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.

chill was bone–piercing, devoid

could not take any medication, resorting only to acupuncture at specific safe points.

brought no relief. Tiana watched her face flushed with fever, her breath shallow, and burst out, tears threatening

was as if her soul

she

car as the vehicle ahead zigzagged up

of the hill, Tiana guessed perhaps the

1/3

overwhelmed

daze to the large tree in

snow from the graves of her mother and grandfather with great

from him and said, “Uncle, let me clear the

help as he glanced at the swell beneath her coat. Looking back at the gravestones, a stubborn chill filled his eyes. “You can’t do this, Whitney. You don’t even have the

the snow around her less chilling than the desolation in her heart, doused by her uncle’s

had condemned

from his wheelchair, wiping the gravestone. “To let them have peace, we must seek vengeance

don’t leave him. Stay by his side; be my insider. I’ve prepared for a long time; the bigger the corporation, the easier it is to topple, only if you’re willing to help me!”

stiffened. She had thought her uncle wanted her to

sheath, a convenient blade

felt punctured, panic mixing with pain, and she instinctively cradled her head,

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

his face etched

found herself speechless.

to think, and when you’re ready, arrange a meeting with Ludwik,” Keegan said, his eyes dark with cunning as

left her there.

the icy wilderness in front of the gravestones, her mother and grandfather’s smiling faces causing her unbearable

wanted to avenge her mother and grandfather. If it were the

hesitate.

him? Why did it have to

an umbrella as she approached. Seeing Whitney’s tear–streaked face, she asked with concern, “What did your uncle say to you to make you cry

in Whitney’s heart was sharp and raw, yet she could not utter

her breath and steadied her. “Damn it. Your fever has not broken!

can’t take anything else.* “I go register. Please give me the list of herbs, and don’t you move from