Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 368

stand up to the influential Doonan family. Her only choice was to lay low and avoid them as much as she could.

Whitney spent her day scouring the town for a new place for Tiana. Meanwhile, she was secretly helping Tiana move, with Valerie lending a hand under the radar. That's when Barclay stumbled upon Cherry, leaving everyone guessing about his next move. Tiana couldn't Exhausted, Whitney finally made it back to her apartment late in the evening. Her phone was buzzing non-stop with messages from Sammy, who had sent her several movie options to choose from. With a slight smile, Whitney was about to reply when she stepped out of the elevator and noticed a strange smell in the hallway. It was dark, but she could feel someone's presence, an unnerving sensation right at her doorstep.

Worried about her son inside, she hesitated, then turned to look down the hallway. A shadow moved! Annoyed and on edge, Whitney pushed the slightly open door wider with her bag and marched in, her heels clicking loudly on the floor. She looked left-no one. She looked right, and near the fire hose, she spotted a dark figure.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice cold. The tall figure stiffened but didn't move. "Who is it?" she asked again, anger mixing with alertness, ready to charge.

"Don't hit me," a deep male voice coughed. It was Ludwik, his features hard and tense, hesitating before stepping into the light. Whitney's eyes narrowed. Recognizing him in the dim light, her tense nerves slightly relaxed. But then, his piercing gaze filled with complex emotions made her scalp tingle again.

The silence was heavy. They locked eyes, neither speaking. Whitney broke the eye contact, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and defiance. She turned to leave. "Whitney," Ludwik called out, desperation in his voice as he reached for her. He caught her wrist, his touch warm against her skin.

Whitney jerked her hand away, but Ludwik's patience had run thin. With a swift move, he pinned her against the wall, his body blocking her escape.

her voice a mix of annoyance and coldness. But Ludwik was

squirmed to avoid him, his breath hot

"Can't you

are you babbling about?" Whitney

night, did you tamper with my desk? What did you do, Whitney? You tore up every piece of evidence Jarvis could use against me. Couldn't bear it anymore?" His voice was a

denied, though it

him, his grip firm. "Seems

Whitney was speechless.

you," he said,

was infuriated. "Love you? You're delusional. Any woman with a

nerve, but Ludwik decided not to argue. "Fine, I get it. It's hard for you to

mistakes and for Danny. For his sake, I wouldn't

aback by her intensity. He couldn't understand why

and Sammy peeked out, a bright smile on his face. "Mommy, I picked a