Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 790

"Ludwik, what in the world are you doing here at this hour?" Whitney asked, surprise flickering through her voice as she picked up the call.

Ludwik's lips were a tight line. "I got you some first aid cream. Felix told me it's the best, works wonders. The bruise on your face should stop hurting in a day or two."

"...How did you know?" Whitney's brow furrowed, realization dawning on her that the kids must have seen her swollen face and told Ludwik.

Her tone slightly uneasy, she said, "I've already applied some herbal paste, it's not hurting anymore."

"Herbal remedies don't work that fast. My ointment is way better. Come out, let me help you apply it," Ludwik insisted.

Whitney felt a headache coming on, remembering this bruise was ultimately because of him. "You're not a doctor, how would you know my herbal paste isn't as good as your cream? Is everything you buy the best in the world? Ludwik, please, I'm begging you, stop bothering me. Every time you're involved, it's never good news."

"...Sorry, Whitney. Did Bryce hit you because he found out about that night in the bathroom when you were helping me?" Ludwik's voice was cold with a chilling undertone, filled with pain as he asked.

Whitney paused, surprised. She thought he only knew about her injury, not that Bryce had hit her. Her thoughts were in turmoil, not wanting to add more trouble, especially knowing his temper, "Don't jump to conclusions, it's not because of you..."

"Darling, stop lying to me," Ludwik's voice was gentle, but his eyes pierced with a cold sharpness. "I went to the Sheldon Group looking for you yesterday, Cody said you didn't show up for work. Did he hit you the night before, and that's why you've been hiding?" His anger grew with every word, his fingers clenched. "That bastard Bryce, I won't let him get away with this. I'm going to make him pay, I could kill him right now."

"Ludwik...have you lost your mind?" Whitney's voice burst out in fear. Knowing his temper, he might actually confront Bryce, and given his current down-and-out status, getting into a fight would land him in jail. Did he not understand?

"Don't you dare go!"

feel helpless. My woman gets hurt, and I can't tolerate that scumbag. I've left the ointment at your

place the ointment carefully by the door,

her breath and hurried downstairs, blocking his car a few meters away, "What are you doing? Isn't it enough that I came down?" Ludwik hit the brakes, thankfully not too fast. The headlights flashed, illuminating her slender figure almost transparently. She had rushed out so quickly that she hadn't even put on a coat over her silk nightdress, and

pulling her into his arms under the cloak of night. His eyes bore into hers, "Bryce dared to hurt

rage in

voice trembled with a cold edge, "Ludwik, please

would find it

lifted her chin gently, guilt-ridden, "It's my fault. If I hadn't been drugged, you wouldn't have

touched her bruised cheek. Whitney's skin heated under his touch, her heart fluttering, nearly bringing her to tears. But she reminded herself not to fall for it, turning her

Slap-

face. Whitney stared in shock at his swiftly reddening cheek

gaze dark and intense, he took her hand and placed it on his cheek, "Now I can feel your pain.

a few steps as she looked into

could hardly move, nestled against his chest, the cold night air chilling the sweat on her back and lifting

hand gently rested on her leg, his voice heavy, "Whitney, divorce Bryce. He doesn't deserve you! He can't use

"I'll make my own decisions, without your interference. Let me go. If my uncle and Yael see us like this, even jumping into the river won't

wouldn't dare!"