Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 156

Tears streamed down Whitney’s cheeks as she numbly slid the engagement ring onto her ring finger,

only to jerk it off as if it burned her skin.

Over and over, she repeated the torturous ritual until her finger bled, but she could not feel the pain; the

pain in her heart was much more immense.

“Whitney? A deep, mellow voice called from outside the door, accompanied by a gentle knocking.

Startled, she clasped a trembling hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.

“Is the baby okay?” He asked with concern.

Biting her lip, Whitney shook her head, remaining silent.

“Why are you locking yourself in there? Is that ring bothering you that much? Are you so against

accepting me because of Elaine?” He rested his weight against the door, his heavy frame almost

causing it to creak.

Inside, Whitney vigorously shook her head; it was not about Elaine; it was something else entirely.

He sighed, his voice turning cold, a chill that seemed to echo the death of his hope.

After a while, he walked away.

Clutching the ring to her chest, Whitney collapsed against the door. If she told him everything, what

would he do to Uncle Keegan?

In the end, he would probably throw her into the abyss alongside him. After all, she had unwittingly

been complicit in hurting him twice.

Whitney did not know how long she stayed in the bathroom, staring at her ghostly reflection, her face

as pale as a specter.

Natalie knocked on the door, her voice laced with worry, “Whitney, are you still feeling unwell? I’m

about to call the family doctor.”

“I’m fine, Mom…” Whitney quickly stood, splashing her face with cold water to reduce the swelling

around her eyes before hastily opening the door.

Natalie looked at her daughter–in–law’s swollen belly and lovingly stroked it. “Little baby is being so

good.”

Whitney’s gaze flickered to the empty dining table, her voice barely above a whisper, “Did he leave?”

Natalie shook her head, gesturing towards the living room. “When you locked yourself in the bathroom

with that ring and wouldn’t answer him, he started drinking. He’s been sick since yesterday, you know.

Three bottles of red wine in, and now he’s practically comatose.”

Whitney saw the slumped silhouette on the couch, his brow furrowed in distress.

The crisis at United Realty Corporation had been enough to trouble him, but her behavior had only

added to his gloom.

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“Whitney, dear…” Natalie led her to the dining table to talk, looking at her closely. “I might be forgetful,

but I’m not blind I see the love you have for him. Are you rejecting his proposal because of his difficult

nature?”

“No, Mom, it’s not that…”

Natalie glanced at her son with a pained expression. “You don’t know what he’s been through. He has

a half–brother from his father’s side who was always the golden boy. I was ill, so I couldn’t stand up for

him. He was often mistreated by his stepmother, going hungry, and locked in the basement.

A wealthy heir with nothing to his name, he once stole money for my medication and got beaten by the

servants publicly, even taken to the police. He was just eight years old when he developed mental

issues and was constantly irritable, and his father had him committed to a psychiatric ward for two

years.

When he came out, he was different, cald. I blame myself, my illness made his life miserable. But he

fought hard, stood his ground, and outshone all the other family members, earning his father’s respect.

I’ve watched him struggle every step of the way. My memory may fail me sometimes, but I vividly

remember his hardships.”

Whitney felt a twinge in her heart; she had heard whispers about the Lippert family patriarch favoring

the younger son, but she had not realized how much Ludwik had suffered.

Seeing her lost in thought, Natalie patted her hand and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m telling you this so you

can understand why he’s so easily angry. But that’s all in the past, and he’s healthy now. He never let

the darkness of his childhood affect his business dealings. Whitney, your man has integrity. His nobility

is in his bones, and he’s worthy of you.

If he were a man who would use any means necessary to reach his goal, he would not just be the

tycoon he is today but even more powerful.”

Natalie smiled reassuringly.

Whitney was taken aback. Natalie, of course, knew her son best, and she said he had integrity and was

not the type to use any means necessary to reach his goal.

Yesterday, he had refused to take advantage of Braxton, willingly giving up a lucrative deal. His

principles and restraint had struck her.

Such a uniquely noble man, had he truly been so villainous when he started from nothing, seizing the

Tennyson family’s assets?

Whitney questioned herself silently.

Her nerves taut, she asked, “Mom, in all his years in business, has he ever done anything

reprehensible?”

“Never. Even at his lowest, he got through it with honesty.”

Natalie stated confidently, pride shining in her eyes, “So, Whitney, you can’t give up on him.”

She led Whitney to the sofa, her voice heavy with emotion, “If there’s anyone he truly despises and

hates, it’s his brother who took everything from him. Despite my detachment from worldly matters, I’ve

heard people praise your beauty and intelligence. You should stand by his side; don’t let him fight alone

anymore.”

Natalie placed Whitney’s hand gently on the man’s shoulder.

Sensing her touch, Ludwik gripped it tightly. His drunken eyes, clouded with alcohol, seemed to

swallow her whole.

“Whitney…” he mumbled in his drunken stupor, “I’m sick; did you know?”

His voice was hoarse, breaking her heart, his features flushed with fever.

Whitney could no longer bear it. She touched his forehead, which was burning up. NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

Taryn could not stand to see him suffer and urged, “He’s fallen severely ill and refuses to take his

medicine. Please, Madam, tell him to go upstairs to rest.”

Whitney followed Taryn’s advice with a heavy heart, helping him to the bedroom.

In the bedroom, the tall man collapsed onto the bed.

Whitney placed a thermometer under his arm, but he squirmed, his brow furrowed in discomfort,

exhaling hot, fevered breaths as if he could scorch the air.

Whitney sighed and looked down at him, his face uncovered due to their struggle, revealing his

strikingly handsome features.

He was Ludwik, the man Natalie claimed had never stooped to dishonorable means in business..

Whitney looked at this extraordinary man, remembering how he had risked his life to save her.

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apter 50

Could that have been an act? Was he the conniving man her uncle had depicted, a ruthless predator, a

murderer?

But she refused to believe it. In their five months together, he had always been a well–mannered and

graceful gentleman. He might be temperamental, sure, but she could not sense any maliciousness in

him.

So, where had everything gone wrong?

There was one more thing. If Ludwik was the man who killed her grandfather and mother, how could he

not realize that her uncle was the very culprit who had caused his deal to go sour? Instead, he still

thought Elaine was why she wanted to leave him.

Whitney’s heart hammered against her chest, a relentless drumbeat echoing her turmoil. Could it be

possible that Keegan had accused the wrong person all along? But then, there was the broken half of

that mask…

Lost in her thoughts, she did not notice that the man before her had stirred awake.

His eyes were as enigmatic as ever.

Spotting the delicate figure hovering above him, Ludwik suddenly pulled her into his embrace and

captured her lips with a fierce, domineering kiss that carried a tumult of sorrow and rage.

Overwhelmed by the scent of alcohol, Whitney struggled for air, her emotions shattering like a jar of

mixed

spices.

She pushed him away.

His gaze, deep as a forest pool, seemed to drown her. “Can’t I? Have you grown so distant from me?”