Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 168

Ludwik stared at her, his heart perforated and bleeding from the night of the once beloved face that now caused him indescribable pain A pain that might never heal as long as he lived.

Once the heart empties, it hardens, turning cold and unyielding like bedrock, alicing through him with the chill of a bone–piercing wind. “My mother’s been miserable, thanks to you. Tos condemned to suffer for a lifetime You love me? That’s the cheapest, most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard!!

“Oh right,” he growled, capturing her tiny wrists and pinning her against the wall, his grip tightening on her

throat.

He leaned in, his voice a sneer of cold mockery, “Your uncle came for vengeance, thinking I’d killed your grandfather? Let me tell you, the day your mother and grandfather had that car crash, was the one who tried

I to save them, but I failed. There was never anything but normal discord between me and your grandfather. Are you satisfied now?”

Her heart felt pierced by countless swords, all stabbing her at once.

Whitney became rigid as stone.

In the sluggish recesses of her disbelief, only one thought circled: He had tried to save them.

That’s why her uncle saw the mask in the wrecked carl

Why? Why had it come to this?

After she had hurt him, only then did she learn the truth.

He had always been honorable, never a thief or usurper!

Why did fate play such cruel games? The gentlest cut of all was delivered by his hand.

Whitney clutched her chest, nearly fainting from the pain. Everything was lost, all was wrong.

Seeing her pain contorted face, Ludwik’s heart numbed a fraction.

He released her abruptly, hurling her away, his eyes bloodshot like a demon’s, “Get lost! I never want to see you again! There’s nothing left between us but hate.”

Hate?

hands covering her face as tears breached

to sense the father’s words, moving

tongue so hard she nearly suffocated from the pain. Through her tear–blurred vision, she saw Elaine on the hospital

Her uncle’s revenge, Elaine the opportunist, exploiting her uncle’s hatred

broke at the thought.

had become a vegetable, how much must he be

for her uncle’s kidnapping, none

kidney failure was no coincidence!

doorway, desperately knocking, her voice weak and hoarse, “Ludwik, listen to

her, and she collapsed to the ground.

aside, noticing the blood on the

18.20

shifting slightly.

Parker exchanged frowns

this?” Someone pried open her parched lips and

the

of preterm labor due to trauma. The baby’s over five months along, and she’s been starving for three to four days. If she doesn’t rest, both will be in danger the doctor

sorry, doctor, we’ve only just found her.”

hand immediately went

Valerie approached

“My baby…

The doctor said you’ve had several injuries, Tiana fretted,

Ludwik, the CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation. And Whitney, how could you and your uncle… were you really seeking revenge

sorry How could I involve you in

it was too late, she alone played the role of her uncle’s

No wonder you’ve been in such pain lately, and you wouldn’t tell us anything You and your uncle took such a wrong path, and now Ludwik’s mother is a vegetable. Did you

and take deep breaths. She shook her head in denial, “The night my uncle kidnapped Natalie, I went alone to save her, but Elaine ambushed me and took Natalie

“I suspected as much. Anything involving Elaine

take Nolan’s word for it. We should side with Whitney. Even with a family feud, I can see that Whitney loves Mr. Lippert. She wouldn’t harm Natalie, either emotionally or

care of herself. She’s too selfish to

tightly, Valerie had hit the nail on the