Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1020

sure of.

She was the epitome of kindness, grace, and warmth, always able to discern right from wrong. Even when faced with situations that left her startled and initially resistant, she would eventually come around, especially if a child's welfare was at stake. That much he was Yet, the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat, never making it out.

"What do you mean by actually?" Whitney eyed him suspiciously, trying to decipher the unspoken thoughts behind his evasive gaze.

"Nothing, let's just get dinner started, I'm famished." Ludwik's slender fingers rested elegantly on his knee.

Whitney pursed her lips, sensing his reluctance. She had seen him return home, looking rather out of sorts. Frowning slightly, she probed, "Are you sure it's nothing?"

The man paused, a faint smile playing on his lips, "I was just about to compliment you on being a great mother. What, want to hear more?"

Whitney brushed off his comment with annoyance and turned away, her slim figure heading towards the kitchen.

Ludwik leaned forward to grab his glass, his gaze darkening.

A small figure approached, Sammy, having finally managed to send Danny upstairs to get dressed.

Sammy came to his dad's side, catching Ludwik's attention.

He had already noticed Sammy's unease.

Almost in sync with Sammy's worried glance towards the kitchen, Ludwik wrapped an arm around his concerned child, his voice somber, "She's back, daddy brought your sister home, but..." "But what?" Sammy looked up, his eyes reddening, "I want to see her. Daddy, I want to see her!"

"It's complicated."

his son's trembling hand, placing a finger to his lips to keep

down his cheek, "How can my sister be in a bad

Ludwik stroked his head, his expression unreadable,

back his tears, Sammy buried his face in his

quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve

breakfast time arrived, members of the

side wing, Riley Lippert and his wife, accompanied by a bewildered Justin Lippert, made

by her caretaker, emerged from her

he cares about his twins, he's home now!" "Grandma." Ludwik lifted his dark eyes, signaling her to look towards the kitchen, "Whitney knew I was back. She

embarrassed by her loudness and rushed to peek

by Ludwik's suggestive words, she explained, "I got his message in the morning, brought the kids down. He hadn't had breakfast and looked tired, so I just made

merely obliging, not positioning herself as a devoted wife

You're just concerned about me, worried I hadn't eaten and

were slow and deliberate, utterly

servant,

kitchen, unwilling to spare Ludwik

amused by the couple's awkwardness,

over a wife? Whitney, don't take him too seriously. I saw how happy he was with your loving breakfast!" "Camilla..." Whitney was at a loss for words. As long as she was around, Camilla never ceased

read the paper?

upstairs towards his father's

resemblance to the lady of the Lippert household, which filled him with a sense of joy. "Father?" Ludwik inquired about his

reported, "Mr. Lippert, the senior has been working late at the company. With you away, the Lippert Group needed someone to

are appreciated." Ludwik nodded, acknowledging the critical stage of their aerospace technology project with Inko Group, where no mistakes could afford to be made. The competition, particularly from the Patrick Group and Bryce,

thoughts of Florence and the mysterious assailant to Ludwik's mind. With Phineas attacked, the underlying plots against

the weight of these responsibilities,