Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 144

The man gazed out the window, his deep profile turning as his fingers twitched restlessly through his thick eyebrows.

Ive spoiled her rotten, and now she’s overstepping! Such pettiness!” Ludwik’s voice was tinged with anger, ice

cold.

“Orion’s back from abroad, Elaine’s attempted to take her own life, and I can’t afford to alienate the Bartels family. At a time like this, when I’m surrounded by enemies, I thought she’d be smart and sharp, but she just could not bear Elaine.”

Parker caught the disappointment in his voice, frowning as he said, “Given Whitney’s EQ, she wouldn’t fight with you over Elaine’s incident. Could there be something else?”

Ludwik paused, then shook his head.

Elaine was the very reason for their argument in the room.

But Whitney had been acting out of character today. When she woke from her nightmare, she pleaded with him not to touch her; her emotions were running high, and her gaze at him was inscrutable.

She had never looked at him like that before. When they first met, she was timid around him. As they got to know each other, she became demure with a bit of sass but never so distant.

“By the end of it, she asked me if I knew her grandfather,” Ludwik said, his brows locked in a frown.

“Her grandfather, Faulkner Tennyson? Ludwik, you had your clashes with him…” Parker’s expression shifted slightly.

Ludwik, however, remained stoic. “Just the usual business rivalry. The Tennyson family was set up. I witnessed that accident back then; I never thought her uncle would survive.”

Parker had heard about Ludwik’s encounter with Whitney’s uncle today. “Did her uncle say something to upset her? Is she questioning you about what happened to the Tennyson family back then?”

Shaking his head, Ludwik replied, “They don’t even know who I am now. Besides, if they have a grudge, it should be with the Valentine family.”

“You’ll have to wait until after she’s had the baby to explain your beef with Skye Gem, right?” Parker gestured

towards Ludwik’s mask.

Ludwik nodded, continuing to brood over his drink, his face as cold as ever, piecing together the puzzle · Whitney was just harping on Elaine’s return to Banyan City.

On this death anniversary, heavy snow blanketed the entire city.

was bone–piercing, devoid of any warmth.

been ill for days, her fever refusing to break. Pregnant, she could not take any medication, resorting only to acupuncture

and burst out, tears

her? For two days, it was as if her soul had been drained, and she

clear she

zigzagged up to the cemetery

guessed perhaps the anniversary of her mother’s passing had come,

1/3

was overwhelmed with grief.

walked in a daze to the large tree in

shoveling snow from the graves of her mother and grandfather

from him and said, “Uncle, let me

his eyes. “You can’t do this, Whitney.

stiffened, the snow around her less chilling than the desolation in her heart, doused by her

had condemned

at her suddenly pale face, Keegan leaned over from his wheelchair, wiping the gravestone. “To let them have peace, we must seek vengeance and reclaim

company? For now, don’t leave him. Stay by his side; be my insider. I’ve prepared for a long time; the

her to break with Ludwik immediately and plot their revenge another

saw her as a sheath, a convenient blade

punctured, panic mixing with pain, and she instinctively cradled

Look at the gravestones. Look at me, looking barely like a human. Does our

his face etched

found herself

Ludwik,” Keegan said, his eyes dark with cunning

left her there.

in front of the gravestones, her mother and grandfather’s

had always wanted to avenge her mother and grandfather. If it were the Valentine family, she would not

hesitate.

why him? Why did it have to be

tear–streaked face, she asked with concern, “What did your uncle say to you to make you cry like this? What’s wrong? Can’t

Whitney’s heart was sharp and raw,

cursed under her breath and steadied her. “Damn

just grab some herbs for an herbal bath. I can’t take anything else.* “I go register. Please give