Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 489

Florence felt his gaze, cold as a winter storm, and knew she couldn't help but fear him in his presence. Yet, she was determined to make him regret underestimating her, to remind him who really had the upper hand in their deal.

On the surface, she played the part of the vulnerable damsel, her voice quivering, "Ludwik, it's not like I didn't want to donate blood. I was feeling terribly under the weather last night, so I couldn't. I thought we could discuss it when you arrived." "And what? You decide to bail on my mom at the last minute?" Ludwik's voice was frosty.

"It's not like that," Florence replied, her eyes welling up with tears. "You left me alone last night, and I was scared to go to the hospital by myself. Now that you're here, we can figure it out together."

The accusation and the veiled threat in her words were crystal clear.

"What do you want? An apology?" His laugh was as cold as ice.

Florence shivered slightly, her lips pursed thoughtfully. "I want you, Ludwik, to act more like a boyfriend. Not just someone who's always there, but never really there. You've never even held me when I was sick. That's not what you promised when you agreed to be the perfect boyfriend."

Ludwik sneered, "You think this deal is not worth it anymore?"

His words were sharp as knives.

Florence couldn't feel a shred of affection from him. Indeed, she was right; he'd sacrifice everything for Whitney, but couldn't spare a bit of love for her!

So, her previous strategy of being docile and compliant seemed pointless. If she couldn't touch his heart, how could she ever secure her place as Ludwik's wife? Florence looked pitifully at him, "Ask yourself, Ludwik, have you ever really cared for me? I'm offering my blood and bone marrow, my very life, for your mother." "But you said it was voluntary, didn't you? Is your generosity so fickle? Or did I misjudge you from the start, Florence?"

loaded, and the chill in his

snooping on my calls and deleting records? When did you find

Ludwik recalled Whitney's words, suggesting Florence's acquaintance with him wasn't mere coincidence. Perhaps

Whitney's accusations of Florence being a gold-digger, especially after Florence called off their engagement claiming she was terminally ill. Yet, her

his patience didn't make Florence

response, simultaneously voicing his speculation, "The day you brought me back to the Sheldon family, you lied about not knowing Whitney? You targeted her in the competition

fell, "Ludwik, why would you think so poorly of me? I only found out about you and your sister recently. I didn't mean to pick on her; I just felt betrayed because you lied

didn't waver. Whether the call went through or not wasn't his immediate concern. But Whitney had told him that he wouldn't save her -

know about my past with Whitney, will you save my mother or

pushed him, hoping to change his behavior, but now found herself cornered by his assertiveness. She knew the blood transfusion must proceed. Without the deal, how could she possibly hope to control a

only if you start treating me better, really

patience wearing thin. Yet, thinking of his mother relying on Florence's blood, he restrained himself, "If you're willing, then let's go. We'll discuss everything else after the

As he left the room, his presence still felt like a storm passing

hands. No matter how proud he is, he has

phone rang. It was

"Mother, about

Blue Gang. We

Holly, sweating, agreed, "Okay..."

hung up and paced nervously, dialing her brother Hank Walker,