Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 380

Tiana watched Whitney return empty-handed, her heart aching uncontrollably. "Whitney, all this effort you're putting in for that jerk Ludwik, it's just not worth it! You've been busting your gut trying to heal his mom, and what does he do? Doubts you, even forbids you from treating the old lady!"

ago did a number on him, so he's lumped me in with the bad guys."

Whitney clasped her chest, a bitter smile on her lips. "He misunderstands me, and it really gets under my skin. He doesn't trust me one bit. But I guess I can see where he's coming from. He's too wound up about Natalie. That kidnapping incident with his uncle three years "But the thing is, with Natalie waking up, how could Elaine not catch wind of it? Ludwik, that scumbag, is he blind to the real threat here? Once Elaine finds out Natalie's awake, feeling guilty as sin, she'll make her move. The real danger isn't you, it's her..." Tiana was so angry she could spit blood.

Whitney looked at her sharply, sighing. "You're frantic, I'm even more so. Natalie being able to speak is key, that's why I'm desperate to get her treatment, afraid of a relapse."

"But that damn Ludwik is blocking you..." Tiana was beyond words.

"I'll find a way," Whitney said, her brows furrowing.

---

After a spell of rain.

In a high-end hotel with European flair, a young woman took off her lace hat, revealing a stunning profile. The woman beside her timely handed her ginger tea, replacing the handkerchief too. With fingers like white jade, she scrolled through her phone.

A hot news item flashed up: Photos circulating online show Mr. Lippert, post his jilted wedding, still entangled with his almost-bride Elaine. Elaine hospitalized with injuries, Mr. Lippert by her side all night. Speculation is rife that Mr. Lippert and Elaine's wedding might just get a do-over.

The young woman's eyes narrowed on the news, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Elaine..." she murmured, eyes darkening, "he really does have a lot of women around him."

The woman glanced at the news, scoffing lightly. "This heiress of Bartels Pharmaceuticals got dumped at her own wedding, not a good match for him."

Meaning, she was hardly a concern.

"But how is she still making headlines?"

the young woman took a sip of her tea, lifting her inscrutable gaze. "Myra, call

meant Ms. Sheldon was about to dig into Elaine. Or rather, dig into all the women around Mr. Lippert,

played on Myra's lips, understandingly saying, "I'll

time, a middle-aged man walked in, respectfully

coughed lightly, glancing at the clock, her lips curving slightly. "He should be finishing up at Skyfaith soon, I want

Sheldon, Mr. Lippert hasn't been to work these past few days. Heard his mother's been a vegetable for

raising, eyes flickering thoughtfully. "Whitney turned his

tapping her cup lightly, her

her smirk

---

At TriMed Hospital.

the hospital room, drenched in cold sweat,

eyes. "What's the word,

up from her vegetative state, opened her eyes, and Mr. Lippert immediately had her transferred to a Skyfaith-owned hospital for various tests..." "Can the old woman talk now?"

had intercepted Natalie on her way from Whitney's, driven by personal vendetta and disdain. She hadn't been kind to Natalie. Having suffered greatly, the old woman would surely

things she had done to her, once she was awake

to think further. How could this have happened? It was

clothes, biting down hard. "Did

that Taryn had been secretly administering a medicine to the old lady. And that medicine, it turns out, was specially developed by Whitney three years ago, given secretly to Taryn. Elaine, maybe Whitney has been plotting to expose you

run through her. Her

what powerful medicine she administered? Three years ago, she had brought several doctors to examine Natalie, who was

nurses for daily monitoring, and Taryn and her crew had managed to keep up their facade! Even Ludwik's family doctor didn't notice any improvement, and over three years, Elaine had

made her wake up! If Natalie speaks to Ludwik, her fake kidney donation would be exposed. All her efforts, everything, would be ruined. This was

it, Natalie

condition now?