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?”

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

together was more than she could bear. She shrugged off his hand and bolted for the

we…” Elaine’s eyes

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

with that, he sauntered

rooted; her jaw

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

1/3

Chapter 2

a barbecue party, European style tables, and grills laden with

Treats

herself in a cozy apricot sweater dress, soft but hardly

it’s so cold out

Whitney’s attention. Beneath an umbrella, Ludwik lounged with his legs crossed. Elaine was peeling

at

smile,

Ludwik turned to look.

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

stare, Ludwik’s eyebrows raised. He

bashfulness, “Oh, you

“Did I?”

his voice echoed in Whitney’s

draping his coat over Elaine’s shoulders with

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

played along with a detached affection,

Whitney’s face paled as she realized she

bitterness swept through her like a gust of icy wind. He knew about her pregnancy and still

What a philandering jerk.

marriage, and yet, why did it

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

a handful and sat down on

mouth burned, and she gulped

her foot

to find Ludwik towering over her, his brows knitted

“What are you eating?”

retorted, tossing the corn cob