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,

Ludwik’s laugh was bitter now. “Why

she

heart.

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

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 a vegetative state.”

eyes glistened with unshed tears. In the presence of

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 for

child. All lies. Instead, I harbored a viper,

life without parole. Hand over the rest of the evidence to the police and let them arrest

clear he meant for Whitney to be taken away

trembling hand. His face paled, and he nudged Parker, whispering. “Ludwik’s hand is shaking, he’s about to have a

10-20

noticed and took a deep breath. Ludwik had been unnervingly calm since he slapped

should call a

too

and Nolan left the room, their minds

o’clock that night, two

awake,

front of her, visibly shaken, “Officers, may I

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

skipped a beat. He was sending her to jail; he would never forgive

pleaded, “Officers, Whitney is pregnant and at risk of premature

he said, “We’ll take your statement here. Please explain everything that happened

white, recounted everything without omission.

left, Whitney faltered, barely able

sentenced tonight, life without parole. He wanted to see me.”

directly responsible for Natalie’s state. It couldn’t be

so