Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 342

Ludwik's phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he picked up, Ashton's irate voice came storming through. "Dude, where the heck have you been? Elaine's been drowning her sorrows at the pub, drinking herself into a stupor-you aware she's in the hospital now, stomach bleeding and all? She's been a mess, crying about you not picking up her calls. The bartender tried reaching you to no avail and had to call me instead. What kind of fiancé does that make you? I've just rushed her to the ER..." Ludwik paused, his brows knitting together, his voice dropping to a chilly tone, "I'm on my way."

After hanging up, he glanced back at the firmly shut door of Whitney's apartment and reluctantly texted her: "Could you watch Danny for me?"

He then strode towards the elevator.

---

At the hospital.

Elaine was fuming, her hands trembling as she clutched the freshly snapped photos Lyra had obtained from a detective. The images showed Ludwik and Whitney in a close embrace on the balcony of her apartment, lost in a passionate kiss.

Each call she had made to Ludwik, pleading on behalf of the Bartels family, went unanswered. She had rushed back to their family estate, only to find he'd already left with Daniel.

Ignoring her, avoiding her!

And yet, there he was, refusing to lend a hand to the Bartels, instead choosing to cozy up to Whitney, the opportunist.

Elaine's anger reached its boiling point, tearing the photos to shreds just as Ashton's footsteps approached.

She quickly feigned a bout of weakness, vomiting pitifully.

"Elaine..." Ashton was shocked as he rushed in.

Tears in her eyes, Elaine looked up at him, despair in her voice, "Ashton, I feel so hopeless. Ludwik refuses to help the Bartels. Does he not want me anymore?"

A half-hour later, Ludwik arrived at the hospital. Ashton greeted him with a grim face, the tension palpable as Ludwik inquired about Elaine's condition.

"She's had her stomach pumped and a minor surgery. Still under anesthesia," Ashton replied tersely.

Suggesting they find a quieter place to talk, they ended up in a nearby pub, where the bartender served them two shots of strong vodka. Ludwik downed his shot, and Ashton, fixing him with a steady gaze, sighed deeply. "What's going on with you, man?" Ludwik remained silent, lost in thought. Ashton continued, expressing his frustration over Ludwik's apparent neglect of Elaine, who had given so much of herself to him, including a kidney donation to his mother.

Their conversation turned heated as Ashton accused Ludwik of being swayed by Whitney, of forgetting his obligations to Elaine and the Bartels family amidst the crisis they were facing.

Ludwik was conflicted, recalling his recent indiscretion with Whitney. Ashton's words struck a chord, reminding him of his past commitment to Elaine and the life they had planned together.

Ashton didn't hold back, berating Ludwik for wavering between two women, for forgetting the sacrifices Elaine had made for him, and for potentially leading her to despair.

Ludwik felt the weight of Ashton's words, the responsibility he bore towards Elaine, and the complicated feelings he had for Whitney. The conversation left him questioning where his heart truly lay, caught between duty and desire, past loyalties, and new temptations. But Ashton hit the nail on the head - there's no turning back after you've drawn the bow. A woman's youth is something you can't just compensate for.

The kindness from Elaine, it felt like ropes binding him.

Ludwik's slender fingers brushed over the divorce papers in his pocket, feeling an inexplicable pang of pain.

He closed his eyes tightly, maybe it was time to stop messing around with Whitney. It wasn't fair to either woman...

---

"Ludwik..."

As he returned to the hospital room,

Elaine immediately got up with tear-stained eyes, looking defeated. "I didn't mean to get drunk on purpose. I couldn't reach you at all, and you weren't answering at home. I was so scared, I acted impulsively and went to drink..."

Next to her, Lyra also cried out, "Miss, it's just that you've been too troubled! With the whole Zane situation, the Emperor City elites were pressuring you to plead with Mr. Lippert... But you know Mr. Lippert's temper. You've been bearing it all alone." Seeing the two women crying together, Ludwik felt sympathy for Elaine, but it wasn't as strong as it once might have been.

Maybe it was because of the frequent crying, he gradually developed a sense of immunity and irritation.

Elaine, with her keen senses, noticed his indifferent expression and quickly signaled Lyra to stop talking.

The focus for tonight was...

Elaine weakly got out of bed and staggered towards him, wrapping her arms around him. "Ludwik, I know the Bartels Group's reputation has taken a hit in your eyes, but the sins of the parents shouldn't fall on their children. I'm truly innocent. You're marrying me, not the Bartels family. I've loved you for so many years. Will you still marry me?"