Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 174

His kiss was gentle, and Elaine’s pale hands wrapped around Ludwik’s chest, her lips curved in a

smile.

Whitney staggered, as if a bucket of ice had been dumped over her from head to toe.

The cookies in her hand was crumpled beyond recognition. Its distorted shape seemed to mock her

naivety, to think that a bag of cookies could soften his heart.

Believing that one night could heal and make him look back.

But how could he kiss Elaine? Could affection really shift so swiftly?

From the corner of her eye, Elaine caught a glimpse of Whitney standing by the doorway, pale as frost.

Across the distance, Whitney couldn’t possibly hear the murmur of ‘darling‘ that slipped from Ludwik’s

lips as he kissed Elaine.

Elaine’s initially somber expression slowly gave way to enjoyment, her embrace around Ludwik’s neck

growing more deliberate. Lost in his dream, Ludwik kissed her with a scent of tobacco and antiseptic on

his breath, utterly intoxicating.

Elaine blushed, mimicking Whitney’s tender whisper, “L..”

L? Someone had whispered that in his ear last night, too, a gentle voice that comforted him, promising

to heal him. But the only one person would call him ‘L‘ was…

A shiver ran through Ludwik’s ears, and he gradually opened his eyes, sensing something was amiss

with the

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voice.

When his vision cleared, he sharply saw it was Elaine, her cheeks flushed with color.

Ludwik’s brow furrowed, and he quickly pulled away, angered that he’d been dreaming of that other

woman, longing for that ‘L‘ His face darkened with self–loathing.

He steadied Elaine with a whisper, “Im sorry, Elaine, I thought…”

Elaine hadn’t expected her ‘L‘ to awaken him. A tear threatened, but she quickly suppressed her voice,

“It’s okay, Ludwik, you were dreaming.”

He sank back into the bed, looking unwell.

“Are w

you feeling better, Ludwik?” Elaine feigned concern, checking his pulse.

As she touched him, weary and worried, Ludwik’s gaze softened. Coming back to his senses, he found

himself utterly lucid

Did you stay

“Much better,” Ludwik paused, then asked, “Did you stay with me all night?”

“Who else would it be?” Elaine replied softly, her hand gently touching her right side as if to remind him

of her recent surgery. “Even though I just donated a kidney and the doctors warned me not to move, I

wouldn’t hesitate for your sake, Ludwik.”

Gratitude filled Ludwik’s eyes as he replied, “Thank you, you’ve been through a lot.”

He turned to wipe her brow with a tissue.

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Elaine closed her eyes, her heart pounding as she prepared to speak. But Ludwik’s cold question cut

through, “Did anyone else visit the room?”

Elaine opened her eyes to sp

the icy depths of his gaze and swiftly played the understanding card, “Ludwik, are you asking about

Whitney? If it would ease your mind to think she was here, then let’s say she was.”

Her sigh sealed her deception.

Whitney, who had been about to leave, retreated silently at the scene unfolding before her.

But Elaine’s malicious lles rooted her to the spot. The memory of the previous night–Elaine pushing her

into the room in a rush–flashed in her mind.

And the morning call from the police station about her uncle causing trouble, his subsequent denial–it

was all too suspicious. Now she realized it was a ploy to get rid of her.

Was Elaine trying to take credit for healing Ludwik after pushing Whitney to treat him and then

displacing her to claim the victory?

Misunderstandings already marred their relationship; she couldn’t let Elaine drive another wedge

between them. With pale lips, Whitney burst in, “Ludwik.”

His face was expressionless, his cold indifference clear as he scoffed, “I wasn’t ask about her. Don’t

mention that woman again. She’s dead to me.”

Whitney froze. She was dead to him? Dead in his heart. Crushing the cookie in her hand, she

approached him. As he heard her voice and looked at her with icy eyes,

Whitney, undeterred, rolled up his sleeve to check his pulse and lifted his eyelid.

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“Get away from me!” Ludwik roared.

Whitney explained calmly, “I’m here to check on you, I was the one who sat here all night, treating you,

not Elaine. She couldn’t cure you, and after promising too much, she panicked and pushed me in to do

her work. And when I did heal you, she sent me away!”

Ludwik froze, his brows knitting together as he turned to Elaine.

Elaine forced a smile and shook her head, playing the victim, “Ludwik, don’t be upset because of her. If

she wants to take credit, let her. As long as you’re healed, I’m content. I don’t mind being framed!”

She made Whitney seem aggressive with her subtle deflection.

Knowing Elaine was feigning innocence, Whitney knew she had to explain. If she didn’t, she knew

Ludwik would only grow colder,

But even with her explanation, belief was uncertain.

Just like his mocking, furious gaze that now pointed at her accusingly, “I know very well who treated

me. Do you think I’m still so gullible? If you healed me, I’d feel disgusted. I wish I were sick again!

What, now you’re an expert on hysterical diseases too? Shameless!”

Whitney felt shattered by his words, stepping back in dismay.

She hadn’t expected his hatred and loathing to go this far.

Her heart felt riddled with holes, empty and cold.

Whitney had reached her breaking point; she was ready to lay it all out on the table. Her gaze, heavy

with anguish, was fixed on his handsome face as she pointed an accusing finger at Elaine, fearful this

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might be her last chance to defend herself. “L, every single word I’m saying is the truth! If I’m lying, may

lightning strike me down!

It was Elaine who called my uncle, urging him to kidnap Natalie!

I escaped from that beach house not to join in the kidnapping, but to save Natalie! I was trying to get

her back home for treatment when Elaine intercepted us and took her away.

Natalle was fine before, but once we got back to Banyan City, she suddenly suffered from kidney

failure–and became comatose. Elaine had tampered with her! She’s trying to destroy me and win you

over with a kidney donation, to emotionally blackmail you. Can’t you see it?”

Whitney spilled everything in one breath, her eyes blazing with a desperate plea for him to believe her.

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