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.

video leaked from the

laugh was bitter now. “Why bother?”

now she wielded those memories as weapons to tear

heart.

can women be so cruel? My mother’s frail, and

mother’s brain damage leaves her with a life expectancy of three years, at

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

was so full of life, laughing over the phone. She’s clung to life for your sake, knowing how alone

and child. All lies. Instead, I

from Ludwik as he closed his eyes, his voice icy, “Throw Keegan in jail, no trial, life without parole. Hand over

clear he meant for Whitney to be taken away

His face paled, and he nudged Parker, whispering. “Ludwik’s hand

10-20

noticed and took a deep breath. Ludwik had been unnervingly calm since he slapped Whitney. This tranquility was a

should call a

too

disobey, and Parker and Nolan left

that night, two officers entered Whitney’s hospital

awake, groggy and confused.

front of her, visibly shaken, “Officers, may

submitted evidence to the authorities. On the night of Keegan’s kidnapping of Natalie, you were seen getting into his assistant’s car. We need to question

was sending her to jail; he would never forgive her.

and at risk of premature labor. She

he said, “We’ll take

her knuckles white, recounted everything

officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able to

sentenced tonight, life without parole. He

hadn’t been directly responsible

so