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

pierced and shattered her with its

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

Whitney had come straight to Banyan City after being rescued from the mountains. A visit

told by

hospital.

happening here? Why was it

Ludwik

to take his anger. She reassured herself firmly as she

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

in panic, her face whitening as she clutched her stomach, narrowly avoiding hitting the table’s

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

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

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

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

her phone,

as ice as

to insert needles into her stomach. Her mother

video stopped abruptly!

like ice as he

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

was edited out of context!

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. After she spat the blood, she

face

swelled red from the impact, and she stumbled back against the

his presence like a shadowy cage, the chill from the depths of hell enveloping

“You know acupuncture, so you claim to know medicine? Didn’t

The Imperial Gem Corporation? If you couldn’t have it,

you give her acupuncture, and she just spits blood and gets better? Her kidneys have failed! Now she lies