Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



In the hospital.

Elaine heard the steady footsteps and immediately lowered her eyes, feigning a look of silent tears and despair.

Ashton was still earnestly pleading, "Elaine, please, take care of yourself. You can't just let your wrist bleed out like that!"

"Ashton, I don't want to be treated anymore. No matter how much I beg Ludwik, he won't come to see me. My heart is breaking, I might as well be dead."

"What are you talking about..."

"Then go ahead and die!" Ludwik stormed into the room with long strides, his tone icy and inexplicably furious.

"Are you even speaking like a human, you monster!"

Ashton turned around, unable to hold back, and threw a punch in anger, pointing at the tearful Elaine, "Elaine is hurt today, and whose fault is that? Isn't it because of your rejection?"

"Sob... Ludwik, since you say so, then I..."

Elaine looked up, her face pale and tragic as she attempted to throw herself against the wall.

Ludwik's gaze softened when he saw the blood staining her jeans from her thigh and the bloody marks on her pristine wrists.

At first, he suspected Whitney was right, that she was just putting on an act.

But at this moment, as she moved to hit the wall, spurred by his provocation, it seemed all too real.

With a heavy sigh, Ludwik rushed to stop her.

"Sob, Ludwik!" Elaine took the opportunity to cling to him in despair.

"Calm down, Elaine!"

Ludwik tried to pull away, his brows furrowed, annoyed by her touch, especially since he had promised Whitney...

"Do you really despise her that much? Let go of her! Look at her, all bloodied and bruised from being thrown down the stairs. Ludwik, do you have to be so harsh? Elaine is fragile and pitiful. What did she do wrong? You say you won't marry her, and that's it? I bet you think it's because the Bartels family isn't what it used to be, that she has no one backing her up. Well, let me tell you, Ludwik, I'm her support, and with me, Ashton, around, you won't be able to ditch her that easily..."

Ashton's voice thundered without restraint.

Elaine smirked internally, weakly sobbing, "Ashton... don't provoke Ludwik like that. The wedding is my fault; I'm the one who dragged Ludwik down."

"But you were forced into sleeping with Jarvis! Elaine was coerced into cheating, she was Jarvis's puppet! And let's not forget, you haven't touched her in three years. As a normal woman, she has her needs. What era are we living in that you can sleep around and then expect her to be a virgin? Is that why you called off the wedding?"

"Ashton!" Ludwik's eyes darkened, chilling, "Calling off the wedding has nothing to do with that video. Why don't you ask her what she and Jarvis did." "I know!" Ashton, completely swayed by Elaine, scoffed, "Kidnapping Danny, stealing chips, but she was coerced by Jarvis. She's a gentle woman, only wanting the best for you. How could she harbor any ill intentions towards your family! Why don't you think about it, Ludwik? If Elaine really had bad intentions, why would she have donated a kidney to save your mom three years ago? Everyone values their own life. Anyway, I've known Elaine since she saved me from the icy lake as a kid. She's a good person! You're just swayed by Whitney, unable to see who truly cares for you!"

Ludwik frowned, looking at the injured Elaine. She looked pitiful, and after all, it was because of her love for him that she lost a kidney and tortured herself this way!

Did he have a responsibility for Elaine hurting herself? Yes.

But what was his fault? He simply didn't want to marry because he had seen her true colors, not as kind as he thought.

"Elaine was forced to sabotage your company, and you're using that as a reason to break up. What about Whitney? She also collaborated with Jarvis, bringing you those bribe documents. Doesn't she harbor ill intentions towards you?"

"She ultimately didn't go through with it," Ludwik retorted, his lips tight.

Ashton laughed loudly, "Are you kidding me, Ludwik? You're blinded by her! After how she treated you three years ago, you're grateful she didn't betray you this time? How do you know it wasn't Whitney playing a long game? At least the bribe documents prove she harbors resentment towards you, with no good intentions!"

Ludwik paused, Ashton's words piercing like a needle, waking him from his self-induced trance.

Realizing Whitney ultimately didn't harm him made him emotional, and he had been excited for the past few days.

But he had overlooked a fact. Whitney hated him and had malicious intentions initially.

Seeing Ludwik's hesitation, Ashton pushed him aside, his voice low, "Compared to what's come and gone, Elaine has been by your side, through and through, for years! Even if she made some minor mistakes, they're forgivable. What about Whitney? She disappeared for three years. Do you really know why she's back? Now, you're canceling the engagement, all eyes on her, but can you really reconcile with her? The death of your son stands between you. Can you really overlook that and start over with her?"

Ludwik felt a chill spread through him.

His deceased son was indeed a thorn in his heart, painful at the slightest touch.

Even if he wanted to start over with Whitney, could he really accept that thorn? Ashton's words plunged Ludwik into confusion.

Poking at his heart, Ashton said coldly, "Elaine's had a tough life, devoted to you since her teens, donating a kidney, now frail. Have you forgotten how she almost got assaulted in Riverlyn City three years ago? She even tried to take her own life then! Man, stop pushing her to the edge. I'm begging you, go comfort her. Even if it's just to deceive her for now, make sure she gets her leg treated, or she might lose it."

With that, Ashton pushed Ludwik towards the bed and went out for a smoke.

Elaine hung her head low, tears streaming down her face, yet a smirk played at the corners of her lips deep inside. Ashton was entirely at her disposal, utterly useful and articulate.

This foolish standby, she had to keep him close.

"Ludwik, when that creepy online stalker threw me out of the window, it really hurt, but what pained me more was your rejection. Please, forgive me. Let me move back to the estate, will you? I won't mention the wedding. I just desperately want to be by your side; that's the only way I'll feel safe. Otherwise, these online trolls will keep coming after me. I can't stand the ridicule and insults from the high society towards the Bartels family; I just don't want to live anymore..."novelbin

Elaine cried her heart out, refusing to cooperate with the doctor for treatment.

Lyra cried alongside her, "Miss, please, get your leg and wrist treated, or they might get infected. Mr. Lippert, please agree to her request. She's been humiliated in that mansion tonight, only you can protect her..."

Ludwik was exhausted, his handsome face numb.

Elaine kept throwing herself at him, and he couldn't let go; if he did, her injured leg would hit the floor.

The man coldly said, "Lie down and get your wounds treated first!"

"No, Ludwik, if you don't agree, I don't even want this leg..." Elaine's voice trembled as she clung to his arm, tears streaming down her face.

Ashton was outside, smoking and tending to the wound Ludwik had given him.

At the entrance of the emergency room, his eyes caught Whitney, who, along with her best friend and child, was waiting for an IV.

In that moment, Ashton remembered Elaine's tearful request, “Ashton, after Ludwik visits me at the hospital tonight, could you please talk to Ms. Valentine privately? I had no other choice; as long as Ms. Valentine keeps Ludwik on a leash, he will abandon me. I'm forced to defend my love." It was all Whitney's fault, her return had been disrupting the relationship between Elaine and Ludwik.

Ashton flicked off his cigarette butt, his gaze turning cold, and he walked over to grab Whitney by the wrist.

"Hey... Ashton?" Whitney turned around in surprise, her wrist caught, and her face cooled a notch.

"What do you want?"

"You shameless woman, won't shed a tear until you see the coffin, huh? I'll show you a real drama!"

With a cold smirk, Ashton completely ignored Whitney and Tiana's struggles, dragging the woman swiftly towards Elaine's hospital room!