Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 189

Whitney thought of something and looked up at the gentle and refined man before her. “My manager

mentioned that Skye Gem Ltd. has been struggling to fulfill a recent order. Could it be you, Mr. Lutz?”

“It’s me,” Bryce said, his gaze intense. “That’s your company. I just wanted to help.”

“Mr. Lutz, I really don’t know how to thank you,” Whitney’s eyes sparkled with gratitude and curiosity.

Why was this man helping her so much?

She shook her head quickly, her voice tinged with concern, “Ludwik is trying to crush Skye Gem Ltd.

You don’t need to trouble yourself for me. Maybe it’s best if you don’t…”

“Why should I be afraid of him?” Bryce’s voice was soft yet firm. “Whitney, can you tell me what’s really

going on? I’ve heard bits and pieces on the news, but I refuse to believe you’d intentionally harm

Ludwik.”

With a bittersweet smile and her head bowed, Whitney recapped the events without holding back. After

listening. Bryce’s silence hung heavy with irony. “No wonder he despises you so much, but he’s never

truly trusted you.”

Tve always said, being controlled by someone else’s emotions is exhausting. Relationships should not

be so fragile. I regret seeing you like this; your smile used to light up my heart.”

He shook his head, his gaze deepening.

Whitney felt his brotherly affection, a sincere concern that touched her soul.

She felt a long–forgotten warmth and fought back the tears.

“Drink some of the ginger soup,” Bryce said, guiding her towards the guest room. “I’ll have the doctor

check your temperature. You’ve been startled tonight, and stress can lead to illness. This room hasn’t

been used by anyone else…

As he spoke, Whitney’s phone rang from her pocket. It was a call from Felix.

Whitney clenched her lips, her hand cold but steady as she answered, “Hello…”

“Ma’am, I’m

right outside Mr. Lutz’s place. I’m sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Lippert had an episode. He’s been

drinking a lot, hurt his own arm, and destroyed everything in the house. It’s getting dangerous. You said

he needed his medication on time this morning, and I think you can help, right?”

Whitney took a step back, gripping the phone tighter.

Hearing Felix’s urgency, she recalled her own words about staying to take care of him.

She did say she would stay and take care of him.

But tonight, he had shown her true despair and his cruel retaliation.

With a pale face, Whitney apologized to Bryce, “I’m sorry, Mr. Lutz. It’s really not okay for me to stay

here. I haven’t divorced Ludwik, and he’s not well. I need to go check on him.”

Bryce frowned, holding her wrist. He thought she was being foolish and needed reminding. “After the

way man has trampled on you, do you still believe he has any affection or pity for you?”

that

She hesitated, her heart uncertain, But she couldn’t let go of him, couldn’t leave him. She shook her

head, “Hes not himself when he’s sick. I need to understand.”

“So you’re going back to him?” Bryce said, frustrated and disheartened. “You’re blinded by love!

Continuing this way will leave you scarred.”

Whitney didn’t have the answers, but all she wanted was to go back. She couldn’t stay at another

man’s house; it would disappoint Ludwik profoundly.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Lutz, for not appreciating your kindness.” She grabbed her coat and hurried out.

Chapter 189

“It’s okay! I care about you, Whitney. I mean it. When you’re tired, just look back, and rll be there.”

Bryce walked her to the door, his scholarly demeanor hiding his deep feelings. Whitney couldn’t

respond.

She only looked back as she got into Ludwik’s assistant’s car, leaving Bryce clenching his fists, filled

with reluctance

Ludwik had insulted him at the summit, that he didn’t have the right to pick up his “trash” – a jab at

Bryce, knowing Whitney was still married yet came to save her!

Bryce was not one to tolerate such disrespect.

Whitney, he was determined to win her over.

Felix escorted Whitney back to a luxurious apartment.

Inside, Parker and Nolan appeared but said nothing as she entered.

The door closed softly behind her. Upstairs was a mess, the air tinged with a faint odor of blood.

Whitney frowned and rushed up.

The bathroom door was ajar.

She tiptoed in to find Ludwik lying in the bathtub, his handsome features serene as if he were sleeping.

His long lashes cast shadows over his eyes.

His striking appearance left an indelible mark on women’s hearts, like hers, like Elaine’s.

z

Now, he seemed peaceful, not at all like the vindictive man from earlier that night. A deep cut on his

arm dripped blood onto the tub’s edge.

Whitney, with her medical knowledge, knew he must have been in unbearable internal pain to harm

himself like

this.

Her heart softened with concern as she reached for her medical kit, moving closer to slip him the

medication.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, pinning her with a fierce glare.

Startled, Whitney lost her balance and fell into the water, landing on his muscular chest.

“Ah…” Fearing for the baby, she panicked and flailed.

Her struggles only brought her closer to his bare skin, and her face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m

sorry, I just wanted to give you your medicine.”

“Who let you in?” His voice was heavy with alcohol.

He lifted her out of the water and rose, his chest exposed.

In one swift motion, he tore at her cumbersome coat, revealing a white men’s shirt underneath.

Ludwik’s stormy eyes fixed on her delicate form wrapped in the shirt that clearly wasn’t his.

His lips curled into a cold sneer, “Looks like Bryce was quick? He didn’t help your Skye Gem Ltd. after

he finished in bed? So you, the shameless woman, have come back to me, to spare your Skye Gem

Ltd.?”

Whitney listened to his biting words, each one cutting deeper than the last.

Her empathy had once again been trampled underfoot.

In an instant, her heart turned to ice. She shut her eyes tightly, a tremulous, cold laugh escaping her

lips. “It was Felix who brought me back. Do you think he would dare to do that without your say–so?

Ludwik, you’ve humiliated me enough, truly, enough for tonight!”

Ludwik was taken aback, his memory hazily returning to the moment when, in his drunken stupor, he

had indeed told Felix to find her.

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Chapter 180

He clenched his fists, furious at his own weakness.

The anger and hatred, with nowhere to go, were burning inside his mind. In a violent act, he began to

rip her blouse, hurling the most demeaning words at her, I’m humiliating you? Isn’t it you who sought

out this shame? On the surface, I took action against Skye Gem Ltd., and you put on a show of silent

suffering. I almost believed you truly regretted it.

You didn’t expect me tonight, did you? Flirting behind my back, trying to seduce those men to invest in

Skye Gem Ltd. How low can you go!”

Whitney was powerless, no match for his strength, and her only piece of clothing was being pulled

away from

her.