Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 181

Rain pelted against the open window of the study, extinguishing the dying ember of the cigarette between. Ludwik’s slender fingers.

With a silent curse, he flicked the extinguished butt away, his gaze smoldering with an unspoken fury, as cold and inert as the depths of a still lake.

His eyes were fixed on the defiant figure below, battling the downpour, struggling to remain upright despite the odds against her.

No gazebo stood beside the ornate front door, no shelter from the storm in sight.

What was she playing at? Some sort of sympathy ploy to soften his heart?

Ludwik stared at her bump, his eyes hardening. The thought that it was all a calculated move, even the child, made his gaze grow colder.

In the next moment, he yanked the curtains shut and sank into his armchair, surrounded by a graveyard of spent cigarettes.

Elaine’s mood was as dark as the clouds above. There Whitney stood in the deluge, stubbornly refusing to leave, playing the damsel in distress.

Ludwik was up, for sure. He was in his study, probably even watching her.

The longer Whitney held out, the weaker she’d become, and maybe, just maybe, he’d soften up.

Elaine prided herself on her cunning. Tonight, when Whitney claimed their divorce was a sham, if Ludwik had truly cut ties, he would have forced her to sign the papers.

She was powerless to resist, but Ludwik hadn’t.

Whitney wouldn’t leave, and he hadn’t driven her away. Maybe he was testing whether her feelings we genuine. This was dangerous; Ludwik couldn’t be allowed to go soft.

Touching the welts on her face, a flare of anger passed through Elaine. She dialed with a smirk, “Jaxon, send some guys in an hour to nab Whitney, and make sure you find her needle kit and bring it to me.”

With that medicine in hand, she could cure Ludwik without Whitney’s threats hanging over them. As for Whitney, alone at night in the outskirts, anything could happen.

Ludwik would have to sleep eventually.

Elaine planned to make her move around three or four in the morning.

རྣ ཟ ü ཆེ ༢ཅཋ

then that meddling old maid had

she worried he’d never forgive the young mistress. Seeing the young mistress near fainting, belly swollen and drenched, the baby could be

was Natalie’s beloved grandchild, and Taryn felt an aching fondness

Valentine, put these on and take the umbrella, leave quickly. You can’t afford to be stubborn with the

leave; if I do, I’m abandoning him, and he’ll be angrier.

you? He’s furious, and

please let me in, or

headstrong! He doesn’t want you, just wait a bit… Ah, fine, I’ll help you inside, but you can only stay

Chapter 181

Taryn, shivering and feverish, knew they couldn’t go on like this or it would be a loss

into her own room

had Whitney lie on the heated floor as she tiptoed to the

pitch–black, Taryn missed Elaine’s bedroom door ajar upstairs, eyes gleaming

a prickling pain as warmth finally

clothes and piled several blankets over her did she start to regain some strength.

her, voice chilly, “Check on the

It was very active

the master, and Natalie is in a coma. Just

as a release for both of

I didn’t hurt Natalie, would you believe me?”

cold. “But your uncle kidnapped Natalie, and I saw him push me out of

he kidnapped Natalie, but it’s also true I didn’t hurt her. There are too many misunderstandings

Natalie in the detached house? Please let me see her, I need

hand, skepticism in her gaze, “The master has ordered that you’re not allowed near Natalie’s room. Don’t make it

guards against me, yet he doesn’t realize the real person he should be wary of is Elaine, Whitney

she leave Natalie under

do you mean by that?”

Xandra to watch out for Elaine in

kidney to Natalie. You can’t just

fell silent, realizing no one believed her, “Taryn, I will find the truth.

to sleep. Leave at dawn, and don’t get

heart, Whitney lay back