Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 110

Whitney emerged from the restroom, rubbing her eyes as Hannah’s familiar shriek echoed through the

hallways of the grand estate. It was a sound uniquely hers, piercing and high–pitched, like an off–key

violin screeching through the night.

She was about to

sk what was going on when she caught Felix in mid–conversation with L. “Miss Hannah is causing a

commotion,” Felix explained. “All those involved in the soiree the other night, Mr. Wendt and Dante,

they’ve aiready been…”

He made a slashing gesture across his throat, unaware that Whitney was within earshot.

Her heart skipped a beat. In the time they had been together, she had seen his ruthless side. That man

harbored a devil inside, and she feared Dante and Mr. Wendt might have paid the ultimate price.

“Hannah masterminded the whole affair and instructed Mr. Wendt to kidnap Madam,” Felix continued.

“You’ve blacklisted her from the entire entertainment scene, and with her father’s position at The Fuller

Group now in jeopardy, she and her mother have come to plead their case. But Nolan won’t give her

the time of day.”

“Show them out,” Ludwik interjected with an icy brevity that sent shivers down Whitney’s spine.

She blinked, stunned. Had he discovered that it was Hannah who had set her up that night?

A mix of emotions churned within her. She had thought him indifferent during her days of confinement,

but he had been investigating the gala, seeking vengeance on her behalf, punishing Hannah.

But was Hannah truly the mastermind?

Meanwhile, Elaine accompanied Natalie to Ludwik’s hospital for a check–up, seizing the opportunity to

access areas where Parker would otherwise bar her.

As the neurologist examined Natalie, Elaine overheard the commotion caused by Hannah outside

Ludwik’s

room.

A flicker of concern crossed her eyes, but she quickly masked it with indifference. Sh

Hannah’s actions and, thus, felt no worry.

had not orchestrated

But Hannah’s presence reminded Elaine of the cold, piercing gaze Whitney had given her at the gala.

Whitney surely suspected her.

Now that Ludwik had pinned the blame on Hannah, Whitney would surely disagree. What would

Whitney say to

Ludwik?

A smug smile crept onto Elaine’s lips. This was why she had spent the previous night ‘caring‘ for

Natalie at the mansion. Her ‘all–night vigil‘ must have reached Ludwik’s ears by now.

The neurologist expressed surprise at Natalie’s recovery. “Madam Natalie is doing remarkably well.

Was acupuncture administered during her épisode?” Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Elaine looked down at the still–confused elderly lady and smiled. “That was my doing. I have medical

knowledge and tended to my Natalie all night.”

F

The neurologist praised her. “You are quite attentive to Mr. Lippert’s mother. Madam Natalie, do you

remember how you fell ill?”

Natalie’s gaze was hazy as she struggled to recollect.

Elaine’s smile deepened. She had tampered with Natalie’s memory with her needles the night before.

How could she remember her phone call?

As expected, Natalie shook her head, bewildered. “I don’t know. I just had a seizure out of nowhere.”

15.525

The family doctor said, “The lady has had her share of ailments. It’s likely a complication. It’s my fault

for taking a day off.”

The neurologist nodded, gathering the medical records. “I’ll brief Mr. Lippert on Madam Natalie’s

condition

later.”

Elaine released the wheelchair and flashed a smile. “I’ll accompany you. I was about to visit him

myself.

Back in the hospital room, Whitney settled beside the bed.

Hannah’s screams had faded into the distance, carried away by security.

Whitney looked up at the man. “L, do you truly believe that Hannah was so jealous of me that she had

Mr. Wendt kidnap me so that you’d see me humiliated?”

“Are you suggesting there’s another mastermind?” Ludwik’s hawk–like gaze sharpened.

She had saved his life, and everything else seemed trivial by comparison. But she could not swallow

the bitter pill of their argument during the gala when he had defended Elaine and wounded her with his

words. Whitney cared deeply about that thorn in her side. They had not settled it that day, but now,

closer than ever, she wanted to clear the air about Elaine.

“Yes, I suspect Hannah was just a pawn,” Whitney said firmly, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “L, haven’t

you noticed? We’ve been arguing a lot lately since Elaine entered our lives.”

Ludwik frowned, frustration etched on his face. “Are you still going on about her? I know what you’re

about to

say,”

Whitney placed her hand over his, her touch gentle but her eyes cold and resolute. “Just hear me out,

You say she’s friendly, that she helps us. Logically, our relationship should be sweet, but why all the

arguments?

Remember the gemstone suppliers? You had asked her to recommend them to me, but she kept that a

secret, saying she recommended the suppliers. Was it really unintentional? Maybe she had already

noticed my guard against her, so she used that to stir things between us. And the Lotus Clubhouse? I

was discussing business with Mr. Lutz there while you were having a meeting relatively far away. Why

did she bring you there to eat? I know she’ll definitely say that the Lotus Clubhouse just popped up in

her mind out of nowhere, but…”

Ludwik’s eyes darkened, his impatience giving way to contemplation. The distance between the

meeting venue and the Lotus Clubhouse was indeed significant, a detail he had overlooked while

browsing her Facebook that day.

Whitney tried to read his expression, her voice laced with a wry laugh. “And remember the bar

incident? She posted a picture with you on Twitter. Would a sister who truly wished us well behave so

provocatively, making it seem like you two were having a blast without me?”

Ludwik sighed and ruffled her hair affectionately but with a hint of reluctance. “I was not having a blast

that night.”

“Don’t change the subject,” Whitney pressed on. “Do you know what she said to me before the gala?

She bragged about taking care of you, about working closely with you. She tried to provoke me, wanted

me to lash out at her in front of you. And I bet she played the victim afterward, telling you I was still

angry and suggesting that you should come and appease me, right?”

Ludwik’s eyes narrowed sharply, a cold gleam flickering as he regarded her. “How did you know?”

Whitney scoffed lightly. “Every time we argue, isn’t that how she always tries to mediate? It’s a classic

case of ‘retreat to advance.‘ I might not use that tactic, but I’m certainly familiar with it.”

Monica often employed such low–tier strategies, much to Elaine’s chagrin, though she managed to do

so without leaving a trace.

Whitney’s gaze turned frosty as she continued, “That night in the private room when Hannah appeared

so unexpectedly, I had no idea she harbored feelings for you and targeted me. After all, even if she did

have it out for me before, she never found me. Who could connect the dots? So, I have every reason to

suspect that on the night of the banquet, Hannah was similarly coached by someone, leading her to

concoct that malicious plot against me. Why don’t you check if Hannah and Elaine had any private

conversations during the event? That would tell us everything, wouldn’t it?”

Ludwik’s eyes darkened to a deep, cold hue.

Indeed, his marriage to Whitney had been hasty and secretive, giving Hannah no chance to locate

Whitney before.

But recently, she seemed to be showing up more at events Whitney attended.

Suddenly, a low sobbing sound came from outside the door.

Both turned their heads to see a doctor, looking rather sheepish, standing at the doorway, holding a

medical chart. “Elaine brought your mother to the hospital today for a neurological checkup…”

Behind him stood Elaine, her eyes slightly reddened, brimming with a pitiful, damp sweetness.

She stepped forward, eyes on Whitney, and managed a bitter, disappointed smile, “I never expected

Whitney to think so poorly of me. Maybe I’ve been too enthusiastic, overzealous even, and that’s led to

misunderstandings. Bro, it’s fine. You should take Whitney’s side and paint me as the villain. As long as

you two make up, I can handle being misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood?” Whitney rose to her feet, eyeing Elaine’s perfect damsel–in–distress act, and could

not help but snort, “Elaine, your timing could not be better. Care to explain why you insisted on taking

your dear Bro to the out–of–the–way Lotus Clubhouse for dinner? Why did not you make it clear that it

was L who asked you to recommend a female supplier for me?”