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

what’s happening,” he urged urgently.

face turned cold as he dialed Ashton on his phone.

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Chapter 171

finish his plea, his right hand

doing? Ludwik!” Elaine’s face drained of color

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.

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

would strangle her in his

beyond recognizing anyone

darted around until they fell upon a vase. She snatched it up and crashed

man collapsed to the floor, knocked

of frustration, unsure what to do next. She dared not jab needles into his skull again–what if it left

for any mishap that might affect his intelligence or capabilities.

a perfect man, damn it!

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

and before she could protest, Parker had already

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

Elaine’s face stiffened.

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

the hothead and worried for Ludwik, snapped, “Are you

Just give me some

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

vultures!” Nolan cursed.

approaching footsteps echoed through

outside, but it seemed the Lippert family’s influence had

happening,”

he dialed Ashton on

18.22

sooner had the trio stepped out into the hallway than

stood regally at the forefront, leaning on

them followed a procession of shareholders,

spoke with feigned concern, I heard Ludwik’s mother is ill, quite seriously. I’ve come to visit her?

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

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

from exhaustion, no need for you and the shareholders to make a scene with a hospital

he left our servant crippled, and today he’s hurt a doctor. Such dangerous behavior cannot be tolerated. As his father, I have no

words incensed Whitney, who had been standing at a distance

commotion, hoping to check

she had stumbled upon Ludwik’s father and brother,