Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 539

"Can you believe they let go of the anesthesiologist before even sorting this mess out?" Whitney couldn't wrap her head around the bizarre situation. She was adamant, "I need that anesthesiologist's name. I want to handle this privately."

"Sorry about that!" The hospital director looked troubled. "Turns out, after the anesthesiologist realized he'd given you the wrong anesthesia, he bolted during a shift change. We had no choice but to let him go. Since he was a temp, we're having a hard time tracking down his details. If you insist on following up, it might take a while."

Perfect excuse!

Meaning, she had no way to find that anesthesiologist now. And all this trouble, just for an unwanted full anesthesia during a gastroscopy. The results showed nothing but chronic gastritis and ulcers, no other issues.

The ER doctor stepped forward, "Ms. Valentine, there's no need to worry. The gastroscopy didn't harm you and ruled out any serious conditions like tumors. If you're still feeling unwell, I can prescribe you some medicine right now."

"No need!" Whitney clutched her stomach. Maybe it was the stress of the afternoon, but she couldn't even pinpoint where the pain was anymore. Every other part of her just felt worse, drained and achy, likely the aftermath of the anesthesia.

"I insist the hospital continues to investigate this matter. This was a medical mishap, and I won't just let it slide," she said coolly before leaving the hospital, stopping by a pharmacy to pick up some herbal remedies.

It was already dark outside. Whitney pulled out her phone, intending to call Sandy for a ride, only to see several missed calls from Ludwik, all closely timed. She hesitated for a moment, then deleted the call log without calling back, and drove herself back to Delight Mansion.

The lights were on at the fourth villa, and there stood Danny at the doorway, his anxiety visible.

"Mommy, where have you been?" Danny ran over, both worried and upset, looking her over.

"I wasn't feeling well, had to visit the hospital, and the checks took longer than expected. I'm okay now."

"I tried calling you, but you didn't answer. And with Tiana back in Banyan City, you had no one by your side. I was really worried. Are you sure you're okay? You look pale."

Danny took her hand, noting how cold her fingertips felt. "Your body's so cold!"

"I had a sudden bout of gastritis this afternoon."

"No wonder. There was a moment this afternoon when my heart raced for no reason. I felt so sad, so worried about you," Danny murmured.

Standing at the entrance, Whitney paused, "Danny, when did you feel that discomfort?"

"Around four."

Four o'clock-when she was unconscious from the anesthesia, dreaming of Sammy... Danny always said he and Sammy had a sort of telepathic connection.

Whitney's emotions rollercoastered, but despite searching the entire hospital, she couldn't find Sammy. Florence was too cunning to hide Sammy in a regular hospital. She thought, maybe she should take Danny back to the hospital again; he might sense something... "Whitney!"

The sudden deep voice snapped her

out of her thoughts. Ludwik parked his car abruptly at her villa, striding over with urgency, his large hand gripping

her arm. "Why didn't younet

answer my calls? You vanished for four hours this afternoon. Where were you? Danny said he couldn't reach you, what were you doing?"

Whitney looked up at him, her eyes cooling. She detested his uninvited presence, his habit of questioning her! Was he ever going to stop meddling in her life?

"Is it so strange for me to be out of your sight for four hours? Ludwik, what right do you have to monitor me, to control my life like this?"

"I didn't mean it like that, I'm just worried about you."

His warm hand tightened on her arm, not gently at all. The hospital ordeal, her dream of Sammy, her gastritis, her discomfort-all crashed over her. She was in no mood to see him, much less endure his accusations.

In that moment, her anger surged, "Why do I need your concern? To be suffocated by you? Is it because you can't stand seeing me close to Bryce? If you dare monitor me again, I'll sue you."

"Where exactly did you go? You look awful," Ludwik ignored her fury, his concern for her evident as he persisted.

"I had a gastritis attack and went to the hospital, okay?"

Whitney pushed him away, but he was immovable, like a wall.

"What?" Ludwik's expression changed as he scrutinized her, "You had a gastritis attack and didn't tell me? With Tiana gone, you should've at least informed me you were sick! Which hospital did you go to? What did the doctors say? Did they prescribe anything?"

"It's settled. I just ate something bad. I didn't get any medication. Please, just leave," Whitney tried to dismiss him.

"Your complexion's all wrong," Ludwik observed sharply, his worry palpable. "You look too pale. Did the examination affect the baby?"

He pulled her closer, gently embracing her, "I can't leave it like this. Let's go to the Lippert family hospital for a more thorough check-up."

He was mainly anxious to see if her pregnancy had been affected by the gastritis.

"I already had an endoscopy, what more do you want?" she asked, looking up at him, her eyes growing cold. "Do you know my health better than I do? What kind of check-up do you want me to have?" Her frustration was evident.

Ludwik was at a loss for words, his gaze deep and troubled, "Just some routine checks, just listen to me, please!"

He attempted to lift her, set on taking her.

"I'm not going, okay? Just stop pushing me!" Whitney snapped, her stubborn streak fully ignited by his insistence.

She loathed his overbearing control, his disregard for her wishes, pushing her around as if she were a pawn in his game.

"I'm just... really tired right now. Can

you just leave me be? I don't want the food you brought over. And honestly? can't even figure out why you've suddenly decided to care

en

about my health. But let me tell you,

it's too little, too late. Ever heard the

saying, Ludwik? 'Better late than

never' doesn't always apply.

Sometimes, late is just... worthless."

He froze, at a loss for words, realizing he couldn't push her further without risking her well-being, especially now that she was pregnant.