Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 164

“Why on earth did this damn woman team up with her uncle to kidnap Natalie? That’s Ludwik’s mother for crying out loud! Does Whitney have no heart?”

“Keep it together. It might be a misunderstanding. Natalie’s frall and can’t be without oxygen. We’re working with the cops over here. Whatever you do, keep Ludwik in the dark!”

Nolan was struck dumb, his mind racing with panic.

The car sped along the country roads. Whitney had stopped at a rural clinic and grabbed some emergency medicine and a first aid kit.

Soon, the car veered into the mountains, Keegan’s assistant taking twists and turns, making sure Whitney could not memorize the route.

Bent over her dead phone, Whitney realized the battery was flat. Her face went ashen.

Around midnight, the car pulled up to a dilapidated farmhouse.

Ignoring the hunger pangs, Whitney bolted from the car and barged through the front door.

Inside, her uncle and two bodyguards were in disarray, the room a mess, and Natalie slumped in a chair, frothing at the mouth, her condition unimproved.

“She’s rolling her eyes back! Whitney,” Keegan bellowed.

Whitney felt a turmoil inside, her emotions complex as she glanced at her uncle, noticing he had stood up. likely on a prosthetic, limping as he moved.

Tears spilled from Whitney’s eyes as she

saw her uncle’s pitiful state, yet she also felt an overwhelming hatred. She rushed to Natalie’s side, her voice breaking. “Uncle, why must you do this? You’re driving us both to a dead end. You’re not well yourself; you know the pain of illness; why can’t you show some compassion to Mom?”

“Who’s your Mom? Her? No! Whitney, don’t betray the Tennyson family!” Keegan burst out.

He was too far gone, deaf to reason.

Whitney felt despair.

Bending down, she administered acupuncture to Natalie’s skull, pressed on a vital point on her throat, and forced the medicine down her throat, slowly halting her spasms.

Ludwik has been inseparable from his mom since

twisting in her heart. Knowing how much Ludwik loved his mother, she could not take the

misstep

take Natalie back. She needs proper hospital care; she can’t be without her oxygen. If we take her back now,

back! Your cousin is still in Ludwik’s hands, Who ever felt sorry for me? Whitney, I love you. That’s why

uncontrollably,

continued with the acup and

down with surprise, had a soft spot for her, yet he was so terribly mistaker

with a gentle

icy hand touched Whitney’s

back at her with love

streaming. Whitney silently communicated with her eyes and continued with the

urgently saying, “Uncle, we’re missing a crucial medicine. We need it now, or Natalie might not make it.”

“What is it?”

emergency medicine. I saw a clinic in the village on the way here, but they might not have it. You guys need to split up and look for it, and fast.”

go. I’ll stay

whispered, “It’s an emergency, Uncle. You should go too. Look

“I wouldn’t have taken her if that person on the phone had

on the phone?

furrowed her brows in

drive away, Whitney sighed in relief. With

“Whitney…”

helped Natalie sit up, checked

ruse to send them

now. I’m taking you to

understood the girl’s intention; her uncle had

cough less violent.

was somewhat better and confident in her medical skills, Whitney strapped a portable oxygen tank to Natalie and hoisted her up,

dead phone and no lights in the village, Whitney

before her uncle returned. If they made it, the kidnapping would be undone, and she could beg Natalie’s forgiveness and explain, hoping Ludwik would

all her strength, uncertain