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!

word “Mom,” Ludwik turned his icy,

gaze pierced and shattered her with its merciless

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

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

the villa, she was told by the security staff that Natalie was in the hosp

hospital.

what on earth was happening here?

thinking Ludwik must be

take his anger. She reassured

steps approached, and with one swift move, he pulled Whitney away, sending her tumbling to

she clutched her stomach, narrowly avoiding hitting the

Whitney?” Elaine’s voice trembled with feigned weakness. “Do you realize

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

helped her escape, her breathing was steady, her pulse normal. It was you… Elainel You took her

rushed to find her, but I arrived to see you holding her hostage, doing something to

turned and fetched her phone,

as ice as he took

pitch–dark field, Whitney laid her mother down, lifting her clothes to insert needles into her stomach. Her mother suddenly vomited a mouthful of black blood, her expression one of intense pain.

video stopped abruptly!

heart shattered like ice as he

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

edited

purpose. I was just giving Mom acupuncture; she said she had a pancreatic attack. I was helping her with the

Whitney’s face with a slap.

the impact,

shadowy cage, the chill from the

at her, nodding with a bitter laugh, “You know acupuncture, so you claim to know medicine?

what? The Imperial Gem Corporation? If you couldn’t have it, you’d rather see everything destroyed. Didn’t my mother treat you well? She cherished you like her

and gets better? Her kidneys have failed! Now she lies