Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 188

She looped her arm around his with a mix of worry and coquetry. “Ludwik, please come home early, I

might wake up in pain in the middle of the night.”

“Sure, I’ll sober up a bit.”

Elaine studied him closely, trying to discern from his words and gaze whether he was affected by

tonight’s debacle with Whitney, that wretched woman.

After all, Whitney had been humiliated and trampled upon by those men; maybe he truly despised her

now.

Elaine pondered as she closed the car window and instructed Jaxon, “Keep an eye on Mr. Lippert

tonight and report his whereabouts to me at all times.”

“Ludwik, are you freaking blind?” Tiana exclaimed, storming out of the car beside them, witnessing

Elaine’s Bentley drive away. She had seen everything–their affectionate display.

On the phone, Valerie was still on the line. She had been waiting outside the hotel all night and heard

half an hour ago that Whitney had been assaulted by everyone there!

She rushed to find her but to no avail.

Tiana, her eyes red with fury, confronted Ludwik–once a man she feared, but now, rage made her

invincible. “Are you even a man? She’s your wife! You stood there, allowing others to tear at her

clothes, to shame her, to auction her off. Do you have any idea how scared and desperate she must

have felt?”

“Ludwik, how can you be so heartless? A cold–blooded creature! And she’s carrying your child!”

“It was Whitney who saved you during your fits, despite her own child being at risk. She suffered

humiliation, and yet you’re this cruel to her. Where is she now?!”

Tiana’s tirade made Ludwik’s expression freeze slightly.

They are saying that she saved him? Of course, her friend would defend her.

His pupils darkened as he retorted, “Are you done?”

“No, I’m not. I could curse your ancestors! Tell me, where is Whitney?

“Where? Why don’t you ask her or her so–called knights in shining armor?”

Ludwik scoffed, a red fury rising in his eyes. Felix noticed Mr. Lippert’s hand twitching by his side. He

internally panicked, Mr. Lippert’s earlier composure was nothing but the calm before a storm.

Tiana didn’t understand what Ludwik meant and stepped forward in anger.

“Tiana! Stop talking!” Felix suddenly shouted, stepping forward to clear the way and hastily urged the

dazed Mr. Lippert, “Mr. Lippert, please get in the car. I’ll drive you to sober up.”

Without a word, Ludwik yanked off his tie, tossed it on the ground, and strode into the car with long,

quick

steps.

Tiana shrank back at the sight of his odd behavior and the discarded tie on the ground.

Was this the state Nolan had described when Ludwik lost control?

She pressed her lips together, suddenly too afraid to approach as Ludwik took the driver’s seat and the

car sped off.

Valerie, coming from behind, took a deep breath and said, “I’ve got news. Whitney was rescued by

Bryce, the chairman of the Lutz Group.”

Tiana paused, her expression complex as she watched the sports car disappear into the distance. No

wonder Ludwik was so out of control. But who could blame him after being so heartless and cruel to

Whitney?

Chapter 188

“Can we get Bryce’s number? How do we find Whitney?” Tiana was frantic.

The sports car nearly flew on the road, smashing into guardrails and sparking flames. Felix, stars in his

eyes, clutched the seat belt as Mr. Lippert kept accelerating.

Terrified into silence, he held on for dear life.

Finally, the car screeched to a hall outside an upscale apartment complex in the city center.

Ludwik got out quickly, his long strides betraying his agitation as he bolted into the elevator.

Felix, shivering behind, covertly messaged Parker and Nolan.

With Whitney taken by Bryce, Mr. Lippert’s facade of calm was likely spent, and he might be on the

verge of an episode.

Ludwik burst into the two–story apartment, locking himself in the study.

Felix stood guard below, hearing the order, “Bring up some liquor.”

He dared not disobey, rushing up with several bottles. The door cracked open, and there was Mr.

Lippert, sitting tall and still in his chair, his eyes vacant yet tinged with red.

When he took the bottles, Felix caught sight of the cuts Ludwik just made on his own arm.

“Mr. Lippert… Felix gasped.

Ludwik frowned, his gaze like a deep abyss, and suddenly commanded, “Call Parker over.”

“Parker’s already on his way,” Felix said.

“Anyone who touched her tonight, deal with them,” Ludwik said with his eyes closed.

Felix sighed inwardly, bemused yet helpless as the study door closed.

Parker and Nolan arrived swiftly. They had just heard about what happened. Even though Nolan now

despised Whitney, he still thought Ludwik’s actions made her a pitiable figure.

“I never thought Ludwik could be so ruthless; he truly is cut out for big things,” Nolan remarked.

“But Mr. Lippert has ordered Parker to dismantle those scoundrels bone by bone.”

Parker shook his head, frowning. “His madness is understandable. On one hand, he forces himself to

be heartless and destroy Whitney to clear his mind, and on the other, he can’t let go. The love and hate

are intertwined, and it’s the most painful torment, but he’s only torturing himself,”

“Damn it, if only Natalie’s incident hadn’t happened!” Nolan cursed, clutching his hea

As they spoke, a loud crash echoed from upstairs.

Something had been thrown to the ground, and the study door burst open. Felix rushed in, his face

paling. “Mr. Lippert wasn’t well to start with; he might be having an episode!”

“Ludwik?” Parker ran upstairs.

Ludwik was in the study, he leaned against the door frame, his hands trembling, his breathing heavy.

He half–closed his eyes, staring at the clock on the wall.

One round, two rounds, the hands pointing to ten past midnight.

Ludwik’s lips formed detached words, “Go bring her back.”

He turned and walked into the bathroom, blood trailing from his fist.

Felix exhaled, knowing Mr. Lippert had been restraining himself. If he could get through this night,

perhaps he and the young mistress would truly part ways.

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Chapter 188

But in the end, he just couldn’t do it.

Felix grabbed his car keys, making a call as he bolted out the door.

Inside Bryce’s mansion.

Bryce lifted Whitney into the bathtub, and she pushed him away in utter embarrassment, her

complexion pale as paper, “Mr. Lutz, I’m sorry, it wasn’t on purpose…”

Watching Whitney tremble like a leaf, a wave of pity swept through Bryce’s eyes.

He glanced at his damp sleeve and said with a gentle smile, trying to reassure her, “You’ve had a scare

tonight, It’s alright, Whitney, I don’t mind.”

“Ms. Valentine, it’s quite normal for pregnant women to experience.urinary incontinence,” the female

doctor behind him also tried to soothe her.

But Whitney still clutched her head, tears of mortification streaming down her face, “Can I take a bath,

please?” Bryce sighed deeply and immediately stepped out, “Take your time. I’ve had the maid set the

water temperature for you. Once you’re done, the doctor will check on you again.”

He stood outside the bathroom door, smoking a cigarette. Soon, he heard the muffled sobs of the

young woman. Bryce’s brow furrowed, his expression turning icy.

It took over half an hour before Whitney emerged, changed into fresh clothes. Though those men

hadn’t touched her much tonight, just the act of removing her sweater was the ultimate humiliation. She

felt as if their hands were still lingering on her skin. *

No matter how many times show

she couldn’t scrub away the filth.

And this humiliation had been sanctioned by the very man she loved.

Her heart felt as though it was being ground by a dull knife, the pain had become numb.

Seeing her still shaking, Bryce brought over her coat and draped it around her shoulders, then brought

her at cup of ginger soup, “The doctor said this is good for expecting mothers.”

“Thank you, Mr. Lutz, for everything tonight,” Whitney’s voice was choked with emotion.

He looked at her with a complex gaze, his eyes filled with compassion, “In just a month, how did you let

yourself get to this state, and how did you manage to bring Skye Gem Ltd. to the brink of collapse?”

Whitney paused, he knew about Skye Gem Ltd.?

Chapter 189