Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 208

The PR manager glanced surreptitiously at Elaine, then, pointing an accusatory finger at Whitney, fumed, “Ever since that video of Ms. Valentine and the big shot CEO of Lutz Group came out, Skyfaith was inevitably thrust into the media spotlight. Mr. Lippert, your reputation is critical, especially since the company’s recent high–profile debut. Your wife’s cheating scandal is bound to affect Skyfaith’s stock prices, and that’s just not worth it.”

Ludwik’s gaze shifted their way.

The PR manager then shot Elaine a quick, “And with Elaine attending the summit as your partner, the public’s been speculating about her role. The gossip about you, Elaine and Ms. Valentine is all over the place and it’s affecting Elaine’s good name too.”

Ludwik looked towards Elaine, a self–mocking glint in his eyes.

How foolish had he been to forsake a woman who actually cared about him in favor of forgiving Whitney?

And now, truth to be turned out that Whitney and Bryce had already

been intimate!

The thought of having considered forgiving her in front of his own mother that morning, the internal tug–of–war of his conscience made him feel utterly ridiculous.

How pathetic was he!

His heart felt as though it had been scraped clean by a knife, leaving

not a shred of tenderness.

What was there to love about such a despicable woman?

He pulled Elaine close, gripping her hand tightly, “Elaine’s reputation will not suffer on my account. Go ahead with your strategy.”

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Chapter 209

“The best PR move right now would be for you and Ms. Valentine to sign those divorce papers post–haste, and push the civil office to backdate it before the 28th. Once the public knows you two are long divorced, her dirty laundry won’t be your concern. At the same time, we’ll play up your engagement to Elaine to distract the public and give Skyfaith a different headline.”

Whitney curled up on the floor, fists clenched.

Hearing this, she began to have her suspicions about the source of the video. She glared at Elaine with venom.

Elaine’s peripheral vision caught Whitney’s scowl and returned it with a cold, triumphant sneer.

She said gently, “Ludwik, don’t worry about me. My reputation can take the hit, but Skyfaith is your business empire that you built from the ground up. I can’t bear to see it suffer.”

Ludwik motioned with his hand, “Lawyer, bring the divorce papers. What are we waiting for?”

Elaine was momentarily taken aback, then a sly smile curled at the corner of her mouth. She had orchestrated this whole scene to force Ludwik’s hand, to make him sign the divorce papers quickly!

The lawyer promptly presented two sets of divorce papers.

the woman crumpled on the floor, not sparing her another glance as if even looking

turned a cold, cutting sneer, “Sign it, take your things, and get out. Don’t dirty my floors. You’re nothing but trash, and I’ll be damned if I spare you

couldn’t cut deeper than that.

lifetime without

laugh was slow and pained, tears streaming

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she breathed in

signing, murmuring not for him to hear, but as a bitter soliloquy, “I stayed to look after you, thinking you were down and out, wanting to help you rise again. But clearly,

Ludwik paused sharply.

–

ways those words stabbed straight into his heart, blurring

vision.

she pleaded humbly, “Just my

a mocking laugh, filled with scorn.

consider it a condition of our divorce. Felix, throw her

her

upstairs, his eyes bloodshot with rage, while Elaine, satisfaction plain on her face, followed closely

hands are

as she produced an

at her, weary, a self–deprecating smile playing on his lips, “After all is said and done, you’re the one who

a trace of nervousness, met his. Seeing him so vulnerable like a child, she allowed herself to

divo wa

Whitney was out

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as she looked deeply at

him, she dipped the needle in a sedative and inserted it into a point at the base of his skull.

Ludwik was deep in slumber.

secured the doors and windows, then pulled out her phone to record a video, a sly smile spreading across

hurt so

moans and groans of intimacy wafted downstairs, Whitney stiffened.

exchanged glances, their expressions

sounds of passion echoed through

dismissed the managers, “What are you looking at? Get out

with a sigh, “Ms. Valentine, Mr. Lippert is just heated. Besides, given

face was ashen as the

Ludwik well enough to recognize what was happening above. It wasn’t just kissing the sounds

–

each pulse making it harder to catch her breath. Clutching at her shattered heart, Whitney thought bitterly how he had unceremoniously