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.

but it seemed the Lippert family’s influence

happening,” he

turned cold as he dialed Ashton on

13

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Chapter 171

he could finish his plea,

are you doing? Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of

had never seen such a bloodthirsty frenzy in a man–so foreign, so detached from his usual poise and grace. He was

her life dearly. Her intention upon entering had been to flaunt her importance to Ludwik in front of Whitney

feared he would strangle

beyond recognizing

upon a vase. She snatched it up and crashed it onto

man collapsed to the floor, knocked out by the

to do next. She dared not jab needles

allow for any mishap that

needed a perfect man, damn

and knocked on the door. “Elaine, did your

shifted hues, and before she could protest,

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

Elaine’s face stiffened.

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

and worried for Ludwik,

course, I am. Just give me

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

vultures!” Nolan

then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through

but it seemed the Lippert family’s

go see what’s happening,” he urged

as he dialed

18.22

had the trio stepped out into the hallway

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

shareholders, all aligned with Orior’s camp

is

ill for many years, and you’ve shown little concern.

Ludwik’s illness has been aggravated by his mother’s condition; he’s just concerned. Why. are you

shareholders to make a scene with a hospital visit,” Parker ground

Such dangerous behavior cannot be tolerated. As his father, I have no choice but to commit him to a psychiatric facility again to

who had been standing at

hoping to check on the

upon Ludwik’s father and brother, besieging the