Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 145
“Whitney!” At that moment, Tiana hurried over with the herbs, her head tilted to see what was ahead, and suddenly she burst into
anger, “Mr. L! How can you be holding Elaine, that... that bitch! You...”
“Enough, let’s go.” Whitney grabbed her, her fingers digging into Tiana’s palm. Her departure was cold and unwavering
That indifference and disregard puzzled Tiana and infuriated the man behind even more.
She was just going to leave like that? Whenever she saw him with Elaine, she always came over, green with jealousy,
confronting him.
But now she just walked away, leaving him feeling a mix of loss and stifled anger, like punching a cushion. Ludwik’s steps, which
were about to chase after her, stopped with embarrassment and fury, his gaze fixed on her pale, paper–like face–it was clear she
was ill.
They had fought only three days ago. How did she manage to wear herself down to this state?
And what was with that deep sadness in her eyes?
Ludwik was seething.
“Bro, I did not mean to earlier. Did I make Whitney misunderstand something?” Elaine sighed anxiously.
“Do you think she misunderstood with the way she’s ignoring me?” Ludwik said coldly as he carried Elaine back to the ward,
trying not to be harsh. “Don’t overthink it, just rest.”
Then, he left with an icy aura.
Elaine’s mouth curled into a cold smirk as the ward door closed.
Pondering Whitney’s disheveled appearance that she had witnessed earlier, she walked into the bathroom to call Delphine.
“Mom, I heard Whitney’s uncle returned a few days ago. You were right. There’s bad blood between Skye Gem and Imperial
Gem. She looked so pained today when she saw Ludwik. She couldn’t even bother with her jealousy.”
Delphine chuckled slyly. “Your chance has come, my daughter. With your wits, you’ll clasp it tightly.”

“Of course.” Elaine narrowed her eyes as she hung up and called a confidant. “I need you to check on someone for me,
Whitney’s uncle. Keep an eye on him starting today.”
Elaine looked at the ugly wound on her wrist. She had risked her reputation to return to Banyan City. This was Whitney’s doing,
and she was determined to stay in Banyan City, win Ludwik back, and get her revenge!
Back at his office, Ludwik could not resist calling Nolan to subtly inquire Tiana about Whitney’s illness.
Was Tiana holding herbs?
Nolan was not very efficient this time, reporting that Tiana simply was not answering her phone.

Ludwik’s eyebrows knitted with cold anger as he leaned back and loosened his tie, his aristocratic fingers tense. “Felix!” He
yelled.
Felix appeared in the office in a flash.
“Get her to come to work. She’s the Vice President of United Realty Corporation, and she hasn’t been in for days!”
Felix understood his boss’s volatile mood, but this seemed a bit much. “Mr. Lippert, Madam is clearly ill. She started taking sick
leave the day before yesterday, and with what she saw at the hospital today with you and Elaine, she’s probably upset. Maybe I
should send our family doctor over to Tiana’s apartment?”
Chapter 145
The man said nothing, suppressing his anger.
Felix immediately set off to arrange it.

Half an hour later, the family doctor called, “Tiana kicked me out, sir. It seems Madam doesn’t appreciate your
concern.”
Felix had just hung up when a wave of cold menace suddenly swept from behind the desk.
With a sharp slap of papers being opened, Ludwik’s ice–cold voice came. “Let her live or die as she pleases!”
“Uh... Are not you concerned about your child as well?” Felix thought, but he could see the boss was angry to the core,
practically offering a truce that the lady refused to accept.
Oddly enough, despite Elaine’s dramatic return to Banyan City, Whitney, usually so clever and wise, pushed Mr. Lippert away
with her indifference.
It seemed that was what was infuriating him.
Ludwik could not fathom why she was acting so irrationally these past few days over Elaine, of all people. Was she really ready
to freeze him out?
Since she could not prioritize, he was not in the mood to coddle her!
Three days passed, and Whitney was avoiding it all, unable to decide.
Seeing him so intimately caring for Elaine at the hospital had chilled her to the core. If he had offered her even a sliver of loyalty,
that would have been something to cling to.
But his lack of commitment and inability to ignore Elaine’s schemes enraged her. She had called herself a fool, thinking she
should have sided with her uncle.

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Yet, there was no turning back once she started down that path. Betraying him and joining her uncle in pushing Ludwik into the
abyss was a pain Whitney could not bear to imagine.
She holed up in her room, lost in thought, while Tiana worried incessantly. “Whitney, Valerie and I really don’t know what’s gotten
into you. Even with Elaine back in Banyan City, Valerie is not as shaken as you are. You wouldn’t even let Ludwik’s doctor see

you the other day. Are you planning to have a complete fallout with him
over Elaine?”
How could Whitney explain to her best friend? That it was over between her and Ludwik?
Her phone rang quietly; she glanced down, her pupils dilating, her fingers trembling.
The caller ID read: [Husband.]
That was what she had secretly changed his contact name to half a month ago, after a particularly sweet moment in his office,
thinking they could truly become husband and wife...
Taking a deep breath, Whitney hesitated on whether to answer.
Seeing L’s call, Tiana swiftly picked up the phone and pressed it to Whitney’s ear.
Silence hung on the other end, the man’s breaths low and aristocratic.
Then, he spoke with a chilling tone, “Your uncle, Mr. Tennyson, came to see me. He suspects we’ve had a falling out. I think you
owe me an explanation.”
Whitney’s breathing hitched, her heart pounding.
Why would her uncle confront Ludwik on his own?!
A dreadful suspicion crept into her mind, and she quickly composed herself, her voice husky. “Alright, I’ll be right there.”
Chapter 145
She dressed hastily and left.
Tiana called after her, “Take it easy. Your belly’s starting to show!”

Walking into the café, Whitney spotted the impeccably poised man sitting erect by the window, her uncle, slender and confined to
a wheelchair.
Her face was ashen as her gaze locked on her uncle. She had sent several texts on her way, none of which he replied to.
With trepidation, Whitney approached.
Perhaps her uneasy breathing caught Ludwik’s attention through his mask. Her pallid face was steamed by the warmth of the
café, flushing an unnatural red, making her seem even more fragile, panicked, and noticeably thinner. Being pregnant, how could
she afford to lose weight?
Was she really choosing to be at odds with him like this?
Ludwik’s deep–set eyes lingered on her delicate features, unable to look away, betraying a glimmer of distress.
“Sit,” he commanded in a cool tone.
Whitney did not know how to handle the situation. She scrutinized his face, his expression, her heartbeat racing too fast.
Every nerve in her body was under immense pressure.
Keegan chuckled, breaking the silence. “I suppose I’m just being meddlesome. I noticed you haven’t brought Whitney to see me
for many days, and I thought maybe you lovebirds had a spat? Or perhaps, Mr. L, you had some thoughts about Whitney having
a relative like me?”
“No, Mr. Tennyson, you’re overthinking it,” Ludwik replied succinctly, his demeanor detached yet graceful.
Whitney’s eyes stayed on her uncle, wondering what his intentions were.