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,

surged from his skull to his limbs, a clear sign of a fevered affliction pressing on his nerves, causing unbearable pain and a violent tendency to lash out in

symptom was eerily similar to that of a stranger she

a dark night, and she couldn’t see his face clearly. He had injured her

stayed with him through the night, treating his condition and easing

work for Ludwik too. After assessing his condition, she picked up the pack of medical needles Elaine had left on the table. Selecting a

him with a soft voice. “Don’t be afraid, L. I’m healing you. Just imagine you’re lying in a meadow, comfortable and

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Chapter

began to hum a lullaby, delicate

seeping into the barren corners of

furrowed brow relaxed, and he slowly wrapped his

that night, he realized, as the melody confirmed

hand still holding her wrist and resting across her belly, reminiscent of a father’s hand feeling for the

baby kicked gently.

he’s sick. Mommy’s healing him. Be good, okay? Once he’s better, in a few months

them now lay the life within her, a life she was determined to

a bitter taste in her

its way to her swollen belly, where he felt the gentle movements of the little one

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

in pain, his trembling body seeking warmth even

clung weakly to Whitney’s belly, as if it were

he mistook her

high,” she whispered, feeling a chill

well, to smile at me again.”

the silver needle, as she looked

you used to make, I could never have

his head and slipped into a peaceful sleep.

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

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

up the needle and refocused

placed more needles into his pressure points, Ludwik’s

unit,

see through the

his sleep, her heart eased. Whitney’s treatment

the confrontation in the hallway outside ended, and the