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.

“The video leaked from the Joyful Manor party, should

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

very parties; now she wielded those memories as weapons to tear at his

heart.

briefly shut, “Why can women be so cruel? My mother’s

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

unshed tears. In the presence of a mother, every man

turned away, 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

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

jail, no trial, life without parole. Hand over the rest of the evidence to the police and let them arrest whoever they need to.”

he meant for Whitney to be taken away

of Ludwik’s trembling hand. His face paled, and he

10-20

deep breath. Ludwik had been unnervingly calm since he slapped Whitney. This tranquility

you should call a

Ludwik commanded, too exhausted to argue.

and Parker and Nolan left the room, their minds heavy with concern.

night, two

awake, groggy and confused.

her, visibly shaken, “Officers,

the authorities. On the night of

sending her to jail; he would never forgive her.

stunned expression, pleaded, “Officers, Whitney is pregnant and at risk of premature labor. She can’t leave the hospital. Could you please consider this in your investigation?”

Returning, he said, “We’ll take your statement here. Please explain

recounted everything without

the officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able to

without parole. He wanted to

been directly responsible for Natalie’s state.

so soon.