had the trio stepped out into the hallway than it erupted with noise.

Kaden, a man in his sixties, stood regally at the forefront, leaning on a cane, while Orion lounged at his

side, smirking.

Behind them followed a procession of shareholders, all aligned with Orior’s camp

Kaden spoke with feigned concern, I heard Ludwik’s mother is ill, quite seriously. I’ve come to visit her?

Ashton, barely containing his disdain, retorted, “Ludwik’s mother has been ill for many years, and

you’ve shown little concern. What brings you here now?”

“Father heard that Ludwik’s illness has been aggravated by his mother’s condition; he’s just concerned.

Why. are you few enough to stop us?” Orion sneered with a wicked grin.

“Ludwik is just resting from exhaustion, no need for you and the shareholders to make a scene with a

hospital visit,” Parker ground out through clenched teeth.

“I’m well aware of Ludwik’s condition. When he was ill before, he left our servant crippled, and today

he’s hurt a doctor. Such dangerous behavior cannot be tolerated. As his father, I have no choice but to

commit him to a psychiatric facility again to prevent further harm,” Kaden declared with an air of finality.

His flippant, heartless words incensed Whitney, who had been standing at a distance

She had come upstairs upon hearing the commotion, hoping to check on the situation with Tiana’s

help.

But instead, she had stumbled upon Ludwik’s father and brother, besieging the hospital.

Whitney’s heart ached with unspeakable discomfort.

Natalie had told her how difficult his life had been–born into privilege but uncherished, penniless,

stealing money to buy medication for his mother.

She had only heard the stories, unable to truly empathize. Now, witnessing firsthand his father’s blatant

favoritism and coldheartedness, Whitney’s heart felt pierced with pain.

For him, she felt sorrow, injustice, and revulsion.

He was vulnerable, and yet his father and brother were exploiting him, indifferent to his illness, focused

solely on seizing his company. No wonder he was suspicious, volatile, and lonely.

And then there was her–why had she become an additional burden on him?

“He’s your son!” Nolan bellowed in outrage. “Ludwik is fine! Now leave immediately!”

“No one wants to linger here. We’ve come so the shareholders can see for themselves that Ludwik is

unfit to manage the company. The corporation cannot be leaderless for a day. We need someone at the

helm,” Kaden stated flatly, devoid of emotion.

“Indeed! How can he lead us if he’s mentally ill?” one shareholder, convinced by the disarray in the

hospital room, chimed in.

“It seems the rumors about Mr. Lippert’s previous stint in a psychiatric ward are true,” another

shareholder shook his head somberly.

“With four hundred billion in liquid assets stolen by Ludwik’s wife, he has become the laughingstock of

Banyan City, led astray by a pretty face. And now that young Master Orion has recovered the funds, it

is only right that he take the reins of Imperial Gem Corporation!”

The shareholders had made up their minds.

Orion licked his lips, a sly smile on his face, tapping away on his phone.

Suddenly, a horde of reporters burst in, their cameras flashing wildly as they aimed at Natalie’s ward.

“Orion, what the hell are you doing?” Ashton bellowed, his face flushed with rage as he charged

forward.

Chapter 171

Parker’s eyes darkened behind his shades, and he immediately signaled the bodyguards to fortify the

corridor.

The standoff was tense, like archers with arrows drawn.

Suddenly, there was a commotion from the hospital room; the sound of pounding on the door and a

man’s anguished roar.

“Damn, Ludwik’s awake!” Nolan’s face went pale. “Elaine, get in there, try to calm him down.”

They couldn’t let Ludwik come out, not with the media ready to capture his meltdown!

Elaine was seething inside. How could she dare go back in there after Ludwik had left those purple

bruises around her neck,

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Whitney!

Somehow, she had slipped in unnoticed amid the chaos.

Elaine thought, it seemed Ludwik’s crazed state might just need Whitney, that wretch.

Seizing the moment when no one was looking, Elaine gave Whitney a fierce shove, catching her off

guard and forcing her toward the hospital room. Then, with swift decisiveness, she slammed the door

shut and locked it!