Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 167

“At first, I kept it from you because I didn’t want you to feel obliged to marry me out of some debt for saving your life. I have my pride. Then Whitney suddenly turned up, pregnant with your child, and I felt even less able to reveal the truth… I decided to let go of our connection, and out of jealousy. I wasn’t kind to Whitney. I deeply regret it now” she confessed, her voice a mix of remorse and vulnerability.

“I never planned to tell you, even as I left Banyan City. But today, I’m scared that if I don’t come clean about this secret, I might die without ever having the chance.”

Elaine edged closer to him, her eyes clear and pitifully earnest. Tve always loved you deeply. Four years ago, I rescued you without a second thought, and four years later, I donated a kidney to save Natalie. I did it all willingly, Ludwik. You don’t owe me anything I just hope you can feel the sincerity of my feelings, that would be enough for me to die without regrets.”

Ludwik looked at her, his insides churning with emotion.

He had searched the world for a girl who, it turned out, had always been by his side, silent and unnoticed.

His eyes, swirling with deep emotion, landed on Elaine. It seemed she had always been sacrificing for him,

always.

Elaine watched him, touched and torn, her gaze softening at the memory of her life–saving act four years prior.

She knew she had succeeded in her ruse. To present this half–truth, to masquerade as Whitney, she had rehearsed countless justifications.

Perfect. He would believe her, especially now in his vulnerable state, and especially after she had donated a kidney to his mother

This was the perfect timing her mother had spoken of!

Elaine’s internal laughter was carefully concealed.

“Mom?” Suddenly, a breathless, pale voice came from the doorway.

Whitney, barely hanging on, had made her way here, and upon entering, she saw Ludwik embracing Elaine.

Her brows furrowed in unease, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the other hospital bed–Natalie!

turned his icy, chiseled features slowly

and shattered her

remembered the collective silence as she entered, the cold stares from

and weak, Whitney had come straight to Banyan City after being rescued from the mountains. A

she was told by

hospital.

earth was happening here? Why was

Ludwik must

She reassured herself

swift move, he pulled Whitney away, sending

she clutched her stomach,

show your face here, Whitney?” Elaine’s voice trembled with feigned weakness. “Do you realize that Natalie is now in a vegetative

to explode in Whitney’s head, a sharp pain stirring her thoughts into a blur. Tears welled up and fell unbidden as she scrambled up, shaking her head in denial,

her breathing was steady, her pulse

planned to harm Ludwik. That’s why you kidnapped Natalie! When I heard, I rushed to find her, but I arrived to see you holding her

fetched her phone,

ice as he took the

needles into her

stopped

he

Elaine had been lying in wait before her appearance, secretly recording the video.

edited out of context!

to Ludwik, “It’s a setup by Elaine. She only recorded a part on purpose. I was just giving Mom acupuncture; she said she had a pancreatic attack. I was helping her with the pain.

hand struck Whitney’s face with a

from the impact,

his presence like a shadowy cage, the

so you claim to know medicine? Didn’t I ask you once before? How did you

it now. You’ve been lurking around me and my mother, seeking what? The Imperial Gem Corporation? If you couldn’t have it, you’d rather see everything destroyed. Didn’t my

her, so frail and pitiful, you give her acupuncture, and she just spits blood and gets better? Her kidneys have failed! Now she lies here, never to wake