Love Behind the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

the knight in shining armor. You're both divorced. Why play the homewrecking mistress, ruining their wedding?

Don't you have any shame?"

Seeing Whitney's silent response, Tiana couldn't hold back her anger and snapped at Ashton, "Are all you men

blind? Elaine's the biggest homewrecker there is! She destroyed Whitney and Ludwik's marriage, and you're just

gonna stand there? Ashton, you're just her lapdog, aren't you? Poor Valerie."

"Ms. Melford, mind your language..."

Whitney remained unresponsive, her gaze blank and almost comical as she observed the scene in the room. On

the bed, Elaine was putting on a tearful show, while the man holding her showed nothing but concern on his

face. Elaine bit into the man's shirt, moaning, "Ludwik, it hurts so much." Ludwik grimaced as he adjusted her

injured leg.

Elaine looked over his shoulder, tears in her eyes but a smirk on her lips. Their eyes met, and Elaine's delight

was palpable. You think you've won Ludwik over? With a few tricks up my sleeve, here he is, back with me.

Just as Elaine thought Whitney would retreat in defeat, Whitney boldly stepped into the room, heels clicking on

the floor. The sound of her arrival made Ludwik turn, his handsface stiffening as he caught sight of Whitney,

feeling a mix of guilt and panic. "Whitney... What are you doing here?" Ludwik's deep voice betrayed his surprise.

Whitney stood firm, her presence alone making Ludwik's excuses feel shallow and revealing the painful truth.

How could she have been so blind to think this man had finally seen right from wrong? Her lips curved into a

mocking smile, "Mr. Lippert, what happened to your promises?"

Ludwik, lost for words, felt a sinking feeling, stepping closer, "Whitney... She threatened suicide; it was serious. |

had to come, couldn't let her harm herself."

Whitney simply brushed past him, her gaze mocking as she looked at Elaine, "Oh, so one minute you're cooking

dinner in my kitchen, and the next, you're rushing to her side? Typical. Show one face here, another there. Day

and night, you're on the run. And for Elaine, you couldn't even bother to warm her dinner?"

Ludwik's face tightened at her sarcasm, feeling the weight of her words. Why mock him? He explained himself.

Why couldn't she understand that things had changed, that he didn't mean to break his promise?

Elaine, fuming at Whitney's words, felt her heart race with anger. This witch, deliberately taunting her: Ludwik

had cfrom her house to visit her. Elaine, playing the victim, looked pitifully at Ludwik, "I know | was wrong,

that's why you're angry. Ms. Valentine..." Suddenly, Elaine made a tic show of struggling to her feet,

dragging her injured leg toward Whitney, begging, "Please, give Ludwik back to me? | thought about stepping

back, letting you have him, but it hurts too much... You've been without Ludwik for three years, had your fun,

dated other guys. But without him, I can't go on, I love him so much! You exposedat the wedding, but I don't

blyou, | know you've always had issues with me, but please, this time, letbe..."

Elaine's plea, drenched in tears, took everyone by surprise. Ashton charged in, furious at Whitney, "The affair

video you released at the wedding? Whitney, how could you be so cruel, ruining Elaine's reputation? Ludwik, see

what she's up to!"

Ludwik frowned, uncertain, as he looked at Whitney. Whitney, unfazed, laughed off Elaine's accusations, "Oh, so

Elaine nearly dies tonight, and yet here you are, full of energy to accuse me? Should | have just waited for you to

release that video ofbeing 'pushed into a lab to steal secrets’, then let you call the cops on me?"

Her gaze shifted to Ludwik, "Didn't Mr. Lippert receive that bogus evidence from Mr. Turner accusingof

theft?" Ludwik's expression darkened, realizing the depth of the scheme.

Elaine, panicked, tried to backpedal, "What's Ms. Valentine talking about? | have no evidence of her stealing

anything. | don't even know what Mr. Turner's been up to, or else why wouldn't | have said something?" Elaine's

act of desperation, pretending to cough violently, only added to the .

"You're arguing with a woman who's clearly out for blood! Elaine, you're too innocent; she'll eat you alive!"

Ashton, seeing her pale, called for a doctor, "Doctor, check on her, now!"

Ludwik's gaze turned cold, holding the evidence Whitney had given him, realizing Elaine's manipulation. He

hardened his stance, ready to confront the truth.

Whitney listened to Ashton's words but couldn't help laughing, a flicker of intrigue in her eyes as she sauntered

over to the bedside. "Elaine's constant complaints about her frail health and coughing fits are quite the curiosity.

After everything she's been through recently- kidnapped and beaten, alcohol poisoning, and now a fall down the

stairs coupled with a suicide attempt. How is she... still not dead? Is it a testament to her will to live, or just an

act of playing sick? Maybe |, as a practitioner of alternative medicine, should take a look?" "That's enough!"

Ashton snapped, his face turning a shade of stormy grey as he pointed at Whitney, "How can you be so heartless

and curse someone like that?"

"Ms. Valentine, why, why would you misunderstandthis way? Who would joke about their own life?"

"Ludwik, aren't you going to do something about her? Can't you see she's just provoking Elaine?" Ashton was

clearly frustrated.

Whitney snickered, advancing step by step. "Letjust check on Elaine's self-harm wounds. It would be a

shif they've already healed..."

"Stay away from me. Ludwik! Please, make Ms. Valentine leavealone. Remember the last tshe had me

rushed to the ER for a stomach pump? It's like she's always had it in for me. She knows how to throw a punch;

it's dangerous. | really can't take any more harm tonight..."

Whitney reached out her hand. Ludwik's face was a mix of conflict and resolve as he finally stepped forward,

blocking her. "Whitney. Stop this nonsense."

"Nonsense?" Whitney's face remained impassive, but her eyes were cold and sharp. "You never believe anything

I say. If you do, you still side with her. Does she have to fart for you to take my side for once?"

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1