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.

in a grim line, "Parker, I can't go in there. Let my mother keep waiting, keep holding on till after the

caught in his

cold, firm, and merciless as he turned to leave, "Where's Florence? Bring

"Security, bring Ms. Sheldon over. She's needed

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 the donation. She's only left under my watch to visit the hospital with Holly once, to get some meds from Ryan. Everything's been too smooth.

Parker, his calm demeanor hiding a ruthless edge, "Whatever game she's playing, today her spinal fluid is

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

clenched her fists,

you, and I'll give my most precious thing for Natalie's recovery. If

forget what you promised."

whispering to Whitney, "She's

she preparing her body for this 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

watching until she disappeared inside. In the OR, Florence lay on the table, Ryan concealed among

his hand on a

supplies. The transplant began, and Ludwik waited outside, breathless, his intense gaze locked on the operating

dad's side, his tiny hand gripping onto the fabric of his jeans. The hallway was silent as