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

much you hate me, but don't take it out on yourself. You know the condition

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

reopening emotional wounds that had yet to

soup into a bowl, then gently encouraged her to sit up, his voice firm yet soothing, "If

weren't for you, none of this would have

was an accomplice, an

believe Florence and I are in this together, then stand

didn't respond, but

and brought the spoon to her pale lips, quickly adding, "Parker investigated the scene thoroughly. The suspect behind Ms. 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, just a director of one of

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

took charge of the case last

it's on you to uncover the truth. Are you really willing to

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

as he looked at her, "She means nothing to me! Whitney, I want you to recover from this state. You need to... maintain a calm heart,

hadn't even settled yet, and any stress

palpable, but he couldn't share it with anyone, just

couldn't, not when

heart,

played both sides, too despicable

in Florence's grasp, yet still

engagement, he had the audacity to encourage Whitney, claiming

Who would believe that?

only made him appear even