Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 163

The driver fought with Keegan’s men, and in the midst of it, Keegan dragged Taryn out of the car

The evening was a blur of shadows and tension as Keegan abducted Natalie, speeding into the night.

“Aren’t you Whitney’s uncle? What the hell are you doing?” Natalie’s voice quivered with panic, her

distress so acute she began coughing up blood.

Keegan, who had been firm in his grip on the woman in her fifties, recoiled in shock at the sight of the

crimson stains on her handkerchief.

“Are you sick or something?” His voice was harsh and cold as he demanded an answer.

In her agitated state, Natalie’s coughs racked her body. She fumbled for her cell phone to call her son,

but her hands shook too much, and the phone slipped into the crevice of the seat.

Clutching at her chest, she stuttered, “I can’t survive without my oxygen tank. I’m critically ill; why would

you harm me? Where’s Whitney? Where is she?”

As Keegan’s gaze fell upon her frail frame, his face darkened with a grimace of dismay

“Mr. Tennyson,” his associate hesitated, “With her condition… do we continue?”

“Of course! Stick to the plan and split up!”

The car veered off onto a remote stretch of highway.

Whitney had been trapped in a pitch–dark villa without lights for a whole day.

The wails of the nocturnal sea breeze had tormented her until dawn, and as she endured another day,

her stomach churned with hunger, and her unborn child shifted restlessly within her.

With a heavy heart, she soothed herself and the baby, her breaths shallow, tears streaming silently

down her face.

He had been ruthless, leaving her to fend for herself in this desolation.

As night fell again, her phone flickered with a meager two percent battery life.

The signal by the sea was erratic, coming and going. Throughout the day, Whitney had been scrolling

through the news about United Realty Corporation, reading about him being duped by his wife, about

his assets transferred, about the shareholders‘ doubts, and about him being questioned by the police.

Considering all this was her uncle’s doing, and she was his accomplice, Whitney felt as though her

heart was being sliced open.

How much more could he endure? Could she make amends and salvage their relationship?

What had become of Skye Gem? And her uncle, Ludwik had not really kidnapped her uncle’s daughter,

had he?

Suddenly, a loud bang resonated from the villa’s rear window.

Startled, Whitney had barely stood up when a figure appeared at the window, “Ms. Whitney!”

In the darkness, Whitney recognized the voice and cautiously approached.

“It’s Mr. Tennyson’s assistant!”

“What are you doing here?” Whitney’s mind raced as she asked urgently. “Where’s my uncle?”

“Mr. Tennyson kidnapped Ludwik’s mother! He was worried you were still in Ludwik’s clutches, so he

sent me to get you. We need to go now!”

“What?” Whitney nearly lost her footing, a chill drenching her to the bone.

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Chapter 163

“How could my uncle be so reckless?” She fumed in disbelief. The thought of Natalie’s condition made

her heart bleed with urgency

“Natalie is in poor health. How can Uncle kidnap her? He has lost his humanity to greed

geancel

The assistant grabbed her arm, his voice tinged with anger, “Does Ludwik have any humanity? He

kidnapped Ms. Yael first! Enough talk! The woman’s coughing up blood, frothing at the mouth, and Mr.

Tennyson is panicking. They’ve headed up the mountain road, and you know medicine.

Whitney’s mind went blank. Natalie could not be in danger.

“Let’s go!” There was no time for hesitation.

She had to save Natalie, without her, there would be no hope for reconciliation with Ludwik

But she could not call the police- it would be the end of her uncle.

Why did every dilemma seem to pierce her heart, leaving her bleeding and exposed?

The villa’s door was locked, with no guards in sight. Whitney, dripping with cold sweat, followed the

assistant through the window, her heart heavy as they drove away.

Unbeknownst to them, another car was approaching from behind

Jaxon smirked as he watched Whitney drive away, making a call, “Elaine, Keegan’s men have picked

up

Whitney.”

Elaine smiled. “So, we didn’t need to fake a distress call. Keegan still cares for his niece”

After all, as long as Whitney was implicated in Keegan’s kidnapping scheme, that was all that mattered.

With Natalie in dire health, Whitney would not think twice about rushing to her aid.

At the police station, Nolan hurried inside with a lawyer.

Ludwik’s profile under the harsh fluorescent lights was a study of icy detachment. Despite the

surroundings, his dignity remained unblemished, his diamond cufflink shimmering in the dim light.

He could have walked free after the evening’s interrogation, but suddenly, the detectives had politely

detained

him

“What’s going on?” Ludwik’s gaze was filled with frigid sharpness. Cut off from the outside world, his

watch and phone confiscated, he was in the dark.

Nolan hesitated, gripping his phone tight. The news was a mess, Ludwik had been accused of making

two men vanish after a confrontation at the Joyful Manor banquet, all over an argument involving

Whitney

“Things are tricky, Ludwik. It’s about Mr. Wendt and Dante, the two guys you told Parker to… Glancing

at the police outside, Nolan frowned and changed the subject. “Someone leaked a video of you

threatening them that night, it’s causing a stir. You’re being held for questioning”

Who would dredge up such an old affair? Who wanted to keep him from walking out?

“Imperial Gem needs to be dealt with immediately. How long before I’m out?” Ludwik asked, his voice

as coldes

ice.

“You’re innocent, but the process will take at least three days,” Nolan replied, tension lining his words.

Nolan was still somewhat dazed and concerned as he said, “The real trouble is with the Lippert family.

Orion took off with 400 billion dollars, and Kaden’s probably meeting with the shareholders of Imperial

Gem one by one. He’s capitalizing on your mishap to try and oust you. Are you really going to let the

empire you built with your own hands slip through your fingers?”

**** www Navod of any dark undertones, his votes ley as he replied, “The money

akine me Let them have the moment of triumph, I haven’t made my move yet?

િશંગ મ

Negove grasped the whole picture, but Felis, Lipperts might hand man, knew all too well.

scan was for from Abts only asset. The extent of Mr. Lippert’s power was unknown to all. Sasa de voce

were really tilting at windmills, ingrateful, betraying Mr. Lippert’s trust in hert As Noua Pught of Whites

Tusk bokost his way, his gaze sharp and lonely, his lips pressed thin. The marts wow was hose and

steen as he said “She’s at the beach house. Nolan, take her some dinner tonight”

Non bastabat x elings complex as he looked at Ludwik

Evething had unfolded within a day. When the news broke that Whitney had secretly transferred 400

billion

lars from mersal Gem Asans mind was in turmoil.

Then, he learned from Felix that she had conspired with her uncle and Orion

Nolan and Parker were stunned, unsure how devastated Ludwik would be But today, it seemed Ludwik

had

fallen K Whitney

This ice cold man had given all his warmth and tenderness to this woman.

As Nolan was about to nod, his phone rang

He stepped outside the police station to take the call. It was Parker, his voice fraught with shock, his

brows almost bursting with anger.

Parker’s ne was grim. “There’s been an incident at the villa. Taryn called the cops, saying Whitney’s

uncle had kidnapped Natalie Half an hour ago, I checked the seaside house, and Whitney had fled.

She’s definitely in cahoots with her uncle”

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