Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 172

Whitney had rushed to Ludwik’s side upon hearing his anguished cries, her concern for him propelling her

forward

But as she reached the door, Elaine shoved her inside and quickly shut it behind her. Leaning against the door, Whitney caught her breath and studied Ludwik closely.

He was in the throes of self–harm, dragging shards of porcelain across his arm, likely trying to distract himself from the searing pain in his head.

“Ludwik, stop it! You can’t do this to yourself! Let me help you ease the pain, please?” Whitney implored, rushing to his side.

His eyes were bloodshot, no longer recognizing her. Instinctively, he lashed out, driving the sharp shard toward

her arm

Her skin was instantly beaded with droplets of crimson, Gritting her teeth against the pain, Whitney managed a tender, pained smile. “At least you didn’t go for my belly”

1 need to get out!” Ludwik muttered, half–delirious as he pushed past her.

He must’ve realized who was on the other side of the door.

“You can’t go out there; you can’t let them get the upper hand, ruin your life. Your father… he wants to lock you up in an asylum,” Whitney said, her voice thick with urgency as she wrapped her arms around him, her eyes brimming with pity.

His forehead was a map of bulging veins, his gaze filled with extreme agony and fear- a remnant of some childhood trauma. He shook his head helplessly, turning to embrace her. “I don’t want to go there. Please, save

me.”

“Elaine, there must be something you can do. I need to get better fast… to stand up to them!” His words were broken, forced out between waves of pain.

The mention of “Elaine‘ left Whitney frozen, tears streaming down her face.

But she had no time to be sad, no time for jealousy over his trust in Elaine. She would not stand by and watch him crumble, let the Lippert family kick him when he was down. She would cure him; she had to believe she

could.

“Leave it to me. L. Give me your hand,” Whitney called to him, her voice a gentle caress through her tears.

His rage seemed to subside at the sound of her voice, and he slowly calmed down, slumping to the ground and extending his muscular arm toward her,

to his limbs, a clear sign of a fevered affliction pressing

symptom was eerily similar to that of a stranger she

He had injured her arm as

healer’s heart, she had stayed with him through the night, treating his condition and

had used to treat that man, Whitney hoped they could work for Ludwik too. After assessing his condition, she picked up the pack of medical needles Elaine had left on the table. Selecting a silver needle, she aimed for a pressure point at the base of his

“Don’t be afraid, L. I’m healing you. Just imagine you’re lying in

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was like a familiar spring, seeping into the barren corners

brow relaxed, and he slowly wrapped his cold

was you that night, he realized, as

on her lap, his hand still holding her wrist and resting across her belly, reminiscent

baby kicked

as she continued with the treatment, whispering softly, “Baby, your daddy’s right here, but he’s sick. Mommy’s healing him. Be good, okay? Once he’s better, in a few months when

life within her, a life she was determined to protect.

bitter taste in her

left her wrist and found its way to her swollen belly, where he felt the gentle movements of the little one inside.

child was precious. “L, do you feel that? It’s grown so much. Will you still

his trembling body seeking warmth even in

belly, as if it were a

he mistook her for

is too high,” she whispered,

to smile at me

she looked down at his

the cookies you used to make, I could never have enough

and slipped into a peaceful

needle trembled, unable to puncture his skin, and finally, it dropped. Whitney’s pale hand covered her mouth

Natalie! But I feel responsible. I promised her, to stay by your side, to bear this child and bring you

picked up the needle and refocused on

pressure points, Ludwik’s violent state gradually

intensive care unit, there were two doors.

see through the small window, listening enviously to the conversations

in his sleep, her heart eased. Whitney’s treatment

hallway outside ended, and the Lippert family