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!

“Mom,” Ludwik turned his icy, chiseled features slowly around.

if his gaze pierced and

entered, the cold stares from Nolan and

had come straight to Banyan City after being rescued from the mountains. A visit to the police station revealed her uncle’s arrest.

told by

hospital.

happening here? Why was it so quiet?

Ludwik must be furious about the

reassured

with one swift move, he pulled Whitney away, sending

she clutched her stomach, narrowly avoiding hitting the table’s

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

sharp pain stirring her thoughts into a blur. Tears welled up and fell unbidden as she scrambled up, shaking her head

steady, her pulse normal. It was you… Elainel You took her away by force, I knew you meant no good; how could you

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 hostage, doing

her phone,

ice

the 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

stopped abruptly!

he turned his chilling gaze on

at Elaine incredulously. Elaine had been lying in wait before her

was edited out of context!

desperately to explain 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.

Whitney’s face with a

the impact, and she stumbled back against

over her, his presence like a shadowy cage, the

looked at her, nodding with a bitter laugh, “You know acupuncture, so you claim to know medicine? Didn’t I

have it, you’d rather see everything destroyed. Didn’t my mother treat you

give her acupuncture, and she just spits blood and gets