Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 513

The moment the door to the room clicked shut, Whitney was enveloped in a space that felt too small, too filled with a masculine presence that almost choked her.

Her strength waned as she gasped, "Get out."

"I know you don't want to see me, but you can't avoid me forever," Ludwik said, his voice a mixture of calm and reason.

Whitney felt her defenses crumble as she turned around, her eyes filled with loathing met his striking features, and she metaphorically tore into him. Yet, unlike her, Ludwik's eyes remained deep and untroubled as they swept over her face, down her neck, to her abdomen, filled with an unspoken longing. Ludwik set down his thermos, swiftly scooped her up, and deposited her into the bed with a decisive movement.

Whitney struggled against him, repulsed by his touch, "Let me go! Why do you even dare to come here? Don't you feel disgusted? Florence's official fiancé!"

Her attempts to fight him off were futile, like a delicate deer caught in the grasp of a lion. Her slender wrists were no match for his broad palms.

Her porcelain skin shimmered under his gaze, and Ludwik let her vent her anger through bitter words and physical resistance, which oddly comforted him. He even allowed a slight smile to grace his lips.

"As long as you're letting out your emotions, not bottling them up, I can take whatever you throw at me," he murmured when Whitney reached for a pillow to strike him.

"Enough." Ludwik's voice was gentle yet firm as he placed his hand carefully on her stomach, then quickly moved it to her abdomen, "Stop struggling."

Whitney deflated, her forehead dotted with cold sweat, yet the man before her seemed unaffected, showing not a hint of guilt.

This realization froze her heart, pushing her anger and hatred to their limits.

As tears started to roll down her cheeks, Ludwik panicked.

He leaned in to wipe her hair away from her face, his fingers rough yet tender, a stark reminder of his masculinity.

me!" she bit her lip in

out on yourself. You know the condition you're in, Whitney, you need to keep strong.

the Sheldon Group. Do you understand the intrigue behind all this? You know, don't you! You're on Florence's side, an accomplice in their schemes, Ludwik, I've never hated anyone as much as I hate you now.

deep, reopening emotional wounds that had

his voice firm yet soothing, "If you're aware of the

it weren't for you, none of this would have happened!"

an invisible

"If you believe Florence and I are

but her eyes

Sheldon's shooting has been caught, with bullets matching those found in Ms. Sheldon. The suspect confessed, claiming he was hired by a shareholder of the Sheldon Group with a grudge against your father. That shareholder has been arrested,

she digested the information, her gaze turning icy, "A director from a Sheldon Group

charge of the case last night, reported to

feed her the soup, his eyes locking with hers, "If you can't accept the surface level of the case, then it's on you

Encouraging me to seek the truth, to cling to the Sheldon Group, aren't you

her, "She means nothing to me! Whitney, I

and any stress

was palpable, but he couldn't share it with anyone, just watching her fragile beauty

not when she despised him

Whitney's heart,

played both sides,

in Florence's grasp,

their engagement, he had the audacity to encourage

Who would believe that?

appear even more