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.

brow, hesitating. “The video leaked from the Joyful Manor party, should we keep

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

now she wielded those memories as weapons to tear at his

heart.

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

doctors say even with the best care, my mother’s brain damage leaves her

can’t accept that.” His voice was faint, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. In the presence of a mother, every man is

Year’s Eve, Natalie was so

and child. All

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

meant for Whitney to

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

10-20

had been unnervingly calm since he

you should call a

Ludwik commanded, too exhausted

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

o’clock that night, two officers entered Whitney’s hospital

was jolted awake,

in front of her, visibly shaken,

badges and 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 his assistant’s

sending her to jail; he would never

seeing Whitney’s stunned expression, pleaded, “Officers, Whitney is pregnant and at risk of premature labor. She can’t leave

to consult with a doctor. Returning, he said, “We’ll take your

recounted everything without

faltered, barely able to sit up

life without parole. He wanted

hadn’t been directly responsible for Natalie’s

so