Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 401

Danny tried to keep his voice even, giving nothing away as he calmly said, "Dad's gotta catch up with Grandma for a bit. You head on home." "But what about your injury..."

"It's nothing." After all, the person he cared about the most didn't seem to care about him anymore.

When Ludwik arrived at the hospital, Natalie was still awake, stuffing a cotton pad up her nose to stop the bleeding.

Seeing her son, she complained with a hint of annoyance, "These doctors are making such a fuss. It's just a nosebleed, and they've dragged you here?"

Ludwik remained silent, simply sitting by her bedside and holding her hand tightly, asking carefully, "How are you feeling? Any discomfort? Headaches?"

"Just a bit dizzy, and I felt nauseous after lunch. Weird, huh?" the elderly woman chuckled. "Aren't I supposed to be recovering? How come I'm getting nosebleeds? But don't you worry, a few months of rest and I should be out of here." Ludwik remained silent, his heart filled with a mix of unease and sorrow.

He pressed his lips tightly together, giving away nothing as he nodded, "Yes, Mom will definitely get better."

"That's right. I've still got to give you those grandkids. Missed the chance with the first two, but I'll make sure to catch up with the next ones," Natalie tried to lighten his mood.

Little did she know, she had hit a sore spot for him that evening.

Ludwik took a deep, shaky breath, unable to speak before Natalie's nose started bleeding again, the cotton instantly soaked red.

His eyes, already reddened, filled with panic. "Dr. Ford!"

After a chaotic rush to stabilize her, Natalie drifted into a drowsy sleep.

Ludwik stood tall but isolated outside the hospital room, gazing through the window at his mother.

Dr. Ford, trying to sound cautious yet unable to hide his urgency, said, "Once the nosebleeds start, it indicates the condition is worsening. Natalie's bone marrow is failing to produce blood. If this continues, she'll soon face other complications. Mr. Lippert, how did your conversation go with the donor? I've taken another blood sample from Natalie tonight. Her red blood cells and platelets are dropping fast. She needs to start receiving blood transfusions to keep her alive! We should aim to do it this month... Once we stabilize her condition with continuous transfusions without causing severe complications, we can plan for the bone marrow transplant in six months. That could save her life."

Ludwik took a deep breath, pressing his hand against his forehead. He hadn't expected it to come so quickly.

Seeing his mother's nosebleed and the need for emergency care had shaken him deeply. Dr. Ford's words snapped the last thread of hope he was clinging to. He numbly opened his mouth, "I understand."

Ford wasn't sure what Ludwik meant by

only found one suitable RH-negative donor worldwide. You really can't afford to lose this chance." Ludwik, pressing at his temple,

found Ludwik at a bar booth, surrounded by three empty vodka bottles, his

snatch the glass from Ludwik's slender fingers, "Ludwik, your

women have to be so heartless, cutting ties so easily, withdrawing whenever they please?"

helpless look, knowing Ludwik

it was unlike him to speak of love and heartbreak, so

But, Ludwik, you haven't even started trying to win her back yet. How can you let her harsh

smile, his eyes cold, "I wanted to, but there's no chance now. She's told me to give up hope. To let it die. She

with pain silenced Nolan. Had Whitney been

the misunderstanding they caused. Ludwik, you're not actually a jerk. Why would you

wanting to reveal anything about his mother's illness, not wanting Whitney to catch even a hint

"It's just a misunderstanding."

true love was Whitney; under normal circumstances, he wouldn't come close to other women. Elaine had deceived him three years

woman then? If it's a misunderstanding, stay away from her," Parker

sorrowful laugh,

collapsed onto the

to move. He kept muttering 'Whitney' in a mix of stubbornness and resentment, eventually turning into desperate whispers, like a man heartbroken, unwilling to let go of something precious, burdened with too much to bear, on the verge

but feel a mix of sympathy and confusion.

felt almost like a

Ludwik was vomiting from alcohol poisoning and ended up

man had crumbled, leading Nolan to secretly

a long wait, a hoarse

Ludwik slurred, looking at the IV drip, weakly trying

before he could express his feelings, she hung up without

with a smirk, "Don't freak out, man. You didn't lose any teeth. Take another

felt as though

that had once consumed his body was now gone, replaced by the cold drip of an IV, each drop flowing into his

him shiver, drowning

as he lay in the hospital bed. She