Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 60

The man stood with statuesque grace, taking a drag from his cigarette, a wisp of smoke lazily curling into the air, partially obscuring his mature and refined features.

Before the panoramic window, he stood tall, akin to a king surveying his realm, his gaze fixed on the petite woman below.

Felix, ever the observant assistant, offered a pair of binoculars with a knowing grin. “Mr. Lippert, the view’s much better from up here. You’ll see Ms. Valentine clearly with these!”

Parker quirked a smile, “Felix, you’ve just earned yourself a raise.”

Nolan chimed in, “Definitely a raise for Felix.”

Felix blushed at the praise, but the man glanced at the binoculars and scowled, “What do you take me for? A peeping Tom?”

Felix froze, his body going rigid.

However, in the next second, Ludwik snatched the binoculars and peered through them with keen interest.

Silence fell.

Nolan whispered, “I think we just witnessed the fastest self–contradiction in history.”

Ludwik watched as Whitney struggled to sneak into the hedge, her cheeks glistening with perspiration as she searched for a perfect vantage point.

With casual authority, he commanded, “It’s blazing out there. Take an umbrella to her, but make sure she doesn’t spot you.”

Nolan couldn’t help but snicker, “Ludwik, you’re hopeless.”

The man turned, his expression icy, “I don’t want my child getting sunburned, alright?”

Nolan muttered under his breath, “Sure, flaunt your delicate wife while you can.”

“But you’ve got to admit, Whitney’s got brains, figuring out something’s up with her husband so fast. Still, I’d bet a dime she can’t outsmart the big bad wolf.”

Nolan agreed, “Stack another dime on that. She’s got no chance against Ludwik!”

then, a soft female voice laced with laughter, broke the tension as she entered from the doorway, “What’s going on with Whitney? How did she manage to bring

woman dressed in a chic business suit nodding at him, “Elaine, you’re

decision to make, and Ludwik had moved the meeting from the corporation’s headquarters to the Royal One

with a

me. I drove over from

with composure, “Miss

however, paused at the mention of ‘Whitney‘, accompanied by her coy laughter. Quickly, he

me,” Elaine

a

she casually approached the window,

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12:03

awkward as

file, his expression serious,

and Nolan caught Parker’s eye, signaling for a

history with

the Imperial Gem Corporation and her distinguished background from Emperor City, not to mention being strategically placed in Ludwik’s company by both families, she could hide

belle of Emperor City, Elaine from the Bartels family, has more means, stature, and

given her family connections, her role holds significant importance within the Lippert family. Ludwik, with his mother in tow, is actually walking on thin ice. Do you think

Whitney. Either way, Ludwik definitely doesn’t have any feelings toward Elaine; otherwise, he would have

shot him a glance, “Ludwik knows his own

shadows. Despite maintaining a composed facade, her

momentarily curled into a

discreetly, without

was preparing to leave the Royal

smirked, “She’s set on tailing you

schedule, “Mr. Lippert has a meeting at Alpine Springs Resort today, discussing a partnership. It’s chilly; his mother

Whitney was over

them with his breath, and glanced at Parker, “You

Me, the decoy?” Parker said

“You know Whitney’s friend, the one with the cute,

type,” Ludwik replied, his

Nolan was left speechless.

clutching a folder, her demeanor both efficient and gentle. “Ludwik, Mr. Lutz happens to be at the Alpine Springs Resort. Shall we

a meaningful glance in their