Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 62

The man’s eyebrows arched with a hint of mischief, his lips curling into a sly grin. “Are you getting all snarky becauen you’re jealous? Weren’t you the one planning to hit the road after a year?”

He rubbed his chin, wearing a faux expression of concern. Tve got to think for the kid and myself. The baby gonna need a mom, and I can’t be without a woman by my side forever. I think Elaine’s pretty decent

hitney harely had time to curse him out. Since when does a man die without a woman?

Pes words snagged her attention, drawing her gaze to her still–flat belly

The seed was sprouting, silently and unseen. It was the first time she considered the stepmother issue after the baby would be born.

A pang of discomfort suddenly prickled her heart.

Was this man already planning to find the kid a stepmother, just waiting for her to pack up and leave?

Whitney clenched her fists. She always talked about keeping her distance, not wanting to fall too deep, yet she hadn’t anticipated his pragmatism!

A stepmother for her child? Over her dead body.

Fear and loss flickered across her face, her eyes glistening with tears.

Ludwik paused, wondering if he’d gone too far with his harsh medicine.

She was young, still not fully grasping the gravity of the situation with the child.

His hand reached out, gently squeezing her ear as he asked indifferently, “What’s wrong?”

Whitney, sullen and annoyed, pushed him away. “I’m just a house worker, right? Don’t touch me.*

His gaze darkened with amusement.

Elaine swayed over, having caught the tail end of his flirty touch on Whitney’s hair.

Ludwik was usually frosty to the core. Elaine had only seen him ruthless in business, a cold–hearted king with no regard for kin, even toward her and his close friends.

Rare was the moment he’d dote on a woman like that.

Elaine’s fingers tightened, her smile masking the storm within. “I’ve got the tickets! Oh, I forgot the worker’s. Should I go back and get another?”

need to bother, thanks!” Whitney had no intention of soaking in a three’s–a–crowd

of them together was more than she could bear. She shrugged

Elaine’s eyes brimmed

was long gone, leaving Elaine to doubt her senses. He glanced at her indifferently, “Elaine, go ahead

that, he sauntered toward the

stood rooted; her jaw

she thought. But why should this interloper matter? It was all a sham marriage, a contract. Did Whitney even understand her place with Ludwik? Elaine’s lips curved into a devious smile, her eyes narrowing with a chilly glint,

1/3

Chapter 2

was alive with a barbecue party, European style tables, and grills

Treats

in, and Whitney wrapped herself

it’s so

an umbrella, Ludwik lounged with his legs

frowned at

a smile, “Act your

Ludwik turned to look.

avoiding it, she coldly observed the two. Despite attempting to feign indifference, her cherry

stare, Ludwik’s eyebrows raised. He casually accepted the lychee

bashfulness, “Oh, you

“Did I?”

in Whitney’s

coat over Elaine’s shoulders with tender

his coat enveloped her, she blushed theatrically, her

played along with a detached affection, “Silly

she realized she had nothing to shield

through her like a gust of icy wind. He knew about

What a philandering jerk.

business arrangement, a fake marriage, and yet, why did it

she suddenly stood and walked away, finding

she grabbed a handful and sat down on

and she gulped

against her foot and nudged her

towering over

“What are you eating?”

blind?” Whitney retorted, tossing the corn cob he’d kicked over right back at