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!

the word “Mom,” Ludwik turned his icy, chiseled features

his gaze pierced and

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

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

rushing back to the villa, she was told by the security staff

hospital.

earth was happening here? Why was it so quiet?

How is she?” She wondered, thinking Ludwik must be furious about

anger. She reassured herself firmly as she

one swift move, he pulled Whitney away, sending her tumbling to the

she clutched her stomach, narrowly avoiding

with feigned weakness. “Do you realize that Natalie is now

explode in Whitney’s head, a sharp pain stirring her thoughts into a blur.

was steady, her pulse normal. It was you… Elainel You took her away by force, I knew

filled with feigned Indignation. “You and your uncle 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 something to her

fetched her phone, handing it to

cold as ice as he took

into her

stopped abruptly!

he turned

had been lying in wait before her appearance, secretly recording

edited out of

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

struck Whitney’s face

red from the impact, and she stumbled back against

her, his presence like a shadowy cage, the chill from the

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

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 own. What did you

acupuncture, and she just spits blood and gets better? Her