Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 195

After delivering her message, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and hurried away.

Taryn saw her safely to the shade of the trees before slipping out of her uniform. Whitney silently made her way back to the main house. She ducked into the backroom of Taryn’s quarters, a place mercifully free from prying eyes and surveillance.

In the privacy of the dimly lit room, Whitney pulled out the vial of blood and held it up to the light. She pierced it with a silver needle used for testing toxins.

The needle didn’t change color.

But Whitney frowned, noting the blood’s unusually dark hue and thick consistency.

Natalie’s medical reports showed signs of amnesia, pancreatitis, and various minor ailments, but her diet was light and her blood fat levels weren’t high.

The blood shouldn’t be this thick, and it was rare for an elderly woman’s blood to be so dark.

Her brow furrowed with concern. She was almost certain Elaine was up to no good; otherwise, Natalie wouldn’t be suffering from kidney failure.

Attacking someone through their blood was the fastest way to induce rapid kidney failure!

That was the reason she had sent Elaine away today to get this sample.

There was definitely something off about this blood, but the silver needle had failed to detect it.

Elaine was clever, avoiding detection even by the doctors Ludwik had arranged for Natalie.

While Whitney was skilled in acupuncture, she was not versed in Western medical diagnostics. This sample needed to be sent to a high–end medical testing facility for a thorough examination.

She pondered who to entrust with this delicate task. Tiana? No, both Nolan and Parker were too shrewd. If Ludwik discovered she had drawn Natalie’s blood, who knows what misunderstandings might arise? Who could she ask for help?

In the office, Ludwik wrapped up a meeting.

Felix entered, “Mr. Lippert…”

Ludwik glanced at him and gestured for the secretary to leave. His gaze was deep and serious, “Did you find out?”

Felix nodded, “I’ve confirmed it. On the night of the bid, Madam booked a flight to the South City. She stabilized Braxton’s bleeding around two in the morning, and then he went into surgery…”

massaged his temples, realizing he may

But…

next morning, soaked

Perhaps Madam stayed at the hospital

with a mix of emotions. He

surveillance that night?”

entire building was off the grid until they were fixed the next afternoon. It’s strange, too coincidental… I wonder

them?”

Who could it be?

Kaden had cornered him in the corridor, with reporters swarming around.

have

Lippert, I apologize for the intrusion, but Elaine’s been hospitalized, and it’s quite serious. You should go

stood abruptly, “Wasn’t she

to Miss Whitney…”

grew stern.

the hospital, Ludwik strode into the emergency

the bed, pale as a

on his face, and demanded from the maid beside the bed, “What in the world happened?”

over from Emperor City by Elaine

Valentine’s doing! Today, when she returned, she found Elaine sick and on a drip. She arrogantly scolded her, even mocking her with your name. Seeing Elaine in a wheelchair and vulnerable, she even tried to slap

expression was

the Whitney he knew?

felt estranged from her now, Whitney’s demeanor

a message on Elaine’s phone, exclaiming, “You have no idea what Whitney sent Elaine from your phone last night. Look for yourself!

this photo. She didn’t dare to be angry with you, only suffering in silence. She’s already down one kidney, and the pain nearly did her in last night. It’s pitiful, really!”

photo of him and Whitney in a compromising position on the bed, his face turned stone–cold. A flicker of

own account.

darkened

she dared to capture their intimate

fell silent as

Chapter 195

the moment, Elaine slowly opened her eyes, letting out a