Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 171

“You’ve got to do something. My head is pounding, I can’t control it!” Ludwik gritted his teeth, barely holding on. Before he could finish his plea, his right hand began to tremble violently. Unconsciously, he seized Elaine’s throat, lifting her off the ground with a man’s fury that seemed boundless.

“Ludwik–what are you doing? Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of color in sheer terror.

She had never seen such a bloodthirsty frenzy in a man–so foreign, so detached from his usual poise and grace. He was like a perilous cheetah, and she did not fancy him this way.

It frightened her even more. She cherished her life dearly. Her intention upon entering had been to flaunt her Importance to Ludwik in front of Whitney and to show off before Nolan and the others. But she had no clue how to cure him!

If she stayed, she feared he would strangle her in his blind rage.

He was beyond recognizing anyone

now!

In a desperate flurry, Elaine’s eyes darted around until they fell upon a vase. She snatched it up and crashed it onto his head. As he staggered from the pain, she quickly jabbed a needle into his neck.

The man collapsed to the floor, knocked out by the forceful intervention.

Elaine crouched beside him, her face a mask of frustration, unsure what to do next. She dared not jab needles into his skull again–what if it left him with brain damage?

She would not allow for any mishap that might affect his intelligence or capabilities.

She needed a perfect man, damn it!

Outside, Parker heard the commotion die down and knocked on the door, “Elaine, did your treatment work? Shall I call in the psychiatrist now?”

Elaine’s face shifted hues, and before she could protest, Parker had already let the doctor in.

The doctor arrived with his equipment and after a thorough check, frowned deeply, casting a glance at Elaine. “Miss, you’ve merely knocked the patient out. He can’t stay unconscious forever, and when he wakes, he’ll be just as violent. You haven’t started treatment, have you?”

Elaine’s face stiffened.

Nolan and Parker exchanged a look, their brows furrowed as they turned to her. “How could you hit Ludwik?”

Elaine, flustered and annoyed, defended herself, “He was delirious, attacking me. I had no choice but to do this, but rest assured, I’ll find a way to heal him.”

Nolan, always the hothead and worried for Ludwik, snapped, “Are you even capable?”

“Of course, I am. Just give me some time,” Elaine argued.

Parker massaged his temples. “But nobody’s giving Ludwik time. Someone’s leaked word of his outburst to the Lippert family, and now Kaden, Orion, with the shareholders of Imperial Gem Corporation, are on their way here. They’re eager to seize power and blow this whole incident out of proportion, pushing for Orion to take over at Imperial Gem!”

“Those vultures!” Nolan cursed.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway.

it

go see what’s happening,” he urged

he dialed

13

18 22

Chapter 171

got to do something. My head is pounding, I can’t control it!” Ludwik gritted his teeth, barely holding on. Before he could finish his plea, his right hand began to tremble violently. Unconsciously, he seized Elaine’s throat, lifting her off the ground with a man’s fury that

doing? Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of

usual poise and grace. He was

flaunt her importance to Ludwik in front of Whitney and to show off before Nolan and the others. But she had no

feared he would strangle her in

recognizing anyone now!

around until they fell upon a vase. She snatched it up and crashed it onto his head. As he staggered from the pain, she quickly

collapsed to the floor, knocked out by the forceful intervention.

what to do next. She dared not jab

would not allow for any mishap that

perfect man, damn it!

door. “Elaine, did your treatment work? Shall

protest,

check, frowned deeply, casting a glance at Elaine. “Miss, you’ve merely knocked the patient out. He can’t stay unconscious

Elaine’s face stiffened.

you hit Ludwik?” Elaine, flustered and annoyed, defended herself, “He was delirious, attacking

worried for

Just give me some time,”

massaged his temples. “But nobody’s giving Ludwik time. Someone’s leaked word of his outburst to the Lippert family, and now Kaden, Orion, with the shareholders of Imperial Gem Corporation, are on their way here. They’re eager to seize power and blow this whole incident out of

vultures!” Nolan cursed.

sound of approaching footsteps

brow knotted; he’d stationed double security outside, but it seemed the

what’s happening,” he urged urgently.

turned cold as he dialed Ashton

18.22

trio stepped out into the hallway

a man in his sixties, stood regally at the forefront, leaning on a cane, while Orion lounged at his side, smirking.

procession of shareholders, all aligned with

concern, I heard Ludwik’s mother is

been ill for many years,

aggravated by his mother’s condition; he’s just concerned. Why. are you few enough to

to make

crippled, and today he’s hurt a doctor. Such dangerous behavior cannot be tolerated. As his father, I have no choice but to commit him to a psychiatric facility again

Whitney, who had been standing at a

commotion, hoping to check

Ludwik’s father