Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 342

Ludwik's phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he picked up, Ashton's irate voice came storming through. "Dude, where the heck have you been? Elaine's been drowning her sorrows at the pub, drinking herself into a stupor-you aware she's in the hospital now, stomach bleeding and all? She's been a mess, crying about you not picking up her calls. The bartender tried reaching you to no avail and had to call me instead. What kind of fiancé does that make you? I've just rushed her to the ER..." Ludwik paused, his brows knitting together, his voice dropping to a chilly tone, "I'm on my way."

After hanging up, he glanced back at the firmly shut door of Whitney's apartment and reluctantly texted her: "Could you watch Danny for me?"

He then strode towards the elevator.

---

At the hospital.

Elaine was fuming, her hands trembling as she clutched the freshly snapped photos Lyra had obtained from a detective. The images showed Ludwik and Whitney in a close embrace on the balcony of her apartment, lost in a passionate kiss.

Each call she had made to Ludwik, pleading on behalf of the Bartels family, went unanswered. She had rushed back to their family estate, only to find he'd already left with Daniel.

Ignoring her, avoiding her!

And yet, there he was, refusing to lend a hand to the Bartels, instead choosing to cozy up to Whitney, the opportunist.

the photos to shreds

quickly feigned a bout of weakness,

shocked as he rushed

looked up at him, despair in her voice, "Ashton, I feel so hopeless. Ludwik refuses

half-hour later, Ludwik arrived at the hospital. Ashton greeted him with a grim face, the tension palpable as Ludwik inquired about Elaine's

stomach pumped and a minor

shot, and Ashton, fixing him with a steady gaze, sighed deeply. "What's going

forgetting his obligations to Elaine and the Bartels family amidst the crisis they

conflicted, recalling his recent indiscretion with Whitney. Ashton's words struck a chord, reminding him

forgetting the sacrifices Elaine had made for him, and

towards Elaine, and the complicated feelings he had for Whitney. The conversation left him questioning where his heart truly lay, caught between duty and desire, past loyalties, and new temptations. But Ashton hit the nail on the head - there's no turning back after you've drawn the bow. A woman's youth is something you can't just

it

brushed over the divorce papers in his pocket, feeling an

to stop messing around

---

"Ludwik..."