Love Behind the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 400

Downstairs, Danny was being shielded by Felix and shoved into the car. Nearby, two men were trading punches

like a torrential downpour, tangled in chaos! Whitney dashed down the stairs...

Bryce took a hit, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of that fleeting shadow. His gaze hardened, and

he quickly whispered to Ludwik, "Mr. Lippert getting cozy with his date at the cinema entrance-those photos

must have really hurt Whitney, huh?" Ludwik froze. His anger surged, glaring at Bryce, "Did you show them to

her?"

"Hah," Bryce let out a barely audible chuckle.

Ludwik's eyes darkened, and suddenly, like a madman, he rained down punches. Bryce just lay there, arms

relaxed, offering no resistance, only managing to grunt softly.

"Bryce?" Whitney ran over, horrified to see Bryce bleeding from his mouth. Panic set in. Ludwik, atop Bryce, was

like a raging lion, unleashing his fury.

"Ludwik, stop... Have you lost your mind? Why are you hitting him?"

Whitney feared that if the beating continued, it might be fatal. What could possibly drive Ludwik to such violence

against Bryce? In her own front yard, causing such a scene, Whitney was furious and tried to pull Bryce away

from the unstoppable assault, "Enough!" "Ludwik, stop it." She tried to pull him away.

"Are you scoldingfor another man again? Hitting me?" Ludwik's eyes reddened as he looked up. This scene

was all too familiar; three years ago, she had hit him over Simon Perlman. "Oh, feeling pity for him now?" His

voice was icy.

"You are being unreasonable." Whitney bit her lip, "He cto see me. This is my front yard. What right do you

have to beat someone up here?"

"Because he deserves it! He took those photos and showed them to you, provokingearlier. Such a low-life

man, and you still let him near you, are you blind?" Ludwik shouted angrily. Whitney was stunned.

Bryce looked at her, coughing up blood, "What photos? I just got here and Mr. Lippert beatup. Seems like he

can't stand having any men around Whitney. Utter lawlessness." Ludwik's punch landed on Bryce's jaw as he

laughed sarcastically, "A man playing the victim, that's a first for me!"

"Ludwik..." Whitney desperately dragged Bryce away, feeling utterly bewildered, "Those photos were sent to me

by Elaine, not him! What does Bryce have to do with this?"

Her heart ached with bitterness, and she angrily showed him the phone, her voice sharp, "The sender is Elaine,

I'm not blind. Unlike you, Bryce wouldn't hurton purpose. Not like you, keeping an ex-wife hanging while

moving on with a new love, and the ex-girlfriend using photos to torment the former wife! Have you ever

considered my feelings? Do you know how much my heart hurts? You don't know because it doesn't matter to

you if you date around, but you can't standhaving a male friend? Why, just why?"

Her tears shone in the moonlight, sharp as knives, cutting deep into his heart. These words, favoring Bryce, were

bound to drive him into a frenzied rage.

He glanced at the sender on the phone, his gaze sharpening at Bryce. Everything was clear to him now.

Ludwik laughed coldly, "Yes, Bryce is the saint, and I'm the villain. Whitney, you're so naive... Couldn't he have

given those photos to Elaine?"

His anger was palpable, his words biting, "Right, you two have been unclear from three years ago, sharing a

bath. And these nights, he's been ‘comforting’ you, hasn't he? No wonder you refuse to get back with me,

already found your rebound, huh? That's why you're so bold."

His venomous words were suffocating Whitney. Her head throbbed, her eyes clouded with tears she refused to

let fall, and she exploded in anger, "Yes, I'm considering my options! Why should | get back with a man who's all

over the place? Forget it. And stop your insults. From now on, aside from being the father of my child, you mean

nothing to me! Clear enough, Mr. Lippert? We're too 'low' for you, you can leave now."

Ludwik was seething, chilled to the bone, his mind replaying her words: forget it. Her defense of another man

was a sharp sting to his heart. The cold moonlight cast down, his eyes a frigid gleam, his heart aching

unbearably. With a last scornful laugh at Bryce, his departure was as chilling as his presence, leaving only the

sound of Danny calling for his mommy fading into the distance.

Whitney's tension finally eased, but her heart ached unbearably. She turned to Bryce, crouched down to help

him, asking, "Are you okay? How did you end up fighting him?"

Bryce shook his head, helpless. "Maybe because I've been close to you, Mr. Lippert took an instant dislike to me,

an undeserved disaster."

"I'm sorry, did you cto seetoday?"

Bryce paused, then smiled, "Yes, you've been down lately, not seeing anyone. | didn't want to bother you. | just

happened to cby today to check on you, and about Sammy, I've been looking too, though not with Ludwik's

resources..." "Thank you for caring, Bryce."

Mentioning her son, Whitney couldn't muster a smile, her mood sinking further, "Let's go up, I'll help you with

your wounds."

Bryce nodded, a barely visible smile on his lips. He gently took her hand, his gaze tender, "Whitney, when you

said you won't get back with him, were those words out of anger, or did you mean them?"

Whitney, still not fully calmed, remembered the photos and Ludwik's indifference towards Sammy, her heart

heavy with sorrow. She nodded firmly.

Bryce's eyes softened, "It's good you've realized it. There's been too much between you two. I'll always be here

for you."

Whitney didn't know how to respond, only managing a bitter smile, "Bryce, | don't deserve it."

"Whether it's worth it or not, that's forto decide." Bryce clenched his fists, his gaze narrowing slightly. For

three years, he had waited, and Whitney... she would be his. And as for getting back at Ludwik, oh, that would be

sweet!

The car sped along the highway. Danny, pulling out a cotton swab and iodine from the first aid kit in the car,

moved closer to Ludwik with a mixture of coldness and sympathy in his voice, "Hold still, Dad, I'm going to take

care of your wounds." Blood stained the man's fists and also marked his temples. Mom, consumed by her grief

and anger, hadn't noticed that Dad was more injured than that Bryce guy!

Ludwik kept his eyes closed, maintaining a silent fagade, not wanting anyone to see the discomfort hiding in his

gaze. Ding-dong-

The phone rang, and Danny fetched it, noticing the caller ID was the hospital, "Dad, it looks like Grandma's

doctor..."

Ludwik opened his eyes and quickly answered, "Dr. Ford?"

"Mr. Lippert," Dr. Ford sighed softly, "Natalie, she's had a nosebleed! Her symptoms are appearing much faster

than | had anticipated..."

Ludwik felt a jolt in his mind, his long legs moving to signal Felix to pull over-

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