Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 686

"Whitney!"

Sandy grabbed her arm, trying to hold her back, "Don't do it. Just call the cops. Looks like there's someone with a knife over there."

"Just call the cops, get Cody to send some security over!"

With those words, Whitney frowned and ran towards the trouble.

But when she reached the alley, in front of a muddy puddle, she was shocked to find Ludwik on the ground, beaten and battered. His once impeccable features were marred with bruises, his clothes stained with dirt and blood. The darkness seemed to swallow him whole, making him appear broken and defeated.

How could Ludwik, known for his strength and fighting skills, be reduced to this? To Whitney, the men attacking him should have been no match for Ludwik's prowess.

Yet there he was, unconscious, his silhouette a shadow of despair.

"Come on, wake up..." Whitney muttered, but before she could finish, one of the thugs, bottle in hand, lunged at Ludwik's leg. Whitney reacted instantly, kicking the man away, "Stop it, I've called the cops!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

he saw her face. Recognizing her, he sneered, "So it's the new head of the Sheldon Group, Ms. Valentine herself. Heard you got hitched. Running to Ludwik's rescue now, are we? Got something

recognizing the man but unable to place

I'm the CEO of the Lane Group!" Lane boasted, clearly underestimating Whitney given the current uncertainties surrounding the Sheldon Group's

then remembered. Lane was the one who had caused a scene

and Ludwik battered on the ground, she

I stumbled upon you beating someone to a pulp. Shouldn't you be

you're protecting Ludwik?"

just a good citizen

bellowed, signaling his bodyguards to attack. But Whitney was unfazed, knowing her backup had arrived.

from their fight with Ludwik, quickly lost ground to the fresh and formidable security team Whitney had

Lane was forced to negotiate, "Look, I got it wrong, okay? Let's pretend this

until Lane confessed his intentions to take over the Lippert Group, admitting he'd been tipped off about Ludwik's drunken state as an opportunity to strike. Accusing the Patrick family of setting him up, Lane tried to deflect blame. Whitney, skeptical but aware she wouldn't get more from him, warned him of the consequences of his actions before letting him go. In the end, Whitney's swift intervention had prevented

think about making a move on the Lippert estate!" "Otherwise, I swear I'll have seen you with a knife, and you wouldn't want Lane to be a

she was the heir to the Sheldon Group, and Lane had

he retorted, "Ms. Valentine, seems like you still have a soft

him off tonight... We'll keep to our own paths

Lane was eager to