Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 198

“I’ve told you before, it was her who deliberately leaked our divorce news to the male bosses there. Just look into it and you’ll know!” Whitney felt a pang of disappointment in him.

He didn’t investigate; he just took Elaine’s word for it without question.

Elaine’s grip tightened for a moment as a thought struck her, then she relaxed, sneering at Whitney, “Ludwik, I admit I was at fault. I did talk to Ashton that day, and I might have accidentally mentioned your divorce settlement. Perhaps he…”

Ludwik got it.

He whipped out his phone and dialed Ashton’s number on speakerphone.

With Whitney watching, Ashton picked up, and Ludwik asked with a cold edge, “Did Elaine tell you about my signing the divorce papers that day? Did you tell anyone else afterward?”

Ashton hesitated, then said, “Maybe I blabbed after a few drinks? You can’t blame Elaine for this; I was loud, and a few people passing by might have overheard.”

Ludwik hung up, shooting Whitney a frosty look, “Satisfied? It wasn’t Elaine who spread the word about our divorce; it was Ashton. Stop trying to pin this on her!”

Whitney really began to question his intelligence.

He was so ruthless in business, yet so blind to these shady tactics.

It was clear as day that Ashton was Elaine’s lapdog; he’d take the fall for her.

Elaine was cunning, leaking it to Ashton first as a smokescreen. That night, everyone knew about their divorce. These things don’t spread so quickly without someone behind it.

Elaine looked triumphantly at Whitney, her voice dripping with feigned distress, “Ludwik, Ms. Valentine keeps coming at me, maybe she hasn’t given up yet. I wanted to talk to you about my birthday at the end of February. My parents called again today, hoping we could move up our engagement.”

“They’re worried, in case I don’t have much time left.”

“Elaine, that won’t happen,” Ludwik frowned, trying to soothe her.

Elaine’s eyes welled up, pleading, “Ludwik, my future is uncertain, and I’d love to be engaged to you on my birthday. Can you grant me that wish? I’ve given you everything, I hope it wasn’t for nothing. Can’t you pity me?”

Her teary emotional blackmail made Ludwik think of all she had done for him, four years ago, and now. Ludwik’s brow furrowed, his vision blurred, his steely gaze almost instinctively flicking to Whitney.

He actually cared about her reaction. He wanted her to shake her head fiercely, to come over and cling to him, insisting she didn’t agree.

He longed to see even a trace of her being worried about him.

Whitney had been frozen out by Elaine’s words, momentarily

Chapter 198

glanced at Ludwik, seeing

she plummeted into an abyss. She finally understood why Elaine had summoned her today.

Whitney offered no resistance. She remained

Hmm, fine.

voice laced with sarcasm, “Fine, we’ll get engaged on your birthday.

in disbelief, her heart leaping with joy,

at Whitney, smiling, “Elaine, didn’t I promise you we’d go see a movie on Valentine’s

really spoil me!” Elaine reveled in his reaction, knowing it was a dig at

taunting the stunned Whitney, “Ms.

grew, his voice frigid, “Aren’t you going to get

like a master to a servant, stabbed

engagement as a birthday present

seemed he truly wanted the divorce. Whitney, do you still want to save

as Bryce said. Perhaps you’re no longer in

her tears hidden, refusing to show.

picked up the heels, and holding her slightly aching belly, she tossed them at Elaine’s feet and silently

and he felt a suffocating annoyance,

be considerate, “Ludwik, why don’t we take Ms. Valentine to the movies with us? After all, she has medical knowledge; she could look after me if

frowned at the humiliating command. He was about to speak up for the young mistress when Ludwik, for some unfathomable reason,

in disbelief. Mr. Lippert, that’s not what you’re thinking, is it? Why do this to her? And the poor lady, she turned as pale as a sheet.

you do spoil me,” Elaine cooed, leaning weakly

out of the hospital room,

choice but to bring Whitney along.

waved his hand, directing Felix

with delight; the scenes she’d

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true.

even watched a

was bubbling with triumph as they approached the entrance, but Felix hesitated, “The waiting area outside is cold; there are no heating. Mr.

the usually distant Whitney spoke up.