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.

leaked from the Joyful Manor party,

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

parties; now she wielded those memories as weapons to tear

heart.

shut, “Why can women be so cruel? My mother’s frail, and yet, Whitney pushed her towards renal

damage leaves her with a life expectancy of three years, at best, in a vegetative

faint, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. In the presence

New Year’s Eve, Natalie was so full of life, laughing over the phone. She’s clung

have a warm home, a loving wife and child. All

he closed his eyes, his voice icy, “Throw Keegan in jail, no trial, life without parole. Hand over the rest of the evidence to the police and let them

for Whitney to be

hand. His face paled, and he nudged

10-20

unnervingly calm

maybe you should call

out,” Ludwik commanded, too exhausted to argue.

Nolan left the room, their minds heavy with

night, two officers entered Whitney’s

was jolted awake, groggy

in front of her, visibly shaken, “Officers, may I help you?”

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

her to jail;

at risk of premature

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

knuckles white, recounted everything

officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able

without parole. He wanted

make sense. Keegan hadn’t been directly responsible for Natalie’s state. It couldn’t

sentence so soon.