Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Listening to her, Ludwik's expression remained unchanged, his face a mask of cold detachment.

He stood up abruptly, his refusal sharp and clear, "I'm not a little boy you can toy with. You should be looking for someone your own age. Besides, I have a woman I love and a child. I'm sorry, but I'll never be able to love another woman!"

The shock and despair that flashed through the girl's eyes were palpable as tears welled up. "I'm sorry! I spoke without thinking. I'm just a naive girl, aren't I? No man wants to pretend to love a dying girl. Do I even deserve to be loved...?"

She hung her head low, her voice filled with sorrow. Ludwik frowned, perhaps he had been too harsh.

But still, he stood firm. "Even if it's a pretense, I can't betray her. Clearly, you've got the wrong guy, miss."

He took a few steps towards the door, but not without a touch of gentlemanly conduct. "Let me at least drive you back to the hospital."

"And what about your mother...?"

"I can't meet your request, miss," Ludwik replied, his lips pressed into a thin line, his mood somber.

Outside the cinema, as the girl struggled to catch her breath on the steps, nearly fainting with no maid by her side, Ludwik had no choice but to support her into his car.

The sleek black Bentley cut through the rain, slowly pulling away from the curb.

In a Mercedes parked nearby, Bryce lowered his phone, scrutinizing the photo he'd just snapped of Ludwik embracing the girl with a smug look.

He turned to his assistant with a sneer. "Send it to Elaine, anonymously."

"But wasn't Elaine confined to the hospital by Ludwik?"

"She's not dead. Her ambition is very much alive. It won't stop her from stirring trouble."

With a sly grin, Bryce watched Ludwik's car disappear into the distance, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated hatred. He'd never forget the day he saw Ludwik kissing Whitney provocatively right in front of his apartment, that defiant and arrogant gaze.

It was obvious who Elaine would forward the photo to.

With an order, Bryce's car drove off.

At the hospital, Ludwik dropped the girl at her office, parting with cold formalities before heading to the inpatient ward.

Myra helped Miss Sheldon into her car.

As they drove off, Myra asked with concern, "Ms. Sheldon, did Mr. Lippert refuse your request?"

"If he had agreed so easily, I would have thought him unworthy, not the man I believed him to be."

Florence smiled, her gaze lingering on his retreating figure. "It's all up to Mr. Lippert now, whether his mother is more important or that woman. I bet he'll cave eventually."

Myra smirked, musing over the reality that leukemia waits for no one.

Elaine, lying in her hospital bed, suddenly received a series of photos.

Ludwik with an unfamiliar girl outside the cinema? Initially shocked and then furiously jealous, she scoffed, deciding to forward them to Whitney without a second thought.

Glaring at the photo of the young girl, who was this new face getting so close to Ludwik?

Locking onto her blurry profile, the more Elaine looked, the more she thought she resembled...Whitney?

Deep in thought, the wheels in her head began to turn, contemplating the mastermind behind her kidnapping...

With narrowed eyes, Elaine dialed Ashton, determined to uncover the girl's identity.

In the apartment.

Whitney, seeing Danny's recovered appetite, decided to make dumplings, ending up with nearly a hundred.

Danny, counting them, suggested, "Mommy, can we invite Daddy over? We can't finish all these."

Whitney paused, considering.

"There's also Uncle Jack and Aunt Yael, and Grandpa Torin."

Danny nodded. "Right, enough to share. I just thought of Daddy; he seems a bit pitiful."

He spoke of how Ludwik had secluded himself at Skyfaith, working tirelessly and neglecting himself, fearing his sudden demise. "..." Whitney looked at her son, torn.

She knew she couldn't keep Ludwik away from Danny, not when their son was involved.

After a moment's thought, relenting, "Then you..."

"I knew it, Mommy! You still care for that stinky man. I'll call him right now!"

"

." Was that what she meant?

With a sigh of resignation, Whitney let it be.

Danny quickly texted his dad, hoping to reunite his parents for Sammy's sake.

Ludwik, receiving the message, dropped everything, a flicker of hope lighting up his features as he rushed out.

The apartment door was open, welcoming him. He tidied himself up, trying to look presentable despite the neglect of the past days.

Entering the kitchen, he found Whitney preparing dumplings, with Danny watching eagerly.

The sunset cast a warm glow over the mother and son, a serene and heartwarming scene that filled Ludwik with a mix of emotions.

If only... Sammy were here too.

Pushing aside the bitterness,

Ludwik's heart swelled with

affection for the woman in front of

him, reminded of his mother's

advice to win her back, no matter

what.

Yeah, somehow, just seeing her and the kids around, the heavy burden of his mother's illness didn't seem so intimidating anymore.

Even the toughest guys need a touch of tenderness to keep them going...

Ludwik watched silently, not making a sound. The woman's phone chimed, and she quickly wiped her hands before checking it.

He noticed a few stray strands of her hair falling loosely, dark and soft, partially covering her beautiful face.

He couldn't help but tread lightly, moving closer to her...

Her slender waist was easy to encircle with his hands, so delicate.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Ludwik took a deep breath, inhaling her scent, suddenly realizing how long it had been since they'd been

close. His gaze deepened, and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

UMS

The sudden masculine presence didn't wake Whitney.

Because her entire focus was captured by the photo that had just appeared on her phone. Her eyes widened fixated on the image of

man embracing an unfamiliar woman. They stood at the entrance

ly cozy Pet

as if

of a cinema, they had just stepped out from a date night movie.