Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 195

After delivering her message, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and hurried away.

Taryn saw her safely to the shade of the trees before slipping out of her uniform. Whitney silently made

her way back to the main house. She ducked into the backroom of Taryn’s quarters, a place mercifully

free from prying eyes and surveillance.

In the privacy of the dimly lit room, Whitney pulled out the vial of blood and held it up to the light. She

pierced it with a silver needle used for testing toxins.

The needle didn’t change color.

But Whitney frowned, noting the blood’s unusually dark hue and thick consistency.

Natalie’s medical reports showed signs of amnesia, pancreatitis, and various minor ailments, but her

diet was light and her blood fat levels weren’t high.

The blood shouldn’t be this thick, and it was rare for an elderly woman’s blood to be so dark.

Her brow furrowed with concern. She was almost certain Elaine was up to no good; otherwise, Natalie

wouldn’t be suffering from kidney failure.

Attacking someone through their blood was the fastest way to induce rapid kidney failure!

That was the reason she had sent Elaine away today to get this sample.

There was definitely something off about this blood, but the silver needle had failed to detect it.

Elaine was clever, avoiding detection even by the doctors Ludwik had arranged for Natalie.

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While Whitney was skilled in acupuncture, she was not versed in Western medical diagnostics. This

sample needed to be sent to a high–end medical testing facility for a thorough examination.

She pondered who to entrust with this delicate task. Tiana? No, both Nolan and Parker were too

shrewd. If Ludwik discovered she had drawn Natalie’s blood, who knows what misunderstandings

might arise? Who could she ask for help?

In the office, Ludwik wrapped up a meeting.

Felix entered, “Mr. Lippert…”

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Ludwik glanced at him and gestured for the secretary to leave. His gaze was deep and serious, “Did

you find out?”

Felix nodded, “I’ve confirmed it. On the night of the bid, Madam booked a flight to the South City. She

stabilized Braxton’s bleeding around two in the morning, and then he went into surgery…”

Ludwik massaged his temples, realizing he may have judged her wrongly.

But…

“I remember she only arrived at the police station the next morning, soaked to the skin. Where was she

in between?”

“I couldn’t find that out. Perhaps Madam stayed at the hospital with Braxton?” Felix speculated.

Ludwik’s frown deepened with a mix of emotions. He then asked, “What about the hospital’s

surveillance that night?”

Felix frowned, “The cameras malfunctioned that night. The entire building was off the grid until they

were fixed the next afternoon. It’s strange, too coincidental… I wonder if someone tampered with

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them?”

Who could it be?

That night, Orion and Kaden had cornered him in the corridor, with reporters swarming around.

It could have been anyone.

Ludwik’s thoughts were darkening when suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Jaxon burst in,

“Mr. Lippert, I apologize for the intrusion, but Elaine’s been hospitalized, and it’s quite serious. You

should go see her!”

“What?” Ludwik stood abruptly, “Wasn’t she recovering well at the villa?”

“It’s, it’s related to Miss Whitney…”

Ludwik’s expression grew stern.

At the hospital, Ludwik strode into the emergency ward.

There, Elaine lay on the bed, pale as a ghost, unconscious.

“Elaine?” He approached her, concern etched on his face, and demanded from the maid beside the

bed, “What in the world happened?”

The maid Lyra had been brought over from Emperor City by Elaine herself.

Tearfully, she came forward, indignantly claiming, “Mr. Lippert, it was Ms. Valentine’s doing! Today,

when she returned, she found Elaine sick and on a drip. She arrogantly scolded her, even mocking her

with your name. Seeing Elaine in a wheelchair and vulnerable, she even tried to slap her!”

Ludwik’s expression was icy cold.

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Was this the Whitney he knew?

Though he felt estranged from her now, Whitney’s demeanor and upbringing didn’t match this

description.

Noticing his hesitation, the maid quickly showed him a message on Elaine’s phone, exclaiming, “You

have no idea what Whitney sent Elaine from your phone last night. Look for yourself!

Ms. Valentine’s malice runs deep. Elaine cried all night after seeing this photo. She didn’t dare to be

angry with you, only suffering in silence. She’s already down one kidney, and the pain nearly did her in

last night. It’s pitiful, really!”

Ludwik saw the photo of him and Whitney in a compromising position on the bed, his face turned

stone–cold. A flicker of discomfort crossed his eyes as he scanned the sender ID- it was from his

own account.

His pupils darkened with rage.

This shameless woman, she dared to capture their intimate moments!

The room fell silent as a grave.

Chapter 195

Seizing the moment, Elaine slowly opened her eyes, letting out a pained moan.

Tears fell weakly as she whispered, “Ludwik…”

“I’m here!” Ludwik gripped her hand, his brow furrowed, “How are you feeling? Are you alright?”

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“I’m in a bit of pain.” Though her words were mild, her expression was one of severe agony.

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Ludwik’s gaze softened with a tinge of guilt, but he remained silent.

Elaine turned to reproach the maid feebly, “I told you not to tell Mr. Lippert about the photo…”

“But miss, you’ve endured so much. Why stay silent? Whitney’s photo upset you, that’s why you’re

sick. With only one kidney and her constant bullying, how will you survive?”

Lyra’s impassioned defense deepened Ludwik’s sense of guilt as Elaine looked at him with a feeble

and pitiable gaze.

His voice was hoarse, yet his eyes were cold, “Elaine, she and I are not divorced yet.”

Elaine’s heart clenched with hatred; Ludwik’s words implied he still harbored feelings for Whitney’s

body.

She swallowed the sting and played the part of the wronged party, crying, “Ludwik, I don’t blame you.

I’m just so heartbroken. You’re free to… but I foolishly thought you had feelings for me. You promised

to get engaged with me. Can’t you just stop entangling with her?”

Her plea for pity made Ludwik speechless.

Elaine’s sobs tore through the silence, her voice shaking with a blend of sorrow and disbelief. “I

could’ve lived with being kept in the dark, but why, oh why did Whitney have to play her games? She

knew full well I just went through a kidney donation and couldn’t handle the stress. Yet, she deliberately

sent me those photos of you two. It’s more than I can bear, Ludwik. Doesn’t she have a

heart?”

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As her tears flowed, Elaine’s voice grew more impassioned, and she began to gasp for air, beads of

cold sweat dotting her forehead. “Ludwik, Ludwik…”

“Elaine! Please, try to calm down,” Ludwik pleaded, the sight of her distress tearing at his heartstrings.

Fearing for her well–being, he immediately called for a doctor.

He tried to reassure her, “I know you’ve been wronged. Tell me what you need, okay?”

“I don’t dare ask for much,” Elaine said through her tears, “I just want her to apologize for the photo

incident. That’s all.”

Ludwik clenched his fists, realizing for the first time the depth of Whitney’s cunning. Last night was

supposed to be a straightforward deal, yet she had the gall to flaunt it to Elaine?

A chill ran through his breath as he commanded with a sweep of his hand, “Felix, bring her here. I want

a full explanation!”

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