Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 543

"Man, you forked over a ton of cash to that godforsaken land of Beloria, nearly lost your life there in the past couple of weeks, and those Beloria Border bullies still gave you hell. Why's that?"

"Not much of a surprise when it's their turf, and they had guns pointed at my head," Ludwik replied with an eerie calmness, wiping the blood from his face with a grace that somehow conveyed a wild arrogance to Whitney. Bloodied and battered, he emanated an aura of defiance and danger. Whitney felt a chill run down her spine!

Parker approached, voice lowered in fury, "The customs holding you up, that's gotta be Jarvis' doing, right? He can't stand the thought of you not being dead in Beloria. On the day of your mom's surgery, he doesn't want you back home!"

Whitney felt waves of shock. Had the feud between Jarvis and Ludwik escalated to this bloody extent? She harbored a secret about Jarvis and Thea, and now Ludwik seemed to be in deep trouble. Should she spill it to him?

"I'll settle the score with him about the Beloria mess. Is Dr. Ford here yet?" Ludwik cut Parker off, not wanting Whitney to dwell on his perilous journey.

Parker nodded, "Dr. Ford and his team are prepping in the OR. Natalie's about to be put under. Dr. Ford said the surgery should take around four hours if all goes well. If..." Parker's voice hitched, his brow furrowed deeply, "You just got back. Go see Natalie; she's been waiting for you."

Ludwik turned abruptly, his gaze heavy with unspoken dread briefly meeting Whitney's, revealing a fleeting glimpse of vulnerable fear. Whitney understood that look; if Natalie didn't make it through the surgery, this might be their last goodbye. In Natalie's heart, she and Ludwik were still married, still family. Without hesitation, Whitney picked up Danny and headed in the direction Parker pointed.

"Let me hold him," the man said with a sigh of relief, his deep voice enveloping her.

Following him to the hospital room, they found Natalie dressed for surgery, sitting quietly in a wheelchair. Parker was about to call out to her when Ludwik's hand suddenly stopped him.

face set in a grim line, "Parker, I can't go in there. Let my

in his throat, "But what

was ice cold, firm, and

call, "Security, bring Ms.

hanging up, Parker reported in a hushed tone, "I had security track Florence for a week; she's been cooperative, even when I had her under house arrest yesterday. Didn't resist or try to back out of

"Whatever game she's playing, today her spinal fluid is going into my mother, whether she likes it or not. If she's smart, she'll avoid

he spoke, Florence, seated in a wheelchair, approached him. His voice wasn't low, deliberately meant

her

landing on Whitney, a thorn in her side. Tears welled up as she looked up at Ludwik with feigned affection, "Ludwik, I promised you, and I'll give my most precious thing for Natalie's recovery. If I had any intention of backing out, I wouldn't be here today." She stood, tiptoed closer to Ludwik, her eyes shimmering with hope, cautiously adding,

forget what you promised."

words lingered in the air, reaching Whitney's ears. Tiana also caught the undertone, glaring at Florence with disdain, whispering to Whitney, "She's putting on quite the show, acting

moment? Ludwik offered no response to Florence's plea, his cold gaze cutting through the air as he stepped away, "Let's get this over with. Remember what I said. No tricks. My mother makes it through today, so do you." His threat sent shivers

Myra, with Ludwik and Parker watching until she disappeared inside. In the OR, Florence lay on the table, Ryan

his hand on a cooler

outside, breathless, his intense gaze locked on the operating room's light, standing

side, his tiny hand gripping onto the fabric of his jeans.