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?”

thanks!” Whitney had no intention of soaking in a three’s–a–crowd hot

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

shall we…” Elaine’s eyes brimmed

given Whitney was long gone, leaving Elaine to doubt her senses. He glanced

with that, he sauntered toward

stood rooted;

was deeper than she thought. But why should this interloper matter? It was all a sham marriage, a contract. Did Whitney even understand her

1/3

Chapter 2

barbecue party, European style tables, and grills laden with an assortment of

Treats

set in, and Whitney wrapped herself in a

it’s so cold out

with his legs

at

hinted with a smile, “Act

Ludwik turned to look.

two. Despite attempting

eyebrows raised. He casually accepted the

“Oh, you bit

“Did I?”

Whitney’s ears, creating a lump in her

over Elaine’s shoulders

with feigned surprise. When his coat enveloped her, she blushed theatrically, her eyes sparkling with feigned

along with a

away, Whitney’s face paled as she realized she had nothing

like a gust of icy wind.

What a philandering jerk.

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

bowed, she suddenly stood and walked away, finding herself a grill loaded

a handful and sat down

and she gulped

against her foot

to find Ludwik towering over her, his brows knitted in

“What are you eating?”

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