Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

“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.

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

made Whitney stiffen

that night, she was so furious she was not thinking straight. When L charged in, she was

her anger peaked, she sarcastically accused L of being

saved her, would that not mean he completely

with her.

fingers twisted in

touch of satisfaction. Had she finally

Chapter 95

eyes softened

her lip defiantly, looking up to challenge him, “Even if he misunderstood, he had no right to berate me

Ludwik frowned, “Suffered, how?”

was just a

glittered in Whitney’s eyes, and even though he was a stranger to her, she felt an overwhelming sense of injustice. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the bruising, “I was beaten in the holding cell, and even my child was in danger.

What?

the deep bruises on her delicate wrists. She had been beaten in

no one

not noticed that night and he had been so cruel

past days,

how fragile she was and how

he had been blind with rage, oblivious

“Does it… hurt?”

I was throwing up for his child in that bathroom, all Simon did was hand me a tissue, and L blindly accused me of

more bruises like that she had, her face barely a hand–span wide, now even thinner, her eyes shimmering as if in pain. His heart softened, mixed with

angry because he had been

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

married woman,

for listening to my explanation today, and for letting me vent so much. Skye Gem will slowly return to my hands. Watch out

pants revealing a hint of a sensually bare ankle above

he muttered, clenching his

back to his office as the

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

day, he had seen her records, too, although