Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 670

Ashton furrowed his brows, a thought suddenly striking him as he recalled the day Bryce and Keegan had come in to file a report. He took a closer look at Bryce, realizing that the man's once gentle demeanor had shifted into something more sinister and cold.

"You know, now that you mention it, I remember Ludwik really did Bryce dirty a few years back.

Like, remember when Bryce and Whitney were gonna get hitched? Ludwik just blasted their engagement by leaking some scandalous pics, driving Whitney away and somehow getting Bryce behind bars.

And now, years later at another wedding, Ludwik goes and kidnaps the bride again.

It's like a repeat offense, a slap in the face, a real humiliation for Bryce. Any guy would harbor some serious hate after that."

Felix was internally alarmed.

"I've heard Danny ranting about how Bryce was such a sneak before.

I didn't get the full picture of what he did to tick Danny off so much.

But piecing it together now, Bryce is clearly no amateur. He's got his hands reaching into Emperor City's police force, which is no small feat.

If he keeps targeting Mr. Lippert, given Mr. Lippert's current standing, that spells trouble."

Ashton's gaze darkened, "What's worse, Bryce operates in the shadows, leaving no trace."

Both men felt at a loss.

Just then, the emergency room doors burst open, and a doctor wheeled out Ludwik on a stretcher, his robust frame rigid, his handsome face drained of color.

He was conscious.

"Ludwik!" Ashton rushed over, "How are you feeling?"

the doctor coughed uncomfortably, "The patient required immediate surgery for his injuries, which were quite severe. As

not be able to... perform?" Ludwik's face was a storm cloud,

the doctor, intimidated by Ludwik's icy stare, softened his wording, "Sir, just rest up and keep a positive attitude.

hit Ludwik

such news would struggle to stay

was a man in his prime, suddenly incapacitated...

driven by desire, but he loved Whitney. He had foolishly convinced

back.

odds, he believed in a turnaround, that handling the Lippert family's issues and finding Parker would pave his way to reclaiming

felt like

If his body couldn't recover, what hope did

her back, to live as

jest at him,

crumbled, then legal troubles, and now, his physical abilities threatened,

this punishment for his past wrongs

Brutal.

now a dead end? Was he doomed to

defenses shattered, his spirit crumbling into

The doctor said there's still a chance," Ashton, seeing his friend's despair, grew anxious, having never seen Ludwik in such a

and the early struggles of Imperial Gem

to be

now, Ashton saw no such conviction

faced ruin, Ludwik

Lippert... medical science is advanced these days, you must believe in the possibility of healing!" Felix tried to offer some comfort, "Look at your previous condition, Ms. Valentine cured it. Maybe she can help with this

Ludwik's voice was laced with bitter mockery, "I've done many wrongs to her, forced her, so maybe

over a woman. If you had just let Whitney go during the chip

not now!" Felix thought, criticizing

much, bringing up Whitney now was

Ashton sighed deeply.