Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 498

Her words tugged at my heartstrings, leaving me deeply distressed.

Ludwik's lips twisted into a slight, chilly smirk. "So, the soft approach isn't working, huh? Time to play it hard?

Can someone terminally ill even think about having kids, let alone have the capacity to do so?

Imagine, two years from now, you're still alive, and voila, you've got yourself a great-grandchild for the Lippert family."

Whitney had mentioned that perhaps Florence was feigning her illness.

And here I was, pitying her because she claimed to be terminal, a gesture of humanity on my part!

But what if her terminal illness was a lie?

The ambition she's showing now is far from what one would expect from someone on their deathbed. Perhaps, as Whitney suggested, this was all a scheme, and Florence's ultimate goal was me all along.

Florence, her eyes brimming with tears, met Ludwik's stern gaze. "It's true, my condition isn't ideal for pregnancy. But I'm willing to take the risk for you, as my last wish before I die. How could you think there's an ulterior motive? I just wanted to leave a child behind to make my parents, and my grandma happy..."

Ludwik gazed at her, his eyes sharp as daggers. "Whitney and I have two children, enough to keep your parents and grandma happy. Besides Danny, there's Sammy. He was kidnapped. Florence, who do you think took my child?"

His accusation was like a noose around Florence's neck!

She trembled inwardly, knowing this question was inevitable.

But she was confident, like a player who had already mastered the game. They wouldn't find anything, except for that handkerchief. And 'the person' was safely in her grip, of course referring to him and Whitney.

Florence looked bewildered, tears in her eyes. "Ludwik, how could I possibly know who kidnapped him? I wasn't even aware that you and your sister had children until today. That scene at the Sheldon family's place caught me off guard as well. Thankfully, my parents know I'm innocent."

She denied any involvement with a face that didn't show a trace of guilt.

Ludwik's fingertips were cold as he pondered.

needed to understand

my condition, have you made your decision? Agree to it, and I'll donate my marrow in a month, allowing Natalie to undergo surgery. If you refuse... well, I'm sorry, but I'll have no choice but to withdraw my offer. Donating my marrow poses a risk to my life, and without a fair exchange, I can retract my promise. And

words were laden

room to negotiate unless

slightly, lighting a cigarette, the smoke swirling around his more ferocious eyes as he smirked at her audacity. Deep down, he was plotting, invisible to others. Florence didn't

thin lips parting, he simply

Florence by surprise, her eyes wide with disbelief and a surge of joy. "Ludwik, you really

Florence's heart flutter. Ludwik looked at her coldly. "I only need a healthy spine. Weigh your options carefully this month. Without the marrow, there's no child." He had her cornered, and Florence knew

hadn't faded when Ludwik's expression turned to disgust.

bear another moment with

Myra watched Florence silently.

her neck, her fingers clenched, her gaze filled

there a

remember

left with a

mind swirling with thoughts but still shocked. "Mr. Lippert, how could you agree to Florence's blatant extortion? You're actually going to have a child with her?" Ludwik sat by the window, the

his cigarette, scoffing, "Just agree for now. She wants a child, but who says it has to be mine? Once the donation is

Felix. Florence thought she could manipulate

heard the doorbell

frowning due to the pain

was Parker. "Ludwik, you

"Take a seat."

leaving the hotel, smiling. You've suspected her of kidnapping Sammy, yet you didn't confront her about his whereabouts, break up with her, or force her

shook his head

"Why?"

shifted from despising him to doubting him, wondering if he had his reasons. Parker listened as Ludwik revealed, "My mother has leukemia. Her bone marrow no longer produces blood

magnified behind his glasses,

sure, that Natalie was

connection with Florence-it was a

pinched the bridge of his nose. "When I first found Florence, she