Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1019

"What were you up to? Or did Mr. Lippert think it wasn't worth mentioning to me?"

Whitney was pressing hard, cornering him with every step.

He was well aware there was no sidestepping the truth, his deep-set eyes hiding a whirlpool of secrets as he firmly grasped her delicate shoulders, his Adam's apple bobbing, "I went after Florence; she fled abroad." "What?" Whitney was taken aback, not expecting Florence to be the subject.

Her brow furrowed, recalling the last time Florence made an appearance at the Sheldon Group, right when Bryce's plans fell apart.

After Ludwik blacklisted Bryce, Florence seemed to vanish into thin air.

Whitney guessed she must've been hiding like a rat crossing the street, but she didn't expect her to have fled the country.

"But why were you after her?" Whitney puzzled.

Ludwik's gaze shifted away, dodging the heart of the matter, "She had something important in her possession that I needed to retrieve. It was urgent, and I worried you'd be angrier knowing it involved Florence, so I didn't tell you." Sammy, standing a little way off, listened to his dad spin this yarn, breaking out in a sweat on his behalf.

He also didn't understand why his dad continued to deceive mom.

Why not just tell her about his sister...

His small fists clenched nervously.

Whitney, digesting his explanation, subconsciously thought it must be some corporate secret?

Yet, for some reason, Elaine's insinuations about Florence stealing something valuable from her flashed through her mind.

Her heart skipped a beat, overcome by an inexplicable sense of unease.

catch Florence, then?" Whitney snapped back

"She got away."

the 'important thing'?" Whitney

slender shoulder to clasp her waist, a move brimming with

misty, looked up

his lips turning up with an unusual

few days, and

Ludwik's voice was low, a hint of a smile in his tone, "Leaving you and our son behind was tough. But you don't need to be afraid

her eyes locked with his,

her storm, his strong frame like a protective wall against her fears

and she quickly averted

Let's go inside," she murmured, stepping

standing out, a testament to his strength - and to his injuries. Coupled with... Whitney lifted her

suit was crumpled, an unusual sight

into trouble in

lips parting in a nonchalant smile, "There's always someone who doesn't know better to stay out of

"You also look unrested."

rush back after wrapping up some business, all to see you sooner," he continued, his gaze deep, filled with

at a loss for words, her cheeks

made the heart grow fonder,

she thought, chastising herself

barged in, "Hey! Can you two stop being all lovey-dovey for once?

this time, you come back and this is how you treat

left,

Sammy, do you get what