Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Ludwik paused for a moment before curling his lips into a smile, "Really now?"

He watched as his son tiptoed to climb into bed, a surprising change from his usual reluctance to sleep in his own room.

"Maybe he's suddenly matured," Ludwik thought, feeling a sense of pride mixed with the weariness of a seasoned parent.

The sweet call of "Daddy" echoed in his mind, and Ludwik felt that the past three years hadn't been in vain. He picked up his son's scattered sports jersey from the floor.

Suddenly, a small bottle fell out of the pocket. Ludwik squinted at it in the light: an asthma inhaler?

Elaine noticed it too, her eyes flashing with concern, "Ludwik, what is Danny hiding? Why would he have an asthma inhaler with him?"

Ludwik was just as puzzled. He didn't dwell on it, placing the inhaler on a shelf, "I'll go ask him."

The man hurriedly left the bathroom, leaving Elaine with a heavy feeling in her chest. It seemed he didn't want to stay by her side, but he was all too indulgent with that little brat.

She had nearly blown her cover tonight and, for the first time, hadn't managed to get her way with the little guy...

How had he suddenly gotten so cunning?

The thought left her fuming. Elaine turned back to the inhaler, her gaze darkening... How strange, whose could it be?

Without a second thought, she tossed the inhaler into the trash.

In the children's room, a small lamp was aglow.

Moonlight streamed in through the large bay window, bathing the room in a serene light.

The little one in bed was already fast asleep, cheeks rosy with youth.

Ludwik tucked his son in and sat by the bed as the maid quietly brought in a bottle of red wine.

He poured himself a glass and sipped it slowly, his gaze deepening as he watched his son's face.

Danny's features were so much like Whitney's... especially tonight, with his sweet, obedient manner, he was the spitting image of that woman. Thinking of her lit a fire in Ludwik's chest.

Had it not been for her games, would he and Elaine have fought tonight?

Dammit, what on earth was wrong with his own body...

"Ludwik~"

Elaine quietly opened the door to the children's room, her figure draped in a seductive slip dress, holding a tray of late-night snacks, "Danny's asleep, right? Come and have something to eat; I made it just for you."

Ludwik looked at her cool attire but felt no surge of desire.

The night was deep, and he could almost predict that the next moment would take him back to the bedroom.

Confronted with Elaine's urgency, he felt a repulsion that turned to distaste.

The man set down his wine glass and stood up, draping his suit jacket gently over the woman's shoulders.

Rubbing his temples, he found an excuse, "There's an emergency international meeting at the office. I'll have to skip the snacks; I need to head out." An international meeting at this hour?

Elaine suspected he was avoiding their marital duties, but she had been pushing too hard lately.

Afraid of alienating him, especially with Whitney's return, she had to secure this man with gentleness.

She quickly offered understanding, "I hate to see you so tired, Ludwik. Once I get a handle on Skye Gem Ltd., I'll be back at Skyfaith Electronic Tech to be your right-hand woman."

Her words carried a double meaning.

She still wanted Skye Gem Ltd.

Ludwik didn't say much, as it was already promised to her.

His gaze softened, and he spoke tenderly, "I'll arrange everything for you. As for Skyfaith, don't overwork yourself. Just be the content Mrs. Lippert." "You really do care for me, Ludwik~" Elaine's smile bloomed with sweetness, and she cheerfully saw him down the stairs.

Ludwik got into his sports car and sped off into the night.

The lights of the streets cast deep shadows across his face, adding to his brooding look and the hint of gloom.

His intimacy with Elaine couldn't be delayed any longer.

Thinking back to the bathroom incident... Ludwik felt an itch in his teeth. He needed to find out if there was truly something wrong with his body. After a moment, he dialed Felix's number, his voice cold, "Find me some clean women from the club."

Felix, startled awake, sounded bewildered.

"Mr. Lippert... You mean you want me to find women for you? What-what are you planning to do?"

"

...

What do you think?" The topic was sensitive, and Ludwik, known for his austerity, felt stiff.

He barked, "Hurry up, find them!"

Ludwik ripped the earpiece out, driving on in agitation.

Soon, his phone rang again.

Annoyed, he answered, "What now?"

"Ludwik, what do you need club women for? Does Elaine know about this? I can find them, but I'm afraid of getting hit by the Bartels family of Emperor City," Nolan's nagging voice came through.

Ludwik was caught off guard; over the past three years, he had little contact with Nolan Parker and the others.

His expression darkened, "Felix contacted you?"

"Where would Felix get club contacts? If you want to play, you need me!"

Nolan laughed heartily, then whispered with an air of mystery, "Is it true what they say, that you and Elaine have marital issues? Ludwik I heard Whitney's back tonight, are you emotionally affected..."

"Are you finding them or not? If not, get lost." Ludwik hung up with a scowl.

On the other end, Nolan glanced at Parker, who was staring back through his thick glasses, "Should we really find women for Ludwik?"

"Do it. If we don't, he won't come to the Royal One Club." Parker took a swig of vodka, noting Ludwik hadn't set foot there in three years.

Since that fateful year, many had changed, and Ludwik had become a recluse, focused solely on work and parenting.

And the little nephew-they weren't even allowed to lay eyes on him.

As Whitney returned, Parker felt a premonition that Ludwik would slowly reconnect with them.

And then there were others... like Tiana.Têxt belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

Parker's gaze turned dark, a flash of unnamed emotion passing through. He couldn't understand why that woman had suddenly developed such a deep hatred, avoiding all contact. Had he offended her?

"Alaric, why are you hiding out here?" Endora slinked over, her waist supple as she fell into Parker's chest.

Nolan cleared his throat with a hint of disdain. The woman who had saved Parker that fateful night years ago never did sit well with him and his brothers. Hearing that she was Tiana's cousin only added to his contempt, especially considering the mess Tiana had gotten herself into.

In the presidential suite of a high-end hotel.

The deep silence of the night was shattered by a man's low, angry growl, "Get out."

Five glamorous women from the club, looking bewitched and lost, didn't know how to react. Ludwik, his shirt crisp and belt fastened, clutched his mouth as he bolted for the bathroom.

"Boss~~" one of the women tried to follow.

"I said get out! All of you." Ludwik, leaning over the sink, roared with rage.

After his bout of nausea, he angrily pounded the countertop, water dripping from his intense gaze.

All these years, he'd barely gotten close to any woman other than Elaine. He hadn't even entertained the thought.

And now, he found himself unable to perform with these women?

Damn it, why couldn't he react to anyone but Whitney? It was uncanny.

The thought crossed his mind that Whitney might have used some trickery on him, just as Elaine had suggested.

A surge of anger welled up in Ludwik, and the night's events seemed to confirm his suspicions.

He grabbed his coat and walked out, encountering Nolan, who looked at him with a mix of pity and concern. "Ludwik, why are you out so early? This

Parker, too, wore an expression of sympathy. "Ludwik, you might need to see a doctor."

Ludwik shot them a steely glare that quickly silenced them.

He strode into the elevator, his eyes cold, his body uncomfortable, and made a call, "Send me that woman's address, now."

Felix, who had been woken up numerous times throughout the night, was exasperated.

Thought you didn't want to know Ms. Valentine's address, huh? Such a quick change of heart.

The relentless pounding on her door jolted Whitney awake.

Once she confirmed the noise wasn't coming from a neighbor's place, she snapped to alertness. Who in the world would be banging on her door in the middle of the night?