Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 712

"His name's Ludwik."

Florence jumped, her eyebrows knitting together in a mix of disdain and irritation. "Oh, him. Just tell him I'm not here, would you?"

Before she could finish her sentence, there was a loud crash-a figure had smashed through the window, making a dramatic entrance. Florence whipped around to see Ludwik, towering and imposing, stepping over the shattered glass.

"Ludwik..."

"Yeah, look at me now. Down on my luck, so when I come looking for my 'fiancée,' suddenly she's not home?"

Ludwik approached her with a mocking sneer, his presence overwhelming.

Florence's pale face flushed with embarrassment and anger, stepping back under his intimidating aura. But then she remembered he was nothing now, no longer the man he used to be. Why should she fear him?

Straightening her back, she forced a smile. "Ludwik, what are you talking about? I've been worried sick about you. Even after Nolan's betrayal, you still hold a place in my heart."

Ludwik's disgust was palpable, his sneer disappearing. "First time seeing you so shameless. But your happy days are over. Whitney did a number on you, kicked you out of the Sheldon Group. Now I hear you're shacking up with Jarvis?"

His gaze fell to her slightly swollen belly, his disdain growing. If it weren't for this baby, he and Whitney wouldn't have fallen out so badly. He wouldn't have had to crash a wedding, causing her to never forgive him.

His eyes hardened.

Fixing his gaze on her belly, he stated coldly, "Since you've moved on to Jarvis so quickly, that belly doesn't seem right anymore, does it?"

Florence trembled, covering her stomach protectively, "What are you going to do? Don't threaten me. You've lost everything, why should I stick with you? Why can't I choose Jarvis? It's every man for himself. You lost the top spot in Harmonia Country, your shine is gone. I was forced out, lost my status. I needed someone to rely on, for my baby, for my mother. What did I do wrong? I even still love you... so I've been desperate to keep this baby. And now you want me to get rid of it? Are you even a man?"

"I don't need to prove my manhood to you," Ludwik retorted with venom. "I never acknowledged this child. That night, who knows what tricks you used? I wouldn't touch you. You've been using this baby to threaten the Lippert family. Now, it's no longer useful. Get rid of it. I won't be played for a fool."

"I won't do it!" Florence was both defiant and terrified.

She needed this trump card to secure Jarvis's support and to use against Whitney in the future.

Attempting to flee, Ludwik caught her easily, throwing her to the ground with his handcrafted leather boots inches from her hand, instilling fear.

Changing his approach, he said, "If you don't want to lose the baby, let's make a deal."

"What... what kind of deal?" Florence looked up, desperate.

"Four years ago, Sandy was studying abroad with you. What did you do to her that she can't remember anything from that year?"

Florence was shocked. How did Ludwik know about Sandy?

Could Shane have told him? But why would Shane bother with a fallen Ludwik?

Her mind raced as Ludwik's boot pressed down on her hand.

"I'm losing patience. You've done plenty of wrongs. Tell me the truth!"

She couldn't confess.

Confessing would mean Shane would never let her off, especially after she played a part in Sandy's tragedy. Shane would tear her apart.

Pain forced Florence to lie, "I was at the same school, but I barely knew Sandy. How would I know what happened to her? Don't pin everything on me!" "Refusing to talk?"

"I truly didn't do anything!"

"I gave you a chance."

Ludwik dragged her to his car, heading straight for the hospital. He called Ashton, instructing him to find the best gynecologist regardless of cost.

At the hospital, Florence was hysterical as Ludwik left her at the surgery department's door.

Panic-stricken, she resisted the nurses, "I won't do it. Ludwik, this... this isn't even your child! I lied to threaten the Lippert family; it's someone else's. You have no reason to care." Unmoved, Ludwik lit a cigarette in the chilling night, his cold profile sharp as a blade. "Better to err on the side of caution. Or, you have one last chance to confess what you did to Sandy."

He had made up his mind; even if she confessed, he'd still insist on the abortion. Even if there was no hope with Whitney, he owed her that much.

Florence, defiant to the end, would never reveal her misdeeds. Admitting the truth meant certain doom. She clawed at the surgery door, refusing entry. Ludwik's kick to her arm was ruthless. "Close the door!"

The click of the door sealing shut echoed as Florence's screams filled the air.

The final tally between them had been settled, and with a chilling resolve, Ludwik descended the stairs.

No sooner had he reached the lower level than a sudden 'click' echoed through the hallway, plunging everything into darkness.

Ludwik frowned, peering into the abyss.

The corridor below was a hive of confusion, with patients calling out for nurses, "What's going on, a power outage? Can someone check?"

"I'll call maintenance right away," a nurse's figure flitted back and forth.

Two minutes later, the nurse returned, frustration clear in her voice, "Maintenance says it's only this floor and the OB-GYN department upstairs that are affected."

Ludwik stubbed out his cigarette, a sense of unease flickering through his deep-set eyes.

He immediately made his way back upstairs, barking orders at two of his bodyguards, "Check the operation room's entrance for any signs of disturbance. Don't let Florence escape."

Shortly after, one of the bodyguards returned, alarm in his voice, "Mr. Lippert, we've got a problem. The operation room's door is wide open, and there are two nurses on the floor. Florence, she's gone!"