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 you from playing

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

to explain, “Whitney, it was because I was wet, so he

to L’s wrist, to the subtle

have to emphasize

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

to her, had left her stranded in the hospital room while tending to other women. The thought of her helpless situation in the hospital room stirred a mixture

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expression darkened at her ‘I couldn’t care less‘ remark. In any argument, she’d

bother explaining to her? Did she appreciate your efforts to get a lawyer for her? She clearly doesn’t care, and if I went to put

something, but a flicker

you really don’t know how to appreciate things.”

of softening, he would smoothly reconcile with her. She shared a room with her ex, mistook Simon for her savior, blamed him for not rescuing

deliberately picking

then declared, “Since you don’t care, Elaine, I’ll take you

leave Whitney here,” Elaine

his aura cold enough to freeze the hallway. He

them leave hand in hand. Her heart felt colder

weary eyes closed, and

her abdomen aching, making her

support. “Is that your husband? If you’d just apologize,

been standing there for quite a while, not really talking to that other woman. Seemed

couldn’t hear her through the buzzing in her head. With red eyes, she shuffled back to her room, collapsing into

the hospital,

secretly thrilled, was pulled into the car

Ludwik was quenched by the cold rain, and he released Elaine’s hand, his eyes profound and exhausted. “Go home by yourself,

would take her home, but that was just an angry

He was using her.

half–apology, “I’ll call you a

heart, but this was the path she had chosen. One day, she’d

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

wasn’t really listening, his gaze fixated on the hospital’s second

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