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.

“The video leaked from the Joyful

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

at those very parties; now she wielded

heart.

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

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

His voice was faint, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. In the presence of a mother, every

It’s all Whitney’s fault! New Year’s Eve, Natalie was so

thought I’d have a warm home, a loving wife and child. All lies. Instead, I harbored a viper,

voice icy, “Throw Keegan in jail, no trial, life without parole. Hand over the rest of the evidence to the police and let them arrest whoever they need

meant for Whitney to be taken

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

10-20

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

maybe you should call a

commanded, too exhausted to

to disobey, and Parker and Nolan left the

o’clock that night, two

jolted awake, groggy and confused.

of her, visibly shaken, “Officers, may I

looking for Whitney” The officers showed their 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,

was sending her to

Whitney is pregnant and at risk of premature labor. She

said, “We’ll take your statement here. Please explain

recounted everything without

officers left, Whitney faltered, barely able to sit

tonight, life without parole. He wanted

swift verdict didn’t make sense. Keegan hadn’t been directly responsible for Natalie’s state. It

so