Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 102
Nolan’s face suddenly tensed, and he awkwardly asked, “Is that what Big Bro told you?”
“Yeah,” Whitney locked eyes with him, not missing the subtle shift in his expression. Her heart sank. “Isn’t that the case?”
“If he said so, it must be true!” Nolan replied, his voice betraying his unease. He quickly tried to smooth things over. “Whitney,
you must know, Big Bro’s totally into you. Before you came along, he never had a single girl on his mind.”
Except for the girl who saved his life, but she was nowhere to be found.
Nolan convinced himself he was not lying. “You’re smart. If you argue with him over Elaine, you’re only hurting yourself. Besides,
Big Bro is a tough nut to crack; you need to be more understanding of his temper. There’s a reason for it...”
His tone grew somber, “He doesn’t trust easily because of his past. To him, trust means vulnerability. You have no idea what he’s
been through. But he’s starting to let you into his iceberg kingdom. We can all see it! Don’t be fooled by his stone–cold exterior–
that’s just his battle armor. Inside, he’s fragile. His anger means he’s starting to care about you, to be emotionally involved. You
can’t let him down, or he’ll lose it.”
Nolan’s heavy warning sent a chill through Whitney, who was already sensing the unusual stirrings of L’s emotions, particularly
his terrifying jealousy.
So, all his doubts stemmed from past hurt? The mistrust, but now he was opening up his frozen heart for her?
Could it be true?
Whitney thought she must be crazy to buy into Nolan’s words.
But women are emotional creatures, and she had guessed that since L lived with Natalie, keeping her close and protected, his
family background must weigh heavily on him.
Her heart softened just a bit, but she was still furious that he seemed to favor Elaine.
“Think it over. If you decide to stay with him, please try to be more patient.” Nolan sighed, then hurried back to the party, playing
the mediator once more.
Whitney stood rooted to the spot, unsure whether to leave or stay.

She was in the parking lot, next to the garden, where the lights were dim. Her car was just ahead when suddenly, a figure

approached her.
She spun around, coming face to face with a portly man she did not recognize.
“Ms. Valentine, I’m Mr. Wendt. Were you looking for me?” Mr. Wendt slurred, his gaze on Whitney heated and urgent.
She immediately noticed the off scent on his breath.
“Why don’t we find a quiet place to talk? Did you want to discuss renting a Skye Gem kiosk space in my mall?” Mr. Wendt leered,
remembering how this woman seemed to flirt with him during the party. Now that his nagging wife was gone, he was itching for
some excitement.
“I wasn’t looking for you, Mr. Wendt. You’re not well. You should see a doctor.”
Whitney quickly shook off his hand and made a beeline for her car.
Suddenly, Mr. Wendt pounced from behind, clamping a chloroform–soaked cloth over Whitney’s mouth and
nose.
She struggled violently. “Mr. Wendt! Let go of me...”
Overpowered, she was no match for his strength. Mr. Wendt dragged her into the dark garden, heading for a
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Chapter 102

ground–floor guest room with a lecherous smile. Inside, another man named Dante was waiting. They exchanged a knowing
grin. “Got a tip she’d be alone tonight. With her reputation, we can do whatever we want!”
Whitney, barely conscious, heard their conversation and felt herself being laid on a bed. With the last shred of awareness, she
fished out an antidote pill from her dress and slipped it into her mouth, hoping it would counteract the effects of the drug.
“Look at her, lifting her dress in desperation!” Mr. Wendt chuckled nastily.
From the surveillance, Hannah watched everything unfold with a triumphant cackle.
She quickly called Elaine, barely containing her excitement. “Elaine, everything’s set. Where’s Big Bro?”
Elaine’s eyes sparkled with malice, though her expression remained calm. “Hannah, don’t be naughty. He is still in the lounge.”
“Come and watch the show, Elaine. Whitney will lose Big Bro’s favor completely tonight, and then I’ll have my chance!”
“No, it would be my chance. He has always been mine,” Elaine thought.
She rose gracefully from her seat, unaware that the events in the garden had been witnessed.

Bryce’s assistant rushed back into the party and whispered urgently.
Bryce’s refined face darkened as he asked, “Did you see where they took her?”
The assistant nodded and led the way.
In the lounge, Nolan nearly choked on the smoke. Ludwik sat like a statue, eyes closed, surrounded by a chilly.Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

aura.
Risking a rebuke, Nolan teased, “Ease up on the smoking. You’ve barely started your romance with Whitney; don’t let lung
cancer beat you to it. That girl’s pretty obedient. I just played the emotional card, and her eyes softened. Such a delicate, proud
woman is easy to tame. I don’t get why you’re so fiercely possessive. Big Bro, I know you’re suspicious by nature. You believe a
young woman in the business world can’t be that innocent. But I’ve seen her clear eyes. Even if she’s working with Bryce as a
supplier, there’s nothing between them. At worst, she’s just disappointed you.”
“That day in the private room, I saw her throw herself into Bryce’s arms on purpose. I don’t respect such tactics.”
Women in business often put on a show better than men, and Nolan knew Ludwik tolerated no deception.
“You, a man of power, should just find a little housekeeper–no social life, just someone to look after you and warm your bed. But
you had to fall for a CEO. You’ve only got yourself to blame.”
“Who says I like her?” Ludwik’s voice was dangerously low.
Nolan shrugged. Ludwik was still in denial, but his possessiveness said it all.
“She came out tonight looking for you. Maybe she’s still waiting out there. Just talk to her. Is she carrying someone else’s child?”
Ludwik’s eyelashes fluttered before he snuffed out his cigarette and glanced out the window into the cold night. Standing up, his
expression icy, he asked, “Where is she?”
Nolan’s face lit up, eager to mention something about the parking lot when the door suddenly swung open, and Hannah burst in,
her expression a bizarre mix of emotions as she blurted out, “There’s trouble brewing. Just now, outside, there’s this rumor
swirling around that Whitney and that Mr. Wendt were caught in a hush–hush chat in the garden, and then–they strolled into the
downstairs guest room! And it seems there was another man involved. I mean, what’s with Whitney? Even if she’s at odds with
you, she’s got no right to cheat...”
“Hannah, don’t you go spreading tales about Whitney!” Elaine interjected as she approached, her eyes flickering
Chapter 102
with hesitation before settling on Ludwik as if afraid to speak. “The rumors are flying wild outside. I wanted to steer clear of
Whitney’s business, but she might be in a fix with Mr. Wendt. Maybe she just wanted to talk business, and Mr. Wendt got the
wrong end of the stick. You’ve got to go save her!”

A chilling aura enveloped Ludwik, his demeanor turning icy.