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?”

at all. I wouldn’t want to keep

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

feigned concern, trying to explain, “Whitney, it was because I was wet, so he kindly offered me

her distaste. From the moment Elaine had clung to L’s wrist, to the subtle provocation in her voice, Whithey recognized

sneered, “I’m not misunderstanding anything, Elaine. You don’t have to emphasize that he put his

somewhat out of control. She knew she shouldn’t have said that,

man, seemingly indifferent to her, had left her stranded in the hospital room while tending to other women. The thought of her helpless

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

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

express something, but a flicker of

don’t know how to

softening, he would smoothly reconcile with her. She shared a

she deliberately

don’t

can’t just leave Whitney here,”

truly furious now, his aura cold enough to freeze the hallway.

IV stand, watching them leave hand in hand. Her heart felt colder than the howling wind

her weary eyes closed, and dampness spread to

voice choked up, her abdomen aching, making her want to cry even

“Is that your husband? If you’d just apologize, I’m

while, not really talking

the buzzing in her head. With red eyes, she shuffled back to her room, collapsing into bed, too

the hospital, a

secretly thrilled, was pulled into the

in Ludwik was quenched by the cold rain, and he released Elaine’s hand, his eyes profound and

take her home, but that was just an

He was using her.

half–apology, “I’ll call you a

a scratch at her heart, but this was the path she

look, she insisted, “It’s okay, Bro. I just have a little cold. I can make it home on

really listening, his gaze fixated on

heart turning into a smirk. This evening had been a triumph. Her ‘kindness‘ was etched in Ludwik’s mind, and the relationship between those two began on a