Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 690

"Was it your own doing finding me, or did someone put you up to it?"

He came with a whole entourage, clearly ready for a showdown.

Did you manage to squeeze anything out of him?"

Ludwik recalled the scene, a chill spreading, "I confronted Lane, asking if Bryce had set him up.

His face gave him away.

Most likely... Bryce again."

"That scoundrel, what grudge does he have against you, constantly kicking you when you're down, aiming to take you out with every move." Ashton couldn't hold back his curse any longer.

Ludwik remained expressionless, "Because of Whitney. And my previous run-ins with him."

"Only a coward resorts to such underhanded tactics!

Bryce must be in cahoots with Jarvis by now, their gang itching to see you destroyed."

Ashton lamented, "Last time in the detention center, Bryce had already made a move on your turf.

He wants to torment you! Watching you pine for Whitney as she moves in with him.

Ludwik, can you really swallow this bitter pill?

I know you feel stripped of your pride, disheartened, thinking you can't win Whitney over, that your whole world has turned dark.

But you've got to shake off this despondency.

Bryce, that bastard, you used to not even spare him a glance. Stand up and fight back!"

Ludwik's expression froze, his mind a mess.

After a moment, a bitter smile crossed his heart.

He had dreamt of Whitney last night, her kindness and gentleness visiting him.

Crying, he spoke words long buried in his heart.

He had been too arrogant, assuming she would understand his unspoken love, afraid to show how much he valued her.

Only later did he realize his grave mistake.

...

Seeing Ludwik fall silent, Ashton rambled on, "Ludwik, you're my brother. Once you're ready to fight, I'll be right there with you, and so will Parker. Falling isn't scary; it's the lack of courage to start over that is.

Get back on your feet, take down those creeps. You're Ludwik, after all!"

Ludwik felt a lump in his throat, closing his bloodshot eyes.

After a while, his towering figure walked out, changing the subject upon seeing a hotel business card, "Ashton, did you bring me to this hotel?" "No, I just heard about your beating this morning."

"Then who brought me here?"

"How would I know? Probably a Good Samaritan."

Ludwik, puzzled, noticed the antiseptic on his hands and clothes had been changed.

Wait...

His handsome face suddenly changed, hastily ending the call.

Opening his pants, he found his underwear had been changed too, meaning his injuries might have been exposed.

Who could it be?

Whitney's delicate face flashed through his mind, her presence in his dream last night felt so real.

He seemed to have hugged her, rushing to kiss her.

His tears touched her face, her eyes also seemed red, before she pushed him away.

"..." Could it have been her?

Ludwik's heart pounded fiercely as he strode out to ask the hotel manager to review the surveillance footage. Seeing Whitney's slender figure struggling to carry him to the elevator, then up the stairs, chilled him to the bone. It was her.

She noticed his bandaged wounds... even took the care to rebandage them.

Knowing he'd been drinking and might get an infection, she gave him painkillers, the pills still on the table.

Ludwik's eyes filled with remorse, feeling utterly defeated.

What could be more heart-wrenching than knowing the woman he loves saw him at his lowest?

He despised himself for drinking last night.

Now, even his last shred of privacy had been exposed. Would she look down on him?

Ludwik picked up his phone as if it was a hot potato...

His lips nearly turning blue from the tension.

-

In the office of the Sheldon Group headquarters.

Whitney and Sandy had just finished discussing a real estate project when Ludwik called her.

Her cheeks stiffened at the sight of the number, unable to withstand Sandy's curious gaze, "Step outside for a bit."

"Okay, Ms. Sheldon."

Sandy closed the door behind her, running into Shane. With no one else to confide in, she blurted out, "Mr. Nelson, Ms. Sheldon is on the phone with Ludwik." "Ah?!" Shane looked at her with feigned surprise.

Sandy worriedly added, "Ms. Sheldon rescued someone in an alley last night, Ludwik.

The news of Ludwik being beaten up was all over the place this morning.

I dare not tell Bryce."

"Keep it quiet." Shane pondered, knowing Whitney was onto Bryce.

If Whitney suspected something, it meant Bryce might indeed be up to no good.

"Okay." Sandy nodded.

Watching her obedient demeanor, Shane's eyes narrowed, "Come on, I'll buy you a coffee."

"Thank you, Mr. Nelson. By the way, Ms. Sheldon is considering involving the Sheldon Group in Bryce's company project. We were just discussing it."

"...She's willing to involve the Sheldon Group in a partnership with the Lutz Group? I'll ask her about it later."

Shane figured Whitney wouldn't let personal feelings interfere. If the two families joined forces, their companies would become inseparable.

Who could guarantee they wouldn't divorce someday?

The two walked away.

Back in the office-

Eventually, Whitney couldn't ignore his persistent calls any longer, awkwardly answering, "You... wanted to talk..."

"Cough." Silence on the other end, followed by a deep, hoarse cough.

"Are you okay?"

His injuries from last night seemed severe; he couldn't have gotten an infection, could he?

"Ludwik, if you're not going to talk, I'm hanging up."

She stated coldly, finally hearing his voice, low and somber, "Thanks for taking me back last night, and... for bandaging me up."

He sounded awkward, like a shy boy, a far cry from his usual domineering and profound demeanor.

It was unsettling, this new, restrained side of him.

"Oh..."

The whole situation left Whitney feeling pretty awkward, and her emotions were all over the place. She tried to explain, her words coming out in a rush, "Don't get it twisted, okay? Last night, I just happened to stumble upon you guys throwing punches on the street. I had no idea it was you until I walked closer and saw you knocked out cold on the ground. You looked so pitiful, I couldn't just leave you there.

And about dressing your wounds, you forgot I'm a nurse, right? It's just instinct."

She was quick to distance herself from the implications, "Even if it had been a complete stranger, I would've done the same thing." Listening to her calm voice, Ludwik felt a bitter sweetness flooding his heart.

A stranger would help?

Yeah, he had to admit to himself, at this point, he was practically a nobody to her.

Despite not holding out much hope that she would still care about him, it still stung a bit.

Whitney said, "I've explained everything now. I've got work to do, so... I'm going to hang up now..."