Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 398

Listening to her, Ludwik's expression remained unchanged, his face a mask of cold detachment.

He stood up abruptly, his refusal sharp and clear, "I'm not a little boy you can toy with. You should be looking for someone your own age. Besides, I have a woman I love and a child. I'm sorry, but I'll never be able to love another woman!" The shock and despair that flashed through the girl's eyes were palpable as tears welled up. "I'm sorry! I spoke without thinking. I'm just a naive girl, aren't I? No man wants to pretend to love a dying girl. Do I even deserve to be loved...?" She hung her head low, her voice filled with sorrow. Ludwik frowned, perhaps he had been too harsh.

But still, he stood firm. "Even if it's a pretense, I can't betray her. Clearly, you've got the wrong guy, miss."

He took a few steps towards the door, but not without a touch of gentlemanly conduct. "Let me at least drive you back to the hospital."

"And what about your mother...?"

"I can't meet your request, miss," Ludwik replied, his lips pressed into a thin line, his mood somber.

Outside the cinema, as the girl struggled to catch her breath on the steps, nearly fainting with no maid by her side, Ludwik had no choice but to support her into his car.

The sleek black Bentley cut through the rain, slowly pulling away from the curb.

-

In a Mercedes parked nearby, Bryce lowered his phone, scrutinizing the photo he'd just snapped of Ludwik embracing the girl with a smug look.

He turned to his assistant with a sneer. "Send it to Elaine, anonymously."

"But wasn't Elaine confined to the hospital by Ludwik?"

"She's not dead. Her ambition is very much alive. It won't stop her from stirring trouble."

With a sly grin, Bryce watched Ludwik's car disappear into the distance, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated hatred. He'd never forget the day he saw Ludwik kissing Whitney provocatively right in front of his apartment, that defiant and arrogant gaze. It was obvious who Elaine would forward the photo to.

With an order, Bryce's car drove off.

-

girl at her office, parting with cold formalities before heading to

Miss Sheldon

off, Myra asked with concern, "Ms. Sheldon, did Mr. Lippert refuse

so easily, I would have thought him unworthy, not the

his retreating figure. "It's all up to Mr. Lippert now, whether his mother is more

the reality that leukemia waits for

-

lying in her hospital bed, suddenly received a series of

scoffed, deciding to forward them to Whitney without a second thought. Glaring at the photo of the

her blurry profile, the more Elaine looked,

head began to turn, contemplating the

narrowed eyes, Elaine dialed Ashton, determined to

-

In the apartment.

to make

can we invite Daddy

Whitney paused, considering.

and Aunt Yael, and Grandpa

I just thought of Daddy; he seems

and neglecting himself, fearing his sudden demise. "..."

couldn't keep Ludwik away from

a moment's thought, relenting, "Then

You still care for that

Was that what

a sigh of resignation, Whitney let

hoping to reunite his parents

message, dropped everything, a flicker of hope