Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 224

On February 20th, Elaine and Ludwik’s engagement party went ahead as scheduled.

It was an event of unprecedented grandeur. Flicking through the channels on Banyan City TV, every

news program was giving way to live coverage of the lavish engagement at Joyful Manor.

The blinding flash of paparazzi cameras pierced through the television screen and into Whitney’s eyes

as she stood motionless in her apartment. She was not surprised, nor was she particularly upset; she

just felt as though a huge chunk had been carved out of her heart.

Today, it was finally official; he was with her. The dust had settled, and they had each gone their

separate ways.

Tomorrow, it was her turn to get engaged!

Ironically, and somewhat messily, that was how things ended between them.

Whitney blinked hard to clear the mist from her eyes, consoling herself with the thought that the harsh

words he had said that day in the bridal shop–about making her pay–surely did not count now.

Since he had chosen to get engaged and was so enamored with Elaine, his heart had clearly moved on

from Whitney long ago.

After the engagement, he would accept their fate, wishing her well from afar.

Her heart, tense for days, let out a faint sigh of relief.

“Whitney, why torture yourself like this?” Tiana burst through the apartment door, saw Whitney

transfixed by the TV, and immediately snapped it off.

She wrapped her arms around Whitney, both fierce and worried. “Are you alright? Every local channel

in Banyan City is airing it. It must be Elaine’s way of getting back at you, using her connections to flaunt

her engagement. That couple isn’t worth our attention. Let’s find something else to do.”

Not wanting to worry her best friend, Whitney forced a smile. “I’m really okay… Even if I had held any

illusions before, today, they’re truly gone.

I bought some baking gear when I moved in yesterday. I was thinking that once the baby’s born, I’ll

learn to make some purees. Wanna help me experiment?”

“Absolutely! We’ve got to make sure the little one eats well and stays healthy!”

Tiana thought the baby was the only thing that could lift Whitney’s spirits and shift her focus, “Let me

download a cooking app…”

“What are you guys up to? Can I join in?” The knock at the door was followed by Valerie’s voice.

Chapter 224

Tiana was taken aback for a moment before she went to answer the door, asking in a hushed tone,

“Why aren’t you at that despicable couple’s engagement party with Ashton? I’m obviously not invited,

but you’re different. You could’ve gone and spied for me.”

Valerie shrugged off her scarf, her lips twisting sarcastically. “Elaine’s grand engagement is a massive

blow to Ashton. How could he attend when the woman he loves is getting engaged to another man?

He’s been hiding out somewhere, and I’m glad for the peace. It saves me from having to accompany

my parents and endure Elaine’s two–faced attacks. You know my parents are affiliated with the Bartels

family and always overshadowed by Zane.”

Tiana huffed in irritation.

Turning around, Whitney had heard their conversation.

Valerie walked over and gently touched Whitney’s wan face with a look of shared understanding. “How

did we both end up falling for men who’ve been ensnared by Elaine? What’s so great about her? Is it

her manipulative ways, her acting skills, her numerous vices? These men are all blind to it!

Whitney, don’t be sad. On the contrary, you should celebrate escaping from misery. Let that Ludwik,

Elaine, and Ashton love triangle wear themselves out. It’s hard to find a three–legged toad, but men

with two legs are a dime a dozen!”

“You’re wrong; men have three legs, too,” Tiana said with a blush.

The playful banter between them made Whitney chuckle, “Tiana, are you looking for a boyfriend?

Anyone catch your eye since Gunner Lutz?”

“Out of the three of us, you’re the only one who has pristine and untainted love lives. What do you think

about Parker Doonan?” Valerie teased.

“Why are you bringing up Mr. Doonan?” Tiana was utterly confused and blushed even more.

“Your face is red. Is there something going on?” Whitney prodded.

Having seen something she should not have twice, did that count as something going on?

“You both are such gossips! Stop making things up. I’m closer to Nolan. Why don’t you say something’s

going on with him? Let’s drop it! Or shall we go back to discussing your tragic love stories?”

“Tiana, do you even have a heart?” Valerie dropped her usual cool demeanor and roared.

Their playful teasing seemed to genuinely calm Whitney’s mood, and she went to the kitchen to fetch

the baking tools with a resigned smile.

With Whitney out of sight, Tiana could not resist turning the TV back on, her mouth twisting in

annoyance. “I want to see what kind of people Elaine’s parents are, whether Ludwik looks

happy today…”

It was around six in the evening, and the last light of dusk cast a beautiful glow over the lush lawn.

The buffet table was a sight to behold on camera.

Seated on white silk chairs were the relatives of both parties. Ludwik’s flamboyant engagement had

attracted many business elites.

“That’s Zane and Delphine, the head honcho of the Bartels Hospital in Emperor City,” Valerie pointed

out.

Zane looked dignified, his eyes revealing nothing, while Delphine appeared resplendent and ruthless.

“Elaine takes after her mother; you can tell just by looking at her eyes–cold and malicious.”

Tiana snorted, her gaze shifting to Ludwik’s family. There was an empty spot, except for an elderly man

in a traditional suit, his back to the camera, conspicuous yet understated.

She squinted, amused. “Kaden Lippert didn’t show up, huh? No surprise there. Ever since Imperial

Gem Corporation was taken from them, Ludwik has probably detested the Lippert family. He definitely

wouldn’t have invited them.

But it’s odd, isn’t it? Zane allows Ludwik’s parents to be absent? I’ve always wondered, with all of

Elaine’s wealth, why she’s so devoted to Mr. Lippert. The Bartels family seems to take Ludwik very

seriously, too.”

Valerie was just as puzzled. “Elaine is far from the love–struck woman she pretends to be. I know she

set her sights on Ludwik in her early twenties. What kind of charm does this man have?”

“Hey, that old man in the traditional suit sitting with Ludwik’s guests, do you know him?”

The camera caught a clear frontal shot.

Valerie peered at the screen. “Isn’t that Ludwik’s uncle? The top brass of the Emperor City military. The

Lippert family actually hails from Emperor City. Kaden moved to Banyan City later on. From what I

gather, Ludwik is third in line among the younger generation in the Lippert family.”

“I see,” Tiana mused.

Tiana analyzed with a sneer, “The Bartels family must be eyeing Ludwik’s uncle’s military influence in

Emperor City, huh?”

“But this guy is quite enigmatic, barely has any contact with Kaden, and he’s not Ludwik’s dad either.

There’s a layer in between. Who knows what the Bartels are really after…”

Valerie was mid–sentence when she saw Whitney, belly swollen with pregnancy, coming out of the

kitchen. She quickly turned off the TV, and the conversation came to an abrupt halt.

At Joyful Manor.

Ludwik loosened his Windsor knot, feeling suffocated.

The elderly man dressed beside him sat as serene as a pine tree, “Ludwik, what’s so important that

you’ve asked me to this lounge?”

Ludwik looked up, facing his uncle, Jason Lippert. Truth be told, they had hardly been in contact since

his childhood and were not close.

It was not until a few years ago, when he quietly founded Skyfaith Electronic Tech and during his most

financially trying times, his uncle silently offered a lifeline.

Since then, there had been a slight, though distant, connection between them.

Ludwik spoke with an indifferent expression, “Uncle, with your position in the military, I need to request

an arrest warrant of the highest level from Emperor City. Is that possible?”

Jason looked over with interest. “Who are you planning to take down?”

“It’ll be needed for tomorrow.”