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

She shrugged off his hand and bolted for the open–air camp

Elaine’s eyes

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

that, he sauntered

rooted; her jaw

probing had revealed Ludwik’s interest in Whitney was deeper than 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,

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Chapter 2

camp was alive with a barbecue party, European style tables, and grills laden with an assortment of

Treats

chill of the evening set in, and Whitney wrapped herself in a cozy apricot sweater dress,

it’s so cold

with his legs crossed. Elaine was peeling a lychee, delicately offering it

frowned at

with a smile,

Ludwik turned to look.

Rather than avoiding it, she coldly observed the two. Despite attempting to feign indifference, her cherry lips were subtly tightened, and anger flashed

raised. He casually

“Oh,

“Did I?”

pleasure in his voice echoed in Whitney’s ears, creating a lump in her

over Elaine’s shoulders with tender care, “You said you

voice quivered with feigned surprise. When his coat enveloped her, she blushed theatrically, her eyes sparkling with feigned affection, “I’ll

a detached affection,

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

a gust of icy wind. He knew about her pregnancy

What a philandering jerk.

marriage, and

suddenly stood and walked away, finding herself a grill

she grabbed a handful and sat down on

burned, and she gulped

her foot and nudged her

turned to find Ludwik towering over her, his

“What are you eating?”

corn cob he’d kicked over right