Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 169

In Natalie’s hospital

Elaine had been moved to the adjacent intensive care unit. Ludwik had hired the best private nurse for her.

The man himself, Ludwik, sat alone by his mother’s bedside, a silent sentinel for over four hours.

No one knew what turmoil churned behind his stoic facade.

As dusk enveloped the city, Parker and Nolan strode into the sterile room.

Ludwik looked up, his eyes weary as he extended a hand.

Parker approached, “I got the surveillance footage from the coastal villa and the intersection where Keegan snatched Natalie”

Ludwik, clinging to a shred of sanity, needed to see the damning evidence of Whitney’s betrayal, even after he had expelled her from his life

But reality was a cruel mistress. The villa’s nearby camera had captured Whitney being rescued by Keegan’s assistant and whisked away into the night.

And just a half–hour before, Keegan had kidnapped Natalie from the roadside.

After viewing both pieces of footage, a tired, hollow laugh escaped Ludwik. He waved them off, “Call Taryn in

here.”

When Taryn entered, Ludwik’s voice was low; “Did you hear the entire call Keegan made to my mother that day? What did he say?”

Taryn recounted with painful accuracy, “Keegan baited her with Whitney… said her child was at risk of miscarriage, refusing treatment. Natalie, worried for her grandchild and unable to reach you, hastily left the villa with me and a driver, only to walk into a trap.”

Why had he been unreachable? He’d been detained at the police station.

hesitating. “The video leaked from the

it obvious?” Ludwik’s laugh was bitter now. “Why

once shielded Whitney at those very parties; now she wielded those memories as

heart.

cruel? My mother’s

doctors say even with the best care, my mother’s brain damage leaves her with a life expectancy of three

tears. In the presence of a mother, every

his heart aching/“Ludwik, you’ve got to stop. It’s all Whitney’s fault! New Year’s Eve, Natalie was so full of life, laughing over the phone. She’s clung to life for your sake,

I’d have a warm home, a loving wife and child. All lies. Instead, I harbored

life without parole. Hand over the rest of the evidence to the police

was clear he meant for Whitney to be taken away as well.

he nudged Parker, whispering. “Ludwik’s

10-20

Ludwik had been unnervingly

maybe you should

too exhausted to

one dared to disobey, and Parker and Nolan

night, two officers entered Whitney’s hospital room.

was jolted awake, groggy and confused.

of her, visibly shaken, “Officers, may

cut to the chase, “Mr. Lippert’s attorney has submitted evidence to the authorities. On the night of Keegan’s kidnapping of Natalie, you were seen getting into

a beat. He was sending her to jail; he

stunned expression, pleaded, “Officers, Whitney is pregnant and at risk of premature labor.

officer stepped out to consult with a doctor. Returning, he said, “We’ll take your statement here. Please explain everything that happened

white, recounted everything

the officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able

life without parole. He wanted to see

sense. Keegan hadn’t been directly responsible

so