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.

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

guidance made

heated argument that night, she was so furious she was not thinking straight.

accused L of

was L who saved her, would that not mean he completely misunderstood her? No wonder

with her.

in

touch of satisfaction. Had she finally

Chapter 95

softened a

moment, she bit her lip defiantly, looking up to challenge him, “Even if he misunderstood, he had no right to berate me without knowing the facts. Does he have any idea how much

Ludwik frowned, “Suffered, how?”

a scare, was it

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 see my injuries, just mocked

What?

bruises on her delicate wrists. She had been

had no one

night and he had been so cruel to

days, were they blind

gaze hardened as he realized how fragile she was and how

had been blind with rage, oblivious to

“Does it… hurt?”

“Thinking about how I was throwing up for his

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

because he had been negligent and kept taunting

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

was a married woman, that day with Simon in the bathroom,

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

his long legs stretched out awkwardly, dress pants revealing a hint

he muttered, clenching

back to his office as the

said, “Find out what exactly happened to her in the holding cell that night. And why was

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