Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1033

Whitney felt a flutter of unease, a familiar sensation whenever Ludwik spoke. It wasn't like him to make idle conversation. Every word, every question had a purpose behind it. "Spit it out already!" Whitney pressed, her patience thinning.

"First, tell me, who else has been asking about your mother?" Ludwik's voice finally broke the silence.

"My uncle," Whitney replied, her lips pursed, a frown creasing her brow. "You both are so bizarre. My uncle mentioned he dreamt of grandad recently, but mom wasn't anywhere in his dreams. It unsettled him, made him speculate whether mom really perished in that car explosion...

And you, asking about my mom, questioning if she truly died. What, do you suspect she's alive? Why would you even think that?"

Ludwik took his time before responding, his gaze deepening: Had Keegan also inquired about Whitney's mom? Was it a premonition, or just a dream?

They say the departed visit you in dreams.

Had Whitney's grandfather appeared to Keegan in a dream?

"So, your uncle wasn't sure if your mom died in that car, was he?"

"He was sure. He just rushed to the scene too hastily, the explosion was so swift, his focus was entirely on grandad. He mentioned seeing shrapnel from a mask embedded in grandad's heart, so his memory of mom is a bit hazy. But he saw her clothes in the car, believed there was no miracle to be had."

Speaking of her talk with Keegan tonight, Whitney's mood dipped.

No one wished more than her for her mom to have miraculously survived that doomed explosion.

But... was it even possible?

Countless car accident reports told her otherwise. Impossible.

"So, your mother is dead?" Ludwik's voice was low, his brows furrowed, "Did the Valentine family ever retrieve any ashes from the wreckage for DNA testing, to confirm if it was indeed your grandfather and mother?"

Whitney shook her head at her phone, forgetting Ludwik couldn't see her, her face a mask of sorrow and regret. "I was sent overseas to study by Preston's scheming, wasn't home for those two years.

finally returned, the Valentines concealed the truth about my mother and grandfather's deaths, obliterating all evidence, even their personal

was too young to challenge the

their graves were empty, the urns probably filled with

forensic analysis never confirmed if the ashes belonged to two bodies from that

there a one in a million

she didn't die and had fled abroad... to

having undergone surgery to look like Whitney, was receiving

hypothesis was far-fetched, with slim chances, but

grew colder, calculating, as

"I'm sorry, Whitney, I didn't mean

do you think she's alive? Why suddenly bring up my mom, what have you been up to lately?" Whitney pressed, barely holding back her

if they

before finally speaking, "It's related to Chairman Phineas's sudden attack. It's Bryce's move for a comeback, so I need to investigate his

motives... do they involve me? Is that why you're probing into my family

was momentarily stunned

a pause, he reluctantly admitted, "Yes,

I'm working on something. I plan to take down Bryce for good. Don't worry about it, I'll fill you

Chairman Phineas's attack was Bryce's

you suspect

returned to Emperor City suddenly, that's when I learned about his uncle's murder. At this critical time, only the Lutz Group and the Patrick Group had major conflicts with Inko Group after being dropped by Phineas." "Smart, with a keen mind," Ludwik praised lightly, "It was Bryce. So, I'll make sure he pays. But he's leaning on some powerful backers that haven't

asked, does Bryce's support have something to do with

in logic was

the subject, "It's nothing. I

stop being so secretive. If you ask me things

Ludwik softened, his voice deep and reassuring, "Whitney, you

City, this is a battlefield for men like me and Parker. You just need to look after our

else to me. It's a promise from