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."

hands on the Sheldon Group,

at Tiana. "Has

The scandal about Whitney's affair

"He's scared. I told him we had dirt on his club escapades, and he's afraid Whitney might go scorched

when Tiana gasped at a screenshot from a netizen. She clicked on it, exclaiming, "Ludwik! Some reporter dug up your medical records from the andrology clinic-look at this-'erectile dysfunction,' clear as day..." Tiana's face flushed pink, and the netizens were in an uproar. Suddenly, the narrative around Whitney's affair

and Whitney couldn't be intimate, does that really count as

kissing don't count as

knew

shoved these comments in front of

earlier words forgotten. "Ludwik, look

said, unable to hide her admiration. "Man, you really threw your pride out the window to win Whitney

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

to know, just shut up," Whitney cut him off, her

Bryce, as furious as he might be, wouldn't dare stoke the flames knowing you have that damning video of

devious ways and talent for schmoozing, it won't be long before he has the old

to denounce that power of attorney, the contract's in black and white. Legally,

Bryce." Ludwik's face turned stern, his gaze on her sending a chill

unable to conjure any plan that

plan?"

hand enveloped her cold fingers, his warmth reassuring. "You'll see when we get back to

who shrugged, indicating she was also in the dark

the villa,

he couldn't yet reveal his whereabouts, Ludwik gestured for him to