Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1058 The man raised his large hand, trying to calm her down. "Whitney, just hear me out..."

"Hear you out about what? About how you and he conned me, or about how this child was brought back by Ludwik from Florence?"

Her eyes couldn't help but tremble with anger. It all came back to her now. When she had asked Ludwik what he was up to in Eurovoria, he said he was retrieving something important from Florence.

She felt so foolish, having thought it was some documents or critical business secrets. How could she have imagined it was a person, a child, a living, breathing infant?!

Whitney was on the brink of being overwhelmed by the insane speculations swirling in her mind. She stared directly at Shane, her eyes blazing, "Is this baby Florence's?"

"Whitney, I..." Shane was at a loss for words.

His silence only made Whitney's composure crumble further.

Flashes of memories from eight months ago surged through her mind. She vividly remembered Ludwik and Florence having a drunken night together, though he had fervently explained afterward that nothing happened between them. Even when Florence turned out to be pregnant, he insisted the child wasn't his. Whitney had been so disillusioned back then, forcing herself not to care whether Florence's child was his. Then, so many things happened. They were both too caught up in their own issues.

Yet, oddly enough, Ludwik had never once pressured Florence to terminate the pregnancy. Now, looking back, Whitney realized the signs had been there all along.

Even when Florence was ousted from the Sheldon Group, she was still very much pregnant. Ludwik never made her get rid of the child.

And Whitney had believed his lies, thinking the baby had nothing to do with him. But now... ten months later, Ludwik had gone all the way to Eurovoria to bring back his own flesh and blood.

"This baby, it's the child Florence carried for Ludwik, isn't it? It's his own flesh and blood, isn't it?" Whitney asked Shane, her voice hoarse with tears and accusation.

Shane watched her face crumble, the beauty marred by heartbreak and anger. He hesitated, unsure of what to say, but he could only state what he knew. "Whitney..."

just tell me," she

country. He brought the baby with him. The moment I saw that bundle, I knew something was off, because you certainly weren't pregnant during those months. I asked Ludwik, but he said nothing. And you know his nature better than I do, ruthless, threatening me to ensure the child's well-being. He did admit...

back a couple of

pieces fit

a word,

wasn't pregnant," Whitney said with a bitter, ironic smile. "The child couldn't possibly be mine." "Try to stay calm for a moment. I know you're furious right now. But there's something I still don't understand. Why are your two sons visiting this baby they were supposed to resent? It's a girl. I asked them, but they

froze for a moment, her mind

She couldn't comprehend it!

what hurt the most. Sammy and Danny also knew about Ludwik

them had conspired to

kept her so deeply in

why were they visiting this baby? Didn't they

It was too disappointing.

her side since he was little, had

wave of unprecedented desolation and emptiness

in a sea of anger and disappointment, unable to pull herself out, unable

losing their spark. "Sure, of course. It's his own flesh and blood. He couldn't bear to lose it, especially since it was almost born! So, he tells me sweet lies of regret, while secretly going to Eurovoria to claim his child. Fine. He's even convinced Sammy and Danny to join his side. And I... have

sense of despair and fury left Whitney unable to stand there any longer. Every second felt like torture

tight, her face pale

and bolted out

called out, panic rising in his chest. Whitney was usually a calm, collected woman, excellent at handling problems. But

could deeply empathize with her

need him. But Shane had