Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 743

Whitney slammed the door in his face! Oh, how she wished she could give him a couple more kicks, but the opportunity had passed.

She didn't dare stay any longer; who knew if he would try to lay a hand on her again.

Biting her lip hard, she looked around and, seeing no one outside the study, quickly made her escape. Ludwik leaned against the wall, rolling a cigarette in his throat, watching her cautious, thief-like retreat. He took a drag, chuckling softly.

She was gone, but a trace of her feminine fragrance lingered, softly echoing in Ludwik's heart.

He savored the memory of their kiss behind the narrow partition, involuntarily licking his lips.

This sneaky thrill made him wildly infatuated, his heartbeat unstoppable.

-

Whitney didn't dare approach Bryce and instead sought refuge in a restroom.

Ludwik had smudged her lipstick in their hurried encounter; she needed a makeup touch-up.

After fixing herself up, she took a deep breath and returned to the party.

"Whitney! Where have you been? I've been calling you, searching everywhere for you."

The sight of her made Bryce rush over, concern written all over his gentle face.

Whitney felt a twinge of guilt.

She hastily adjusted her hair. "Bryce, sorry, I just saw you chatting with Ronan and the others, so I went to the restroom. My dress was uncomfortable, so I took a while to adjust it." She scrambled for an excuse.

that so?" Bryce's

checked the restroom earlier, even asking a lady to inquire inside, but Whitney was

lied

conspicuously absent from

Perhaps, they had met...

with Ronan; he asked about you, admiring how you've become a businesswoman at such a young age. He's invited us to

not flattery, especially after Ludwik accused her of using her charms for business success three years ago, which had hurt her pride. Since then, she'd

wasn't eager for relentless networking but simply wanted to live

her to be

encouraging toasts, drinking more than she

behalf and later escorted her aside to rest, offering her a warm cup of tea. "Whitney, you've done well, I didn't expect them to be such heavy drinkers. I'll handle the

element, his demeanor gentle yet adept

here tonight mainly to connect with

How

his lips, "Whitney, I indeed came to the party concerned about you. Meeting Ronan was unexpected, so I thought why not make an acquaintance. You're unaware, but The Lutz Group's auditing, tax, and foreign trade companies all

managing a faint smile but added, "Next time, you can just tell me straight. I won't mind, but I do mind if you beat around the bush,

careless,

conciliatory smile, but as he turned to leave, his refined facade

felt like a slap for

obvious in his intentions that

encounter with Ludwik had spurred

That damned man.

Bryce didn't return to schmooze with the politicians but instead met up

was

you out for advice. I need to settle the score with Ludwik tonight, make him regret it, preferably

aback, their

what's got you so