Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 343

Tears glistened in her eyes as Elaine hoped for a sign of compassion, but Ludwik's gaze was calm, shadowed by exhaustion.

He furrowed his brows, his voice rough and piercing as he asked, "Elaine, I'm only giving you one chance. The Keegan case, were you involved in it? Think carefully before you answer. If I find anything later, don't blame me for not sparing old affections." Elaine's heart shuddered violently. But with a metaphorical knife to her throat, she couldn't confess. Her mother had finally cleared her name and protected her. Her father's situation, well, she believed Ashton, that fool, would handle it. Everything could be covered up. Innocently, Elaine shook her head, "I swear, I had no idea my parents were like that. I feel terrible about what happened to Mr. Tennyson. If I could apologize on behalf of my parents, I would do it tomorrow!"

Ludwik's gaze dropped, unreadable. With a gesture, he signaled her to return to the bedside, his tone cold, "Just sleep for now."

Seeing a hint of softening in his demeanor, Elaine, eager for reconciliation, grabbed his arm, pleading, "Ludwik, I can't be without you. My dream is to marry you. Can't we just get married? Without you, I'll be the laughingstock of high society. I couldn't bear to live like that!" Her tears fell like rain, turning into sobs and coughs, causing the medical monitors to beep erratically as doctors rushed in.

Ludwik, with a throbbing headache, remembered Ashton's words, feeling an unprecedented fatigue. Elaine, in his eyes, had transformed into a burden he couldn't shake off...

In an attempt to calm her, he said indifferently, "I'm not leaving you."

Elaine's face brightened, a vindictive satisfaction in her heart. Yet, she noticed the detachment in his attitude, her joy dimming under the shadow of resentment.

"It's all Whitney's fault!" she thought, plotting her revenge.

-

In the early hours, seizing the moment Ludwik rested in the next room, Elaine sent Lyra to summon reporters to the hospital for a stakeout.

As Ashton arrived with breakfast, he reassured Elaine, "Don't worry about your father. I've pulled some strings with the Fuller family, and after the interrogation, he'll be released. I'll also try to minimize the losses for the Bartels Group's pharmaceutical plant in Banyan City." Elaine, touched, thanked him, "Ashton, you're always there for me. With the Bartels family's influence not reaching Emperor City swiftly, I've been so anxious."

"This was a mess from the start. It's only right I help out, especially with your family's crisis. Being cold doesn't justify leaving you to fend for yourself," Ashton consoled her.

Elaine, teary-eyed, hesitated before sharing, "Ashton... Some reporters sneaked into the hospital last night. With the news focusing on the Bartels Group and our engagement under scrutiny, I didn't want the media to capture Ludwik distancing himself from me, so I didn't call the police. But Ludwik might misunderstand my intentions once the news is out..." Ashton understood immediately, offering his support, "Public displays of affection can only benefit the Bartels family right now. Don't worry, I'll say I called the reporters. Ludwik won't misunderstand you." Grateful, Elaine smiled wickedly to herself.

-

apartment, Whitney woke

the message from last night: "Take care of Danny

sending the message, he had taken a call and left. Whitney had

come for Danny in the morning, she'd be

her twins sleeping beside her, Whitney felt a surge of warmth. It was their first

woke up, bumping his head

his hair, "What's up,

frowning, "Mommy, didn't daddy kiss you a lot last night? How come

come in to brush

twitching, "You... all

Sammy rolled his eyes, "Obviously, he was

three. How do they know about kissing?" she thought, blaming

divert, she said, "He was wrong to do that.

at his mom's stomach, "He can't even make you pregnant. I guess it's

little brother's mouth, exasperated. He realized it was time for a serious

suggested, "What do you

Just then, Tiana called.

kitchen, Whitney answered, "Tiana, what's

you seen the news? I was hoping Zane would get sentenced, but someone pulled strings for him. Just like you said, Jaxon took the fall, got the death penalty, while Zane, with his connections in Emperor City, got off with barely a scratch. The Bartels Group's pharmaceutical plant in Banyan City is shut down, a major blow to their reputation, and they've been fined billions for illegal drugs. But what pisses me off the most is that Elaine

pulled a classic damsel in distress act and ended up in the hospital. The paparazzi caught Ludwik caring

lovey-dovey show for everyone. Smells like the engagement

didn't respond immediately, standing by the window as she took the call, the

dodge that bullet? It

Bartels family, she hadn't

Ludwik was all it took to save Zane's