Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 80
Whitney trembled all over, chilled to the bone as if drenched by a bucket of ice water that stung her eyes and turned them red.
Her lips quivered, her face pale as death, not understanding why he was so furious with her. She was already exhausted.
She nodded weakly, a bitter laugh escaping her, “Fine, I’m despicable. I’m worn out. It’s been too much tonight, and I have no
desire to argue with you anymore–especially since you’ve arrived so late.”
Bitterness spread from the tip of her heart, and a subtle ache proved more piercing than any physical wound.
“Bro, don’t stoop to his level, you’ve hurt your lip,” Elaine suddenly panicked, hurrying over.
Observing that Whitney didn’t turn to Ludwik but instead assisted Simon, Elaine knew tonight would be full of drama.
Suppressing her excitement, she worriedly helped Ludwik to his feet.
Ludwik’s gaze turned colder. Even Elaine, an outsider, knew to help him.
Was Whitney a complete fool to assist Simon instead?
His eyes fixed on the woman before him, and upon spotting the men’s sweater she wore, his temper flared again. He strode
over, grabbed her arm without a word, and started tugging at her sweater, “Whose damn clothes are you wearing?”
“L, don’t touch me...” Whitney’s face grew paler still.
“I can’t touch you? Who can, him?” His anger swelled, his grip tightening on her wrist.
Whitney felt as if her arm would snap; the pain left her speechless.
“Have you lost your mind? Don’t lay a finger on her! Do you have any idea what... what happened to her in jail?” Simon tried to
rise, his voice filled with rage.
Elaine stomped on Simon, cutting off his words with a yelp of pain. She rushed to Whitney’s side, her face etched with concern,
“Bro, easy. Whitney might’ve been hurt in the lockup.”
Examining Whitney’s face, which was indeed pale, Ludwik detected no sign of injury.

His expression turned even colder. It was clear that Elaine was trying to cover for her.
Just a moment ago, they said she was merely shaken.
She seemed energetic enough to cozy up with Simon in the restroom! His judgment clouded by rage, and he was beyond
reason.
The thought that she believed Simon had saved her put a crack in Ludwik’s composure.
“She’s not hurt. She looked quite fine to me! Cozying up with another man in the restroom, no wonder she didn’t answer my
calls!” Ludwik’s eyes were icy.
Whitney’s heart chilled upon hearing his tone.
Those two women in the holding cell intentionally avoided leaving visible marks on her face, concealing the bruises, yet this

didn’t mean she was uninjured!
Was he blind?
Tonight, she had endured immense suffering- beaten while carrying his child, terrified, slandered, sitting motionless in an
interrogation room for hours without water, anticipating his arrival, wishing he would
intervene as he did at that charity gala...
But he didn’t show up.
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And those first two calls she made to him? He didn’t answer those either.
Now, he arrived at his leisure, with Elaine in tow.
The thought of it, the pent–up emotions and tension of the night, all collapsed within her.
Summoning her strength, Whitney shoved Ludwik aside. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes as she exclaimed, “Yeah, I’m
fine, your baby’s fine too! I’m not in pain at all. I was so busy in the restroom, busy vomiting my guts out...”
The bastard. It was her first bout of morning sickness, and she wanted to share it with him, wanted his support as the father.
The bastard. He was late, and then he misunderstood her.
Whitney was also a socialite. She had never experienced such humiliation before.
“If I’m despicable, then you’re a bastard. You have no idea how I felt in despair. I don’t even want to ask what kept you so busy
tonight. Why didn’t you answer my calls, why you were so late...” Her gaze swept past Elaine and him standing shoulder to
shoulder, a cold laugh escaping her, “Now I see, you weren’t busy with anything important.”
Why did he bring his so–called sister on a business trip? Why did he bring his so–called sister when dealing with a personal
affair?
“Fine, I had nothing important.” His voice was dark and mocking, his face etched with anger, “Whitney, you’re just a heartless
woman.”
All night he’d been on the move because of her, and it was all for naught.

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The man turned coldly and walked away.
Elaine looked at Whitney with concern, pleading, “Bro, Whitney looks weak. You can’t just leave her like this...”
“She’s weak? Weak from kissing?” He spun around, his gaze a storm as he glanced at the battered Simon, “Get out!”
“At least get Whitney a nurse?” Elaine tried again.
“No one’s allowed to get a nurse. Let her fend for herself!” Ludwik’s voice was chilling, his anger sky–high.
Whitney was left with nothing but a scornful laugh.
Could he not see the medical equipment?
She didn’t want to say anything, not wanting to see him lose his mind. Shaking with pain and a coldness in her heart, she

supported herself against the wall and glanced at Simon, saying, “You can go.”
Simon’s lips tightened with reluctance, but he knew staying would only make things worse for her.
Rising with a somber expression, he expressed concern for her, “Be careful. I’ll look into Tiana.”
Whitney nodded wearily, her petite face looking even more fragile in the dim light.
The room was as silent as snowfall.
It took all her effort to slowly make her way back. No doctors came in, and her cup of water was now empty. Thirsty and
bewildered by L’s cruelty, Whitney couldn’t comprehend why he would neglect her, especially considering she was carrying his
child. Tears streamed down her face, and she exerted herself to stand up and fetch some hot water from outside.
Outside in the hospital corridor, cigarette butts littered the floor, the smoke stinging the nose. Nurses dared not approach the
man with the silver mask, his imposing figure exuding an icy aura of nobility.
Ludwik hadn’t left.
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Forbidding a nurse wasn’t because he was heartless. He was just trying to force her to capitulate, knowing she’d eventually need
help.
Even he despised his own duplicity.
Elaine stayed close by, understanding the meaning behind his brooding eyes. She clenched her hands and suddenly sneezed,
Ludwik seemed to realize she was still there and looked her way.
Elaine quickly covered her nose, but then several more sneezes followed, her lips turning pale.
Ludwik’s brow furrowed as he suddenly noticed Elaine was soaked to the bone. It seemed to dawn on him that she had been
drenched since they left Elate City. She had spent the entire night chasing after him in the rain, while his mind was preoccupied
with the thoughtless woman inside. He hadn’t spared a thought for her condition.
The man felt a twinge of remorse.
Elaine shivered as she stood up, her beautiful face framed by damp locks of hair. Despite trembling from the cold, she mustered
a reassuring smile and said, “Bro, there might be a misunderstanding between you and Whitney. Don’t be upset.”
At the mention of this, Ludwik’s mood darkened further. He glanced at her with a frown. He had a sports jacket on, which he
casually took off and handed to her. “Put this on and get going. I’ve troubled you enough tonight, Elaine. You shouldn’t get
involved in these matters anymore.“.
“It’s no trouble. I’m worried about Whitney too, and now I’m afraid you two might argue. Let me stay a bit longer with Whitney,”
she said gently.
Ludwik coldly refused, “It’s our business. You don’t need to interfere.”
Elaine tactfully didn’t push further. He handed her the jacket, and as she reached out to take it, her hand trembled so violently it
seemed as though she couldn’t grasp it at all.
Ludwik’s brow creased, and he decisively draped the jacket over her from a distance.
Whitney had just made her way out of the hospital room when she caught sight of this scene.
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