Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 59
wing around the overpass twice. Tiens was struggling to keep up, penting and puzzled. “Are they lost or are
watory, her eyes glued to the bendey that had almost lost them several times before slowing down just
nough for them to catch up, clenched her fats. “Your choice of a BYD was a mistake”
Sorry sky just wanted to throw & off by not expecting someone like you, a former socialite, to be driving a
Whitney didn’t know what to say
“They’re leaving the overpass Tiana sped up.
But at the merging junction, the Bentley fishtailed, leaving them in the dust.
Demn, which way did they go? Tiana pounded the steering wheel, glancing at the street signs. “But he’s definitely not heading to
Imperial Gem Corporation, this is the opposite direction.”
Whitney, frustrated, glanced at her, “it’s your fault–bad choice of car, worse driving skills.”
A string of expletives rolled through Tiana’s mind, unsure whether they were appropriate to voice.
Their mission that day ended in failure.
Whitney hurried back to the villa before nightfall, only to be infuriated that the man had arrived earlier, lounging on the sofa and
leisurely reading the newspaper
Seeing his lazy demeanor beneath the silver mask made her blood boil.
Had he done it on purpose this afternoon? Could he have noticed her following him?
Whitney pouted, sitting at the dining table, waiting for dinner
Ludwik glanced at her, “Where were you today?”
Whitney looked up at him, suddenly smiling, Mr. L, it seems that President Ludwik can’t get enough of me. What should I do?”
“What do you mean can’t get enough?” he asked, enigmatic, folding the newspaper away.

Whitney feigned distress, “And you said he wasn’t interested in me. I think he’s quite smitten! The other day, he even said he
wanted to seduce me, insisted on an affair within marriage, the lecher...”
“Pfft” He spat out his drink, his jaw tensing.
Whitney proudly straightened up, teasing, “I still have what it takes to captivate a man. Once our one–year marriage is up, should
I consider Ludwik? Mr. L, what do you think?”
She observed his expression closely.
If his expression had turned displeased and jealous, then it wasn’t him. If his expression had relaxed with a playful demeanor,
then there was a problem!
But unexpectedly, he asked with disdain, “What assets do you think you have?”

Damn, was he rubbing her face in it?
Whitney looked herself up and down, annoyed. “I’m an asset, top to bottom!*
He approached, his warm fingers lifting her skirt, a naughty smile on his lips, “Really? Let’s appraise.*
“What... what are you doing?” Whitney, distracted, quickly covered herself, her face flushed with embarrassment.
He withdrew his hand and walked past her to the dining table, starting his meal without another word to her.
1/3
Realizing she’d been played again, Whitney also ignored him and angrily bit into her meal.

Ludwik finished and headed upstairs, Whitney followed.
At the door to his study, the man looked at Whitney and asked, “What are you doing?”
‘I need to borrow something from your study.”
The study was always locked during the day. She’d brought him coffee once but hadn’t really looked around. Today, if she found
a book about jewels or documents related to Imperial Gem Corporation, it would be solid proof!
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, which he noted without reaction.
He entered the study and closed the door firmly behind him, “I’m not lending you anything.”
“You!” Whitney banged on the door, seething with anger.
She stormed off to her room and immediately called Tiana. “I need to get into his study; he won’t let me. He’s obviously guilty,
afraid I’ll find something linking him to Imperial Gem Corporation, right?”
Tiana hesitated. “Maybe. But, Whitney, you’ve been suspicious all day without any proof. Could it be your wild imagination? After
all, a tycoon like Ludwik ending up as your faux husband?”
“The most unlikely scenarios often turn out to be true.”
“But I wonder, with Ludwik’s clout and temper, why would he bother hiding behind a mask from you, a minor fallen socialite?”
“He’s afraid I’d kill him!” Whitney fumed.
Meanwhile, in the study, the man watching the bedroom surveillance and listening to the phone call was left speechless.

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Whitney clenched her fists, her cheeks cold with anger. “It’s a joke. If L turns out to be Ludwik, not only has he played me for a
fool, but I’m carrying the child of my family’s archenemy. You think I’d want this kid? No way, I’d absolutely flip.”
Ludwik’s expression turned cold.
His eyes grew deeper, a shadow of complexity passing through them.
What a headache. The girl was quick to jump to conclusions, guessing the very last step.
It seems like her afternoon pursuit was to see with her own eyes whether he would enter Imperial Gem Corporation.
His mouth curved with a trace of dark amusement, obscured by the smoke, lending him an air of depth and charm.
Back in the bedroom, Tiana sympathized, “True, no one could tolerate their business enemy having their way with them, leaving
behind a seed,”

“If Ludwik knowingly slept with you and married you under a mask, that man’s scheming is terrifying! But I love these kinds of
high–drama, emotional roller–coaster stories,” Tiana exclaimed with excitement over the phone. Whitney held back, asking, “Is
everything you’ve said so far complete nonsense?”
“Yes.”
“What should we do next?” Tiana had another wild idea. “Hey, hasn’t L kissed you? Why don’t you dash over to Imperial Gem
Corporation tomorrow and get Ludwik to give you a deep kiss? Then you can compare if L is really Ludwik, right?”
“You must’ve been a professional bad–idea factory in your last life, Tiana.” Whitney rolled her eyes, “And if he’s
2/3
not? What would I be then, a home wreck
ferfany
Right, that too. So, what’s the plan
Whitney though carefully, narrowing her eyes. “To find out if they’re the same person isn’t hard. If, at the same time, in different
places, you and I see L and Ludwik, then they’re not the same. Otherwise, he’s toast.”

Tiana nodded. “Let’s split up tomorrow. I’ll stake out Ludwik at Imperial Gem Corporation, and you stick to L from the crack of
dawn. We’ll call to confirm!”
With the plan set, Whitney locked her door and went to bed.
The following morning, L’s sleek ride made its way to the Royal One Club.
Whitney followed closely behind, her car’s engine purring in the quiet of the upscale neighborhood.
In the Bentley, the man cast a glance at the rear–view mirror and asked his assistant, “Where is her sidekick?”
Felix responded, “Tiana slipped into Imperial Gem Corp early this morning.”
So, they were weaving a net around him? The man’s thick brows quirked with amusement.
At the Royal One Club, Ludwik strode into the office on his long legs. Spotting Nolan and Parker, he waved them off, “Let’s hold
off on the meeting for a bit.”
He then walked to the window, looking down with a lively interest.
“Ludwik, what’s got you looking like the cat that caught the canary?” Nolan asked, curiosity piqued.
“Ms. Valentine is down there, tailing the boss,” Felix chuckled. “Today, she’s determined to unmask him. Gentlemen, care to
place a wager on who’ll come out on top?”
Nolan was puzzled. “I’ve been wondering, Ludwik, why do you always wear a mask with Whitney? Why not just tell her who you
really are?”
Parker simply laughed.
Approaching the window, they caught sight of a svelte figure skulking below.
Whitney looked around, her face etched with tension.
“She’s all alone, trying to strip you of your disguise. Poor thing. And her inseparable confidante?”
Ludwik’s lips curled into a smirk. “She’s lying in wait at Imperial Gem Corporation.”.

Parker let out a chuckle tinged with a wicked air. “The machinations of girls are just adorable. You see right through her, yet she
struggles on. Ludwik, you’re a bit twisted, enjoying this cat–and–mouse game, aren’t you?”