Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 174

His kiss was gentle, and Elaine’s pale hands wrapped around Ludwik’s chest, her lips curved in a smile.

Whitney staggered, as if a bucket of ice had been dumped over her from head to toe.

The cookies in her hand was crumpled beyond recognition. Its distorted shape seemed to mock her naivety, to think that a bag of cookies could soften his heart.

Believing that one night could heal and make him look back.

But how could he kiss Elaine? Could affection really shift so swiftly?

From the corner of her eye, Elaine caught a glimpse of Whitney standing by the doorway, pale as frost. Across the distance, Whitney couldn’t possibly hear the murmur of ‘darling‘ that slipped from Ludwik’s lips as he kissed Elaine.

Elaine’s initially somber expression slowly gave way to enjoyment, her embrace around Ludwik’s neck growing more deliberate. Lost in his dream, Ludwik kissed her with a scent of tobacco and antiseptic on his breath, utterly intoxicating.

Elaine blushed, mimicking Whitney’s tender whisper, “L..”

L? Someone had whispered that in his ear last night, too, a gentle voice that comforted him, promising to heal him. But the only one person would call him ‘L‘ was…

A shiver ran through Ludwik’s ears, and he gradually opened his eyes, sensing something was amiss with the

voice.

When his vision cleared, he sharply saw it was Elaine, her cheeks flushed with color.

Ludwik’s brow furrowed, and he quickly pulled away, angered that he’d been dreaming of that other woman, longing for that ‘L‘ His face darkened with self–loathing.

with a whisper, “Im

tear threatened, but she quickly

the

“Are w

Ludwik?” Elaine feigned

him, weary and worried, Ludwik’s gaze softened. Coming back to his senses, he found himself utterly lucid

Did you stay

then asked, “Did you

softly, her hand gently touching her right side as if to remind him of her recent surgery. “Even though I just donated a kidney and the doctors warned me not to move, I wouldn’t hesitate for your sake, Ludwik.”

as he replied, “Thank you, you’ve been through a

to wipe her brow

to speak. But Ludwik’s cold question cut through, “Did anyone else

her eyes to

you asking about Whitney? If it would ease your mind to think she was here, then

sealed her deception.

been about to leave, retreated silently

previous night–Elaine pushing her into the

uncle causing trouble, his subsequent denial–it was all too suspicious.

to take credit for healing Ludwik after pushing Whitney to treat him and then displacing her to claim the

she couldn’t let Elaine drive another wedge between them. With pale lips, Whitney burst

cold indifference clear as he scoffed, “I wasn’t ask about her. Don’t

his heart. Crushing the cookie in her hand, she approached him.

undeterred, rolled up his sleeve to check his pulse and

away from me!” Ludwik

not Elaine. She couldn’t cure you, and after promising too much, she panicked and pushed me in to do her work.