Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 216
Tiana closed the room door as Valerie sat at the bedside, handing a glass of water to Whitney.
Turning around, Tiana couldn’t help but vent her thoughts. “You know, I used to think Ludwik was the epitome of charm. But
now? Bryce, he’s like the George Clooney of men – mature, suave, and just as alluring. Sure, he may not have the old-money
background or the clout Ludwik has, but he’s not far off.
It’s like choosing between ice and fire. If it were up to me, I’d go for the one who knows how to treat a lady right, and that’s Bryce
all the way.”
She finished with a sly glance at Whitney.
Valerie saw Whitney’s distant gaze and nudged Tiana, whispering with a sigh, “After what Whitney’s just been through, you know
as well as I do, the last thing on her mind is another
man.”
“But she’s a catch, isn’t she? Simon, Ludwik, Bryce... Apart from Simon, which one of them isn’t. a one-in-a-million guy? Whitney
is a knockout.”
Whitney managed a small smirk at Tiana’s teasing.
Delighted, Tiana patted her shoulder. “Look at yourself, Whitney. Ludwik has turned you into a shadow of yourself. If you ask me,
he’s no better than a manipulative jerk, not the only one suffering, and yet he believes every word from that bitch, time and again
misunderstanding you. Let him stew in his own mess.
Now he’s set to get hitched to Elaine in four days, and you’re supposed to be getting engaged to Bryce the day after. Time to
move on and stop pining over him. He wasn’t even there for his own child.”
Tiana trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.
Whitney’s heart skipped a beat, still haunted by the recent events. Shaking her head, she muttered, “Maybe there’s no future for
us. Ever since Natalie’s accident, it’s been one long explanation after another. He wouldn’t listen and wouldn’t believe. I’m tired. I
almost lost my child. I’m scared now. It’s time to let go of him.”
Though the pain lingered, voicing her thoughts seemed to bring relief.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, revealing a faint smile.
Valerie and Tiana came over, tenderly stroking her hair. “Whether you let go or not, you can fool others but yourself. Whitney, you
still have your child to stay with you. And if you want, Bryce could be by your side too.”
Whitney gave Tiana a speechless look, shaking her head. “Let’s not talk about feelings. I’ve been hurt enough. I just want to
protect my child right now. I’ll focus on giving birth and not dwell on anything else. Don’t worry, I’m not knocked down yet. There’s
so much more for me to do. Oh, Tiana, any updates about that investigation into Elaine’s surgery?”
“Just about to tell you,” Tiana began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I found out that on the day of Natalie and
Elaine’s surgeries, two doctors were on call, neither the top experts from TriMed Hospital’s renal department. Ludwik is a major
investor at TriMed, and his mother’s surgery should have had the best resources. But Elaine claimed Natalie’s condition was
sudden, and the other doctors were all unavailable.”
Tiana’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Guess where those two doctors used to work?”
Whitney understood immediately. “The Bartels family’s medical center in Emperor City?”
“Exactly. That part of their resume vanished, and it’s old history. I had to hack into the medical system multiple times to find any
trace.”
Taking a deep breath, Whitney’s eyes flashed with resolve. “Tiana, check how many kidney transplants were scheduled that day,
especially during the same time as Natalie’s. Find out who those patients were!”
At Whitney’s suggestion, Tiana and Valerie paused, exchanging knowing looks.
Tiana’s eyes widened. “Are you suggesting Elaine might have-”

Before she could finish, Whitney nodded, a silent understanding between them. “Be careful!”
After a few hours, Bryce returned swiftly from a meeting in the afternoon. Tiana and Valerie exchanged winks and discreetly
made their exit.
Whitney rolled her eyes at her friends, trying to dispel the awkwardness. “Don’t mind their looks. They’re just being fanciful and
leaving us with embarrassment.”
Bryce chuckled. “I don’t find it embarrassing at all. In fact, I quite enjoy it.”
She deflected, changing the subject. “Bryce, if I may be so bold, how old are you?”
“Thirty-two. Do you think that’s a bit too old for you?” He kept the mood light, signaling to the nurse to help Whitney out of the
hospital room.
Whitney cleverly avoided answering his question, asking instead, “Where are we headed now?”
“I promised to help your apartment hunting. I’ve shortlisted a few suitable places.”
Whitney got into his Cayenne, noting the understated luxury that matched his demeanor. The watch on his wrist spoke of subtle
affluence, and his light gray shirt softened his presence.
Unlike Ludwik, who even in the simplest white shirt seemed to radiate an imposing presence, Bryce was all ease and quiet
strength.
Shaking off the thoughts of Ludwik, Whitney felt a tinge of defeat.
Sensing the dip in her mood, Bryce turned on the radio, deliberately playing a light-hearted broadcast.

He didn’t say much, but the gesture was thoughtful and warming.
Whitney glanced at him, receiving a comforting smile in return.
The car came to a stop in front of a serene high-rise apartment complex.
“This is the place,” Bryce said as they walked in. “I’ve checked the area, and this is the safest and most comfortable option. It’s
on the fourth floor, which is good for you given you’re about to giving birth in two months. Even in a blackout, you won’t have
trouble getting up and down.”
Whitney liked the apartment, but as she approached the window and her gaze fell on a nearby lakeside villa, her brows furrowed.
“Mr. Lutz, this seems awfully close to where you live. And it’s quite a distance from Skye Gem Ltd. The commute would be
inconvenient for me.”
“You’re right,” Bryce admitted with a hint of a smile.
Bryce chuckled with a touch of sincerity in his voice, “I get worried with you living so far away, Whitney. It’s not convenient for you
either. Now that we’re ‘engaged’, it’s easier for you to pop over when my relatives come visiting. As for commuting, I’ll drive you
to and from work.”
Whitney wanted to argue, mentioning she was planning to buy a place near her friend Tiana’s.
But if she needed to play along with his charade, it seemed she really had no choice but to live nearby.
She wasn’t picky about accommodations and pulled out her credit card, “Then let’s buy this place.”
“Do you really think you need to pay?” Bryce pushed her hand back gently.
Politely shaking her head, she replied, “Mr. Lutz, we’re not in that kind of relationship. Even though Skye Gem Ltd. is on the
brink, I can afford this. I never thought about buying a place before because I felt I had a home, but now... it’s time to start anew.”
Bryce frowned at her constant reminders of their clear-cut agreement.
But at her last sentence, he felt comfortable, smiling slightly, “Starting over, you’ll find happiness again, trust me. It’s not that
hard.”

“Before our engagement party, I’ll invest in Skye Gem Ltd. No matter how much they try to suppress us, I can hold my ground.
For the next two months, don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on having the baby, and I’ll support you returning to work after. I
know you’re a strong, independent woman.”
Whitney was touched by his willingness to take on the risk for Skye Gem Ltd.
They say the best way to get over a relationship is to start a new one, but did she have the courage?
All Whitney could do was quietly squash any fantasies he might have, “Thank you for helping me so much, Bryce. I can’t repay
you, but I’ll help you secure your position at the Lutz Group. After the baby is born, we might have already made things clear to
the Lutz family, and I hope your parents will forgive us.”