Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 117

But the complexity in the man’s eyes, the storms they concealed, were beyond Whitney’s comprehension. Ludwik mused in silence. Elaine was the bridge between him and the Bartels family; their interests intertwined. There was a time he had wanted her gone, his dislike manifesting as a reluctance to keep her close. But the Lippert family was eyeing him with predatory intent; Kaden was eager to make him hand over the reins of Imperial Gem Corporation to Orion.

Just waiting for him to slip up.

In such times, he needed the Bartels family.

How could this silly girl understand the depths of it all? Ludwik shot her a sidelong glance. “Enough talk. I’m starving. If the food isn’t ready soon, I might just eat you!”

“What an abrupt turn,” Whitney thought, returning to the kitchen.

Yet, even if they were just to soothe her, his words filled her with a sweet sense of being valued and finally feeling the weight of her importance to him.

ly prepared.

Eventually, two maids joined to assist, and dinner was finally

Whitney stood by the bed, feeding him like a dutiful wife, unable to resist glancing at his hands that moved with ease.

“What are you looking at? Injured shoulders don’t mean I can’t move my hands,” he declared righteously, even as his fingers deftly navigated the screen of his smartphone.

Whitney was too shocked for words, thinking that saving her seemed to justify all manner of twisted logic. Felix, too, was silently twitching at the corner of his mouth, thinking. “Mr. Lippert, just admit you enjoy being pampered by your little wife. Would it kill you?”

Clearly reveling in the attention, the man frowned. “I haven’t bathed all day Wipe me down later.”

The bowl in Whitney’s hands nearly tipped over. She stole a glance at his mature, muscular frame, her heart skipping a beat as she blushed. “Maybe… Felix should do it?”

“Did I risk my life to save Felix?”

Whitney fell silent.

And Felix, all too aware, had already left the room.

Whitney clenched her fists, trying to reason with him. “But I’d be embarrassed. We’re not that close yet,” she protested.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I allow you to admire my perfect form. Just don’t get overwhelmed,” he said, his noble arrogance on full display.

at a loss for words

saved by him, she owed him a debt of

water. Taking up the washcloth with trembling hands, she undressed him, muttering to herself not to overthink it she was just

too captivating, his form long and graceful, his muscles well–defined, his skin smooth and pale–a stark contrast to the fashionable bronze tans of

gaze, but it kept wandering.

her eyes darting over his body, her cheeks flushed like tempting apples. her lips

Chapter 11,

Adam’s apple bobbed as he acknowledged her struggle

on me yet,

revealed that the man faltered first.

you done

face was aflame as she coughed lightly, “Done.”

with the hot water,

to negotiate again. “Can’t you just hire a

your mind?” He leaned against the headboard,

flushed. “Stop bullying me, L. I had maids helping me

because he realized she could not handle the dinner alone, so he could not bear to see her stand and bend for too long since she

gave her an indifferent look. “Falling out of love with me already? Yesterday in the hallway, you were pleading for me to wake

the retort. She had never said such things.

into something

she heard a sudden wince from him. “What’s

lips together, feigning vulnerability. “It hurts all because of

feared he might truly be in pain, her face showing a hint of regret. “Then stop moving.

was at her wit’s end.

his lips. “Alright, sleep with me then,”

be devastatingly charming when he whined without clashing with his

‘sickly handsome‘ face, the mask adding an enigmatic allure. She had just settled into her small bed when he complained, “You’re so

was not wide, and

this, he frowned and snorted in complaint, and Whitney Instantly snapped awake. “Are you

mask of stoicism. “Never mind, you

it were not for him, she would be

brows furrowed with concern. “No, I’ll

Can