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.

knotted; he’d stationed double security outside, but it seemed the Lippert family’s influence had broken

happening,” he

as he dialed Ashton on his phone.

13

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Chapter 171

finish his plea, his right hand began to tremble violently.

Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of color in

foreign, so detached from his usual poise and grace. He

Her intention upon entering had been to flaunt her importance to Ludwik in front of Whitney and to show

feared he would strangle

beyond recognizing anyone

a vase. She snatched it up and crashed it

floor, knocked out by the forceful intervention.

of frustration, unsure what to do next. She dared not jab needles into his skull

that might affect his intelligence or

needed a perfect

knocked on the door. “Elaine, did your treatment

hues, and before she could protest, Parker had already let the doctor

knocked the patient out. He can’t stay

Elaine’s face stiffened.

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

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

am. Just give me some time,”

with the shareholders of Imperial Gem Corporation, are on their way here. They’re

Nolan cursed.

the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through

he’d stationed double security outside, but it

what’s happening,”

face turned cold as he dialed Ashton

18.22

sooner had the trio stepped out into the hallway than it erupted with noise.

his sixties, stood regally at the forefront, leaning on a cane,

followed a procession of shareholders, all

I heard Ludwik’s mother is ill, quite seriously. I’ve come to visit

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

condition; he’s just concerned. Why. are

shareholders to make a scene

before, he left our servant 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 to prevent further harm,” Kaden declared with an air of finality.

who had been standing at

had come upstairs upon hearing the commotion, hoping to check on the situation with Tiana’s help.

upon Ludwik’s father