Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 419

Florence offered a gentle smile, "Do you think so too, Ludwik? It's my first attempt at pottery; it might look a bit rough. Growing up, my health kept me indoors, so I never really got the chance to take art classes. I'm sorry, sis. Next time, I'll pick a gift you'd like..." "There's no need," Whitney suddenly interjected, taking the mug with a hint of a cold smile lighting up her otherwise stoic face under the dim light. It surprisingly made her look radiant.

She examined the mug, lips curling up, "It's ugly, but it's genuine. Just like when one betrays in a relationship, showing their true, ugly face, just like these cracks here, revealing everything there is."

Ludwik felt a sharp sting in his heart, her words hitting him hard, making his heart feel tight.

The sound of his knuckles cracking was overshadowed by Whitney suddenly letting go of the mug, letting it crash to the floor, shattering into pieces!

"Sis..." Florence tried to mask the hurt on her face, looking up with a wounded expression.

Grandma and Sienna immediately shot disapproving glances at Whitney.

"What's the meaning of this, Whitney? Florence made that mug for you with all her heart, and you just smash it in front of her?!" Sienna's voice was sharp, stirring the pot.

"Whitney, your sister meant no harm..." Holly's tone conveyed disappointment, pushing Whitney further into the role of the villain in everyone's eyes.

Hudson frowned, "Surely it was just a slip of the hand. Whitney wouldn't do that on purpose. Sienna, don't start trouble."

Whitney feigned innocence, "Dad's right, it just slipped. I was going to 'take care' of my sister's thoughtful gift. But now that it's broken, it hardly seems fair to accuse me of trying to upset her. Sienna, Holly, you're making too much of this." She boldly called them out by name, sending their accusations right back.

Holly and Sienna were taken aback, and Hudson realized they might have been too quick to judge.

Florence smiled innocently, "Sienna is making a mountain out of a molehill, but it's a shame about the mug. Ludwik, shall we try making another one next time?"

Ludwik stood silent, lost in thought, his cold gaze still fixed on Whitney.

Florence asked naively, then turned to Whitney curiously. "Speaking of which, when you first met Ludwik, you said something I

chest,

family, he had to take control. The

away from Whitney, like a bridge snapping over a chasm, marking an

it, he thought. She's moved on with Bryce, and there's no going back

the pain now. After the

both

a self-mocking smile and a heart turned to ice, Ludwik coldly replied, "I

His fists clenched tight.

pang of ridicule pierce her heart when he

two children, and

even

nature was now crystal clear

never met my sister before, so how could Ludwik have..." Florence sighed in relief, her smile towards Whitney hiding a

knew about her past with Ludwik, this

lips curled into a cold smile as she walked in, "Seems like you're tired, sis. No need to trouble

a direct hit, hiding

Florence's face stiffened.

in, "Florence, you should rest. Whitney's right, she can

Florence tried to hide her discomfort,

Ludwik for help, "Florence can't walk much today. You'll have to

picking up Florence, and as he passed Whitney, his profile was tense,

his retreating figure, remembering a time when his embrace was

him with another woman, all those cherished memories turned

nausea hit her as she stood in the living