Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1169

Suddenly, just as Whitney reached out to check his pulse, the man's hand shot out and gripped hers tight.

His grasp was strong-surprisingly strong for someone fresh out of surgery-but his fingers were cold and trembling.

Whitney froze, startled. She looked up, only to find herself staring into the deep, hollow eyes of a man who'd just clawed his way back from the brink. Ludwik was awake, his gaze dark and stormy, his brow furrowed as he fixed her with a look that could pierce steel.

He was clearly upset-but not because of anything she'd threatened. No, it was something else. It was what she'd said earlier, about him being "old."

Getting called old-especially by the woman he loved-hit Ludwik like a truck. That's just not something you say to a man, especially not when he's fighting for his life and trying to win you back.

His eyes, usually sharp and intimidating, now looked almost... wounded. He pressed his lips into a thin, stubborn line and dropped his gaze down from her rosy cheeks.

"What, you think I've been treating you so badly?" Whitney huffed, rolling her eyes at his pitiful look. "If I hadn't stayed by your side through that surgery, you'd still be lying on that table-nobody would even bother to claim your body!"

She tried to sound tough, but the tears brimming in her eyes gave her away. She was worried sick, and they both knew it.

caught the flicker of fear and concern in her face. For a moment, his battered

play it cool, but his voice was rough as gravel. "Look, I just had surgery. I'm at my weakest right now, and

let go.

Whitney shot back, tugging at her hand. "It's not like I'm lying. You're not as tough as you used to be, and you still insisted on chasing after

grip, wrapping her whole hand in his. He tried to sit up, wanting to be closer to

you dare

out, panic in her voice. "Just because I called you

right by getting yourself killed, you idiot. Abdominal surgery is

"So tell me—am I really

no! Of course not!" she sputtered,

That's all I needed to hear." He let out a shaky breath, finally letting his head rest

couldn't resist trying to trip her up. Men

in, but since he still held her hand in a vice grip, she couldn't stand up

he was running on empty. And Ludwik, in turn, saw the glint of tears in her dark eyes,

the kids. That's a promise," Ludwik said, jaw clenched against the pain