Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 157
Her heart shattered like a delicate wine glass dropped on a stone floor, and she could barely muster the strength to keep her
trembling fingers still.
He cradled the back of her head, wishing he could merge her into his very being. If it were not for the child they were expecting,
he would have pinned her down and never let go.
Whitney felt the storm raging within him, and her tears cascaded down her cheeks, glistening like pearls, tapping softly against
his skin.
Her small hands clenched into fists against his chest and neck, only to unfurl, powerlessly relaxing.
Eyes closed, she mourned silently, “Mom, Grandpa, forgive me for this betrayal, this shame. It’s the last time, I swear. Maybe...
Maybe it’s all a mistake? Maybe it’s not him?”
Soon, the fever and the drunken haze pulled him into the void, and his lips loosened.
Whitney slumped next to the bed, her mind a whirlwind. She hastily rummaged through her bag and pulled out her grandfather’s
contact book.
Skimming through it desperately, she stumbled upon a torn page with a single name: Bartels.
Bartels?
The following pages were all missing.
If her grandpa had not torn them out, then who did, and why were the pages with Ludwik’s name still intact?
A memory flashed in her mind of her uncle mentioning that before coming to Banyan City, her Grandpa had been pushed out of
the medical field by unscrupulous competition.
The only Bartels she knew was Elaine, and the Bartels were a dynasty in the medical field of Emperor City!
Could it be a coincidence? Was it the Bartels who forced her Grandpa to leave, leading him to Banyan City?

As her head spun with these thoughts, Whitney suddenly considered that maybe the name Ludwik in the address book was a
red herring.
She looked up at the feverish man before her, her heart pounding on hot coals. “Ludwik, it wasn’t you, was it?” She whispered
hoarsely, clutching the ring in her hand as everything began to heat up.
Downstairs, Natalie was relieved to see Whitney had not come down. But as dizziness took hold of her, Taryn suggested they
call the family doctor to stay with her.
Just then, the house phone rang. Taryn answered it and hesitated before speaking, “Ms. Natalie, it’s Ms. Elaine. She wants to
visit for New Year’s Eve. Shall I invite her?”
Natalie frowned, the thought of that girl sending shivers down her spine, and fear bloomed within her.
With Ludwik and Whitney upstairs, she shook her head. “Decline her. Tell her we’re having a family reunion.”
Taryn relayed the message as asked.
Halfway to the mansion, Elaine’s face fell when her assistant relayed Taryn’s words. She had planned to use this New Year’s Eve

to get closer to Ludwik, especially since Whitney would not be back because of her blunder with the company’s project. It would
be the perfect opportunity to get closer to Ludwik!
However, hearing what her assistant had said, her fingers clutched with resentment. “What? A family reunion? No way Ludwik
called Whitney back.”
It had to be Natalie.
Resentment boiled within Elaine as she gritted her teeth. She had not even returned to Emperor City because.

she wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve with Ludwik. Yet, Natalie was way too protective over Whitney,
which was getting on Elaine’s nerves!
With Natalie in the picture, Elaine was almost certain she would not be able to achieve her goal. Her eyes narrowed with
malicious intent.
Turn back!” She snapped. “Even if they’re having their so–called reunion, it will be their last.” She snickered as if certain of
Whitney’s doom.
At 5 am, close to dawn, Ludwik finally opened his eyes, still feverish and dizzy from the alcohol. His throat felt scorched, but he
caught sight of the soft figure slumped by his bedside who seemed to be sleeping.
Despite the temperature–controlled room, she lay uncovered, and with their child growing inside her, Ludwik’s brows furrowed
with concern. He reached out to lift her into bed.
She woke at his touch.
The gaunt woman’s pale face was etched with exhaustion. As she met his gaze, he saw a flicker of complex emotions, a
softening from the icy distance of the past few days.
“Don’t move. You’re too weak,” Whitney advised in a raspy voice.
“Have you been crying?” His voice was even more hoarse, his energy sapped.
Whitney’s eyes froze, then dropped to the snowy dawn breaking outside the window.
“There’s a crack in the ice,” she thought, hope mingling with the raw vulnerability of the past days. Without hatred, perhaps they
still had a future.
Her voice quivered as she spoke, “Take your medicine.”
He was too weak even to lift his arm.
Gently, Whitney placed the pill in his mouth and said, “You had a fever. You need to rest, or even walking will be a problem. Don’t
rush back to work...”

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She hesitated momentarily before finally asking, “What about the five–star hotel project? The investors are bound to make a
fuss. What’s your plan?”
Ludwik lay still, his face flushed with fever. “It’s manageable. I have other companies. I’ll reallocate funds to cover the breach of
contract penalties.”
He did not mention Imperial Gem Corporation, his other global enterprise, which was more famous than United Realty
Corporation.
He had no idea Whitney already knew who he was.
She tucked him in, and he feebly reached for her hand, “The real issue is, you want to leave me. Don’t, Whitney.

Put the ring on.”
Head bowed/tears streaming, she instead grasped his burning hand.
“I won’t leave you. Look.” She sobbed softly, showing him the diamond ring on her finger.
Ludwik’s eyes widened in surprise, then softened into a smile.
Whitney mirrored his smile, intertwining her fingers with his. “I’ll try again. To stay by your side. I love you, L.”
“I love you, Ludwik.” She said his real name in her mind.
Content, he closed his eyes for a restful sleep.
“Get some sleep. When you wake up, we’ll face it together,” she whispered, injecting him with a sedative.

He needed rest.
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She rose once he was sound asleep, taking the contact book from her bag. It was time to confront her uncle to prove that Ludwik
might not be the enemy.
There was still time to stop this, she thought as she hurried away.
Whitney stepped out of her room and was about to make a call.
Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Keegan, his voice unusually tender, “Whitney, I was a bit over the top the
other morning. I’m sorry. I know I’ve been pushing you hard. You didn’t even drop by for New Year’s Eve dinner. Come over now.
Let’s welcome the new year together.”
Whitney could not fathom why he had suddenly softened.
Without overthinking, she stepped out of the house, saying, “Uncle, I have something really important to tell you!”
“I’ll be waiting,” Keegan replied and hung up, a smirk fading from his lips as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Whitney drove to the apartment only to find Keegan’s car parked outside. He was already getting in, his hands clutching a few
memorial candles and flowers for offerings.
Frowning, Whitney approached.
“Get in,” Keegan said, “we’re going to the cemetery to pay our respects to your mom and grandpa.”
It was local customary to honor the departed on the first day of the new year, so Whitney nodded silently and climbed into the
car.
The assistant pulled the car onto the road.
Whitney opened her purse, reaching for the contact book,
Suddenly, Keegan winced, clutching his right leg, “Whitney, it’s acting up again. Get the acupuncture kit.”

He suffered from phantom limb pain often.
Whitney hurriedly pulled out the kit, which included some herbs, and was about to position a silver needle.
Abruptly, the assistant slammed on the brakes. Whitney lurched forward, and as she turned back to grab the acupuncture kit
again, she found that Keegan had thrown the entire kit out of the window!
Whitney was baffled, but when she looked up, she met Keegan’s changed gaze.
“Uncle, why did you do that?”
Keegan remained silent, his eyes complex and unreadable...
The car door flung open, and out of nowhere, the assistant from behind Whitney pressed a chloroform–soaked cloth over her
face, covering her mouth and nose.
The drug quickly invaded Whitney’s senses. Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief as she stared at her uncle.