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 four months along

conversation was interrupted by a commotion outside,

reported, “Ms. Elaine is waiting outside. She heard about Mr. Lippert’s injury and wishes to visit.” Parker had already stationed bodyguards outside; Ludwik’s injury was not to be publicized, especially not to

wanting Elaine to

Chapter 108

were on the mend, and Elaine’s

“What about Elaine? Do

her status in Emperor City, neither Nolan nor

guard against the Lippert family. We can’t disclose the extent of Ludwik’s injuries.

blocked by bodyguards, her face darkening with displeasure.

and Parker were clearly

Whitney stayed close to Ludwik. Their recent trials only strengthened

her palms, her mind racing with schemes

cottage…

subtle raise

not let go of Whitney’s hand, his gaze fixed on her. “Does your stomach hurt?” He

in surgery, but a

gaze deepening. “Were you okay at the

was finally asking. Her

for her sake, her grievances seemed

cup of water and dipped a cotton swab

her gentle demeanor, and he seemed to

“I need to use the restroom.”

blushed. “I’ll call

frosty. “After saving your life, you

him up, supporting his

it.” Ludwik

little, he winced in pain,

“Maybe you could

not!” Ludwik’s pride would not

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

calling out to

words, glancing at his long, attractive body, and stammered, “Your hands are fine. Take them

seemed to dissipate instantly, his hands shaking. “It hurts. I saved your life, and you

fine. He was her