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

been ill for days, her fever refusing to break. Pregnant, she could not

breath shallow, and burst out, tears threatening

it was as if her soul had been drained, and

was clear she was

in her car as the vehicle ahead zigzagged up to the

the hill, Tiana guessed perhaps the

1/3

was overwhelmed

a daze to the large tree in

of her mother and grandfather with great

took the shovel from him and said, “Uncle, let me

refusing her 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

desolation in her heart,

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 what

Ludwik trusts you in the company? For now, don’t leave him. Stay by his

uncle wanted her to break with Ludwik immediately and plot their

saw her as a sheath, a convenient blade to be concealed

mixing with pain, and she instinctively cradled her

Look at the gravestones. Look at me, looking barely like a human. Does our suffering count for nothing

hid schemes, his face etched

herself speechless.

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

left her

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

grandfather.

hesitate.

Why did it have to be him?

called out, holding 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

sharp and raw, yet she could not utter a word.

and steadied her. “Damn it. Your fever has not broken! Come with me

her head. “I’ll just grab some herbs for an herbal bath. I can’t take anything else.* “I go register. Please give me the list of herbs, and don’t you move from here. Wait for me,” Tiana said, guiding Whitney to a