Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 128
“What’s there to think about? You were never the other woman,” he asserted with a dominant, almost dictatorial
air
“That’s not your call to make,” Whitney muttered under her breath, turning to pull Tiana and Valerie away with her quickly.
The onlookers continued to buzz with excitement. “Looks like the boyfriend screwed up and is making it up to his girl with a
grand gesture. A sky full of diamonds–so over the top, I would have forgiven him on the spot.”
“He must really care about her, putting up her name in big LED letters on the building. Talk about romantic!”
“I think it’s super romantic, too. Oh, Whitney, I’m sorry, I’m totally swooning here,” Tiana confessed with a dreamy expression.
“We’re all a bit cliché, aren’t we, Whitney? Don’t you feel slightly swayed by such a public display of affection?”
Whitney had to agree with Tiana; clichés had their charm.
Who does not love flowers, diamonds, or the thrill of a public declaration?
She had designed so many jewelry pieces in her life, yet no man had ever gifted her one.
Even if the grand gesture was L’s friend’s idea, she still felt valued.
Yes, what she wanted was an equal, valued relationship. Not to be stashed away at his convenience, under his controlling
thumb.
“They’re following us,” Valerie remarked with a sly smile, glancing at Whitney.
Whitney turned to see L, Nolan, and Parker, the three dashing men, trailing them through the mall.
Bystanders turned their heads in curiosity.
After walking in a circle, Whitney’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she left the mall with Valerie and
Tiana.
Once in the car, they headed back to Tiana’s apartment.

Valerie looked at Whitney with a serene gaze. “You’re not seriously considering breaking up, are you?*
Whitney gave a wry smile, glancing down at her belly. “How can I? I’m four months along.”
“That thorn in your side was Elaine being his publicly acknowledged fiancée. Does him declaring your name in the city center
change anything for you?”
Whitney felt Valerie’s piercing accuracy.
Her heart was indeed in turmoil.
She looked down again, and Valerie continued, “Will you swallow that thorn or let go?”
“I believe there’s nothing substantial between him and Elaine, but he hasn’t publicly ended the engagement. That leaves Elaine

with illusions, especially since he lied to me, which further suggests to her that he doesn’t value me. In the eyes of his family and
the public, I’m the mistress,” Whitney admitted, biting her lip.
Valerie smiled faintly. “I advise you to endure being seen as the mistress and secure your place. If you step back, Elaine will not
let you be, even after she’s engaged to him. You’re smart, Whitney. You’ve understood this all along.”
Whitney froze, realizing the truth. She could not back down from this relationship now that she was pregnant If she let go of L,
Elaine’s schemes would not allow her to live in peace.
It seemed her only option was to hold on to L and push Elaine out–for the safety of her unborn child and to
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prevent Elaine from becoming a wicked stepmother.

“You’ve already made up your mind,” Valerie said with a knowing smile.
Whitney looked up and noticed bruises peeking from Valerie’s collar. She frowned and inquired, “What happened, Valerie? Who
did this to you?”
Valerie paled a bit, then forced a bitter smile. “Who else but Ashton, taking out Elaine’s frustrations on me?
“Oh my God, Ashton’s that kind of jerk?” Tiana joined in, seeing the bruises on Valerie’s neck that hinted at something more
intimate. Tiana paused, then frowned. “Elaine’s really making trouble for both of you. What a vile woman.”
Whitney’s eyes hardened as she looked at Valerie, realizing her friend’s life with Ashton was even worse,
L did not love Elaine, but Ashton did.
Whitney knew she had to get rid of Elaine for Valerie’s sake.
Suddenly, Whitney’s resolve solidified.
The next morning, Whitney unexpectedly headed to the hospital to register for a gynecological check–up.
Tiana looked puzzled. “You should be seeing an obstetrician. Gynecology is for... terminations.”
Whitney’s lashes lifted slightly. “Exactly. I’m forcing a confrontation. Spread the word to L. Tell him to come.”
“What?” Tiana’s panic turned to understanding mid–sentence. She patted her chest, relieved. “You scared me. If you dare harm
my godson...”
Whitney placed a hand gently on her stomach, smiling. “Sorry, baby. I won’t hurt you. I just need to push your father a little.”

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Tiana hurried off to deliver the message.
At the top floor of the imperial Gem Corporation building, Felix, the executive assistant, turned ashen when he learned of
Whitney’s whereabouts. He rushed to report, “Mr. Lippert, Madam is at the...”
Ludwik had been sure his little lady would have forgiven him by now, ready to fetch her. “Where?”
“In the hospital, and it looks like she’s going to abort the child.”
Ludwik’s pen froze mid–signature, and Felix trembled.

His pen clattered onto the desk as he stood up, his handsome face turning icy. “That damn woman, has she lost her mind?”
His heart sank, and he stormed out.
At the door, Parker strolled in leisurely. “So, did Whitney forgive you or not?”
Ludwik kicked him in the leg. “Your lousy idea? Forgive me? She doesn’t even want the child anymore!”
Parker’s face went slack with shock,/Impossible!
He raced after Ludwik.
In the hospital’s gynecology department, Whitney waited for her turn, received an anesthesia prescription, and followed the
doctor into the operating room. As she lay on the table, a silence fell outside.
Then L’s cold, bone–chilling voice came, “Whitney, you’re courting death!”
A man with a masked fury barged into the operating room, his eyes ablaze with danger as if he could devour Whitney whole.
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Chapter 128
Tiana, terrified, had never seen L. 6o menacing. She prayed Whitney had not miscalculated
Whitney pressed her lips, looking up at him with a defiant, sorrowful gaze.

“Get up, now!” Ludwik yanked her up, dragging her off the bed. His grip was so tight it could shatter her wrist. He spat out, “What
the hell are you doing? You dare to harm my child? I’ll kill you, Whitney. Is this how much you love me? Great, just great!”
He seemed ready to devour her alive.
Whitney looked up, her expression stubborn yet wistful, and offered a bitter smile. “I don’t have a choice.”
“Are you deaf or something? Elaine is not the issue; never was!” He gripped her hand tightly, his fingertips icy.
Whitney felt intimidated by his intensity, her heartbeat racing.
A twinge of regret flashed through her mind, and she bit her lip, saying, “Look, L, just because you don’t see her as a problem
doesn’t mean she isn’t one. You say she’s not your fiancée, but why does she look so heartbroken. over you? It’s because
you’ve unintentionally given her hope. I get why you need to keep her on at the firm, and that’s precisely why your family has
taken to her.
But me? I can’t stand being the talk of the town, the subject of gossip. I have to step out of this triangle. Whether I keep this baby
or not, Elaine will never accept it. Instead of being tormented by others, I might as well be the one to make the hard choice. After
all, I’ve left you, and it all should end right there.”
“Who said you could leave me?!” Ludwik’s chest heaved as he pulled her into his embrace.
His arms felt so cold and unyielding, and in that moment, Whitney’s heartbreak was not an act. Her eyes slowly filled with tears
as she clung to his waist and looked up at him, saying with a weak voice, “I don’t want to leave you, either. I chose you, which
means you must give me some security and respect. Honestly, I can’t stand having Elaine around you. Call me petty if you
want.”
Ludwik looked down, his gaze softening as he took in her porcelain face, his breathing easing ever so slightly.
His brows furrowed with a dark intensity, “What do you want me to do?”