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.

he removed his shirt and covered her with a vicious intensity. “You think I’d bother touching you again? You’re nothing but a worn–out shoe.”

heart was pierced

her lips stained with the crimson of blood. “Right, you must have had your fill last night. You’re probably out of

up! You filthy cheater! Even your words are without

up until dawn, tortured by the thought of Whitney in Bryce’s arms.

even though she was tainted, he could not

hated this loss of control over himself!

his gaze

woman clung to

scent, sweet as milk, was enticing, yet her touch was ice cold, just like

I explain, you’ve pegged me as a dirty 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?

bring her back? Ludwik

was that whether alive or dead, she belonged to him.

with another man, nor could he let go of this child. Even

in. “Take

she

wrist.

Have you lost your mind?” He looked down in horror at

In fact, Whitney was already having a breakdown on her way

”

to lock her up again. Did he think he could still claim ownership

confined? Dream on, Ludwik. No matter my sins, I’ve paid my dues to Mom, and I haven’t wronged

divorcing me for an

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

released her bite and, in a swift motion before he could react, grabbed a fruit knife from the sofa and stabbed at his

My child, I’m

“You madwoman.”

blood streaming down his arm, but

not move away.

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table, signaling his bodyguards to come in. “Take this woman upstairs. Without my permission, she

she bit down hard on

wrist.

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

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

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

on, Ludwik. No matter my sins,

divorcing me for an engagement, wanting to abort our child!

my future again. Since you won’t spare me,

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

a swift motion before he could react,