Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 85

“You’re off the hook now, Carter might not want to cross you,” he snorted with feigned indifference.

“I won’t admit to something I didn’t do. I know you’re a business tycoon who looks down on fernale entrepreneurs, but I do have my principles. Believe it or not, that’s up to you, Whitney said with a light smile, her lips brightened by the warmth of the heater, looking quite fetching. Ludwik’s gaze darkened with longing for that pretty mouth.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke with a chilling tone, laced with biting sarcasm, “Congratulations, getting nabbed was supposed to land you life behind bars. Who was blind enough to bail you out? Your husband?”

Whitney flinched, life imprisonment? She muttered, “My friend said it would be just over a decade, tops.”

“Ignorant,” he scoffed arrogantly, “Billions in counterfeit diamonds, and the Lutz family pressing charges–did you really think they’d settle for anything less than life? They wouldn’t bother otherwise.”

Whitney felt her blood run cold.

With a thin smile, he taunted, “Scared now? Do you actually think that ex of yours could save you? Hunters temper is explosive, and Wyatt is slick as they come. Would he really attract hatred for someone like you? If you’re blind, perhaps it’s time to wash your eyes out.”

She sat there stunned, shocked by his furious words.

But his reminder made her think. Wyatt was indeed cunning and would not curry favor with the Lutz family over a few words from Simon, a love child.

That day, Tiana also mentioned Simon being inconsequential, but she had not seen anyone else but Simon.

“Mr. Lippert, perhaps you’re privy to what happened that night? Then tell me, who saved me?”

Ludwik felt his blood boil with irritation, his handsome face framed with a frosty sneer, “Apart from a husband saving his wife, who else saves someone else’s wife? Because you’re pretty?”

Whitney’s face stiffened slightly, she had considered it, but L never mentioned saving her, bursting in only to fight and berate her.

Her face showed hurt, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Ludwik knew he had been somewhat…harsh that night.

He just would not admit it. And this stubborn little mule would not back down either.

So, the cold war lasted until today.

stop to think why? Maybe he dropped everything to save you, went through all that trouble, and what does he see? An ungrateful woman not only failing to recognize her savior but also tangled up with her

guidance made Whitney stiffen

back to the heated argument that night, she was so furious she

sarcastically accused L of being

not mean he completely misunderstood her? No

with her.

fingers twisted in

of satisfaction.

Chapter 95

eyes softened

he had no right to berate me without knowing the

Ludwik frowned, “Suffered, how?”

just a scare,

sleeve, revealing the bruising, “I was beaten in the holding cell, and even my child was in danger. But you men are all the same, only caring about your pride and jealousy. He didn’t even see my

What?

dilated, and he saw the deep bruises on her delicate

had no one

not noticed that night and he had been so cruel to

these past days, were they blind

how fragile she was and how she should not have been

blind with

“Does it… hurt?”

how I was throwing up for his child

bruises like that she had, her face barely a hand–span wide,

was angry because he had been

his long fingers, wanting to comfort her, but Whitney sensed it and withdrew like a startled crab, guarding herself. “Mr. Lippert, what

eyes narrowed. Clearly, she still remembered she was a married woman, that day

to my hands. Watch out for me as a fair competitor,” she said, picking

pants revealing a hint of a sensually bare ankle above his sharp leather shoes, as stern

he muttered, clenching

followed Ludwik back to his office

out what exactly happened to her in the holding cell that night.

he had seen her records, too,

said, “Elaine, Mr. Lippert is suddenly questioning why Whitney’s medical records failed to mention her injuries. I’ve responded that it wasn’t reflected because

then said, “You did well, your director’s position is