Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 157

Her heart shattered like a delicate wine glass dropped on a stone floor, and she could barely muster the strength to keep her trembling fingers still.

He cradled the back of her head, wishing he could merge her into his very being. If it were not for the child they were expecting, he would have pinned her down and never let go.

Whitney felt the storm raging within him, and her tears cascaded down her cheeks, glistening like pearls, tapping softly against his skin.

Her small hands clenched into fists against his chest and neck, only to unfurl, powerlessly relaxing.

Eyes closed, she mourned silently, “Mom, Grandpa, forgive me for this betrayal, this shame. It’s the last time, I swear. Maybe… Maybe it’s all a mistake? Maybe it’s not him?”

Soon, the fever and the drunken haze pulled him into the void, and his lips loosened.

Whitney slumped next to the bed, her mind a whirlwind. She hastily rummaged through her bag and pulled out her grandfather’s contact book.

Skimming through it desperately, she stumbled upon a torn page with a single name: Bartels.

Bartels?

The following pages were all missing.

If her grandpa had not torn them out, then who did, and why were the pages with Ludwik’s name still intact?

A memory flashed in her mind of her uncle mentioning that before coming to Banyan City, her Grandpa had been pushed out of the medical field by unscrupulous competition.

The only Bartels she knew was Elaine, and the Bartels were a dynasty in the medical field of Emperor City!

Could it be a coincidence? Was it the Bartels who forced her Grandpa to leave, leading him to Banyan City?

As her head spun with these thoughts, Whitney suddenly considered that maybe the name Ludwik in the address book was a red herring.

She looked up at the feverish man before her, her heart pounding on hot coals. “Ludwik, it wasn’t you, was it?” She whispered hoarsely, clutching the ring in her hand as everything began to heat up.

Downstairs, Natalie was relieved to see Whitney had not come down. But as dizziness took hold of her, Taryn suggested they call the family doctor to stay with her.

Just then, the house phone rang. Taryn answered it and hesitated before speaking, “Ms. Natalie, it’s Ms. Elaine. She wants to visit for New Year’s Eve. Shall I invite her?”

Natalie frowned, the thought of that girl sending shivers down her spine, and fear bloomed within her.

“Decline her. Tell her we’re having

the message

Eve to get closer to Ludwik,

her assistant had said, her fingers clutched with resentment. “What? A

to be Natalie.

as she gritted her teeth. She

celebrate New Year’s Eve with Ludwik. Yet, Natalie was way too protective over Whitney, which was getting on Elaine’s

almost certain she would not be able to achieve her goal. Her eyes narrowed

will be their last.” She snickered as if certain of Whitney’s

throat felt scorched, but he caught sight of the soft figure slumped by his bedside who seemed to be

growing inside her, Ludwik’s brows furrowed with concern. He reached out to lift

woke at his touch.

he saw a flicker of complex emotions, a

You’re too weak,” Whitney

voice was

dropped to the snowy dawn breaking

raw vulnerability of the past days. Without hatred, perhaps

as she spoke,

even to

mouth and said, “You had a fever. You need to rest, or even walking

about the five–star hotel project? The investors are bound to make a fuss.

fever. “It’s manageable. I have other companies. I’ll reallocate

did not mention Imperial Gem Corporation, his other global enterprise, which

had no idea Whitney already knew who he was.

and he feebly reached for her hand, “The real issue is, you

ring on.”

bowed/tears streaming, she instead grasped

softly, showing him the diamond ring on her

surprise, then

intertwining her fingers with his. “I’ll try again. To stay by your side.

Ludwik.” She said his real name in her mind.

eyes for a

wake up, we’ll face it together,” she whispered, injecting him

He needed rest.

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sound asleep, taking the contact book from her bag. It was time to