Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 388

"Lay her flat, Ludwik, on her back!" Whitney shouted at him.

Obligingly, though somewhat slow, Ludwik did as he was told, kneeling anxiously by his mother's side, cradling her head in his hands.

Whitney swiftly broke open a pack of syringes, quickly inserting one into Natalie's head, right at the carotid artery.

Then, she pried open Natalie's mouth with a stick, stacking her hands and pressing down heavily onto Natalie's chest.

With each push, she gritted her teeth, putting all her might into it.

Under the dim light, Ludwik, in a daze, looked over at the woman working meticulously. She was as determined as she was delicate, her clear, powerful eyes showing a mix of compassion and resolve. Despite her slender frame, her hands wielded such strength in this moment of emergency...

Before long, Whitney was sweating profusely.

Ludwik bit his lip, wishing he could offer his help, knowing his strength would be beneficial.

But he feared his lack of precision.

Suddenly, Natalie jerked forward, spitting out a mouthful of dark blood.

It was black.

Whitney let out a sigh of relief. "The congestion in her lungs has been cleared. She can breathe normally now."

Ludwik froze, the sight of the black blood eerily familiar.

Three years ago, Elaine had shown him a video on the night Whitney supposedly kidnapped his mother, where she also spat black blood.

had consumed him then, convinced Whitney was

weak breathing grew steadier as she slowly opened

to the present by Natalie, wiped the blood from her lips

"You... you guys..."

and daughter-in-law, she couldn't tell if she was dreaming or awake,

gently examined her throat,

for breath, attempted

shifting complexly towards Ludwik. "Natalie's lost her voice due to blockages in her vocal cords and nerve degeneration in the speech area of her brain. I can try

were with a cold, clear determination,

hesitated, his distrust since Natalie's awakening, his extreme sensitivity, and the turmoil in his eyes all

were alive changed everything for Ludwik. It was as if a thorn in his heart had finally been removed; his feelings for

go, "Go ahead,

Whitney proceeded with the

quick. Whitney carefully helped Natalie drink some water mixed with medicine

her mind clearer, Natalie tried to speak, "My

talk?" Ludwik was

don't know if I have much time left... The misunderstanding between you and Whitney needs to be cleared." Natalie's voice was heavy with emotion, her

lucidity, especially during her recent unconsciousness, she had pieced together the situation between her son

problem, hating herself for

her voice filled with anger, "Three years ago, Whitney didn't harm me. You have to understand... It was Elaine, it was her...!" Natalie's

pregnant and sick, carried me down the mountain herself. But on the way down, weakened as we were, Elaine ambushed us. Elaine took me away, knocked Whitney unconscious, and no one noticed!

her anger

his face frozen in

immediately attended to Natalie, helping her

don't you? That night in the meadow, I begged you, even if he wrongs you time and again, to bear him a child

that moment, Whitney's heart, stagnant for three years,

over as she released all the pent-up grievances, helplessness, and the humiliations of the