Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1296

There was something unreadable in Ludwik's eyes. He stepped aside, his long legs halting as he answered his phone, voice low and tense. "Parker, what's up?"

"Is Whitney with you?" Parker's voice came sharp, no small talk, straight to the point.

Ludwik heard the urgency and guessed what was coming. "What happened? Is it Ashton—”

“Valerie might die!" Parker cut him off, his words hitting like a slap.

For a moment, Ludwik's normally stoic face flickered.

He didn't respond right away.

Parker's voice pressed on, cold and fast. "When I got back to Riverbend, Tiana told me Elaine was after Valerie's kid. Ashton wasn't even there, useless as ever. Valerie's a mom—she sensed something was off. Stopped Elaine in time. But they couldn't prove anything to Ashton. No evidence."

Ludwik's jaw tensed.

Parker continued, "A couple days later, Valerie just... couldn't take it. She tried to confront Elaine about it, alone. Now she's missing. Elaine's gone too. Ashton finally realized what was happening. We're searching everywhere. Someone spotted two women heading towards the old dam out by the lake...”

His voice dropped. “That place is dangerous, Ludwik. Valerie might be trying to end it all with Elaine, just to make Ashton see the truth. If Elaine's gone, maybe Ashton will finally get his kid the help she needs. Valerie's lost it, man. Driven mad by Elaine."

“You should tell Whitney to come home. Valerie might not make it—she might

unreadable

said enough. Ludwik kept it short and steady.

too. She's

"Yeah."

hung up, his knuckles white where he

as he turned, heading up the stairs

cracked open, warm light spilling out, catching on the woman at the side of the crib. She was thin as a willow, her delicate face haloed by the glow, long lashes casting shadows. She smiled

feeding their daughter, cradling the bottle

the milk flow slow

She didn't

the weight of

words in her

heart tight, and made a little

it was him, her expression

door frame, hands behind

shy.