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.

so vulnerable, shaking as he clutched his head. Suddenly, his

save him–his breaths shallow,

was puzzled. Elaine was a patient herself; why

I need her!” Ludwik

years ago, during his hysterical episode, it was Elaine who had stayed with him through the night, saving him.

he still had a lucid moment, Ludwik repeated

Elaine battered against Whitney’s ears.

heart felt as if it had been pierced by a thousand needles, bleeding profusely, the pain

Elaine so completely. Had he lost all faith in

even bear to look at Whitney, as if a single glance would exacerbate his condition.

heart, Whitney and Elaine had switched places in

sick because of you. Whitney, you’re a jinx!”

in, roughly pulling

agony shook her to her core. She recalled what Natalie had said, that he had been troubled

couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly is happening to him?”

“Aren’t you the main culprit? Haven’t I told you that he’s not 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 Natalie. Ludwik, such a strong man, you’ve shattered his last belief! He’s having

back, tears brimming in her eyes. A thousand apologies choked in her throat, all dissipating

hurt Natalie.” she stammered in

Nolan

wheelchair, noting Nolan’s harsh demeanor toward Whitney. Everyone around Ludwik had turned icy cold toward

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

a hysterical fit and he asked

expression softened considerably when addressing Elaine. After all, even psychiatrists were often helpless against

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

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 mother and cause his illness, all for the sake of possessing him in

departing Nolan, her face freezing for a moment before she

wheelchair glided up to Whitney’s side, and she whispered with a chilling laugh, “Right now, everyone sees you as the culprit, while I’m the one who donated a kidney, and

his body or

spoken with a particularly sinister

not understanding her meaning.

for me, why he relies on me so much, don’t you? You’ll never know.” The smugness, in Elaine’s laugh was evident as she thought of the half ring she had snatched, giving her the upper hand.

with a twisted smile, “From now on, his beloved will only be me. You just watch as I cure him and