Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1314

She clenched her jaw, frustration tightening her voice. "You don't have to pretend you don't care, you know. Elaine was really tangled up with you, back in the day."

"Is it just a thing with women?" Ludwik shot back, his tone edged with impatience. "You want us to say something we don't mean, just so you can prove your own suspicions, and then get mad anyway and threaten to break up? Is that how this goes?"

Whitney fell silent. He'd boxed her in-what else could she say?

"Are you seriously calling me dramatic right now, Mr. Lippert?"

"No. Sorry. Wouldn't dare," he answered curtly.

But Whitney could practically hear the smooth-talking, the fake humility in his

words.

Her jaw tightened, like she'd just tried to punch a pillow-no resistance at all.

Ludwik, the sly old fox.

"You slap me with one hand, and toss me a sugar cube with the other. Ludwik, do you really think I'm that easy to brush off?"

Ludwik: ...

to him why ex-wives were so impossible to

I really don't care about Elaine anymore. You know,

splinter right now. That's why I have

for sweet nothings anyway. Their

in a half smile. "So, what do you want

a beat. "For starters, when are you coming back

in Chicago for two days. I

lets anyone from the Lippert family hold her seems like she

hit Whitney right in the gut. Her mother's instincts kicked in,

"Oh, really? I thought

Valerie's still a baby. At this age, a mom's daily presence is key to

since when did he know so much? He probably binge-read some parenting blogs

bristled, but had to admit he wasn't

one. But she wasn't about to let him boss her around. "Once I

Ludwik continued, "Parker says

Ashton, Nolan, and if all else fails old Mr