Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 213
“I glanced at the stock ticker on the wall. Skye Gem was on the rebound now, thanks to the Lutz Group’s backing.” Elaine added.
“You see, Whitney had no heart. She betrayed you. Your child would grow up calling Bryce ‘Dad’, walking through the doors of
the Lutz Mansion. Ludwik, you’re too proud for that. It’s a slap in your face, a living insult. How can you bear it?” Elaine faked
anger in front of Ludwik.
Ludwik stared at his own reflection on the computer screen, his eyes like damp chasms in the early morning gloom.
A new engagement right after a divorce? What a farce.
She’d run straight into Bryce’s arms. How dared she claim nothing happened between them?
A bitter laugh escaped him. With a sudden move, he swept all the papers from his desk, his hot coffee spilling onto the floor and
splashing Elaine’s shoes.
But he was oblivious, lost to his rage, barely managing to breathe. “Elaine, get out!” he growled.
She’d achieved her goal. Her eyes were narrowing with satisfaction as she left the room.
Ludwik spent the night in his study, smoking until dawn in front of the window.
He chuckled darkly to himself, swearing that the heartless woman wouldn’t easily get away with this.
His child walking through the doors of the Lutz Mansion? No, no one could shatter his pride.
Crushing the cigarette butt in his hand, he grabbed his car keys and stormed out.
Whitney woke early because of her growing belly, which had made sleep elusive day by day. The baby seemed to be still asleep,
peaceful without movements.
She spoke to her belly, “You’re quite the lazy one, aren’t you? You only stir when I’m upset. We have our seven-month checkup
soon, I hope you weigh 1.5 kilograms now.”
She ordered some breakfast ingredients online, planning to cook for herself.

But when someone knocked on her door around seven, she thought it was the delivery. But she found two bodyguards greeting
her when she opened the door.
Before she could finish her question, she was being escorted out, only to see Ludwik leaning against a sleek Bentley. His figure
was impeccable, his presence always commanding.
He looked like he hadn’t slept the previous night. His eyes were bloodshot, not sparing her a glance.
Well, he’d said he’d never lay eyes on her again.
Pain pricked at Whitney’s heart as she asked, “What are you doing here?”

Her heart fluttered when he extinguished his cigarette with a vicious twist of his foot. A wave of his hand was his only response,
not even bothering with words.
The bodyguards were dragging her towards the car.
“What are you doing, Ludwik? We’re divorced now!” Whitney panicked.
He gazed into the fog, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “No need to remind me.”
“Congratulations on your engagement, huh?” His laugh was mocking.
Whitney’s heart sank, her fists clenched.
The news from the Lutz Group had spread. He was bound to find out anyway.
But who was the first one to bring up divorce?

She wanted to ask if he still had conscience.
Whitney looked down, her voice low, “Now that we’re legally separate, whether I remarry is none of your business.”
“None of my business,” he sneered, his eyes cold as the grave, fixed on her belly. “But I won’t let a woman like you give birth to
the child.”
“Take her to the hospital.”
It took Whitney a few seconds to comprehend before she panicked.
Her heart trembled, her body shook with disbelief as she protected her belly. “Are you insane?”
He turned and got into his car.
The bodyguards shoved her into another vehicle.
Chapter 213
He couldn’t even bear to ride with her.
Whitney’s fear escalated as she clawed at the car door, screaming at him, “Even beasts don’t devour their young, Ludwik! Do
you have any heart left?”
His laughter was a bitter symphony.
Whitney’s desperate cries for Tiana were lost as the car sped away.
Back in the apartment, Tiana and Valerie both heard the commotion and rushed out, but only to see Ludwik driving away.

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Their faces turned pale with horror.
“Ludwik’s lost it. The baby’s seven months along. What’s wrong with him?!”
“Quick, call Nolan, Parker and Felix! We can’t let this happen!” Valerie shouted as they sprang into action.
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At the hospital’s maternity ward, the setup was grim. The abortion doctor waited by the operating room.

Whitney struggled fiercely but was dragged in and sweat in fear beside the operating table.
Tiana and Valerie arrived soon, confronting Ludwik.
“Ludwik, have you lost your humanity? That’s a living being, your child! Let Whitney go!” Tiana yelled, her voice filled with
desperation.
He flicked Tiana aside with a cold gesture, his eyes like frozen lakes.
“You can’t do this, Mr. Lippert!” Valerie screamed, rushing to stop the madness.
Whitney was forced onto the operating table. She trembled with fear, calling for Valerie to save her.
But Valerie was dragged away, helpless.
Just when all seemed lost, Nolan and Parker burst onto the scene.
“Ludwik, calm down! Whatever your grievance, that child is innocent!”
They tried to intervene, but Ludwik was a man possessed, a dark flame burning in his eyes.
Parker sighed heavily, “You’re mad at Whitney and Bryce, fine. But that child carries your blood, Ludwik. You can’t kill your own
flesh and blood!”
“You’ll regret this, Ludwik!” Nolan shouted.
“Regret?” Ludwik scoffed, a hollow laughter filling the cold hospital corridor.

His gaze was like a curse from the depths of hell itself, as the endless darkness threatened to swallow him whole. He pointed
accusingly at the woman who had carved out his heart, “The biggest regret of my life is ever meeting that woman, letting her
conceive my child, and giving her countless opportunities to hurt me.”
“Ludwik, I know it’s tough for you to accept Whitney and Bryce’s engagement.” Parker tried to calm him down in a hushed tone,
aware that Ludwik had lost all sense of reason.
“How can I not accept it? We’re divorced. Her promiscuity is none of my concern anymore. I’m just here to deal with this tainted
offspring.”
His words pierced Whitney’s heart like daggers. She clutched her belly tightly, hoping her baby couldn’t hear.
But Ludwik’s scorn continued unabated. His eyes, bloodshot with fury, fixed on her stunning face, filled with endless loathing.
“You think you can frolic with your lover while carrying my child? Dream on, Whitney. Just by having you as a mother, this child is
unworthy of being born into this world!”
Whitney felt her heart go numb.
How much must he despise her to not even tolerate the existence of his own child?
How could a father say such heartless words to his unborn child?
Or perhaps, it was because he had Elaine now, and that’s why he was so eager to ‘deal with’ the child?
Regardless of the reason, Whitney felt a chill in her bones. It was as if she were waking from a nightmare, realizing that he not
only didn’t want the child but wished to kill it!
Such cruelty was beyond madness.
Lifting her tearful eyes, she knelt on the operating table, looking up at him, “What must I do for you to spare our child?”.