Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 196

Elaine’s lips curled into a sardonic smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m a bit chilly,” she said

with feigned innocence. “Could you ask Ms. Valentine to fetch me some clothes, maybe a thermos too?

Oh, and a pair of high heels.”

Felix, eavesdropping, realized that Elaine was treating the lady of the house like a servant.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lippert was too hot–headed at the moment to notice the subtlety.

“Why the high heels?” he inquired, puzzled.

“Ludwik, darling, it’s Valentine’s Day,” Elaine cooed, her expression softening into something

resembling hope. “I was so looking forward to a date with you, but imagine my dismay at ending up in

the hospital instead. Thankfully, I’m feeling better now. I’ve never actually been on a date with a

gentleman.”

Her gaze lingered on the striking man before her, filled with longing.

Ludwik felt a twinge of guilt, recalling his indirect role in her condition the night before. How could he

refuse her anything now?

After a brief pause, he said with restrained emotion, “Alright, once you’re feeling up to it, I’ll take you

out to dinner.”

Elaine’s eyes lit up as she clasped his hands. “And I’d love to see a movie.”

“Sure.”

“Ludwik, are you trying to sweet–talk me?” Elaine’s almond–shaped eyes crinkled with mirth.

She had managed to turn the tables. Now all she had to do was wait for Whitney’s arrival.

Inside the mansion, Whitney was about to prepare herself some dinner when a new maid, her voice

dripping with authority, called out from the second floor. “Mr. Lippert called. Elaine’s in the hospital and

he wants you to bring over some clothing, a thermos, and high heels, pronto!”

Whitney paused.

Why was Elaine in the hospital?

She quickly put two and two together and a cold smile played on her lips. She refused flatly, “Since

you’re her personal maid, you can go.”

“The assistant insisted on you. Right now, you’re nothing but a servant. Dare you disobey?”

The maid snorted, then turned and entered Elaine’s room, unlocking the door to rummage for

clothes.

Watching the door swing open, Whitney’s eyes narrowed. She fiddled with the landline then changed

her mind, heading upstairs herself.

“Did you find them?” Whitney asked as she stepped inside.

The maid, on high alert, dashed out, blocking Whitney from entering Elaine’s room. “What are you

doing here? Mr. Lippert has ordered me to keep an eye on you. You’re not allowed in the mistress’s

room.”

Chapter 196

Probably Elaine’s orders, Whitney thought, noting the locked door. What did she have to hide?

Just as Whitney pondered her next move, the landline on the first floor rang.

The maid looked down urgently.

“I’m just a servant; I have no right to answer the master’s calls,” Whitney said coolly. “Perhaps it’s

Elaine calling for you. Aren’t you going to answer?”

The phone’s insistent ringing seemed to confirm the maid’s fears. She was new and still getting the lay

of the land, and as she went to answer the call, she was occupied.

Seizing the opportunity, Whitney slipped into Elaine’s room.

She knew the layout well–it used to be her and Ludwik’s master bedroom. The big bed was

unchanged, now flanked by medical equipment and a nurse’s cot.

Whitney quickly examined the medicine cabinet, which contained medication for post–kidney removal

surgery. Opening a drawer, she discovered an identical stash of medicine.

Why would Elaine need so much if the hospital could supply it at any time?

Something was off.

Whitney compared a pill from the drawer to one from the cabinet. Both were labeled for kidney patients,

but when crushed, their contents were starkly different.

Her expression grew serious as she stashed samples of both medicines in her pocket.

As she closed the drawer, she caught a glimpse of Elaine’s purse, left carelessly open on the hanger.

Inside, a red string tied to a broken jade half–ring peeked out.

Whitney frowned. The half–ring looked eerily familiar.

Footsteps on the stairs jolted her back to reality.

With no time to inspect it further, Whitney dashed out just as the maid returned, relieved to find her still

standing at the door. The maid handed Whitney the items for Elaine, locking the room behind her.

“Hurry up and don’t keep Elaine waiting!”

Whitney left the villa in her own car, her mind racing. She compared the crushed pills–on one side,

legitimate kidney medication, and on the other, something that seemed suspiciously like a vitamin

tablet.

To confirm her suspicions, she stopped at a pharmacy and presented the suspected vitamin to an

experienced pharmacist with an apologetic smile. “I accidentally lost the bottle and can’t remember

what this is. Could you identify it and possibly give me a new bottle?”

After a quick test, the pharmacist returned with an incredulous grin. “Miss, this is just a common vitamin

tablet. You’ve probably been taking it as a supplement, right?”

Whitney’s gaze sharpened. It was indeed a vitamin. Her thoughts raced. Why would Elaine mix

vitamins with kidney medication, pretending they were the same? And if she had just undergone a

kidney donation surgery, she couldn’t possibly skip her recovery medication.

Had Elaine not been taking her prescribed medicine at all?

As she drove, a chilling realization dawned on Whitney.

Chapter 196

Natalie had become a vegetable after kidney transplant surgery, and Elaine had insistently claimed she

donated a kidney, her scar visible to all, convincing Ludwik and everyone else.

But there was more to this story than met the eye.

Whitney made a call to Tiana, her voice low and steady. “Tiana, I need a favor. Can you look into the

doctor who performed Elaine’s kidney donation surgery, as well as her current treating physician? I

suspect there might be something off with them.”

“What’s up, Whitney? The kidney donation for Elaine and Natalie’s transplant, they’re both supposed to

happen at the same time, right? It’s the same surgeon; is there an issue with him?”

*No, the issue is with Elaine. I have a hunch she’s not taking her post–op medicine. She’s pulling the

wool over our eyes.”

“Huh?” Tiana was puzzled. Why wouldn’t someone take their medication after a kidney transplant

surgery?

*Just look into it for me, will you? I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something fishy about this

whole transplant operation.”

After hanging up, Whitney sat quietly in thought for a moment before heading to the hospital.

Ludwik was outside in the corridor, puffing away on several cigarettes,

Felix arrived with dinner in hand, and he reached out to take it, then headed back into the hospital

room.

Elaine was lying there, noticing the redness at the corners of his eyes from the smoke, she said with

concern, “Ludwik, you really should cut down on the smoking. You haven’t been sleeping, and last

night, you…”

She paused, the hint of bitterness in her voice was clear, then, with empathetic understanding, she

added, “Your nervous condition hasn’t fully healed, and I’m still worried about you.”

At her words, Ludwik turned to look at her, his gaze becoming enigmatic.

He suddenly asked, “Elaine, I have a question that I’ve been meaning to ask you. I need you to answer

me truthfully.”

Elaine was taken aback for a moment, a sense of wariness flickering through her heart, but she

managed a smile, “What’s the question?”