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.

-

her apartment,

the message from last night: "Take care of Danny

call

Danny in the morning, she'd be

a surge of warmth. It was their first night all together,

bumping his head

chuckled, ruffling his hair, "What's up, baby? Why

didn't daddy kiss you a lot last night? How come

to brush his teeth, sprayed water,

her face twitching,

Sammy rolled his eyes, "Obviously, he was

three. How do

she said, "He was wrong to do that. Don't copy him,

hopeless," Danny looked disappointedly at his mom's stomach, "He can't even make you pregnant. I guess it's true what they say, you can only rely on yourself.

was time for a serious talk

Whitney, oblivious to her son's intentions, suggested, "What do you want for breakfast? I'll

Just then, Tiana called.

in the kitchen, Whitney

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

check out the trending news, Ludwik has gone soft for that wily girl. Last night, Elaine pulled a classic damsel in distress act and ended up in the hospital. The paparazzi caught

on a lovey-dovey show for everyone. Smells like the engagement between Ludwik and Elaine

didn't respond immediately, standing by the window as she took the call, the cold wind brushing against her

bullet? It seems

the effort she put into exposing the Bartels family, she hadn't expected

single word from Ludwik was all it