Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Ludwik's hand emerged from his pocket, gently taking hers and pulling her closer.

He towered over her, eyes soft as night, "Whitney, don't you see the truth yet?

It's survival of the fittest. Only if Bryce dares to call the cops, do I cross a line.

If he doesn't, what law says I can't fight for the woman I love?

Thinking you can lock me up? Sorry, you're not up for the task."

He caressed her palm.

Whitney felt a chill. The man before her had undoubtedly turned into a heartless monster!

Could it be true? After her abduction, Bryce hadn't called the police?

She had been knocked unconscious, unaware of the events that followed. Had he threatened the Lutz family?

Whitney glared at him with disdain and hatred, "Ludwik, using your influence and power, you threatened Bryce again, didn't you?

Ever since he moved to Emperor City, you've relentlessly bullied and humiliated him. When will you stop?"

"How dare he challenge my patience and actually marry you!"

Ludwik leaned in, his breath warm against her face, his voice tender but his words cold, "Whitney, if he caves to my threats, it only shows you're not his top priority.

You're less important to him than his business, his family!"

Whitney's head shook slightly, the sea breeze tousling her beautiful, seaweed-like hair, strands piercing her reddened eyes.

Her anger was palpable, veins on her neck standing out starkly.

It stirred something in him, a destructive and affectionate flame.

Ludwik's Adam's apple bobbed, his hand reaching for her delicate neck as if she were a pet, brushing away strands of hair. Whitney abruptly slapped his hand away, her laugh cold and bitter, "Only a monster like you could twist such heartlessness into logic.

If your family was threatened, could you abandon everything for love?

Bryce has done his best. It's my fault for tangling with a heartless beast like you!"noveldrama

Her cries for Bryce, her apologies to him, pierced Ludwik's heart.

And she branded him a beast.

He smirked, the darkness he had been suppressing now surging back.

Well then, let him be the beast.

"What makes you think I haven't risked everything to be here with you?" Ludwik's voice cracked with a hollow laugh, his grip on her shoulders tightening as he buried his face in her neck, whispering in agony, "Whitney, I can earn back anything lost from the company.

But losing you, I lose everything.

I'd rather die than live without you.

Do you understand?

I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you, a million apologies wouldn't be enough.

But I can try, with actions, to make amends for hurting you.

Just don't leave me.

I can't bear the thought of you with someone else. You're a part of me, irreplaceable since the day I fell for you."

His warmth against her cold skin felt like a burning flame.

Whitney felt hot tears rolling down her neck.

She knew what it meant.

He was crying.

Whitney had never seen him cry, always so invincible and formidable.

His ruthless methods terrified her.

But to what end?

Her heart was still, filled only with rage from being taken and guilt towards Bryce.

His late tears were lighter than grass.

Did Ludwik understand?

"Stop pursuing me," Whitney's voice was bleak, her gaze cold and determined as she pushed him away, "I'm not an object to be

dangled and manipulated at you

whim. Just because you decide you want me, doesn't mean I have to come running back.

Who do you think you are? I acknowledge your power, that few in Harmonia Country can escape your grasp.

But my heart will never yield to you.

I despise you.

Do you know how much I hate you?

You impregnated Florence, nearly married her, yet you still pursued me, how shameless can you be?

You don't understand, it was Florence who threatened me with Sammy's safety to marry Bryce.

But now, I've fallen for him.

I want you to understand, there's no happiness for us. The moment Florence was pregnant, my heart died.

I truly don't love you anymore, my expectations of you have vanished after you've repeatedly dashed my hopes only to douse me with cold reality.

From now on, I just want to live a peaceful and simple life with Bryce.

Please, let me go back to them?

We can discuss custody, I won't be too harsh, and I hope you won't be either..."

Ludwik's pupils dilated with rage, his face a mask of despair and grief.

He couldn't bear to hear her say she no longer loved him, didn't want a life with Bryce, discussing custody arrangements.

His fingers trembled, veins on his forehead bulging, a sign of his impending loss of control.

Desperate, he covered her mouth, his eyes filled with a gambler's despair, "Shut up."

Ludwik couldn't understand how he had driven the woman he loved to utter hopelessness.

Tears fell from his eyes.

He enveloped her in his arms, his kisses desperate, shaking his head, "No, Whitney, we can be happy.

You're the woman I love most, and I don't know how I ended up like this..."

"I'll win you back. It doesn't matter if you don't love me anymore... let me love you, I've let you down before, but this time, let me be the one to suffer, okay? Let's get married, make you my wife again.

This time, it's forever, I swear."

After his stubborn declaration, the butler approached, "The chapel is ready, sir. The auspicious time of 6:18 PM is almost upon us."

Ludwik smiled softly, taking her hand, "Did you hear that, Whitney? It's almost time. Let's go have our wedding."

"Are you out of your mind?" Whitney

was at her wit's end, her words seemed to bounce off him as if he were made of stone. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she struggled in vain, "I'm Bryce's wife now, how many times do I have to tell you? I can't marry you again, not unless I'm dead.

Ludwik, I don't want your 'forever and always', your insistence on bigamy is driving me insane. Are you going to go back to Florence after this?

You're the torment that never ends, do you get that?

Let me go, just let me go. I won't do this."

But he seemed deaf to her pleas, his large hand gently caressing her frantic face, filled with regret, "I could never marry Florence.

Whatever she did to you, I promise I'll make it right."

With those harsh words, he scooped up the struggling woman in his arms and marched back to the mansion, into the sacred chapel.

Ludwik set Whitney down on a chair and commanded the maid, "Drape her with the veil."

He looked at her with deep, affectionate eyes, "I'll fetch the ring, Whitney. I designed this one myself, just for you."

Trapped in the chair, Whitney looked around the holy chapel, a sinking feeling in her heart.