Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 229

“You’re a devil, Ludwik. You can get engaged and sleep with Elaine last night with a clear conscience,

so why can’t I move on and find someone new? Who the hell gave you the right to strip away my

freedom, my dignity, my child?”

Cold tears fell as Whitney was driven to the brink of madness.

She collapsed onto the plush carpet. Looking up, her long hair framing her elegant neck like a wounded

swan, the very picture of desolation.

“You’ve made those photos public, letting the whole of Banyan City know that I, Whitney Valentine, am

nothing but a two–timing tramp! Pregnant and in your bed, in the bathtub with Bryce… No man will ever

want me again. You’ve gone to greater lengths than any butcher ever could.”

“If you had been obedient, none of this would have happened,” Ludwik said, his voice devoid of

warmth..

His features twisted with a cruel beauty as he leaned in from the shadows, his hands bracing on his

knees. “I gave you a chance, Whitney, and you squandered it.”

When they met at the bridal boutique, he had already made up his mind to show no mercy. His words

were not empty threats, and he had indeed made her pay a devastating price.

“Why keep me on a leash if you don’t want me? Why force me into a divorce and then refuse to let go?

Am I that irresistible to you? You animal, your actions almost tore the Lutz family apart…”

His long fingers clamped down on her chin, his laugh cold and biting as if he had been stepped on the

tail. “I’ve said it before, the child is mine and can’t call anyone else ‘daddy‘. You’re a discarded dress of

mine, but you can’t become someone else’s!

Bryce lied to his parents, claiming the child was a Lutz. The moment

you dared to change the child’s surname in front of me at the bridal boutique sealed their fate. I’m an

animal, you say? No, all of Banyan City knows you don’t mess with Mr. Lippert!”

Whitney finally realized the terrifying truth; he was seeking vengeance on Bryce, on all of them!

How monstrous could this man be? The person before her seemed bloodthirsty and unrecognizable.

“What will it take for you to let Bryce go, to leave the Lutz family alone?” she asked, her voice weak.

Her chin distorted under his grip, a testament to the force he exerted as his chuckle echoed above her.

“Dare to plead for him again and see what happens.”

“You had him arrested with your influence just to force me to come begging, didn’t you?”

Whitney sneered, tears cascading down as she violently shrugged off his hand. She stood, not caring if

anyone else was in the room, shedding her coat and tearing away her champagne–colored dress with

equal ferocity.

The silky fabric could not compare to the smoothness of her legs, her long hair just barely covering her

chest, and her tender skin glowing in the dim light.

Ludwik’s breath hitched at the sight.

Her eyes were filled with hatred as she approached and sat on his lap, naked and resolute. “Is this

what you want? Fine, have your way with me as many times as you like, as long as you spare him. I’m

familiar with this kind of deal.”

Her mockery was palpable. Last time, it was for her cousin Yael.

He had already trampled her dignity underfoot.

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But she had still underestimated this man’s desire for destruction.

Suddenly, his burning hands seized her, flipping her aside as he removed his shirt and covered her with

a vicious intensity. “You think I’d bother touching you again? You’re nothing but a worn–out shoe.”

Whitney felt like her heart was pierced by nail after nail.

She laughed bitterly, her lips stained with the crimson of blood. “Right, you must have had your fill last

night. You’re probably out of strength now.”

“Shut up! You filthy cheater! Even your words are without measure!”

He was sick not to have touched Elaine last night, sitting up until dawn, tortured by the thought of

Whitney in Bryce’s arms.

Damn it, even though she was tainted, he could not control himself at the sight of her.

He hated this loss of control over himself!

Ludwik looked away, his gaze icy.

But then, the woman clung to him again.

Her scent, sweet as milk, was enticing, yet her touch was ice cold, just like the dead look in her eyes.

Whitney kept laughing. “No matter how much I explain, you’ve pegged me as a dirty woman. So, why

did you drag me back here? To not sleep with me, not to make a deal? What do you want from me?

You’ve driven me insane!”

Why did he bring her back? Ludwik did not know.

All he knew was that whether alive or dead, she belonged to him.

He would not allow her to be with another man, nor could he let go of this child. Even if it meant hate,

he would entangle with her to the very end.

Ludwik turned and knocked on the table, signaling his bodyguards to come in. “Take this woman

upstairs. Without my permission, she is not to leave this apartment.”

“You’ll never imprison me again!” Suddenly, she bit down hard on his

wrist.

“Ah! Have you lost your mind?” He looked down in horror at the woman lunging at him.

She nearly tore flesh from his wrist, a testament to her breakdown. In fact, Whitney was already having

a breakdown on her way here; she only forced herself to stay collected.

”

But now he wanted to lock her up again. Did he think he could still claim ownership over her even after

the divorce? Did he think it would be that easy?

“You dragged me back here just to keep me confined? Dream on, Ludwik. No matter my sins, I’ve paid

my dues to Mom, and I haven’t wronged you!

You’ve broken me completely, divorcing me for an engagement, wanting to abort our child!

I barely sought Bryce’s help, and you severed my future again. Since you won’t spare me, nor Bryce,

let’s destroy each other.”

Desperation had taken hold. If she was locked away, Bryce and the Lutz family would be forever

burdened by her.

She released her bite and, in a swift motion before he could react, grabbed a fruit knife from the sofa

and stabbed at his arm.

“I’ve had enough. My child, I’m sorry…”

“You madwoman.”

Ludwik furrowed his brow, blood streaming down his arm, but he did

not move away.

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Ludwik turned and knocked on the table, signaling his bodyguards to come in. “Take this woman

upstairs. Without my permission, she is not to leave this apartment.”

“You’ll never imprison me again!” Suddenly, she bit down hard on his

wrist.

“Ah! Have you lost your mind?” He looked down in horror at the woman lunging at him.

She nearly tore flesh from his wrist, a testament to her breakdown. In fact, Whitney was already having

a breakdown on her way here; she only forced herself to stay collected.

But now he wanted to lock her up again. Did he think he could still claim ownership over her even after

the divorce? Did he think it would be that easy?

“You dragged me back here just to keep me confined? Dream on, Ludwik. No matter my sins, I’ve paid

my dues to Mom, and I haven’t wronged you!

You’ve broken me completely, divorcing me for an engagement, wanting to abort our child!

I barely sought Bryce’s help, and you severed my future again. Since you won’t spare me, nor Bryce,

let’s destroy each other.”

Desperation had taken hold. If she was locked away, Bryce and the Lutz family would be forever

burdened by her.

She released her bite and, in a swift motion before he could react,

grabbed a fruit knife from the sofa and stabbed at his arm.

“I’ve had enough. My child, I’m sorry…”

“You madwoman.”

Ludwik furrowed his brow, blood streaming down his arm, but he did

not move away.

If he dodged, she would fall off the sofa, and with her belly so large…

His eyes flickered with complexity.

“Why didn’t you…” Whitney did not expect him to stand still.

Her furious gaze softened slightly as she saw his shirt soaked with

blood and the wound on his wrist.

“Have you had enough madness?”

Ludwik pinned her down on the sofa, inspecting her wide–eyed gaze. “If you’re done with your

madness, get upstairs. Your threats are useless to me. And don’t flatter yourself; I’m keeping you here

to ensure the child in your womb so Elaine doesn’t suffer through pregnancy.”

And with that, silence fell.

All the pain he had ever given her was nothing compared to his words.

It all circled back to Elaine. For the sake of sparing his Elaine any pain, he had really gone to great

lengths.

A child he did not want had now found its purpose. Impressive, indeed!

Of course, that was not what Ludwik’s heart truly felt, but for some reason, the hurtful words just spilled

out.

Perhaps he did not want her to sense that he still harbored affection for the child. He did not want to

give her the slightest chance to

manipulate him with any sign of weakness.

Let it be, he thought. They would deal with everything else once the

child was born.

“Take her upstairs. Lock her up!” he bellowed, pinching the bridge of his

nose.

A maid and two burly bodyguards swiftly approached, seizing Whitney, her fruit knife already kicked

into a corner by Ludwik.

He then solemnly warned, “Remove anything sharp from the upstairs

rooms, and keep her under surveillance 24/7.”

“I’d rather starve than be caged by you, and my child, even in death, won’t be used by you and Elaine,

Ludwik. Just wait and see!”

Whitney roared with unexpected fury.