Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 712

"His name's Ludwik."

Florence jumped, her eyebrows knitting together in a mix of disdain and irritation. "Oh, him. Just tell him I'm not here, would you?"

Before she could finish her sentence, there was a loud crash-a figure had smashed through the window, making a dramatic entrance. Florence whipped around to see Ludwik, towering and imposing, stepping over the shattered glass.

"Ludwik..."

"Yeah, look at me now. Down on my luck, so when I come looking for my 'fiancée,' suddenly she's not home?"

Ludwik approached her with a mocking sneer, his presence overwhelming.

Florence's pale face flushed with embarrassment and anger, stepping back under his intimidating aura. But then she remembered he was nothing now, no longer the man he used to be. Why should she fear him?

Straightening her back, she forced a smile. "Ludwik, what are you talking about? I've been worried sick about you. Even after Nolan's betrayal, you still hold a place in my heart."

Ludwik's disgust was palpable, his sneer disappearing. "First time seeing you so shameless. But your happy days are over. Whitney did a number on you, kicked you out of the Sheldon Group. Now I hear you're shacking up with Jarvis?"

His gaze fell to her slightly swollen belly, his disdain growing. If it weren't for this baby, he and Whitney wouldn't have fallen out so badly. He wouldn't have had to crash a wedding, causing her to never forgive him.

His eyes hardened.

Fixing his gaze on her belly, he stated coldly, "Since you've moved on to Jarvis so quickly, that belly doesn't seem right anymore, does it?"

choose Jarvis? It's every man for himself. You lost the top spot in Harmonia Country, your shine is gone. I was forced out, lost my status. I needed someone to rely on, for my baby, for my mother. What did I do wrong? I even still love you... so I've been desperate to keep this baby. And now you want me to get rid of it?

"I never acknowledged this child. That night, who knows what tricks you used? I wouldn't touch

won't do it!" Florence was both defiant

support and to use against

ground with his handcrafted leather boots inches

don't want

of deal?" Florence looked up,

with you. What did you do to

How did Ludwik

But why would Shane bother

boot pressed

You've done plenty of

She couldn't confess.

off, especially after she

same school, but I barely knew Sandy. How would I know what

truly didn't do

you

heading straight for the hospital. He called Ashton, instructing him to

Ludwik left her at

threaten the Lippert family; it's someone else's. You have no reason to care." Unmoved, Ludwik lit a cigarette in the chilling night, his cold profile sharp as a blade. "Better to err on the side of caution. Or, you

if she confessed, he'd still insist on the abortion. Even if there was no