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 sorry,

awaken him. A tear threatened, but she quickly suppressed

into the

“Are w

feeling better, Ludwik?” Elaine feigned concern, checking his pulse.

Ludwik’s gaze softened. Coming back to his senses,

Did you stay

Ludwik paused, then asked, “Did you stay with me

remind him of her recent surgery. “Even though I just donated a kidney and the doctors warned me not to

“Thank you, you’ve been through

to wipe her brow with a tissue.

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

her eyes

played the understanding card, “Ludwik, are you asking about Whitney? If it would ease your mind to

sealed her

had been about to leave, retreated silently at the scene unfolding

rooted her to the spot. The memory of the previous night–Elaine pushing her into the room

uncle causing trouble, his subsequent denial–it was

Ludwik after pushing Whitney to treat him and then

already marred their relationship; she couldn’t let Elaine drive another wedge between them. With pale lips, Whitney burst

as he scoffed, “I wasn’t ask about

She was dead to him? Dead in his heart. Crushing the cookie in her hand,

his sleeve to check his pulse

away from me!” Ludwik

on you, I was the one who sat here all night, treating you, not Elaine. She couldn’t cure you, and after promising too much, she