Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 776

But the moment Sandy looked up, she caught Shane's dark gaze fixed on her, a shadow lurking in his eyes as they met hers.

Flustered, her cheeks flushed a deep red. What was that look from Mr. Nelson all about?

In her panic, she grabbed her glass of water, only to choke on it, coughing violently.

"Elodie, why are you scaring the lady like that!" Shane chided, striding over to help Sandy by patting her back.

His display of affection was so natural, it left Elodie speechless, her voice tinged with sarcasm, "Has she caught your fancy, Shane? Oh, I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Sandy's face turned pale with anger.

Seizing the moment, Shane frowned, "Yeah, you are interrupting. Why don't you leave us alone? Besides, shouldn't you be entertaining yourself at the party rather than coming up here looking for Ludwik? What's that about?" "Just... I missed him, that's all."

Elodie stepped closer, towering over Sandy to interrogate her, "Have you seen Ludwik anywhere?"

Unable to hold back, Sandy retorted sarcastically, "Ms. Miller. Wasn't Ludwik under your watchful eye the entire time? How would I have seen him?"

"You can't even keep track of one person, and you're here questioning us," Shane grimaced.

"I blinked, and he was gone," Elodie said defensively, pouting.

Shane didn't expose what she might have done to Ludwik but remarked coolly, "Maybe Ludwik is avoiding you, Elodie. You can't force love, and it's not like he's into you. There's plenty of eligible bachelors after you. Any of them would be a better choice than Ludwik. He's much older than you."

"How much older? Just a dozen years, that's the sweet spot, don't you know?"

Elodie shrugged off the concern, her grip tightening, "Regardless, Ludwik is the one I want."

"Suit yourself, I'm not getting involved. We haven't seen him anyway," Shane said, dismissing her with a sharp look.

already having taken

Shane; she hurried out to continue her search

room closed, Sandy let out a

bothering to check the bathroom. If she had opened

no sound

up to sneak closer to

pulling

gone, I was just going to call my

Sandy naively explained.

that was both amused and knowing, "And interrupt Ludwik in the middle of... something? Let's just say, if Whitney wants to come out, she'll come out." He threw her a seductive glance, "If Whitney's not coming out now,

what?" Sandy was still clueless, her lips parted

race, wishing he could just

the child they had

Ms. Turner. If they can't contain themselves... shouldn't we stand guard, in case someone else comes

that's what Mr.

two unattached individuals, were forced to listen to innuendos outside, made

pale complexion turned adorably red under his gaze,

four years ago, yet now with a

cover your ears?" Shane offered, half-joking, moving closer with his

back, her eyes dodging his, "No, no need... I'm not a little girl. Besides, given Whitney's situation, I can handle it." "You can handle it? What about me, then?" Shane looked at her with deep, meaningful eyes,

Sandy didn't catch on.

-

Inside the bathroom.

drenched form, the

terrified Whitney into silence, fearing the door would burst open to reveal their

bad, help me," Ludwik's pleads were thick with desire,