Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"There's nothing left to discuss," Whitney's voice was flat, cool, and detached.

"Are you angry?" Ludwik tightened his grip on her, his large hand inadvertently causing her pain. Yet, his tone was cautious, and his ice-cold eyes seemed to storm with emotion, all for her. But now, as she looked at him, this breathtakingly handsome man, all she felt was revulsion. Deceived and misled time and again, their relationship was beyond repair!

"Bryce, would you mind showing our guest out?" Whitney turned, her steps towards the study cold and distant.

Suddenly, her wrist was seized with a strong grip. Ludwik's temples throbbed, yet he spoke with restrained calm, "Don't provoke me, Whitney. I won't ask why Bryce showed up at your place early in the morning. I don't have time for him right now. All I want is a moment to speak with you."

Whitney was pulled slightly toward him by his force. But her gaze remained fixed outside the window, not sparing him a glance. Ludwik felt a sting at her cold, delicate indifference, and the way she seemed to erase his presence, burning him. He lifted her in his arms and carried her towards the balcony, carefully placing her down.

Click! The man's long fingers firmly closed the balcony door. Inside the living room, Bryce's expression darkened! He moved towards the balcony. Felix entered swiftly, blocking his path with a smile, "Mr. Lutz, give them a moment to talk, won't you? Besides, this is Ms. Valentine's house. You're supposed to be a guest here."

Bryce sneered lightly at Felix's words. "What are you laughing at? This isn't your house, is it?" Felix retorted, his voice cold.

Bryce didn't reply, instead casting a meaningful glance towards the balcony and Ludwik's stern profile, "No matter how long they talk, a broken mirror can't be mended. Mr. Lippert coming here early in the morning is just slapping his own face. Does he think he can force or tempt Whitney again? That's outrageous!" He laughed coldly.

Felix tensed, worry evident as he looked towards the balcony.

Outside on the balcony. The morning dew brought a chill that even the sunlight couldn't dispel, enveloping Whitney. Seeing her stand there, Ludwik removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, his towering presence enveloping her delicate form. Blocked from the light, Whitney, as if stung, pushed him away, throwing his jacket to the ground. She stepped into the sunlight, her eyes cold and distant, but as the sunlight touched her face, she seemed to regain a bit of warmth.novelbin

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"I was worried you'd be cold; you can't catch a chill now!" Ludwik frowned, his voice gentle and hoarse, "Whitney, please don't do this. Florence's pregnancy... it's her plot, and I won't acknowledge the child wanted to explain yesterday, but you were hiding. I waited outside this villa for a long time, knowing you were angry and disappointed. I have so much to say...

Then I got tied up with Lippert Group business. Did I arrive too late this morning? Whitney... no matter how late I am, my intentions haven't changed. You've always been the one for me. Once we can get a paternity test in three months, everything will be clear. She's going to pay for what she's done! It's just that my father's involved now, so we need to wait."

But the woman in front of him remained unmoved. Her beautiful eyes lowered her face pale as paper. Ludwik felt a desperate helplessness spreading in his heart, like punching into cotton. She was that cotton now, no longer facing him head-on with fiery arguments. He couldn't fathom her thoughts. Her indifference drove him to despair, unsure how to melt her frozen heart.

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"Whitney..." he laid out his thoughts, "Marry me, will you? Getting married will ease your worries. You'll believe in me, that I've never cared for Florence. She has no chance of marrying into the Lippert family, despite my father's fondness for her. That's what I forced my father into agreeing yesterday, in exchange for the Lippert Group. You've seen the news... I'm in the midst of controversy, and I've spoken to the media. Marrying me will solve the issues with Florence and the public scrutiny. Our marriage will silence the critics. And I can protect you and our sons openly.

I know it's a lot to ask right now, and it's unreasonable. You don't have to truly marry me; a fake marriage would do, as long as you're on my family registry. Leave the rest to me. Florence's fate is just delayed by a few months, I promise."

His lips dry from talking, yet he received no response. After a while, she looked at him with a cold, mocking smile. Ludwik's pupils darkened as he grasped her hand, "Speak your mind. Anything."

"I'm laughing at your shamelessness." Whitney's anger turned her sorrow into a blazing fury, "You talk of protecting me and our sons with pride? Ludwik, you're the epitome of shamelessness. Do you realize, because of your indulgence towards Florence, Sammy..."

Sammy had already suffered at Florence's hands! Whitney couldn't help but blame him! Marry him? Impossible!

She laughed coldly, her eyes reddened with rage, "Marry you? Bind myself to you, only to endure your endless back-and-forth with Florence, allowing her schemes and never being able to save my son? Your way of handling things is unsurprisingly tyrannical and forceful.

You think putting yourself in a tight spot will make me go soft, make me pity you for falling from grace at Lippert Group? You've always played hardball with me. Am I just a puppet to you?

You and Florence, you're a match made in heaven. Just be happy together. I don't care whether the child she's carrying is yours or not, no matter how shamelessly you deny it. I've moved on. I've got my own life now. I won't bother you about Sammy's well-being ever again!"

With those words, she fiercely maintained her composure from start to finish, then turned and tried with all her might to slide open the patio's glass door, intent on leaving -