Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 201

When she looked at Destiny Barbecue with a trace of melancholy, his heart softened. He thought she

was reminiscing the sweet past just like him, and he couldn’t bear to see her so upset.

So he asked Felix to grab a barbecue for her.

But right after that, she walked into another diner with Bryce Lutz. Turns out, she wasn’t sad or regretful

at all; she could casually share a meal with another man they once had on a date!

“Calling him Bryce, huh? How intimate. How many times have you called him that?” he sneered,

Whitney Valentine took a deep breath, “You’re being a bit unreasonable right now.”

“Not even divorced, and you’re already eager to jump into his arms?” Ludwik didn’t let her struggle,

pinning her against the wall,

“So, sharing a hot dog with another man is fine, is it? Is your body also something to be given away…”

The moment he uttered those words, even he couldn’t bear to imagine another man possessing

her.

Anger surged through his throat, “Whitney, how can you be so frivolous? You keep lowering my

standards. I won’t be soft–hearted towards you ever again!”

He yanked her into the shower, careful to avoid her belly, and tore away all her restraints.

Looking at her with disdain yet burning desire, he commanded, “Serve me.”

Whitney was stunned, the hot water creating an ambiguous atmosphere, but her heart was cold,

watching his drenched and undeniably sexy form.

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She felt he was gradually turning into an unreasonable devil.

Shaking her head with a bitter smile, she said, “Since Mother’s accident, have you or been nice

with me? Your heart is as hard and cold as ice, deaf to the truth. Ludwik, I get tired too. I wanted to stay

by your side, but you kept pushing me away, humiliating me time after time. For the sake of Elaine

Bartels, you misunderstand me. No matter how warm my heart is, it can turn cold, no matter how

strong I am, I can be broken by your cruelty.”

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“You can’t take it anymore? Claiming to atone, but secretly seeing other men, do you think I’ll let you

go?” He scoffed, reminding himself not to be fooled by this woman’s show of weakness again. It’s all an

act! Grabbing her hand, he unbuckled his expensive belt and tied her wrists.

Whitney saw his demonic side flare up, his desires intense, and the events of the previous night filled

her with dread.

Moreover, with her injuries still fresh, she violently shook her head in refusal, “I was just at the hospital

today; don’t be a brute, You and Elaine are getting engaged at the end of the month. What am I to

you?”

“What do you think? I need to vent,” he said with a sinister smirk.

He threw her to the ground, his adam’s apple bobbing, “You’re injured, but you still need to quell my

rage. After tonight, I’ll let your cousin go.”

Why could he be so heartless, trampling on her, using her like a tool? Threatening her time and

Chapter 201

again? They once loved each other. Now, everything was stripped bare, dirty and cold?

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Whitney’s heart was numb, cradling her pitiful belly, drenched hair clinging to her face, her voice a

mere whisper lost in the dust.

She looked at him with vague eyes, sorrowfully saying, “Ludwik, when all the truth comes to light, you

will regret this! You’ll regret what you’ve done to me. I didn’t harm your mom, leaving her comatose.

And Elaine’s kidney transplant…”

Tears choked her words.

Ludwik furrowed his brows, unwilling to hear her mention his mother at this moment.

His mother’s vengeance made it impossible for him to be with her, yet deep down, he was damnably

unable to let go.

–

Seeing her with Bryce filled him with jealousy, and only through physical domination could he feel he

still possessed her. Damn it, he was still infatuated with her.

The door was suddenly knocked loudly, Whitney, teary and disoriented, opened her eyes and abruptly

pushed him away.

Elaine’s voice, filled with suppressed rage, came from outside, “Ludwik? Ludwik, are you in there?

What are you doing with Ms. Valentine?”

The man froze as if jolted awake by an alarm, his eyes clearing a bit.

Whitney shivered, her face growing even paler as she looked at him, her voice hoarse with self–

mockery, “Are we done? Getting caught like this, you’ve made me out to be the other woman, are you

satisfied?”

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“We’re not divorced yet, so don’t get ahead of yourself!” Ludwik snapped back, preferring her quiet

compliance.

“You can be shameless, but I refuse to stoop so low. Now, can you please leave?”

Whitney, too exhausted for any more words, slumped against the floor, her pale complexion worrisome.

Ludwik, somewhat concerned, tried to help her up but she knocked his arm away.

The intimate moment turned cold again, “Get on the bed, stop being stubborn.”

“You promised to let my cousin go, keep your word and stop using her to threaten me.”

Hearing her transactional tone, Ludwik fully sobered, his voice chilly, “I’m not particularly satisfied with

your lifeless performance.“/

Whitney’s heart felt hollow, and she glared at him, “What more do you want?”

“I’ve lost interest.” Ludwik coldly dressed in his trousers.

Bastard.

Whitney cursed in her heart, a bitter thought crossing her mind that perhaps Elaine’s return had

dampened his mood.

Chapter 201

Before he left, he glanced at her the morning. Apply it yourself.”

Cavewakened state and frowned, “I’ll have Felix bring your medicine in

“Get out.” Whitney struggled to b

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feet, leaning against her belly, and slammed the door shut.

His expression darkened immediately.

At the door, Elaine sat in her wheelchair, relieved to finally

see Ludwik emerge, his shirt visibly

soaked and his trousers wrinkled, his handsome face marred by scratches.

Her jealousy burned within, her nails almost tearing through the wheelchair.

Despite her fury, she couldn’t show it and instead cried pitifully, “Ludwik, why did you leave me alone to

come back? I fell down in the cinema, it hurts so much, please help me?”

Ludwik suddenly remembered their movie date that evening.

He had indeed left her in the cinema.

Regret flashed across his face, and he quickly knelt down, concerned, inspecting her ankle, “You’ve

scraped the skin, maid, call the doctor immediately!”

Seeing he still cared for her, Elaine’s suppressed anger subsided a bit.

She glared at the door and raised her voice coyly, “Ludwik, I don’t want a doctor, I just want you.

Please carry me upstairs, I want you to tend to my wounds.”

“Alright, I’ve got you, just stay put.”

His voice, soft and tender, filtered through the door, followed by the robust sound of footsteps

ascending the stairs.

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Whitney leaned against the door frame, her heart plummeting as she finally understood; she was

merely a tool, while Elaine was destined to be the apple of his eye.

Lifting her gaze to the cold, distant moon outside the window, it reminded her of that night she had

defied Natalie, sneaking out into the hills beneath the same lunar glow.

Natalie wanted her to give birth to the child, stand by her son for life and not to make him lonely again.

How she wished to fulfill that wish. She had been stubborn, determined, but now maybe it was all in

vain. Oh, Natalie. He’s hurt me too deeply. I wanted to win him back, but he’s tainted our bond time and

again. This isn’t what you wanted, is it?

Should I keep holding on? What’s the point of reluctance? He’s already moved on to another woman.

The wedding date is set.

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