Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 1019

"What were you up to? Or did Mr. Lippert think it wasn't worth mentioning to me?"

Whitney was pressing hard, cornering him with every step.

He was well aware there was no sidestepping the truth, his deep-set eyes hiding a whirlpool of secrets as he firmly grasped her delicate shoulders, his Adam's apple bobbing, "I went after Florence; she fled abroad." "What?" Whitney was taken aback, not expecting Florence to be the subject.

Her brow furrowed, recalling the last time Florence made an appearance at the Sheldon Group, right when Bryce's plans fell apart.

After Ludwik blacklisted Bryce, Florence seemed to vanish into thin air.

Whitney guessed she must've been hiding like a rat crossing the street, but she didn't expect her to have fled the country.

"But why were you after her?" Whitney puzzled.

Ludwik's gaze shifted away, dodging the heart of the matter, "She had something important in her possession that I needed to retrieve. It was urgent, and I worried you'd be angrier knowing it involved Florence, so I didn't tell you." Sammy, standing a little way off, listened to his dad spin this yarn, breaking out in a sweat on his behalf.

He also didn't understand why his dad continued to deceive mom.

Why not just tell her about his sister...

His small fists clenched nervously.

Whitney, digesting his explanation, subconsciously thought it must be some corporate secret?

Yet, for some reason, Elaine's insinuations about Florence stealing something valuable from her flashed through her mind.

Her heart skipped a beat, overcome by an inexplicable sense of unease.

"Did you catch Florence, then?" Whitney snapped back to reality and asked.

"She got away."

"And the 'important thing'?" Whitney probed.

"It's been taken care of." Ludwik's gaze softened as he looked into her luminous eyes, his hand sliding from her slender shoulder to clasp her waist, a move brimming with unsaid intentions. The warmth from his palm seeped through her pajamas, making her shiver slightly, then came the comforting heat.

"You..." Whitney's eyes, now misty, looked up at him.

Ludwik's gaze remained on her, the corners of his lips turning up with an unusual tenderness, "Don't move. You've lost weight, haven't you? Was it the trip to Banyan City?"

"I've been away for a few days, and in that time, a crisis struck Tiana."

"Yeah." Ludwik's voice was low, a hint of a smile in his tone, "Leaving you and our son behind was tough. But you don't need to be afraid anymore, I'm back."

Whitney, her eyes locked with his, could feel the tension dissipating.

It was as if his mere presence was enough to calm her storm, his strong frame like a protective wall against her fears and uncertainties.

Her skin felt ablaze, her heart equally aflame, and she quickly averted her gaze, her anger seemingly quenched.

"My heart's settled now that you're back. Let's go inside," she murmured, stepping aside to let him pass, her cheeks a rosy hue.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the luxury watch on his wrist, its face cracked, and the veins on the back of his hand standing out, a testament to his strength - and to his injuries. Coupled with... Whitney lifted her gaze once more to his handsome features, noting the weariness as if he hadn't slept in days.

His suit was crumpled, an unusual sight for him.

"Did you run into trouble in Eurovoria?" she couldn't help asking.

Ludwik stiffened slightly, his lips parting in a nonchalant smile, "There's always someone who doesn't know better to stay out of my way. Just a scratch."

"You also look unrested."

"Well, I had to rush back after wrapping up some business, all to see you sooner," he continued, his gaze deep, filled with longing.

Their eyes locked, and Whitney found herself at a loss for words, her cheeks burning.

Was it true then, that absence made the heart grow fonder, even dulling their disagreements?

What nonsense, she thought, chastising herself for the analogy.

Just as she was about to steer the conversation back to Florence, Danny barged in, "Hey! Can you two stop being all lovey-dovey for once? Ludwik, did you just push me away?

You did! After all this time, you come back and this is how you treat your own son? Cold as ice?

Do you even have a heart left, or is it all with mom now!

I'm not jealous, okay? It just... it just stings, you know? Sammy, do you get what I'm feeling? The whole being neglected vibe?"

With that, the usually stoic boy turned, seeking Sammy's solidarity.

Sammy, preoccupied and anxious, barely acknowledged his brother.

Danny, bewildered by Sammy's unusual demeanor, pushed closer, "Sammy, what's up? Aren't you happy to see dear old dad? That's weird; you've been the one missing him the most, always talking about him!" "No, it's nothing," Sammy replied, his unease palpable, yet without the chance to speak to his dad alone.

And his dad hadn't given him any signs either.

As the adults moved to the living room, the household was still stirring to life, with Camilla and Jason Lippert yet to awaken.

Whitney lowered her voice, "Grandma and Dad are still asleep... Why don't you take a breather, have a seat. Want some breakfast?"

"Would you make it for me?" Ludwik's eyes were fixed on her, full of hope.

Feeling a warmth in her ears and a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, Whitney retorted, "Well, are you eating or not?"

"Have you been staying here these days? Are you the one making breakfast for the kids every morning?"

"..." Whitney couldn't be bothered to respond, taking his question as a statement.

Ludwik gently tugged at her slender hand, his voice warm and alluring, carrying a depth of sincerity, "You're such a wonderful mom, fiercely protective and loving towards the kids. You know, Whitney..."

He wanted to tell her, she also had a daughter...

In this adaptation, the setting and cultural references have been subtly altered to fit a Western context. The dialogue has been made more casual and idiomatic, and the mention of traditional roles and breakfast hints at a universal context rather than being specific to any culture, avoiding direct cultural references.