Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 170

In the hospital room, Parker struggled to restrain Ludwik’s shaking hands. Peering into the man’s bloodshot eyes, Parker felt a wave of helplessness. “Ludwik, hang in there, buddy. Just take it easy, the doc’s on his way. You need a sedative.”

“It won’t work. Regular docs won’t work,” Ludwik panted, his body trembling violently, beads of sweat dotting his forehead as his right hand twitched uncontrollably.

A brutal headache clawed at his temples, inciting a mad desire to smash everything in sight. Slowly, his vision. began to blur.

He collapsed to the floor, his large, heavy frame jostling his mother’s hospital bed.

Ludwik’s eyes reddened with distress as he reached out desperately to steady his mother’s bed.

The sight wrenched Parker’s heart. He rushed to Ludwik’s aid, only to be met with an uncontrolled punch that burst open his forehead, blood trickling down.

“Ludwik, what’s wrong with you?” Suddenly, a faint, trembling voice cut through the tension at the door, tinged with concern.

A slender figure dashed into the

e room.

Whitney hurried to Ludwik’s side. His symptoms mirrored those of a violent psychotic episode, where initially. the patient might exhibit aggressive, bloodthirsty behavior, escalating to self–harm, confusion, and insanity.

She reached out to check his pulse, but Ludwik caught sight of her.

His consciousness still intact, the image of her face, along with the sight of his mother lying quietly in bed, pierced his heart with agonizing pain.

“Why is she here?” he looked up at Parker.

Tell her to get out. I don’t want to see her.”

“Get out!” Ludwik’s uncontrollable rage sent objects flying toward her.

Parker saw a porcelain piece heading straight for Whitney’s stomach and kicked her out of harm’s way just in time.

Whitney stood frozen, her mind echoing with his hateful, disgusted curses.

frame so

could save him–his

puzzled. Elaine was a patient herself; why

Elaine! I need her!” Ludwik gritted his teeth in pain.

his hysterical episode, it was Elaine who had stayed with him through the night, saving him. She might know what

a lucid moment, Ludwik repeated

Elaine

a thousand needles, bleeding profusely, the pain making

trusted Elaine so completely. Had he lost

Whitney, as

Elaine had switched

are you still here? Ludwik’s sick because of you. Whitney, you’re

pulling

agony shook her to her core. She recalled what Natalie had said, that he had been troubled since childhood, prone to violent outbursts.

couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly is happening

ordinary, that his childhood was harsh, that he has severe emotional issues? It’s been years since he’s had an episode, you malignant woman, you’ve hurt him, hurt

tears brimming in her eyes. A thousand apologies choked in her throat, all dissipating into a sharp

she

making excuses!” Nolan

toward Whitney. Everyone

twisted her lips, a sense of triumph filling her as she feigned concern, “What

having a hysterical fit and he asked for you. He probably thinks you can help him.”

Elaine. After all, even psychiatrists were often helpless against

I have a knack for medicine; I’ll take a look at

she said, “Ms. Valentine, are you lingering here to continue agitating Ludwik? Don’t you understand that you are the cause of his outbreak?” Whitney had no rebuttal for this, but she glared coldly at Elaine, her fists clenched. “If his illness is because his mother was his last thread of sanity, then you are the real culprit. Elaine, you know what I’m talking about. His mother’s vegetative state is linked to you. The truth will come out one day, and you will face the consequences! You don’t love him. You’re wicked at heart, willing to harm his

glanced quickly at the departing Nolan, her face freezing

“Right now, everyone sees you as the culprit, while I’m the one who donated a kidney, and Ludwik is touched by my gesture. You’ve lost completely, and him kicking you out is the best proof!

will have Ludwik, whether it’s his body or his heart. Oh, his heart might already be

spoken with a particularly sinister tone.

gaze was icy, not understanding

never know.” The smugness, in Elaine’s laugh was evident as she thought of the half ring she had

on, his beloved will only be me. You just