Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 187

Whitney fought desperately as the circle of male bosses tightened around her, with Maddox at the

forefront. A crowd had gathered, reveling in the spectacle.

The summit was a gathering of business moguls, and these folks, if you really got down to brass tacks,

had a mean streak. They wouldn’t pass up a scandalous scene.

Maddox threw down the gauntlet, “I’ll give you a cool million, Whitney. Your company could really use

that cash, right?”

“Not enough. Take another layer off, and I’ll make it two million!”

A hand reached out, pulling at Whitney’s sweater.

“No, stop!” Whitney stumbled to the floor, drenched in cold sweat, clutching her belly protectively with

one hand while trying to push herself up with the other.

In the chaos, someone’s foot brushed against her pregnant belly, and she feared for her unborn child.

Amid despair and bone–deep agony, Whitney looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, and shouted

towards the impassive man above, “Ludwik, please save me! I came here to bring you medicine, don’t

let them humiliate me like this–it’s an insult to your child too….

The pill she clutched was crushed out of shape. She wanted to hold it up high, to prove her innocence,

to show she wasn’t there with any ulterior motives.

She hadn’t intended to embarrass him on his big day, to make him the talk of the town.

Not at all!

But the pill soon tumbled to the floor, and through her tear–blurred vision, she saw the man upstairs still

elegantly sipping his red wine.

The chilling tone of the wine mirrored the frost in his eyes as he watched her impassively.

That look of hatred and indifference–it was aimed to destroy her!

In that instant, Whitney felt a chill run through her, realizing just how deep his loathing ran.

Perhaps his revenge was just beginning.

This was his cruelty.

Shivering uncontrollably and clutching her belly and the collar of her sweater, she knew she couldn’t

endure the humiliation from these men any longer. She had to leave; she had to escape.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?” Maddox grabbed her ankle again. “Such delicate legs.”

“Let go, let me go!” Whitney tried to run to the side.

Another man blocked her way. “For those legs, I’ll offer four million, Mr. Lippert doesn’t want her–she’s

all yours, haha.*

“Ludwik, I hate you…” Whitney was held back, her mind flooded with piercing memories of the past

when he had been tender to her, too gentle to touch her even four months into the pregnancy. And

now, he had thrown her to the wolves.

Once, he had been meticulous about even the slip–resistant carpets in hotels, caring so much for this

child. Now, he had discarded them, branding the baby a mistake.

‘She’s dead to me from now on.”

“From here on out, you can be with whoever you want; it has nothing to do with me.”

Oh, the cruel irony–Whitney laughed through her tears.

1/3

He hadn’t been speaking out of spite; he had meant every word.

At some point, she simply stopped struggling and curled up on the floor, indifferent to whoever might

drag her

away.

“Five million, she’s mine!” One of the young elites eagerly pulled her up.

Upstairs, Ludwik’s grip on his glass tightened until it shattered in his palm, the shards cutting into his

elegant fingers and drawing blood.

He stared at her pale profile, intent on making her pay for her shameless appearance here, wanting her

to plunge into the abyss of despair.

But, with a swift stride of his long legs, he moved.

Felix immediately pointed towards the staircase, ‘Mr. Lippert, this way down!”

“I’ll pay a hundred million! All of

outside.

u, back off, let her go!” A refined yet icy voice suddenly filled the room from

Bryce, wearing a coat, strode in, his face clouded as he kicked aside the men surrounding Whitney,

sending Maddox flying.

“Whitney, Whitney…” Bryce called out gently, his brow furrowed.

Whitney looked up, her eyes red and fearful.

“I’ll get you out of here.” Bryce immediately took off his coat and wrapped it around her.

Her slender body was shivering under the two layers of sweaters, her rounded belly particularly

prominent as she crouched on the floor.

Bryce’s eyes reddened as he checked her for any damage, relieved to find none. He took a deep

breath.

Whitney, trembling and helpless, clutched at his sleeve, her teeth chattering, “Mr. Lutz, please, take me

away…”

“Let’s get out of here now!” Bryce said, lifting her up without another word.

He turned to the crowd and bellowed, “A prestigious summit, with all of you high and mighty figures

banding together to bully a defenseless woman. What a disgrace that will be for Banyan City’s

business community!”

Maddox shot Bryce a look. The young and dashing CEO of the Lutz Group was a force to be reckoned

with, and Maddox had to give him some respect, though he said with a sneer, “Mr. Lutz sure knows

how to play the hero. This woman is Mr. Lippert’s unwanted ex–wife who betrayed him. Are you really

willing to make an enemy of Mr. Lippert for her?”

Bryce’s gaze shifted to the man above, who looked down with an unyielding presence, and he said

angrily, “A man who can’t even accommodate his ex–wife is no concern of mine. Ludwik, you’re

heartless!”

“A piece of clothing I’ve discarded is none of Mr. Lutz’s concern. And you, you don’t even have the right

to pick up my trash.”

Some people nearby chuckled at Bryce’s expense.

Whitney hid in his embrace, feeling as though Ludwik’s words had slapped her repeatedly.

She trembled violently, feeling like she was in a deep freeze.

Bryce, seeing her shattered by words, carried her out quickly, “Does your stomach hurt? Don’t be

afraid…”

Yes, it hurt so much; the baby must have felt it too. Tears fell from Whitney’s eyes.

Ludwik remained motionless, his expression darkening as he watched Bryce carry the woman away.

She lay still in Bryce’s arms.

Good, great.

“Mr. Lippert “Felix looked at him fearfully uncertain of what to say

Ludwik snuffect out his cigarette against the wall, burning a large hole in the exquisite wallpaper.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and chuckled coldly, “What are you looking at me for? Continue the

party!”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it sent a jolt of alarm through Elaine and the other

Elaine scoffed internally. She had been disappointed when Ludwik almost went to save Whitney.

Besides humiliating Whitney, the evening was also a test for Ludwik–to see if he had truly gotten over

that wretch!

Bryce had swooped in and saved Whitney at the last second, as if fate itself had conspired to aid her.

Now, Ludwik would hold a grudge against Whitney that cut to the bone.

She stepped forward, taking hold of the man’s wrist. “Ludwik’s right, the summit is important. Skyfaith

Electronic Tech’s new product launch is a big deal, and there are countless companies itching to

partner with us, especially the vendors associated with the Lippert family. We iteed to get them on our

side.”

The executives all put on serious faces everyone had their hands full tonight. Felix was shadowing Mr.

Lippert, sharing laughs and pleasantries with the bosses over drink after drink.

Mr. Lippert’s expression seemed untroubled, but only Felix knew that he had been drinking far more

than usual. By the time the event wrapped up. Mr. Lippert was slightly tipsy, his eyes glinting with a cold

light, his mouth. silent

Outside the Oceanus Hotel, a tall man led the wa

way

Felix signaled for the driver to bring the car around, Ludwik stood in the biting cold, his eyes as icy as

the ocean depths.

He took hold of Elaine’s wrist personally helping her into the car with a softened tone, “You’ve had a

long day. Elaine. You’re still not well, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Head back to the villa and get

some rest.”

Elaine was quite pleased with his attentive care amid his busy schedule. Her gaze swept over the

Skyfaith executives. She was, after all, on her way to becoming the Mrs. Lippert!

But, wasn’t he coming home tonight?

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