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.

husband is mad at you, did you ever 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 ex. How do you think he feels? Isn’t it natural

made Whitney stiffen

she

peaked, she sarcastically accused L of being too

not mean he

with her.

fingers twisted in self–reproach, her

watched with a touch of satisfaction. Had she finally realized

Chapter 95

eyes softened

up to challenge him, “Even if he misunderstood, he had no right to berate me

Ludwik frowned, “Suffered, how?”

was just a scare,

She rolled up her 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

What?

dilated, and he saw the deep bruises on

had no

had not noticed that night and he

caregivers these past days, were they

as he realized how fragile she was and how

blind with

“Does it… hurt?”

heart,” Whitney clenched her teeth, pulling her sleeve back down, her eyes stubbornly holding back tears, “Thinking about how I was throwing up for his child in that bathroom, all Simon did was hand me a tissue, and L blindly accused me of kissing my ex. I’m about to die from this jerk’s

froze, wondering how many more bruises like that she had, her face barely a hand–span wide, now even thinner, her eyes shimmering as if in

had

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

she was a married woman, that day with Simon in the bathroom, maybe it really

listening to my explanation today, and for letting me vent so much. Skye Gem will slowly return to my hands. Watch out for me as a fair competitor,” she said, picking up her bag and walking

in his chair, his long legs stretched out awkwardly, dress pants revealing a hint of a sensually bare ankle above his sharp leather

muttered,

Ludwik back to his office as the temperature seemed

said, “Find out what exactly happened to her in the holding cell that night. And why was there no

been monitoring the baby’s condition every day, he had seen her records, too, although he

a call from the hospital and stepped into her private office, the caller said, “Elaine, Mr. Lippert is suddenly questioning why Whitney’s medical records failed to mention

“You did well, your director’s position