Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 856

Whitney sighed, her tone laced with exasperation, "Do you think I'd let him install cameras in the bedroom?" Ludwik's gaze darkened, "What about the bathroom?"

"Absolutely not!"

Whitney's face flushed with indignation, "If he did, do you think I could ever feel comfortable living there?"

"You didn't tell me about this at all."

Ludwik suddenly swerved the steering wheel, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Whitney was jolted by his abrupt movement, her soft hair brushing against her fair cheeks. She peeked at him through her locks, noticing the storm brewing in his expression, "What's got you so mad, Ludwik?" "What do you think I'm mad about?"

His question was gentle yet loaded with restraint.

"If I had known you were living under his watch, I never would've agreed to let you stay in that mansion! Whitney, if he ever spied on you in the shower, I'd gouge his eyes out!"

Whitney fell silent for a moment, her heart racing.

From the turmoil in his deep eyes, she knew he wasn't speaking lightly.

Her fingers twitched as she hurriedly explained, "Are you out of your mind? He didn't. I know how to protect myself."

Ludwik scoffed, "If you knew how to protect yourself, how did you almost end up choked or poisoned that night? I never want to experience that fear again. I hate that I didn't know the danger you were in by staying with Bryce. You kept it from me. If it weren't for Tiana and Parker arriving in time, and Sammy spilling the beans, do you have any idea what Bryce could've done to you? My woman, I won't let him lay a finger on you, not even a glance, without making him pay tenfold!"

Whitney stared at his determined features, feeling her heart tremble with a mix of emotions, eventually settling into a warm flutter.

She clenched her fists, reminding herself not to be swayed by his words.

appearance and muttered, "Anyway, I got out

you mean by that?" Ludwik turned to her again,

her words,

abruptly pulled the Rolls-Royce to the side of the road and leaned

Whitney's face was overshadowed as she tried to push him away, "Ludwik, what

burning bridges," he said with

back!" Whitney

huh? Whitney." His hand brushed her cheek, leaving her shivering with

you didn't want to, whatever happened to the Sheldon Group would not be your concern. What gives you the right to lecture

would never let you suffer for the sake of business or profit, not even the slightest. I would never make you wait in distress, hoping for a turnaround. Even if I, Ludwik, were down and out, I'd fight tooth and nail for you, Whitney. A man's instinct is to love his woman. I don't want your thanks. If possible, Whitney... I

What next?

propose they get back

and glistening as she stared at

couldn't let him continue, not

impulse, she pushed away his approaching lips, blocking his next words with her hand against his mouth while he

"Damn." Ludwik cursed silently.

distance and don't overstep," Whitney warned, her

her, before he kissed her hand again and finally

as she leaned back, trying to calm her racing heart. "Bryce has already met his downfall. Let's just watch him unravel. Don't do anything rash that could tarnish our reputation. The Lippert family's products are

concerned about me?

feeling trapped by his phrasing, "What 'our Lippert family'? Don't flatter yourself. I want no part of it." "Whitney," he said, echoing Tiana, "even if you're not ready, I'll wait for you. Besides, we're allies in this fight. Don't draw

yet. If you fall again, I don't want people thinking I'm close to you. I need

her, though he knew she was just

understood how tender-hearted she

if touched by the thaw of frost, "How about we head over to Grandma's place? Danny and Sammy have been missing you, but they just can't bear to leave Great-Grandma after a couple of days. Don't make it hard

Whitney was torn.

place imply?