Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1297

In the late afternoon, Camilla looked at her and asked gently, “Are you going to raise the baby, sweetheart?" She added, "No matter what you decide, I'll support you."

Now, Ludwik seized on Camilla's question, suddenly turning the moment into something formal-almost like a business negotiation—as he asked Whitney for her answer.

Late that night, when the house was silent, Whitney took a deep breath.

She realized, once again, how Ludwik was every bit the shrewd businessman-methodical and precise. He didn't live by guesswork. Even if he was ninety-nine percent sure what she'd say, he needed to hear her confirm it herself. He needed control—absolute certainty.

The thought left a heavy ache in her chest.

She hated that he kept circling back to this. “Ludwik, what exactly are you getting at?” she snapped.

He picked up on the chill in her tone instantly and knew she'd probably misunderstood his intentions.

He stepped closer, the shadow he cast growing over her. With the warm light behind him, his features seemed carved from marble. He gently wrapped his hand around her wrist, the one holding the baby's bottle. "Don't let this fester inside you, Whitney."

“I don't want to, but you keep bringing it up,” Whitney replied, her brows furrowing, her heart-shaped face darkening.

arms. "So, what kind of answer do you

was the

the night outside. "I want

there's no grandma, no Dad, none

No Sammy, no Danny.

else,

me, honestly, from your heart:

I know some wounds don't heal so

say time heals all, but Whitney, I honestly don't know

he swallowed hard.

up at

letting out a small, tired laugh. "When did I stop being the center of your world? I'm not

eyes shimmered, dark

smile. “Maybe it's what deserve. If you don't care about me anymore, then what's the point of forcing you to accept the baby? Like Grandma said, the

ask you

line of his jaw. She could finally hear what he was really saying. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you using the baby as leverage? If

you dare play