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.”

go!” Whitney tried

way. “For those legs, I’ll offer four million,

had been tender to her, too gentle to touch her even

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

to me from now

you can be with whoever you want; it has nothing

the cruel irony–Whitney laughed

1/3

speaking out of spite; he

curled up on the floor, indifferent to whoever might

away.

of the young elites eagerly pulled her

grip on his glass tightened until it shattered in his palm, the shards cutting into his elegant fingers and

pay for her shameless

stride of his long legs, he

pointed towards the staircase, ‘Mr. Lippert, this way down!”

pay a hundred

outside.

A refined yet icy voice

he kicked aside the men surrounding Whitney, sending Maddox

Whitney…” Bryce called out gently,

up, her eyes red

Bryce immediately took off his coat

of sweaters, her rounded belly particularly prominent as she

reddened as he checked her for any damage, relieved to find none.

helpless, clutched at his sleeve, her teeth chattering, “Mr.

here now!” Bryce said, lifting her up without

summit, with all of you high and mighty figures banding together to bully a defenseless woman. What a

with a sneer, “Mr.

man above, who looked down with an unyielding presence, and he said angrily, “A man who can’t even accommodate his ex–wife is no concern of mine. Ludwik, you’re

of clothing I’ve discarded is none of Mr. Lutz’s concern. And you, you don’t even have the right to pick up my trash.”

people nearby chuckled at

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

like she was in