Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 240

In the neonatal ward of the hospital, Ludwik paced the sterile hallway for what felt like an eternity, unsure how he managed to endure the agonizing hours outside the operating room.

His eyes were bloodshot, his fingers stained with the remnants of one cigarette after another as he chain–smoked, waiting for any news.

Ashton and Nolan had also arrived in a rush, their expressions grim.

Soon, the corridor swelled with an influx of people, including police officers.

Voices swirled around him, recounting the night’s harrowing events. Elaine’s fragile sobs echoed against the walls, her body marred by bruises and cuts.

The director of the sanatorium said, “Around seven this evening, a girl disguised as a nurse broke into the sanatorium, drugged many of our staff with sedatives, and kidnapped Ms. Valentine. I was terrified and tried to contact you immediately, but your phone was unreachable. I wanted to show you the hospital’s security footage, but the signal was jammed. With no other option, I reached out to Elaine to come to the sanatorium and figure out what to do.”

“But before I could get there, Tiana abducted me!” Elaine interjected, her voice laced with distress. “She and Whitney were both in the car. They bound me and took me to a B&B. It turns out Whitney was the mastermind behind the plan, instructing Tiana to find a kidney donor at the hospital. They wanted to frame me for a fake organ donation to Natalie, manufacturing evidence to turn you against me, Ludwik. Their aim was likely to make it seem as though I intended to harm her child, securing Whitney’s release from the sanatorium so she could go rescue Bryce.”

At the mention of Bryce, a flicker of life sparked in Ludwik’s otherwise vacant gaze.

Elaine knew words alone carried little weight and produced two pieces of evidence. “Ludwik, I had Jaxon dig up this–Tiana bought two plane tickets to Emperor City tonight.”

Ludwik studied the ticket confirmations, signed by Tiana, for a flight at eight o’clock. Finally, a sardonic laugh escaped him.

She had escaped and was now desperate to save her lover.

“They intended to deal with me first, fabricate evidence, and slander me to you. But at the B&B, they, that girl, and the hired thugs couldn’t agree on a price, and a conflict erupted. Ludwik, Whitney is more deranged than you can imagine. She actually ordered the thugs to…”

Seemingly too fearful to continue, Elaine made a slashing gesture across her throat.

could not even

Tiana set the B&B ablaze to erase all traces. Fortunately, Jaxon arrived in time to save

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premature birth. Knowing how much

nowhere to be seen, and who knows what happened with Tiana and

injury from the fire. The other was a health

to prove my innocence, I just had an examination confirming that I truly only have one

disdain. “Ludwik, there’s no need for doubt. I was with Elaine during her medical examination; she has only one kidney. Plus, around

dead. “Felix, send someone to Bryce’s interrogation facility in Emperor City. Wait

to find Tiana Melford to confirm all of this,” Felix cautiously

eyes cooled slightly, her voice even and calm, “Ludwik, since it appears to be my word against theirs, perhaps it would be best

on your wrists from being bound, it’s clear Whitney couldn’t stand being confined to the sanatorium. Desperate to save Bryce, she tried to use you as a bargaining chip by framing

of blood from another child’s fall from a cliff, a stain that washed over his hatred time and again. He remembered how that woman made countless excuses in the sanatorium, claiming Elaine was out to get her, pleading with him to let

birth of their child as revenge against him. He was done with talk of love and hate; it

said coldly. “Someone must be punished to quell

shivered, uncertain whether to pursue Ms.

in a hidden smirk,

Achilles‘ heel, and Whitney had no evidence to defend herself. As for Tiana, Elaine had countless ways to

found

sensational news story overtook the headlines

Chapter 240

hired thugs turned on her, with