Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 420

In that moment, the tension in the air was almost palpable, pressing down like a heavy weight.

Sienna looked up at Ludwik's striking features, her eyes widening in fear. "Why are you taking her side? She's just a bastard."

"I'm a bastard too," he replied, his lips curling into a half-smile.

His gaze was icy, and he lounged in his chair with an air of casual arrogance. Sienna's heart sank. It felt like Ludwik was defending Whitney, which felt like a slap in her face.

The grandmother spoke up, her tone displeased, "Sienna, stop harping on about her being a bastard. Ludwik doesn't appreciate it."

"Indeed, I don't. Let's not hear that again," he said, his casual demand cutting through the air.

The grandmother mistook his irritation as a dislike of being reminded of his own illegitimacy. "Apologize this instant."

Sienna, pale-faced, quickly said, "I didn't mean any offense, Ludwik. It won't happen again."

"Apologize to the person you should be apologizing to," his gaze drifted away from Whitney, his expression unreadable.

Florence, however, knew exactly why he was angry. On the surface, she played the peacemaker, standing up to apologize to Whitney, "Sis, Sienna just speaks without thinking. Please don't be mad at her."

Ludwik's expression darkened, and the grandmother stiffened, both turning their attention to Whitney. "Florence is apologizing on Sienna's behalf. She always thinks of others first. As their sister, don't make this ugly."

the apology meant she was

was veiled in sweetness, "My dear sister is too kind, apologizing for Sienna's mistake. It makes me seem petty if I don't accept, doesn't it? Being called a

hardened, feeling personally attacked even though he was trying to protect her feelings. Was she really this angry with him? He thought, recalling

how to hurt him the most. He looked away, his

attention to herself, sensing

protested, "Why

let's just keep the peace," Florence

"Whitney, don't be so

said, I speak without thinking.

speechless, caught in

called out, trying to ease

others to stew

can be so smug and sharp-tongued," Sienna complained to the

Why should she aim to

approached the dinner table, Ludwik caught her eye, a cold smile on his lips. She was more than just

he ushered her to the most prestigious seat at the table, displacing

the formalities,

I sit in the wrong spot? I'm not familiar with your

knowing look; she was clever,

my

reluctantly