Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 81

As Whitney spotted L lingering in the hallway, her heart quivered, and a glimmer of hope lit up in her eyes. She wondered if he was just being tough with his words but soft–hearted inside. But then she saw him draping his Jacket over Elaine’s shoulders with such care, and realization hit her hard.

It wasn’t about her all.

L hadn’t left because he was taking care of Elaine, who was soaked to the bone, probably needing to see a doctor.

Meanwhile, there she was, having been roughed up, aching all over in her hospital room, with not even a glass of water to drink because he’d refused to hire a nurse for her.

And from where she stood, it almost looked like L was pulling Elaine into an embrace.

What kind of sister was Elaine to deserve such intimacy?

A chill settled in Whitney’s gaze.

Pushing the IV stand, she slowly made her way out of the room.

Elaine, quick to notice, warned the man while taking a step back, putting some distance between them. It was a clear attempt to show innocence, but it only made her look more suspicious.

Whitney’s gaze turned icy. Suddenly, the cup in her hand felt too heavy, and as it slipped, it crashed onto her foot, eliciting a sharp cry of pain.

Ludwik’s cold hand reached out to steady her as he scolded, “Can’t you be more careful?”

He picked up the cup, and seeing her parched lips, a pang of regret hit him.

Did she need some water?

But Whitney heard only his irritation, a stark contrast to the tenderness he’d shown Elaine just moments before. Her displeasure surged, and she coldly shook off his hand.

His displeasure was immediate. He’d already set aside his pride with the gesture of a peace offering, and now she was pushing him away?

He wanted to spank her for her insolence.

Pressing down on the IV stand, he glared at her with a chilling look, “What’s your problem, Whitney?”

I

were like ice, and Ludwik’s face turned stormy. “What’s with

I was wet, so he kindly offered me his jacket. He didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t

had clung to L’s wrist, to the subtle

not misunderstanding anything, Elaine. You don’t have to emphasize that he put his jacket

control. She knew she shouldn’t have said that, but what did

her stranded in the hospital room while tending to other women. The thought of her helpless situation in the hospital room

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darkened at her ‘I couldn’t care less‘ remark. In any argument, she’d retreat like a turtle into its shell,

get a lawyer for her? She clearly doesn’t care, and

was eager to express something, but a flicker of

how

that if Whitney showed any sign of softening, he would smoothly reconcile with her. She shared a room with her ex, mistook Simon for her savior, blamed him for not

deliberately picking

don’t care, Elaine, I’ll take

can’t just leave

to freeze

her IV stand, watching them leave hand in hand. Her heart felt colder

her weary eyes closed, and

voice choked up, her abdomen aching, making her want

nurse hurried over, offering support. “Is that your husband? If you’d just apologize,

a while, not really talking to that other woman. Seemed like he

eyes, she shuffled back to her room, collapsing into bed,

hospital, a downpour

was pulled into the

and he released Elaine’s hand, his eyes profound

her home, but that was just

He was using her.

offered a half–apology,

was the path she had chosen. One

“It’s okay, Bro. I just have a little cold. I can make

really listening, his gaze fixated on the

triumph. Her ‘kindness‘ was etched in Ludwik’s mind, and the relationship between those two began on a discordant note. Reconciliation would be