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?"

the top spot in Harmonia Country, your shine is gone. I was forced out, lost my status. I needed someone

retorted with venom. "I never acknowledged this child. That night, who knows what tricks you used? I wouldn't touch you. You've been using this baby to threaten the Lippert family. Now, it's no longer useful. Get rid of it. I

Florence was both defiant and

to secure Jarvis's support and to use

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

he said, "If you don't want to

deal?" Florence

years ago, Sandy was studying abroad with you. What did you do to

was shocked. How did

Shane have told him? But why would Shane bother

as Ludwik's boot pressed

plenty

She couldn't confess.

mean Shane would never let her off, especially after she played a part

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

truly didn't

you a

dragged her to his car, heading straight for the hospital. He called

as Ludwik left her

resisted the nurses, "I won't do it. Ludwik, this... this isn't even your child! I lied to threaten the Lippert family; it's someone else's. You have no reason to care." Unmoved, Ludwik lit a cigarette in the chilling night,

even if she confessed, he'd still insist on the abortion. Even if there was no hope with Whitney, he owed her