Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 226
Elaine could not hide it any longer, and with a sigh of frustration, she confessed, “I don’t know what happened; I was sure I had
avoided it tonight!”
“It’s that time of the month; you need to rest and take it easy. This can wait,” Ludwik reassured her with a sense of relief in his
voice, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “Besides, I’m not feeling quite like myself tonight either. I wouldn’t want to leave
you with a bad impression, Elaine. You should get some sleep.”
His tone was too calm.
Elaine was smart and suddenly remembered the water... Her gaze faltered, and her expression paled as she looked at his face,
seeking answers.
Ludwik looked back at her with tender eyes, not avoiding her gaze, the depths of his eyes unfathomable.
Elaine clenched her fists, realizing she did not have the courage to confront him.
He helped her dress and gently laid her on the bed, touching her forehead tenderly. “Sleep well, sweetheart,” he whispered.
The man turned off the light and left the room indifferently.
In the darkness, Elaine quickly heard the sound of the front door closing downstairs.
Furious, she got up, ran barefoot down the stairs, and grabbed the bowl of water from the table. She had guzzled it earlier when
he had coaxed her, but now she could detect an unusual medicinal flavor. She had been duped!
Elaine dug her nails into her palms, a mix of embarrassment and rage making her smash the bowl to pieces!
He had prepared the water in advance to prevent anything from happening between them, even if it meant inducing her period
early.
His indifference chilled her to the bone. Why?
Why would he refuse to...
Her head felt like it would explode. She had tried to touch his crotch earlier, and he had shown no desire.

She had thought maybe the mood was not right, but now she understood. He was not interested in her!
He did not love her, which was why he could look at her body so calmly.
It was all Whitney’s fault. He still longed for that woman’s touch, which was why he disregarded Elaine!
That vixen, even though divorced and trampled under her feet, had the audacity to humiliate her on her engagement night.
Elaine’s face twisted in hatred. As long as Whitney was around, Ludwik’s heart would never
return to her!
She began to plot viciously.
Ludwik arrived at his apartment alone, standing in front of the window at his desk, smoking. His tall silhouette was a portrait of
solitude.
Felix sensed the depth of the president’s preoccupation, his lonely figure as distant as a thousand miles.
Since Ludwik had left Everwood Villa Estate early, Felix figured he probably did not make any real contact with Elaine.
His heart clearly was not with her.
Tonight, he might sit in silence until dawn.
Felix had prepared everything as instructed, and seeing the man’s heavy movements as he stubbed out his cigarette, he could
not help but sigh in consolation, “Mr. Lippert, she won’t belong to anyone else; she’s still yours. But are you sure you want to do
this?”

Ludwik closed his eyes, his long fingers resting against his temple, silent in his severity.
At the apartment.
Bryce arrived late at night.
Whitney and her two best friends had just finished making spicy burritos, the aroma wafting
from the kitchen.
“What’s cooking that smells so good?” Bryce chuckled.
Behind him were his company’s investment manager and two female stylists carrying several luxurious gowns.
“We’re making burritos,” Whitney replied with a smile.
Bryce glanced at her friends, then pulled Whitney aside, his voice gentle, “I was worried about your mood today and didn’t want
to intrude and make things worse. I didn’t expect your friends to have cheered you up so much. Thank them for me.”
“Uncle Bryce, could you be any sweeter?” Tiana murmured.
“Uncle Bryce?” He was puzzled.
Valerie chuckled, “Tiana’s ex–fiancé Gunner, you know him, right?”
Bryce was taken aback, looked at Whitney, and waved his hand. “I’m not close to him. My nephew is such a mess; we’re not cut
from the same cloth.”
Tiana laughed and nudged Whitney, whispering, “He’s really good at cheering you up. This old guy sure has a way with words.”

“Ms. Melford, I can hear you,” Bryce responded, amused.
Whitney’s lips twitched. Why did it feel like Bryce had instantly won over her friends?
She steered the conversation back. “Mr. Lutz, what brings you here?”
“I’ve got a ton of things. There’s a lot to prepare for the engagement tomorrow, and I didn’t want to upset you, so I waited until
now to bring the dresses. But most importantly, I need your signature on an investment document.”
Bryce snapped his fingers with a flourish, and the investment manager handed over a contract. Whitney was taken aback and
somewhat touched as she read it, “Mr. Lutz, a two billion investment in Skye Gem is no small amount. With your situation being
so volatile, won’t this blow our cover?”
“Darling, just watch as Skye Gem comes roaring back to life! Leave the rest to me. I promised to invest before the engagement,
and I always keep my word.”
His reliability made her feel unworthy.
“Two billion, Mr. Lutz is really splashing the cash. Let’s call it an engagement gift,” Tiana joked. Whitney shot her a glare. “You all
know that he and I are actually...”
“Let’s not dwell on it. Mr. Lutz would be heartbroken. Even if it’s all for show, who knows what the future holds? With the right
conditions, it could turn real,” Tiana said, looking at Bryce’s affectionate gaze and advising Whitney, “After the engagement
tomorrow, everything will become clear. Time to change your mindset and move on. You’ve got your friends and a man who
supports you; what’s there to fear? Let go of the past and think of your child, your uncle, and your cousin.”
Indeed, Whitney had planned to use Bryce’s help to get her uncle out early after the engagement.
Ludwik was engaged to Elaine, and they seemed happy together.
It was time to let go of her own entanglements and move toward a new direction.
Ludwik had used his actions today to say goodbye to their past.
Taking a deep breath, she realized that with the new investment, Skye Gem would be revived, and her life would improve, right?
Tonight seemed like a turning point, bidding a hasty farewell to her past.

“Alright, I’ll muster up my spirits to face this new chapter of life, to make money and take care of my baby,” she said, picking up a
hint of a smile.
“Making money to raise a baby is totally unnecessary. You’re a powerful woman, and the Lutz Group is rolling in dough,” Tiana
said, linking her arm with her friend’s. “We’ll make it big together.”
“Alright, Valerie and I won’t be third wheels anymore. We’ll leave Mr. Lutz to plan tomorrow’s banquet. See you in the morning.”
The two besties left in a hurry, not wanting to be a nuisance.
The apartment fell silent. In an attempt to ease the awkwardness, Whitney picked up the gown and said, “I’ll go try this on for
size.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Bryce said with a gentlemanly gesture.
Surveying the modest apartment, Bryce spoke in a warm tone, “It’s a bit sparse here, but I’ve picked out a crib in baby blue. The
little one will surely love it...”
His gaze turned, and he suddenly became silent, struck by amazement.
The woman emerging from the bathroom was draped in a champagne–colored gown that flowed elegantly over her form, her
figure delicate in all aspects save for the gentle swell of her belly.
Her skin was radiant ivory, so flawless it seemed the lightest touch could mar it. With no need for makeup, her long hair casually
pinned up, she exuded a breathtaking beauty.
Her eyes, though calm, inexplicably ignited a fire in Bryce.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and with his hand to his mouth, his gaze intense, he whispered, “You look stunning, Whitney.”
Whitney, flustered and gripping the hem of her dress, was uncomfortable with such praise from a man she hardly knew. Her
cheeks flushed with a soft hue under the shimmering light.
She quickly put on a professional smile. “As long as it fits. Tomorrow,is just a formality!”
He could not help but step closer, wrapping his arms gently around her.
As Whitney struggled, Bryce tightened his hold. “You’re truly breathtaking. I’m sorry. May I just hold you for a moment?”