Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 368

stand up to the influential Doonan family. Her only choice was to lay low and avoid them as much as she could.

Whitney spent her day scouring the town for a new place for Tiana. Meanwhile, she was secretly helping Tiana move, with Valerie lending a hand under the radar. That's when Barclay stumbled upon Cherry, leaving everyone guessing about his next move. Tiana couldn't Exhausted, Whitney finally made it back to her apartment late in the evening. Her phone was buzzing non-stop with messages from Sammy, who had sent her several movie options to choose from. With a slight smile, Whitney was about to reply when she stepped out of the elevator and noticed a strange smell in the hallway. It was dark, but she could feel someone's presence, an unnerving sensation right at her doorstep.

Worried about her son inside, she hesitated, then turned to look down the hallway. A shadow moved! Annoyed and on edge, Whitney pushed the slightly open door wider with her bag and marched in, her heels clicking loudly on the floor. She looked left-no one. She looked right, and near the fire hose, she spotted a dark figure.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice cold. The tall figure stiffened but didn't move. "Who is it?" she asked again, anger mixing with alertness, ready to charge.

"Don't hit me," a deep male voice coughed. It was Ludwik, his features hard and tense, hesitating before stepping into the light. Whitney's eyes narrowed. Recognizing him in the dim light, her tense nerves slightly relaxed. But then, his piercing gaze filled with complex emotions made her scalp tingle again.

The silence was heavy. They locked eyes, neither speaking. Whitney broke the eye contact, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and defiance. She turned to leave. "Whitney," Ludwik called out, desperation in his voice as he reached for her. He caught her wrist, his touch warm against her skin.

Whitney jerked her hand away, but Ludwik's patience had run thin. With a swift move, he pinned her against the wall, his body blocking her escape.

"Get off me," she hissed, her voice a mix of annoyance and coldness. But Ludwik was captivated by the glimpse of her face, his heart racing at the sight of her lips.

"What are you doing?" Whitney squirmed to avoid him, his breath hot on her neck.

He paused, then spoke softly, "Can't you admit you still care about me?"

"What are you babbling about?" Whitney struggled to free herself, indignant.

"Didn't you want to see me behind bars? Joining forces with Jarvis, you came at me hard. After that night, did you tamper with my desk? What did you do, Whitney? You tore up every piece of evidence Jarvis could use against me. Couldn't bear it anymore?" His voice was a blend of accusation and amusement, but Whitney stiffened, a chill running down her spine.

"I didn't," she denied, though it wasn't clear what she was denying.

He flipped her around to face him, his grip firm. "Seems you still love me."

Whitney was speechless.

"Don't deny it. Your actions have betrayed you," he said, a hint of arrogance in his tone.

Whitney was infuriated. "Love you? You're delusional. Any woman with a shred of sense would stay away from a jerk like you."

Her words struck a nerve, but Ludwik decided not to argue. "Fine, I get it. It's hard for you to admit after three years... But remember, I know you better than you think."

Whitney was beyond frustrated. "I did what I did only to avoid repeating past mistakes and for Danny. For his sake, I wouldn't want his father in jail. But don't flatter yourself. Next time, my revenge will be open and direct."

Ludwik was taken aback by her intensity. He couldn't understand why she hated him so much, considering their past.

Suddenly, the apartment door opened, and Sammy peeked out, a bright smile on his face. "Mommy, I picked a movie!"

The tension broke, and Whitney was reminded of what truly mattered. She turned to her son, leaving Ludwik standing alone in the hallway, lost in thought.

Hearing the sound of a child in the hallway, Ludwik quickly strode over with his long legs. He spotted a small face peeking out from behind a door. A shiver ran through him. Wasn't his son just stubbornly refusing to leave the safety of their suburban home? Then who could this be...

"Danny? Is that you?" Ludwik called out, his voice laced with surprise.

Whitney and Sammy, equally taken by surprise, felt a chill run down their spines. Exchanging a look, mother and son were drenched in a cold sweat!