Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 90

Whitney huffed with irritation. “So you don’t trust me either? What kind of woman do you take me for?”

Ludwik stiffened. Their relationship, a trial marriage of sorts, was built on unfamiliarity. Trust was scarce, and both had sharp edges no one had yet to smooth out.

“It’ll get better in the future,” he said, frowning slightly as he took her small hand in his.

So they were making up? And there was a future? Whitney wondered.

Her cheeks flushed with the thought. She wanted to ask about that night. “I called you twice when everything went down. Why didn’t you pick up?”

Ludwik pinched the bridge of his nose. “There was a crisis with the Elate City project. I had to rush over and left my phone behind. Elaine brought it to me later at Sea Bay. As soon as I got it, I headed straight back to Banyan City. By then, you’d been detained for four hours.”

Elaine had L’s phone? Whitney’s eyes darkened with suspicion.

To the conspiracy theorist, Elaine had deliberately delayed, causing a four–hour wait.

But Ludwik, oblivious to her expression, continued matter–of–factly, “Elaine was running around with me that night. She’s the one who hired the lawyer for you. I waited outside your hospital room, unable to leave. You were angry with me, so I took advantage of her presence. You shouldn’t hold a grudge against her.”

Whitney bristled inside. He made it sound like Elaine had been a saint to her.

But she pushed her emotions down, looking at him with a forced smile. “What makes you think I hold a grudge against her?”

“Don’t you?” Ludwik teased, playfully flicking her nose, his eyes sharp. “You were a bit harsh on her tonight at the club. Jealous of the attention she’s getting?”

Whitney had been probing on purpose, suspecting Hannah was someone Elaine brought in to stir trouble.

Whitney smirked at him, deliberately provoking, “Why shouldn’t I be jealous? Is she really your sister? Related by blood?”

Ludwik paused, his gaze deep and mysterious as he looked away, his brows furrowing, “She’s just a sister; don’t overthink it. She poses no threat to you because my heart is all…”

He stopped on purpose, looking at her with a proud arch of his brow.

Whitney’s face heated up, his non–confession sending her heart racing.

her a long time. She’s been a great help to me. No

with ulterior motives, thought Whitney.

tell he

realizing that speaking ill of Elaine now would only cause trouble without evidence. It seemed a silent battle was

Her stomach growled audibly.

however, he did not scold her but asked with indulgence,

to mention it. Your child, you should deal with the morning sickness,”

and scooped her up towards the kitchen,

apple, her cheeks burning,

man raised an eyebrow and handed her a stack of cupcakes from the

them to her arrogantly. “I’ll indulge you

was letting her have them, but only if she ate them in his

the sake of

to catch any crumbs from her delicate bites, the door swung open,

just don’t hurt my little grandson! I’m just grabbing something, and then I’ll

like a

was at a loss for

flushed with embarrassment as she

belly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “She saw

it. Is Mom feeling

Ludwik replied, his brow furrowed with

time, she was tempted to ask. “L, is

head injury and lost her memory. She’s better off this way, carefree. I’m here

voice was icy,

felt a pang of sympathy and curiosity, “How did Mom get a head

frown as if suppressing something, his

not probe further, sensing she

have suffered greatly to choose to

close and protected. What about L’s father? Whitney felt it was a taboo subject, the sudden restraint in

Whitney said nothing, merely wrapping her tiny arms around his

her tiny head, her exquisite features softened with

if something silent was communicating with him,

her into his arms and carried

The night deepened.

She realized she could not quite capture the