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

Ludwik’s laugh was

parties; now she wielded those

heart.

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

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 but a child.

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

All lies.

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

he meant for Whitney to be taken

hand. His face paled, and he nudged Parker,

10-20

had been unnervingly calm since he slapped Whitney. This tranquility

should call a

commanded, too exhausted to argue.

Parker and Nolan left the room, their minds heavy with

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

was jolted awake,

of her, visibly shaken, “Officers,

the chase, “Mr. Lippert’s attorney has submitted evidence to the authorities. On the night

beat. He was sending her to jail; he

risk of premature labor. She can’t leave the hospital. Could you please consider this in your investigation?”

Returning, he said, “We’ll take

recounted everything without

officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able

being sentenced tonight, life without parole. He wanted to

verdict didn’t make sense. Keegan hadn’t been directly

sentence so soon.