Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 57
Grumpy and without much of a choice, she turned with a resigned sigh, reaching for the fridge to grab some spaghetti, tomatoes
and meat.
Ludwik furrowed, gesturing to the other plentiful ingredients, “With all these, you’re just going to make spaghetti for me?”
“Is there a problem with spaghetti?” she retorted. “Be grateful I’m cooking for you!”
Moments later, she served the spaghetti and quickly retreated upstairs.
After devouring the spaghetti, Ludwik’s mood improved marginally. When he headed up for a shower, he found the master
bedroom door firmly shut and locked. He couldn’t get in.
From behind the door, Whitney emboldened herself, “Mom’s gone to sleep in the main house. From now on, please don’t come
to my room Mr. L. I don’t agree to your sleeping on the couch either.”
“Why not?” His expression turned icy.
It was silence from inside. She was probably scrambling for an excuse. Then Whitney blurted out, “My baby needs to sleep well.”
Ludwik’s face darkened further as he headed to the guest bathroom.
Whitney was worried he’d be furious. From the get–go, she knew this man had a temper.
Peeking out, she saw the guest bathroom door coldly shut.
With no Taryn to attend to him, his privileged self had tossed his shirt carelessly around. Whitney picked up his shirt and was
intended to put it back, when she saw a slim cigarette fall out of the pocket.
It was luxurious to the touch, clearly a bespoke brand.
That wasn’t the point, though. Whitney’s eyes widened as she stared at the cigarette, turning it over and over in her hands.

She was certain she had seen her nemesis, Ludwik, smoking the same brand in the hallway that afternoon!
The scent and the look were identical.
Why? Suddenly, Whitney turned to stare at the bathroom door dazedly.
She hurried back to her bedroom and closed the door, sinking into peculiar contemplation.
At four in the morning, Tiana was jolted awake by her phone.
Whitney’s voice was odd, “Tiana?”

“Ugh, where am I?” Tiana groaned, rubbing her eyes. “Damn it, Whitney, did you ditch me at the hotel and go home?”
Tiana got up and saw the mess on the dresser, bits of last night’s memories flooding back. She chuckled groggily, “I dreamed I
saw a couple making out in front of me, Whitney. But then they left...”
Whitney’s face turned pale in an instant. She tried hard to steady her expression and said, “Tiana, I’ve got urgent news. I think
I’ve stumbled upon a huge conspiracy.”
“What kind of conspiracy?” Tiana was all ears now.
With a heavy sigh, Whitney said, “About L and Ludwik!”
“What is it? You’re not calling me in the middle of the night to tell me the two heartthrobs around you are actually gay, are you?”
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“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Just spit it out.”
“Have you ever considered that L and Ludwik might be the same person?”
“What?”
Tigna’s face filled with confusion and a touch of horror, “Have I been thinking too conservatively? Whitney. you’re seriously bold
with this theory!”
Whitney’s eyes narrowed, her mind whirling like a storm, “Tonight, I noticed that L and Ludwik smoke the same brand of
cigarettes! Those aren’t sold on the market. Don’t you think that’s too much of a coincidence?”
“Not just that. Today, Ludwik defended me, using a draft I’d only discussed with L earlier. I never gave it anyone else before. I
asked if L knew Ludwik but he dodged the question! Ludwik did the same this afternoon! And most importantly, I recalled a
detail,”
“Ludwik mentioned he didn’t like tacky landscape paintings, which is exactly how I described L before. If Lis really Ludwik, I’m
done–I’ve cursed Ludwik to his face about his shortcomings!”
“Why be so harsh? According to this theory, isn’t he your husband?”
“I lied to Ludwik about going home to take care of my husband, L. And when L came to the bar, he asked me directly why I
hadn’t gone home to take care of him. What do you think?” Whitney grew more agitated as she spoke, “Think about it, L and
Ludwik are both six–foot–two, and they even smell similar.”
“Did you sniff them?” Tiana teased with a mischievous smile.

Whitney paused for a second, “Besides, as my nemesis, Ludwik wouldn’t help me without any reasons. Unless... he is L. A man
like him wouldn’t just stand by if his wife was bullied.”
Tiana watched Whitney turn detective, interrupting, “So it’s all because of a cigarette that sparked this revelation?”
“What do you think? If they’re the same person, then L has a good reason for wearing the mask all the time!” Whitney paced
anxiously.
Tiana stroked her chin thoughtfully, “It’s not impossible. Girl, what are you waiting for? If you’re suspicious, let’s go look for
evidence!”
Of course they needed to seek for evidence.
But it had to be done quietly, before the man caught wind of their suspicions.
If L really was Ludwik, Whitney couldn’t imagine how shattered she’d feel.
He’d been playing her all along!
In the morning, Whitney intentionally got up late, after L had left the villa.
After Natalie coaxed her into eating several cans of bird’s nest soup for breakfast, Whitney rushed out the door. She and Tiana
had already planned to visit the tobacco bureau to consult with an expert. Whitney presented the stolen gentleman’s luxurious
cigarette.
The expert examined it and said it wasn’t sold commercially. This imported slim cigarette was exorbitantly priced and globally
limited. Only fewer than ten men in the world could boast ownership.
Fewer than ten? And two just happened to be in Banyan City?
Tiana frowned, “I can believe some big–shot from the jewelry world puffing on fancy cigars, but L? At best, he looks like he’s got
some cash to throw around.”
Whitney glanced at her, “Isn’t everything worth a second guess?”
Chapter 57

The pair made their way back to the building Whitney had visited before, the one L claimed to be his company office.
When they reached the 28th floor, it was as Whitney suspected; L’s office had vanished into thin air.
“I told you, he probably rented some makeshift space to play a little game with his darling wife.” Tiana said with a twinkle in her
eye, playfully teasing Whitney.
Whitney pursed her lips, “This means his real company must be something serious. It points even more to the possibility of it
being something like Imperial Gem Corporation, a global giant.”
At lunchtime, Whitney stayed out, avoiding a trip home because she had overheard Natalie mention that L would be stopping by
the house around noon.
She had a plan brewing!