Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1017

Shane was left utterly speechless.

That was until he caught the menacing glare from Ludwik's eyes.

In an instant, he silenced all his questions, yet his eyes darted around, filled with speculation. If the child belonged to Florence, Ludwik wouldn't have anything to do with it. Yet, here he was, looking haggard and pleading for Shane's help to save his child. Something didn't add up. Whose child was this, anyway?

With countless questions swirling in his mind, Shane also felt a chill from the man's aura of danger and decided not to probe further.

The baby lay motionless in the incubator, her skin so tender and pink, invoking a surge of compassion, yet she appeared so fragile and pitiful.

Shane had once taken care of Sandy Turner's child, right from the start, and his heart softened at the sight.

He quickly made a call, "Doc, you need to get over here, and bring your best pediatricians, and hurry!"

Before long, a team of pediatric specialists arrived, filing into the emergency room.

"Looks like a preterm birth. What's the weight, barely 4 pounds?"

"Severe jaundice over here."

"She might have a lung infection too. Quick, let's check her breathing and get started."

"We can't delay; this is Mr. Nelson's friend's daughter. Everyone, let's get to it!"

Inside the emergency room, the doctors' voices echoed, organized and efficient.

Ludwik stood by the door, an immovable figure carved from ice, gazing through the glass without a flicker of movement.

It was only when he saw the doctors beginning to treat his daughter, their skilled medical interventions and experienced consultations, that he finally let out the breath he'd been holding, easing the tension in his chest.

His lips barely moved as he glanced at Shane, "Thanks."

thanks among friends!" Shane clapped him

his tongue, offering comfort instead, "Don't worry, we've got the best pediatric team in the country right here. They won't let anything happen to your daughter. They're experts at

you need to do is wait and keep hope

way, have you

gaze withdrew from the window, as if suddenly

forgotten the most

his phone, his rugged fingers pressing the screen with a deliberate force,

over his chiseled jaw, "Please, Mr. Nelson, look after her for a few hours. Let me

you headed?" Shane turned, as

strides were long and decisive, "I

surely come looking for him as soon as

He couldn't stay here!

yet, not with his daughter's condition so precarious and their situation so

revelation, afraid that it might bring

still for a moment, making a silent wish in the sunlight that his

right away,

car and leaned back, closing

of Mr. Lippert's intentions, simply followed orders

-

a.m., Whitney

about the threat to her children, she had

Lippert family mansion without Ludwik's presence. She had

without Ludwik's return, Whitney heard from

attack, fearing its unusual nature and the possibility of it being linked to Bryce or the Patrick family. A sudden chill ran through her as she

Whitney got out of bed, tiptoeing to open the curtains to a

to check the time

a long-missed

the notification, her complexion paling but her eyes darkening with emotion. Was he finally reaching out

message, she read the brief, characteristic words: Whitney, I'm