Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 264

Ludwik paused for a moment before curling his lips into a smile, "Really now?"

He watched as his son tiptoed to climb into bed, a surprising change from his usual reluctance to sleep in his own room. "Maybe he's suddenly matured," Ludwik thought, feeling a sense of pride mixed with the weariness of a seasoned parent.

The sweet call of "Daddy" echoed in his mind, and Ludwik felt that the past three years hadn't been in vain. He picked up his son's scattered sports jersey from the floor. Suddenly, a small bottle fell out of the pocket. Ludwik squinted at it in the light: an asthma inhaler?

Elaine noticed it too, her eyes flashing with concern, "Ludwik, what is Danny hiding? Why would he have an asthma inhaler with him?"

Ludwik was just as puzzled. He didn't dwell on it, placing the inhaler on a shelf, "I'll go ask him."

The man hurriedly left the bathroom, leaving Elaine with a heavy feeling in her chest. It seemed he didn't want to stay by her side, but he was all too indulgent with that little brat. She had nearly blown her cover tonight and, for the first time, hadn't managed to get her way with the little guy...

How had he suddenly gotten so cunning?

The thought left her fuming. Elaine turned back to the inhaler, her gaze darkening... How strange, whose could it be?

Without a second thought, she tossed the inhaler into the trash.

-

In the children's room, a small lamp was aglow.

Moonlight streamed in through the large bay window, bathing the room in a serene light.

The little one in bed was already fast asleep, cheeks rosy with youth.

Ludwik tucked his son in and sat by the bed as the maid quietly brought in a bottle of red wine.

He poured himself a glass and sipped it slowly, his gaze deepening as he watched his son's face.

Danny's features were so much like Whitney's... especially tonight, with his sweet, obedient manner, he was the spitting image of that woman.

Thinking of her lit a fire in Ludwik's chest.

Had it not been for her games, would he and Elaine have fought tonight?

Dammit, what on earth was wrong with his own body...

"Ludwik-"

to the children's room, her figure draped in a seductive slip dress, holding a tray of late-night snacks, "Danny's asleep, right? Come and have something to eat; I made it just

was deep, and he could almost predict that the next moment would take

Elaine's urgency, he felt

man set down his wine glass and stood up, draping

found an excuse, "There's an emergency international meeting at the office. I'll have to skip

international meeting at

suspected he was avoiding their marital duties, but she had been pushing too

especially with Whitney's return, she had to

get a handle on Skye Gem Ltd., I'll be back at

wanted Skye Gem

it was already promised to

he spoke tenderly, "I'll arrange everything for you.

bloomed with sweetness, and

into his sports car and sped off into the

streets cast deep shadows across his face, adding

intimacy with Elaine couldn't

in his teeth. He needed to find out if there was truly something wrong with his

Felix's number, his voice

awake, sounded

you want me to find women for you? What-what are you

sensitive, and

"Hurry up, find

ripped the earpiece out, driving on in

phone rang

answered, "What

of getting hit by the Bartels family of

expression darkened, "Felix

If you want to play,

of mystery, "Is it true what they say, that you and Elaine have marital issues? Ludwik I heard

was staring back through his

come to the Royal One Club." Parker took a swig

many had changed, and Ludwik had become a recluse, focused solely on work and

little nephew-they weren't even allowed to lay eyes

Parker felt a premonition

then there were

of unnamed emotion passing through. He couldn't understand why that woman had suddenly developed such a deep hatred, avoiding all contact. Had he offended her? "Alaric,

well with him and his brothers. Hearing that she was Tiana's cousin