Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 108

The white towel was stained a crimson hue, her small hands trembling slightly as she felt his gaze upon her, deep as the midnight sky.

She wanted to ask if he was in pain, but the words refused to come out of her throat. Suddenly, her hand was gently clasped by his, his fingertips were icy cold.

Whitney jerked her hand away, and he let out a pained hiss.

“Are you okay?” She asked, panic lacing her voice as she looked at him.

Their eyes met, and it felt like he was about to bleed ink. An oppressive force loomed over her. Whitney blushed under his intense stare.

Ludwik rubbed her wrist, his expression unreadable. “Is what you said in the hallway true? That you’re head over heels in love with me, that you can’t bear the thought of me dying? That if I were to die, you’d follow me to the grave with our child? Is that it?”

Whitney was speechless, flabbergasted. Was that really what she had said?

She could not believe someone could twist her words to such a degree, his self–love bending them out of shape. But seeing his wounds, she could not bring herself to crush him and quietly protested, “I just said I have feelings for you…”

The man turned cold and pale. “Fine. I nearly died trying to save you, and now that you’re safe, you don’t love or care about me anymore.”

Whitney bit her lip. “No, that’s not true… I do love you!”

Ludwik scoffed weakly. “Love? And yet you’re all tangled up with other men. Weren’t you planning to run off? What’s stopping you from going to Mr. Lutz or Perlman?”

Outside the door, two burly men listening in both shuddered.

Nolan, who had been barely holding back his laughter, was now at a loss for words. “Bro’s really got a flair for the dramatic,” he muttered.

“Man’s got age, but he’s as petulant as a teenager. Good thing Whitney is down to earth,” Parker said with a

smirk.

The ‘down to earth‘ young woman clenched her fists, patience threading her voice as she considered how he had saved her. “I was just scared from the confinement, okay? Can’t I even go see Tiana without causing a scene? I’ve already… confessed just now. You know you’re the only man in my heart, so quit being jealous over irrelevant people.”

His eyes fixed on her indifferent face. The gloom of recent days seemed to lift a bit as he heard the term “irrelevant people.”

Nolan raised his thumb in approval, “Whitney’s got a way with words, calming the king of jealousy.”

“Obviously, a woman knows how to soothe a man, especially someone like Bro, who’s been thirsty for affection,” Parker said, his smile laced with mischief.

with a chuckle. “Whitney’s what, about

interrupted by a commotion outside,

Lippert’s injury and wishes to visit.” Parker had already stationed bodyguards outside; Ludwik’s injury was not

frowned, instinctively not wanting Elaine to enter.

Chapter 108

Ludwik were on the mend, and Elaine’s

turned to Parker, inquiring. “What about Elaine?

neither Nolan nor

men. “Tell Elaine we’re on guard against the Lippert family. We can’t disclose the extent of Ludwik’s injuries. Please

reached Elaine, who stood blocked by bodyguards,

and Parker were clearly siding

stayed close to Ludwik. Their recent trials only strengthened their

schemes as she thought of Natalie, who was

cottage…

a tight–lipped smile and a subtle raise of her eyebrows,

Whitney’s hand, his gaze

Whitney shook her head. “You were in surgery, but a doctor checked on us. Our

gaze deepening. “Were you okay at

was finally asking. Her lips

for her sake,

of water and dipped a cotton swab to moisten his lips. “Does that feel

softened, clearly pleased with her gentle demeanor, and he seemed to understand her

need to use the restroom.”

call a male

you

With resignation, she helped him up, supporting his

like it.” Ludwik thought.

moved only a little, he winced in pain, his grip on her hand

you could just… on

would not

petite shoulder, his masculine scent overwhelmed her, and Whitney finally realized just how tall and heavy he was. She carefully supported him to

an eyebrow, calling out to her, “My pants?”

attractive body, and stammered, “Your hands are fine. Take

dissipate instantly, his hands shaking. “It hurts. I saved your life, and you can’t even help me with this…”

her savior, after