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.

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

guidance made

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

L of being too busy to answer his

not mean he completely misunderstood her? No wonder he was so

with her.

fingers twisted in self–reproach, her face

satisfaction. Had she finally realized her

Chapter 95

eyes softened a

next moment, she bit her lip defiantly, looking up to challenge him, “Even if he misunderstood, he had no

Ludwik frowned, “Suffered, how?”

just a scare, was it

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. But you men are

What?

on her delicate wrists. She

no one told

had not noticed that night and

caregivers these past days, were they

fragile she

he had been blind with rage, oblivious

“Does it… hurt?”

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

barely a hand–span wide, now even thinner, her eyes shimmering as if in pain. His heart softened,

because he had been negligent and kept

sensed it and withdrew like a startled crab, guarding herself. “Mr. Lippert, what

remembered she was a married woman,

you, Mr. Lippert, for 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

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

muttered,

back to his office

exactly happened to her in the holding cell that night. And why was there no mention of bruising on

baby’s condition every day, he had seen her records, too, although he never