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 "I

can't afford

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

from Ludwik's slender fingers, "Ludwik, your wound is

so heartless, cutting ties so easily, withdrawing whenever they please?" Ludwik

and Parker exchanged a helpless look,

strict and reserved, it was unlike him to speak of love and

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

but there's no chance now. She's told me to give up hope. To let it die. She was so determined to end things,

mixed with pain silenced Nolan. Had Whitney been hurt

Ludwik, you're not actually a jerk. Why would you even be

to reveal anything about his mother's illness,

"It's just a misunderstanding."

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

If it's a misunderstanding, stay

deep, sorrowful

collapsed

to move. He kept muttering 'Whitney' in a mix of stubbornness and resentment, eventually turning into

feel a mix of sympathy and confusion.

almost like

night, Ludwik was vomiting from alcohol poisoning and

crumbled, leading Nolan to secretly call Whitney and

wait, a hoarse voice answered, "Nolan, what

slurred, looking at the

he could express his feelings, she hung up

final second, he could still hear Bryce's voice, tinged with a smirk, "Don't freak out, man. You

that moment, Ludwik felt as though his

body was now gone, replaced by the cold drip of an IV, each

him shiver, drowning all his

he lay in the hospital bed. She could