Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 819

That night, Bryce had given her a beating so bad that I had no choice but to carry her back for treatment, waiting anxiously for the injury report to come out.

Frankly, I wish she had cheated on me instead. Blame me, why don't you? I was ambushed by Bryce's goons at the police station, hit in a spot that left me powerless. If you don't believe me, go check my hospital records!" Ludwik spilled the beans to the reporters without holding anything back.

Whitney stared at him, dumbfounded. His handsome, stoic face seemed to betray no emotion. What was this guy doing? Going to such lengths to clear her name, was he really willing to throw away his pride?

She stealthily pinched his muscular arm, trying to silence him.

But Ludwik just caught her hand, winked, and whispered in her ear, "It's okay, a real man doesn't mind losing face to protect the woman he loves. Besides, I don't need to prove anything to them. As long as you know I can handle it, that's enough." Whitney was speechless, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

What did she know? He was acting all cocky before even making a full recovery.

"I think you're just bluffing now. You're probably beyond help," Whitney couldn't resist pouring cold water on him.

Ludwik's forehead creased with annoyance. Was she dissatisfied with their last night's encounter?

"It'll get better, why don't we give it another go when we get back?" His face lit up with a mix of earnest and anticipation. Whitney glared at his striking features. If not for the crowd around them, she might have kicked him into next week.

However, his diversion did help to alleviate some of her frustration with the press's probing questions. "Forget about them. The media's just looking for a circus. Let's get out of here."

Ludwik's commanding presence pushed back the encircling reporters, and he guided her into the car.

As they drove away, Tiana was busy scrolling through the hot gossip about Whitney's alleged affair, ready to hack into the troll accounts Bryce had bought. But then she noticed something. "Hey, the scandal doesn't seem to be blowing up anymore... Those trolls are quieting down too?

Damn... And there's Florence, that snake, hiring trolls to play the victim, claiming she was unfairly ousted from the Sheldon Group by you. She must be hoping to use public sympathy to worm her way back into the Sheldon Group."

Bryce, and he's using her as a pawn to get his hands on the Sheldon Group, he must have promised her a return to

at Tiana. "Has

about Whitney's

scared. I told him we had dirt on his club escapades, and he's afraid

"Ludwik! Some reporter dug up your medical records from the andrology clinic-look at this-'erectile dysfunction,' clear

Whitney couldn't be intimate, does that really

don't count

Geez, who knew Ludwik was

comments in front of

embarrassment, her earlier words forgotten. "Ludwik, look at what you've

clear Whitney's name, totally sacrificing your own reputation," Tiana said, unable

gave me the idea. No worries, I'm almost healed. What outsiders think doesn't bother me, as long as Whitney

want to know, just shut up," Whitney cut him off, her face a beacon

further discomfort. "The scandal should gradually die down now. Bryce, as furious as he might

devious ways and talent for schmoozing, it won't be long

"Too bad, even if my father stood up now to denounce that power of attorney,

with Bryce." Ludwik's face turned stern, his gaze on her sending a chill down her spine, reminding her of the Ludwik who had never truly

any plan that could salvage the Sheldon

your plan?"

fingers, his warmth reassuring. "You'll see when we get back to the

she

the villa, Parker was

yet reveal his whereabouts, Ludwik gestured for him to come over. "Parker, tell Whitney who