Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

Chapter 157

Her heart shattered like a delicate wine glass dropped on a stone floor, and she could barely muster

the strength to keep her trembling fingers still.

He cradled the back of her head, wishing he could merge her into his very being. If it were not for the

child they were expecting, he would have pinned her down and never let go.

Whitney felt the storm raging within him, and her tears cascaded down her cheeks, glistening like

pearls, tapping softly against his skin.

Her small hands clenched into fists against his chest and neck, only to unfurl, powerlessly relaxing…

Eyes closed, she mourned silently, “Mom, Grandpa, forgive me for this betrayal, this shame. It’s the

last time, I swear. Maybe… Maybe it’s all a mistake? Maybe it’s not him?”

Soon, the fever and the drunken haze pulled him into the void, and his lips loosened.

Whitney slumped next to the bed, her mind a whirlwind. She hastily rummaged through her bag and

pulled out her grandfather’s contact book.

Skimming through it desperately, she stumbled upon a torn page with a single name: Bartels.

Bartels?

The following pages were all missing.

If her grandpa

pa had not torn them out, then who did, and why were the pages with Ludwik’s name still intact?

A memory flashed in her mind of her uncle mentioning that before coming to Banyan City, her Grandpa

had been pushed out of the medical field by unscrupulous competition.

The only Bartels she knew was Elaine, and the Bartels were a dynasty in the medical field of Emperor

City!

Could it be a coincidence? Was it the Bartels who forced her Grandpa to leave, leading him to Banyan

City?

As her head spun with these thoughts, Whitney suddenly considered that maybe the name Ludwik in

the address book was a red herring.

She looked up at the feverish man before her, her heart pounding on hot coals. “Ludwik, it wasn’t She

whispered hoarsely, clutching the ring in her hand as everything began to heat up.

you.

was it?”

Downstairs, Natalie was relieved to see Whitney had not come down. But as dizziness took hold of her,

Taryn suggested they call the family doctor to stay with her.

Just then, the house phone rang. Taryn answered it and hesitated before speaking, “Ms. Natalie, it’s

Ms. Elaine. She wants to visit for New Year’s Eve. Shall I invite her?”

Natalie frowned, the thought of that girl sending shivers down her spine, and fear bloomed within her.

With Ludwik and Whitney upstairs, she shook her head. “Decline her. Tell her we’re having a family

reunion.”

Taryn relayed the message as asked.

Halfway to the mansion, Elaine’s face fell when her assistant relayed Taryn’s words. She had planned

to use this New Year’s Eve to get closer to Ludwik, especially since Whitney would not be back

because of her blunder with the company’s project. It would be the perfect opportunity to get closer to

Ludwik!

However, hearing what her assistant had said, her fingers clutched with resentment. “What? A family

reunion? No way Ludwik called Whitney back.”

It had to be Natalie.

Resentment boiled within Elaine as she gritted her teeth. She had not even returned to Emperor City

because

18:15

she wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve with Ludwik. Yet, Natalle was way too

protective over Whitney, which was getting on Elaine’s nerves!

With Natalie in the picture, Elaine was almost certain she would not be able to achieve her goal. Her

eyes narrowed with malicious intent.

“Turn back!” She snapped. “Even if they’re having their so–called reunion, it will be their last” She

snickered as if certain of Whitney’s doom.

At 5 am, close to dawn, Ludwik finally opened his eyes, still feverish and dizzy from the alcohol. His

throat felt scorched, but he caught sight of the soft figure slumped by his bedside who seemed to be

sleeping

Despite the temperature–controlled room, she lay uncovered, and with their child growing inside her,

Ludwik’s brows furrowed with concern. He reached out to lift her into bed.

She woke at his touch.

The gaunt woman’s pale face was etched with exhaustion. As she met his gaze, he saw a flicker of

complex emotions, a softening from the icy distance of the past few days.

“Don’t move. You’re too weak,” Whitney advised in a raspy voice

“Have you been crying?” His voice was even more hoarse, his energy sapped

Whitney’s eyes froze, then dropped to the snowy dawn breaking outside the window.

“There’s a crack in the ice,” she thought, hope mingling with the raw vulnerability of the past days. 1

Without hatred, perhaps they still had a future.

Her voice quivered as she spoke. Take your medicine.”

He was too weak even to lift his arm.

Gently, Whitney placed the pill in his mouth and said, “You had a fever. You need to rest, or even

walking will be a problem. Don’t rush back to work…

She hesitated momentarily before finally asking. “What about the five–star hotel project? The investors

are bound to make a fuss. What’s your plan?”

Ludwik lay still, his face flushed with fever. “It’s manageable. I have other companies. Il reallocate funds

to cover the breach of contract penalties.”

He did not mention Imperial Gem Corporation, his other global enterprise, which was more famous

than United Realty Corporation.

He had no idea Whitney already knew who he was.

She tucked him in, and he feebly reached for her hand, “The real issue is, you want to leave me. Don’t,

Whitney

Put the ring on.”

Head bowed, tears streaming, she instead grasped his burning hand.

“I won’t leave you. Look.” She sobbed softly, showing him the diamond ring on her finger.

Ludwik’s eyes widened in surprise, then softened into a smile.

Whitney mirrored his smile, intertwining her fingers with his. “I’ll try again. To stay by your side. I love

you, L

“I love you, Ludwik.” She said his real name in her mind.

Content, he closed his eyes for a restful sleep.

“Get some sleep. When you wake up, we’ll face it together,” she whispered, injecting him with a Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

sedative.

He needed rest.

She rose once he was sound asleep, taking the contact book from her bag. It was time to confront her

uncle to prove that Ludwik might not be the enemy.

There was still time to stop this, she thought as she hurried away

Whitney stepped out of her room and was about to make a call.

Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Keegan, his voice unusually tender, “Whitney, I

was a bit over the top the other morning. I’m sorry. I know I’ve been pushing you hard. You didn’t even

drop by for New Year’s Eve dinner. Come over now Let’s welcome the new year together”

Whitney could not fathom why he had suddenly softened.

Without overthinking, she stepped out of the house, saying, “Uncle, I have something really important

to tell your

Tl be waiting.” Keegan replied and hung up, a smirk fading from his lips as a cold glint flashed in his

eyes.

Whitney drove to the apartment only to find Keegan’s car parked outside. He was already getting in, his

hands clutching a few memorial candles and flowers for offerings.

Frowning. Whitney approached.

“Get in Keegan said “we’re going to the cemetery to pay our respects to your mom and grandpa.”

It was local customary to honor the departed on the first day of the new year, so Whitney nodded

silently and climbed into the car

The assistant pulled the car onto the road.

Whitney opened her purse, reaching for the contact book,

Suddenly, Keegan winced, clutching his right leg, “Whitney, it’s acting up again. Get the acupuncture

kit.”

He suffered from phantom limb pain often.

Whitney hurriedly pulled out the kit, which included some herbs, and was about to position a silver

needle.

Abruptly, the assistant slammed on the brakes. Whitney lurched forward, and as she turned back to

grab the acupuncture kit again, she found that Keegan had thrown the entire kit out of the window!

Whitney was baffled, but when she looked up, she met Keegan’s changed gaze.

“Uncle, why did you do that?”

Keegan remained silent, his eyes complex and unreadable…

The car door flung open, and out of nowhere, the assistant from behind Whitney pressed a chloroform–

soaked cloth over her face, covering her mouth and nose.

The drug quickly invaded Whitney’s senses. Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief as she stared at

her uncle.