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?"

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

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

Florence was both

to secure Jarvis's support and to use against Whitney in

caught her easily, throwing her to the ground with his handcrafted leather boots inches from her hand, instilling

said, "If you don't want to lose the baby,

of deal?" Florence looked

abroad with you. What did you do to

How did Ludwik

him? But why would Shane

Ludwik's boot pressed down on her

losing patience. You've done plenty of wrongs.

She couldn't confess.

let her off, especially after she played a part in

same school, but I barely knew Sandy. How would I know what happened to her? Don't pin everything on me!" "Refusing to

didn't do

gave you a

He called Ashton, instructing him to find the best

was hysterical as Ludwik left her at the surgery department's

have no reason to care." Unmoved, Ludwik lit a cigarette in the chilling night, his cold profile sharp as a

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