Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 187

Whitney fought desperately as the circle of male bosses tightened around her, with Maddox at the forefront. A crowd had gathered, reveling in the spectacle.

The summit was a gathering of business moguls, and these folks, if you really got down to brass tacks, had a mean streak. They wouldn’t pass up a scandalous scene.

Maddox threw down the gauntlet, “I’ll give you a cool million, Whitney. Your company could really use that cash, right?”

“Not enough. Take another layer off, and I’ll make it two million!”

A hand reached out, pulling at Whitney’s sweater.

“No, stop!” Whitney stumbled to the floor, drenched in cold sweat, clutching her belly protectively with one hand while trying to push herself up with the other.

In the chaos, someone’s foot brushed against her pregnant belly, and she feared for her unborn child.

Amid despair and bone–deep agony, Whitney looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, and shouted towards the impassive man above, “Ludwik, please save me! I came here to bring you medicine, don’t let them humiliate me like this–it’s an insult to your child too….

The pill she clutched was crushed out of shape. She wanted to hold it up high, to prove her innocence, to show she wasn’t there with any ulterior motives.

She hadn’t intended to embarrass him on his big day, to make him the talk of the town.

Not at all!

But the pill soon tumbled to the floor, and through her tear–blurred vision, she saw the man upstairs still elegantly sipping his red wine.

The chilling tone of the wine mirrored the frost in his eyes as he watched her impassively.

That look of hatred and indifference–it was aimed to destroy her!

In that instant, Whitney felt a chill run through her, realizing just how deep his loathing ran.

Perhaps his revenge was just beginning.

This was his cruelty.

Shivering uncontrollably and clutching her belly and the collar of her sweater, she knew she couldn’t endure the humiliation from these men any longer. She had to leave; she had to escape.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?” Maddox grabbed her ankle again. “Such delicate legs.”

let me go!” Whitney tried

offer four million, Mr. Lippert doesn’t

memories of the past when he had been tender to her, too

the slip–resistant carpets in hotels, caring so much for this child. Now, he had discarded them, branding the

to me

can be with whoever you want; it has nothing to do with

the cruel irony–Whitney laughed through her tears.

1/3

spite;

simply stopped struggling and curled up on the floor, indifferent to whoever

away.

mine!” One of the

in his palm, the shards cutting

for her shameless appearance here, wanting her to plunge into the abyss of despair.

a swift stride of his long legs, he moved.

immediately pointed towards the staircase,

a hundred million!

outside.

off, let her go!” A refined yet icy voice suddenly filled the room

wearing a coat, strode in, his face clouded as he kicked aside the men surrounding

out gently,

looked up, her eyes red

took off his coat

slender body was shivering under the two layers of sweaters, her rounded belly

for any damage, relieved to

her teeth chattering, “Mr. Lutz,

said, lifting

you high and mighty figures banding together to bully a defenseless woman. What a disgrace that will be for Banyan City’s business community!”

he said with a sneer, “Mr. Lutz sure knows how to play the hero. This woman is Mr. Lippert’s unwanted ex–wife who betrayed him. Are you really willing to make an enemy

angrily, “A man who can’t even accommodate his ex–wife is no concern of mine.

clothing I’ve discarded is none of Mr. Lutz’s concern. And you, you

nearby chuckled at Bryce’s

embrace, feeling as though Ludwik’s words had slapped her

violently, feeling like she was