Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 359

"I think..." His lips parted slightly, his eyes deep like the ocean, gazing at her. The air was thick with heat and sweat, an intoxicating mix that made one's head throb. Whitney's heart was beating erratically, out of control. What was he thinking, looking at her with such

intensity?

I want to be with you, Whitney.

Ludwik almost blurted out, his eyes misting over, but the last shred of rationality held him back. He couldn't just skip the wedding tomorrow. There were things that could no longer be said, paths that could no longer be taken. With a bitter smile, he closed his eyes, "Whitney, why did it have to come to this? If three years ago, you hadn't sided with your uncle to betray me, to betray me over and over again... We wouldn't have ended up like this."

Whitney's heart stopped, and the blush on her cheeks slowly faded to pale. Three years ago, a taboo, never to be mentioned. Turning her head, she saw that he seemed to have fallen asleep. Once again, Whitney took out a silver pin and gently pricked his neck with it. He slumped to one side. Rubbing her almost crushed limbs, Whitney forced herself to quickly get out of bed. Looking at the clothes and sheets scattered all over the floor, she had no choice but to pick up the oversized men's shirt and put it on. She tiptoed out of the room in haste.

heartbeat, growing louder as she approached the desk drawer. She put on her gloves again, opened the drawer, and saw 'that document' hastily shoved in, peeking out from a corner. Whitney hid it under other documents, making sure he would never find it.

the documents in the folder, and quickly left the desk. She quietly returned to the dressing room, intending to take the damaged clothes away. But the man had

as he rubbed his temples and stood up. The phone was on speaker, and Whitney heard the voice of a woman sobbing, "Ludwik, did you forget your promise to come home early tonight? I understand you might be having cold feet, but our wedding invitations have been sent out, the whole country is watching. If you leave me, I'll become the nation's laughingstock. Everyone in the aristocracy will look down on me. I... know you can't be intimate with me, and I hate myself for it.

filled his eyes. The woman was pleading, humbly promising to remain chaste for him, and here he was, betraying her trust on the eve of their wedding.

wait for you... husband," Elaine's voice

by a single phone call. Ludwik knew he was in the wrong. He pulled out a card, his gaze cold and

he tried to coax her. Falling for his lies, indeed. A man's tenderness in bed is just to woo you, to sleep with you. All lies. Turning to Elaine, he was infinitely affectionate. Sleep with

chiseled face. Ludwik bore her fury and mockery silently. He moved his lips, but ultimately said nothing, his gaze cold and deep as he watched her walk away. Whitney, before leaving, glanced once more at the desk drawer... remembering the physical pain, all endured in vain.

document in?" Whitney was silent for a moment before glancing at him, "What else?" Orion, incredulous, took the document bag she threw at him, sighing, "Women's hearts are indeed the most poisonous. If it were me, I might have backed out at the last moment, not wanting to see my dear brother