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.

Ludwik and Whitney upstairs, she shook her head. “Decline her. Tell her we’re having a family

the message as asked.

the mansion, Elaine’s face fell when her assistant relayed Taryn’s words. She had planned to use this New Year’s Eve to get closer to Ludwik, especially since Whitney would not be back because

her fingers clutched with resentment. “What? A family reunion? No way Ludwik

had to

gritted her teeth. She had not even returned to

Year’s Eve with Ludwik. Yet, Natalie was way too

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

She snapped. “Even if they’re having their so–called reunion, it will be

dizzy from the alcohol. His throat felt scorched, but

temperature–controlled room, she lay uncovered, and with their child growing inside her,

at his

gaunt woman’s pale face was etched with exhaustion. As she met his gaze, he saw a flicker of complex emotions, a softening from the

Whitney advised in a raspy voice.

voice was even more hoarse, his energy

to the snowy dawn breaking outside the window.

mingling with the raw vulnerability of the past days. Without hatred, perhaps

quivered as she spoke, “Take your

weak even to lift his arm.

in his mouth and said, “You had a fever. You need

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

lay still, his face flushed with fever. “It’s manageable. I have other companies. I’ll reallocate funds to

not mention Imperial Gem Corporation, his other global enterprise, which was more

Whitney already knew who he

“The real issue is, you want to leave me.

ring on.”

bowed/tears streaming, she instead grasped his

softly, showing

then softened into a

his smile, intertwining her fingers with his. “I’ll try again. To

his real name

his eyes for a

it together,” she

He needed rest.

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from her bag. It was time to confront her uncle to prove