Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 283 At the villa, buried in his room, Danny saw his smartwatch buzz. Glancing down, he caught a message from Sammy and dashed downstairs.

The sound of his footsteps, pounding down the steps, caught Ludwik's attention. "What took you so long to cdown?" Elaine, ever the gracious host, stood up with a sigh, directing a helpless look at Ludwik, "The moment I got back, Danny was throwing a tantrum, refusing to cdown for dinner." "Con, Danny, sit. Momma's gonna serve you sfood." "Get lost!" Anxious, Danny snapped at her, irritation laced thick in his voice.

Ludwik's brows furrowed deeply, surprised at the sudden shift. Just the other day, Danny had been so polite and understanding.

What happened to that cool, collected kid? "How dare you speak to your mother that way?" "She's not my mom!" Danny retorted, his face scrunching up in frustration.

Elaine's face fell, but she was too stunned to react immediately, turning to size up the defiant young boy.

Taking a deep breath, Ludwik asked, "Then why did you cdown?" Danny opened his mouth to respond, breaths heavy and ragged, but found himself at a loss for words.

He was frustrated, lacking Sammy's quick wit. The upbringing he had didn't include lying, and he didn't know how to tell his dad that Sammy and his mom were in danger. This was bound to open a can of worms he wasn't ready to deal with.

Ludwik, setting his cutlery down, said firmly, "Danny, if you've got something to say, say it. Don't just sulk." That was Danny's worst habit.

Elaine chimed in with a laugh, "Ludwik, don't you know Danny by now? If he's not happy, he won't let us be either. Don't get worked up over it." Her words were meant to soothe but only added fuel to the fire.

Danny shot Elaine a disgusted look, but he was at a loss on how to counter her claims.

If only Sammy were here.

He still couldn't find the words to tell his dad about the danger his mom was in.

Stomping his feet in frustration, Danny turned and ran back upstairs, sending Sammy his dad's number in desperation.

Sammy would understand, right? Upon receiving the number, Sammy got the message loud and clear.

This had to be the dreaded dad's number. With a roll of his eyes, he sneakily took out the phone his mom kept in her back pocket and dialed the number.

The moment the call connected, he handed the phone to his mom.

Underneath her clothes, Whitney felt the phone vibrate and looked down, her face darkening.

Why had the call gone through to Ludwik? Puzzled, she was about to end the call when a taunting voice cfrom the other end, "What do you want, you shameless woman? Heard you got nabbed by the shareholders of Skye Gem Ltd. Serves you right." Whitney's mouth twitched at Ludwik's smug tone, instantly realizing the misunderstanding.

The shareholders and their thugs were right there; she couldn't speak up.

Just as she was about to hang up, Ludwik's voice boomed with arrogance, "Looking to begnow? Fine. If you don't want to end up dead, hand over Mr. Rufus's negatives, give up on Skye Gem Ltd., and apologize to Elaine!" In your dreams.

Whitney rolled her eyes in secret, noting Mr. Liam and Mr. Percy's gleeful expressions nearby.

Nyx must be wrapping things up by now.

Whitney spoke up with disdain, "Elaine orchestrated this attack, and I should apologize to her? Am I a fool?" Back at the villa, Ludwik stood on the balcony, his expression darkening with each word. "Whitney, you're beyond help. Elaine was just pleading on your behalf not a moment ago. It seems you don't learn until you see the coffin." Whitney inhaled sharply, disbelief coloring her voice, "Pleading? Elaine was pulling my hair outside a hotel this morning, her face twisted in anger. She was pleading for me? You must be out of your mind." Ludwik paused, turning to glance back into the living room.

"Did you deliberately tell her about us at the hotel last night?" Ludwik ground out, the desire to strangle Whitney palpable.

"I've got better things to do! Maybe you should ask her how much her private detective charges." The woman's voice was light and mocking, "As forand Skye Gem Ltd., Mr. Lippert need not worry. We'll be just fine!" With those final words, she hung up, leaving Ludwik to sense her mocking tone even through the phone.

He chuckled darkly, his mood souring. She thinks she can handle this on her own? Let's see her try.

He had the power to make those shareholders unyielding; they wouldn't let her go easily. Sooner or later, she'd call begging for mercy, and when that tcame, he'd make sure to watch her cry.

Walking back into the living room, Ludwik found Elaine eyeing him curiously, her gaze fixated on the long, emotionally charged call. Tentatively, she asked, "Ludwik, who was that on the phone?" Ludwik turned to her, Whitney's accusations ringing in his ears. Hesitating, he asked, "Elaine, did you followto the hotel this morning?" Elaine's heart skipped a beat, confirming her worst fears about that call.

She burst into tears, playing the victim, "Ludwik, I couldn't help it. With Whitney's return, you've been distant, and I was so afraid of losing you. I had Jaxon check on you, and he saw you with Whitney at the hotel..." "I couldn't resist and went there myself this morning. Am I foolish?" Ludwik, watching her cry, felt a twinge of guilt. "I was just drunk. Nothing happened between us, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tellsooner?" "I was afraid of upsetting you. Your closeness with Whitney madepanic," Elaine sobbed, her voice teeming with feigned innocence.

Ludwik, his heart softening, wiped away her tears, yet asked, "Whitney said you hit her. Did you get hurt?" His words were protective but hinted at suspicion.

Elaine quickly laughed it off, "Me, hit her? Whitney sure has a way with words. Have you forgotten how she leftpattered in the restroom?" E Ludwik paused, considering. Whitney was strong, and Elaine was far from it. How could she have attacked Whitney? Yet, he pressed, "She also claimed you instigated Skye Gem Ltd.'s shareholders against her. Elaine, is that true?" Just a moment ago, if Elaine hadn't mentioned the whole ordeal about the shareholders kidnapping Whitney, he would have been in the dark...

Tears fell from Elaine's eyes as she tried to mask her panic, retorting, "Ludwik, are you going to believe her words? Whitney has been notorious three for lying, datinge years ago. Can't fathom why she would want to frme, when all I wanted was to silently stand by you and Danny. She has been relentlessly aggressive, and I had no choice but to endure it. I can't afford to lose you. What doubt could you possibly have about my feelings?" Seeing the woman cry so vulnerably, thinking about her years of affection and dedication, Ludwik suddenly snapped back to reality.

Over these three years, he had tried to fall in love with Elaine, thinking he had succeeded.

Until that woman cback, disturbing his peace of mind.

All this chaos was stirred up by Whitney.

Ludwik pursed his lips, annoyed at himself again. How could he have doubted Elaine just by a few words from her? "I'm sorry, I won't ever question you over such foolish doubts again." Ludwik closed his eyes, fiercely banishing Whitney's annoying presence from his mind.

Including the bill she had handed him for the scratched car, he tossed it aside.

Elaine, in his embrace, barely managed to stabilize her breathing, her eyes filled with a cold glint.

At four in the afternoon, Felix rushed into the mansion-

Approaching Ludwik, he reported, "Mr. Lippert, the shares of Skye Gem Ltd. held by various shareholders haye suddenly been bought out by smysterious buyer." "What?" Ludwik's eyes sharpened.