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.

'that document' hastily shoved in, peeking out from a corner. Whitney hid it under other documents, making sure he would never find it. But her heart ached sharply. Ludwik's words of pain and regret echoed in her mind: if you hadn't helped your uncle betray me... we wouldn't have ended up like this. Three

folder, and quickly left the desk. She quietly returned to the dressing room, intending to take the damaged clothes away. But the man had woken up! He was rubbing his numb neck, taking a call. It was clear who was

pounding 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. Why do you reject me? If you seek Whitney after our marriage, sob, I can endure it. I'll remain chaste for you, that's how much I love you! Ludwik, you promised to protect me, to give me the best of everything. Please, keep your

happened with Whitney. Guilt filled his eyes. The woman was pleading, humbly promising to remain chaste for him, and here he was, betraying her trust

I'll wait for you... husband," Elaine's

his gaze cold and deep, and approached her, offering it with a low, detached voice, "Let's not speak of tonight. Whitney, we're both adults. Let's pretend tonight was

smile playing on her lips. Her heart felt pierced, throbbing painfully with each beat. A chill rose from her feet. 'I actually don't want to get married anymore, believe me?' Ha. She almost softened at his pleading look, the moment 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 you then push

Elaine to 'remain chaste' for." The card fluttered down from his 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,

gaze fixed on her, "Did you really mix that 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 end