Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 128

“What’s there to think about? You were never the other woman,” he asserted with a dominant, almost

dictatorial

air

“That’s not your call to make,” Whitney muttered under her breath, turning to pull Tiana and Valerie

away with her quickly.

The onlookers continued to buzz with excitement. “Looks like the boyfriend screwed up and is making it

up to his girl with a grand gesture. A sky full of diamonds–so over the top, I would have forgiven him on

the spot.”

“He must really care about her, putting up her name in big LED letters on the building. Talk about

romantic!”

“I think it’s super romantic, too. Oh, Whitney, I’m sorry, I’m totally swooning here,” Tiana confessed with

a dreamy expression. “We’re all a bit cliché, aren’t we, Whitney? Don’t you feel slightly swayed by such

a public display of affection?”

Whitney had to agree with Tiana; clichés had their charm.

Who does not love flowers, diamonds, or the thrill of a public declaration?

She had designed so many jewelry pieces in her life, yet no man had ever gifted her one.

Even if the grand gesture was L’s friend’s idea, she still felt valued.

Yes, what she wanted was an equal, valued relationship. Not to be stashed away at his convenience,

under his controlling thumb.

“They’re following us,” Valerie remarked with a sly smile, glancing at Whitney.

Whitney turned to see L, Nolan, and Parker, the three dashing men, trailing them through the mall.

Bystanders turned their heads in curiosity.

After walking in a circle, Whitney’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she left the mall with

Valerie and

Tiana.

Once in the car, they headed back to Tiana’s apartment.

Valerie looked at Whitney with a serene gaze. “You’re not seriously considering breaking up, are you?*

Whitney gave a wry smile, glancing down at her belly. “How can I? I’m four months along.”

“That thorn in your side was Elaine being his publicly acknowledged fiancée. Does him declaring your

name in the city center change anything for you?”

Whitney felt Valerie’s piercing accuracy.

Her heart was indeed in turmoil.

She looked down again, and Valerie continued, “Will you swallow that thorn or let go?”

“I believe there’s nothing substantial between him and Elaine, but he hasn’t publicly ended the

engagement. That leaves Elaine with illusions, especially since he lied to me, which further suggests to

her that he doesn’t value me. In the eyes of his family and the public, I’m the mistress,” Whitney

admitted, biting her lip.

Valerie smiled faintly. “I advise you to endure being seen as the mistress and secure your place. If you

step back, Elaine will not let you be, even after she’s engaged to him. You’re smart, Whitney. You’ve

understood this all along.”

Whitney froze, realizing the truth. She could not back down from this relationship now that she was

pregnant If she let go of L, Elaine’s schemes would not allow her to live in peace.

It seemed her only option was to hold on to L and push Elaine out–for the safety of her unborn child

and to

10.08

prevent Elaine from becoming a wicked stepmother.

“You’ve already made up your mind,” Valerie said with a knowing smile.

Whitney looked up and noticed bruises peeking from Valerie’s collar. She frowned and inquired, “What

happened, Valerie? Who did this to you?”

Valerie paled a bit, then forced a bitter smile. “Who else but Ashton, taking out Elaine’s frustrations on

me?

“Oh my God, Ashton’s that kind of jerk?” Tiana joined in, seeing the bruises on Valerie’s neck that

hinted at something more intimate. Tiana paused, then frowned. “Elaine’s really making trouble for both

of you. What a vile woman.”

Whitney’s eyes hardened as she looked at Valerie, realizing her friend’s life with Ashton was even

worse,

L did not love Elaine, but Ashton did.

Whitney knew she had to get rid of Elaine for Valerie’s sake.

Suddenly, Whitney’s resolve solidified.

The next morning, Whitney unexpectedly headed to the hospital to register for a gynecological check–

up.

Tiana looked puzzled. “You should be seeing an obstetrician. Gynecology is for… terminations.”

Whitney’s lashes lifted slightly. “Exactly. I’m forcing a confrontation. Spread the word to L. Tell him to

come.”

“What?” Tiana’s panic turned to understanding mid–sentence. She patted her chest, relieved. “You

scared me. If you dare harm my godson…”

Whitney placed a hand gently on her stomach, smiling. “Sorry, baby. I won’t hurt you. I just need to

push your father a little.”

Tiana hurried off to deliver the message.

At the top floor of the imperial Gem Corporation building, Felix, the executive assistant, turned ashen

when he learned of Whitney’s whereabouts. He rushed to report, “Mr. Lippert, Madam is at the…”

Ludwik had been sure his little lady would have forgiven him by now, ready to fetch her. “Where?”

“In the hospital, and it looks like she’s going to abort the child.”

Ludwik’s pen froze mid–signature, and Felix trembled.

His pen clattered onto the desk as he stood up, his handsome face turning icy. “That damn woman, has

she lost her mind?”

His heart sank, and he stormed out.

At the door, Parker strolled in leisurely. “So, did Whitney forgive you or not?”

Ludwik kicked him in the leg. “Your lousy idea? Forgive me? She doesn’t even want the child

anymore!”

Parker’s face went slack with shock,/Impossible!

He raced after Ludwik.

In the hospital’s gynecology department, Whitney waited for her turn, received an anesthesia

prescription, and followed the doctor into the operating room. As she lay on the table, a silence fell

outside.

Then L’s cold, bone–chilling voice came, “Whitney, you’re courting death!”

A man with a masked fury barged into the operating room, his eyes ablaze with danger as if he could

devour Whitney whole.

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Tiana, terrified, had never seen L. 6o menacing. She prayed Whitney had not miscalculated

Whitney pressed her lips, looking up at him with a defiant, sorrowful gaze.

“Get up, now!” Ludwik yanked her up, dragging her off the bed. His grip was so tight it could shatter her

wrist. He spat out, “What the hell are you doing? You dare to harm my child? I’ll kill you, Whitney. Is this

how much you love me? Great, just great!”

He seemed ready to devour her alive.

Whitney looked up, her expression stubborn yet wistful, and offered a bitter smile. “I don’t have a

choice.”

“Are you deaf or something? Elaine is not the issue; never was!” He gripped her hand tightly, his

fingertips icy.

Whitney felt intimidated by his intensity, her heartbeat racing. Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

A twinge of regret flashed through her mind, and she bit her lip, saying, “Look, L, just because you

don’t see her as a problem doesn’t mean she isn’t one. You say she’s not your fiancée, but why does

she look so heartbroken. over you? It’s because you’ve unintentionally given her hope. I get why you

need to keep her on at the firm, and that’s precisely why your family has taken to her.

But me? I can’t stand being the talk of the town, the subject of gossip. I have to step out of this triangle.

Whether I keep this baby or not, Elaine will never accept it. Instead of being tormented by others, I

might as well be the one to make the hard choice. After all, I’ve left you, and it all should end right

there.”

“Who said you could leave me?!” Ludwik’s chest heaved as he pulled her into his embrace.

His arms felt so cold and unyielding, and in that moment, Whitney’s heartbreak was not an act. Her

eyes slowly filled with tears as she clung to his waist and looked up at him, saying with a weak voice, “I

don’t want to leave you, either. I chose you, which means you must give me some security and respect.

Honestly, I can’t stand having Elaine around you. Call me petty if you want.”

Ludwik looked down, his gaze softening as he took in her porcelain face, his breathing easing ever so

slightly.

His brows furrowed with a dark intensity, “What do you want me to do?”