Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 386

Elaine had vanished from the hospital, a clear sign that something was off...

Ludwik roared at Felix, "Scour the whole city for Elaine, check all the properties owned by the Bartels family in Banyan City. We must track her down."

"Parker, rally the police force, get them to the hospital ASAP!"

Ludwik gripped the woman's wrist tightly, not allowing her to wriggle free, and looked down at Whitney, his gaze softening as if entangled with a myriad of thoughts. His voice was hoarse, "I didn't know before. Now that I do, I won't let anything happen to our child..." Whitney, her eyes red, pushed him away. "I hope so. Your mother is more important right now. Let's head to the hospital's security room."

Ludwik, with a cold look in his eyes, pulled her as they ran downstairs.

---

As night approached, Elaine, disguised, emerged from a villa in Banyan City.

Devin called her, saying the targets were about to be delivered to the predetermined location and asked for her instructions.

Elaine had perfectly covered up the 'hospital abduction' from the afternoon. Even if Ludwik became suspicious and had the police investigate, the surveillance footage from TriMed Hospital and the alibis would hold up.

Now, she had to deal with the old lady and the youngster in secret. Then, sneak back to the villa unnoticed, continuing to fabricate her alibi.

Driving an unfamiliar car, Elaine and her crew headed towards the outskirts of Banyan City.

By ten in the evening, before reaching her destination, Devin's call came through again. His tone had shifted dramatically, "Miss, we've got trouble. We just secured the old lady and the kid in a house halfway up the mountain, and we were ambushed. All our men are injured, myself included, got a stab wound. No clue about the condition of the old lady and the kid inside the house now..."

Elaine was taken aback,

---

and brought to this ancient house,

the abduction, Elaine had made sure to strip him of his smartwatch, GPS necklace, and any other suspicious items. He didn't cooperate and took quite a beating. The little guy, bruised and battered, was tossed

taught him to help his grandma breathe easier, but after all, he was just a three-and-a-half-year-old child, his strength limited. His eyes reddened from time to time, reminding his grandma, "Please don't fall asleep, okay?" Natalie, gentle yet struggling, blinked and softly touched his

eyes turned redder. He had barely spent time with his grandma, yet she was such a

of a fight! Among them was an elderly wail, one he recognized as belonging to one of Elaine's men. Then, all these noises vanished. Sammy, puzzled, perked up his ears. Through the broken windows, a chilling picture formed with the drizzling night and the forest, devoid

Natalie frowned in disapproval,

old house eerily empty. What was

returned inside, "Grandma, grandma, there's nobody outside.

with hemp rope, making it a waste of precious time to free himself and then assist his grandma. "Can you

looked at him with pitiful eyes, gasping for air, her breathing increasingly

about the absence of

her, pushing him away with weak hands. "What's happening, grandma? Stop straining yourself, I won't leave

matter how

But his tiny body couldn't move her, and with this chance to escape slipping

pen from his pocket, dropped it on the floor, and then bit the pen to scribble a message on a torn piece of paper. He placed the note in his grandma's pocket, made up his mind, and ran out

rain was pouring heavily. The downpour made it impossible for Sammy to recognize any direction, his frail body darting through the forest, desperate

At first, Sammy was startled but then gathered his courage, tentatively calling out, "Miss? Could you please help? My grandma has fainted inside!" The figure remained silent, twirling a fancy handkerchief, and gently coughed. She turned around, giving Sammy a glance, her pale lips curving slightly, "Little friend, if you want to call for help for your grandma, I can show

She bore a resemblance to his mommy. Was he

we can find others to help," the girl said kindly, holding her umbrella as