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?

doorway, her hands covering her face as tears

inside her seemed to sense the father’s

from the pain. Through her tear–blurred vision, she saw Elaine on the hospital bed, giving

Elaine the opportunist, exploiting her uncle’s hatred to weave

at

mother had become a vegetable, how much must he

kidnapping, none of this would

Natalie’s kidney failure

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

darkness claimed her, and she

blood on the back of Whitney’s white coat, her

18.20

shifting slightly.

Parker exchanged frowns

you end up like this?” Someone pried open her parched

eyes, the harsh white light blinding

and she’s been starving for three to four days.

sorry, doctor, we’ve only just

Tiana’s voice? Whitney’s pale hand immediately went to

Valerie approached her.

“My baby…

to rest. The doctor said you’ve had several injuries, Tiana

how could you and your uncle… were you really

head, tears streaking her face, Tm sorry How could I involve

it was too late, she alone played the role of her uncle’s ‘accomplice‘ She couldn’t

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 really cause it? Nolan said… Tiana was torn, reluctant to

made Whitney clutch her heart 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 away. By the time I got to the hospital today, Natalie had become a

let out a scoff, “I suspected as much. Anything involving Elaine is never

with a family feud, I

too selfish to donate

eyes tightly, Valerie had hit the