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.

frozen out by Elaine’s words,

Chapter 198

she glanced at Ludwik, seeing

She finally understood why Elaine had summoned her today. The real knife

She remained

Hmm, fine.

head dropped, his voice laced with sarcasm, “Fine, we’ll get

her heart leaping with joy, “Ludwik, you

at Whitney, smiling, “Elaine, didn’t I promise you we’d go

in his reaction, knowing it was a dig

against Ludwik in a show of demure affection, taunting the stunned Whitney, “Ms. Valentine, would you mind fetching my

grew, his voice frigid, “Aren’t

to a servant, stabbed

heart was already shattered by his words about the engagement as a birthday

truly wanted the divorce. Whitney, do you still

Bryce said. Perhaps you’re

tears hidden, refusing

slightly aching belly, she tossed them at Elaine’s feet and silently walked away.

indifferent profile, and he felt a suffocating annoyance, “Did

take Ms. Valentine to the movies with us? After all, she has medical knowledge; she could

to speak up for the young mistress when Ludwik, for some unfathomable reason, snapped, “Let her serve

forehead in disbelief. Mr. Lippert, that’s not what you’re thinking, is it? Why do this to

spoil me,” Elaine cooed, leaning weakly against

of the hospital room, driving to

had no choice but to

movie theater, Ludwik waved his hand, directing Felix to

sparkled with delight; the scenes she’d fantasized about countless

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Chapter 198

true.

even watched a movie

“The waiting area outside is cold; there are no heating. Mr. Lippert, with Ms.

the usually distant Whitney