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.

bit her lip in

you hate me, but don't take it out on yourself. You know the condition you're in, Whitney, you need to keep strong. Getting up, having soup, ensuring you're healthy

I were dead? My dad's lying in the ICU, unresponsive, and Florence suddenly becomes the heir to 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

deep, reopening emotional wounds that had yet to

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

none of this would have happened!" Whitney's eyes blazed with

an accomplice, an invisible one

are in this together, then stand

didn't respond, but her eyes

bullets matching those found in Ms. Sheldon. The suspect confessed, claiming he was hired by a shareholder of the Sheldon Group

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

took charge of the case last night, reported

hers, "If you can't accept the surface level of the case, then it's on you to uncover the truth. Are you really willing to let go of the Sheldon Group?" Whitney clenched the sheets, her

position are you in to say these things? Encouraging me to seek the truth, to cling to the Sheldon Group, aren't you afraid your precious Florence will end up being

as he looked at her, "She means nothing to me! Whitney, I want you

yet, and any

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

couldn't, not when

in Whitney's heart, causing

always played both sides, too despicable for

in Florence's grasp,

the audacity to encourage Whitney, claiming Florence meant nothing

Who would believe that?

appear even more