Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 229

“You’re a devil, Ludwik. You can get engaged and sleep with Elaine last night with a clear conscience, so why can’t I move on and find someone new? Who the hell gave you the right to strip away my freedom, my dignity, my child?”

Cold tears fell as Whitney was driven to the brink of madness.

She collapsed onto the plush carpet. Looking up, her long hair framing her elegant neck like a wounded swan, the very picture of desolation.

“You’ve made those photos public, letting the whole of Banyan City know that I, Whitney Valentine, am nothing but a two–timing tramp! Pregnant and in your bed, in the bathtub with Bryce… No man will ever want me again. You’ve gone to greater lengths than any butcher ever could.”

“If you had been obedient, none of this would have happened,” Ludwik said, his voice devoid of warmth..

His features twisted with a cruel beauty as he leaned in from the shadows, his hands bracing on his knees. “I gave you a chance, Whitney, and you squandered it.”

When they met at the bridal boutique, he had already made up his mind to show no mercy. His words were not empty threats, and he had indeed made her pay a devastating price.

“Why keep me on a leash if you don’t want me? Why force me into a divorce and then refuse to let go? Am I that irresistible to you? You animal, your actions almost tore the Lutz family apart…”

His long fingers clamped down on her chin, his laugh cold and biting as if he had been stepped on the tail. “I’ve said it before, the child is mine and can’t call anyone else ‘daddy‘. You’re a discarded dress of mine, but you can’t become someone else’s!

Bryce lied to his parents, claiming the child was a Lutz. The moment

you dared to change the child’s surname in front of me at the bridal boutique sealed their fate. I’m an animal, you say? No, all of Banyan City knows you don’t mess with Mr. Lippert!”

Whitney finally realized the terrifying truth; he was seeking vengeance on Bryce, on all of them!

How monstrous could this man be? The person before her seemed bloodthirsty and unrecognizable.

“What will it take for you to let Bryce go, to leave the Lutz family alone?” she asked, her voice weak.

Her chin distorted under his grip, a testament to the force he exerted as his chuckle echoed above her. “Dare to plead for him again and see what happens.”

“You had him arrested with your influence just to force me to come begging, didn’t you?”

Whitney sneered, tears cascading down as she violently shrugged off his hand. She stood, not caring if anyone else was in the room, shedding her coat and tearing away her champagne–colored dress with equal ferocity.

The silky fabric could not compare to the smoothness of her legs, her long hair just barely covering her chest, and her tender skin glowing in the dim light.

Ludwik’s breath hitched at the sight.

Her eyes were filled with hatred as she approached and sat on his lap, naked and resolute. “Is this what you want? Fine, have your way with me as many times as you like, as long as you spare him. I’m familiar with this kind of deal.”

Her mockery was palpable. Last time, it was for her cousin Yael.

He had already trampled her dignity underfoot.

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But she had still underestimated this man’s desire for destruction.

hands seized her, flipping her aside as he removed his shirt and covered her with a vicious intensity. “You think I’d bother

her heart was pierced by nail

with the crimson of blood. “Right, you must

cheater! Even your words are without

sick not to have touched Elaine last night, sitting up until dawn, tortured by the thought of Whitney in

could not control himself at the sight of her.

this loss of control over himself!

his gaze icy.

the woman clung to him again.

her touch was ice cold,

woman. So, why did you drag me back here? To not sleep with me, not to make a deal? What do you want from me? You’ve

back? Ludwik

knew was that whether alive

go of this child. Even if it meant hate, he would entangle

to come in. “Take

never imprison me again!” Suddenly, she

wrist.

mind?” He looked down in horror at the woman lunging

flesh from his wrist, a testament to her breakdown. In fact, Whitney was already having a breakdown on her way here; she only forced herself to stay

”

think he could still claim ownership over her even after the divorce? Did he think it would be that easy?

No matter

divorcing me for an engagement, wanting to abort

help, and you severed my future again. Since you won’t spare me, nor Bryce, let’s destroy each

taken hold. If she was locked away, Bryce and the Lutz family would be forever

could react, grabbed a fruit

enough. My child, I’m

“You madwoman.”

furrowed his brow, blood streaming down his arm,

not move away.

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come in. “Take this woman upstairs. Without my permission, she is not

never imprison me again!” Suddenly, she bit

wrist.

lost your mind?” He looked down in horror at the woman lunging at

a testament to her breakdown. In fact, Whitney was already having a breakdown on her way here; she only forced

he wanted to lock her up again. Did he think he could still claim ownership over her even after the divorce? Did he think

here just to keep me confined? Dream on, Ludwik. No matter my sins, I’ve paid my dues to Mom, and I

completely, divorcing me for an engagement, wanting to abort our

sought Bryce’s help, and you severed my future again. Since you won’t spare me, nor Bryce, let’s destroy

locked away, Bryce and the Lutz family would be forever burdened

and, in a swift motion