Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 713

"What the..." Ludwik's handsome face turned into a cold slate.

The power outage lasted barely a few minutes. How could Florence, a pregnant woman, have vanished so swiftly?

Besides, she should be unfamiliar with the exits of this hospital. She was practically dragged here just moments ago. Unless, someone guided her?

A shadow of suspicion crossed his eyes. Who was aiding her?

Including the power outage, was it all orchestrated?

"Find her!" he ordered his bodyguards.

He himself stepped briskly into the emergency exit, descending two flights of stairs when suddenly, he caught a glimpse of Florence's fleeing figure. "Stop right there!" Ludwik's command cut through the air.

Florence, panic-stricken, ran gracelessly towards the hospital's exit.

Just as Ludwik was about to catch up, a small figure suddenly blocked his path amidst the evening mist.

Following the streetlights down, Ludwik's gaze hardened, his voice uncertain, "Sammy... is that you?"

The delicate features identical to Danny's, yet Sammy's expression was starkly different.

His young face, usually unremarkable, now held a serious and cold wisdom as he looked back.

It was the absence of Danny's usual attire and the backpack slung over his shoulders that gave him away to Ludwik.

He choked on his words, utterly perplexed, "Son, what are you doing here?"

More importantly, why... was he blocking him?

This was beyond his comprehension.

Sammy didn't answer his question. Turning his head slightly, he saw Florence had made it outside the hospital and was hailing a cab.

Ludwik took a step forward, intent on pursuit.

Sammy blocked him again.

Now, he was almost certain.

This child... was actually helping Florence escape?

He couldn't fathom it, his heart sinking. He tried to keep his tone gentle, "Sammy, what are you doing?"

"As you see." Sammy wasn't keen on divulging more.

Ludwik, fixing an intense gaze on his small face, crouched down, "What I see is you preventing me from stopping Florence from having an abortion."

"That's one way to see it."

Sammy feigned indifference but internally, he sighed heavily.

"Why?" Ludwik saw Florence escape into a taxi and drive away, his tone growing colder, "Do you realize you're aiding and abetting? I don't know if that child is mine, but that's irrelevant. If Florence is keeping the child, she's up to no good. I can't let her hold something over me, Sammy... why would you do this? Tell me why.

Why did you intentionally turn off all the lights, leading Florence to escape?!"

Because that's indeed your child, with mom. Jerk.

Sammy raged internally, yet he couldn't voice out his thoughts, his fists clenched tightly.

Ludwik, seeing his son's distress and cold demeanor, as if holding back something, couldn't help but step forward, his large hand gently squeezing his small shoulders, "Sammy, you're much smarter than Danny, always having your own ideas.

Daddy knows, daddy never raised you, not even knowing about your existence after you returned home.

And later, because I didn't trust your mom, I delayed the rescue, leading to your disappearance.

All of this is daddy's fault, I'm sorry. I don't expect your forgiveness.

You can be indifferent towards me, you can deny the Lippert family, but you must tell me why you're doing this.

Are you... still under Florence's influence? Seeing her as family?"

Ludwik's eyes reddened with deep concern for his son's well-being.

"I'm not." Sammy, with emotions churning like tumultuous waves inside him, was struck by his father's words.

He finally realized his grave mistake.

His little heart ached sharply, a stubborn and aggrieved light flickering in his eyes, but eventually, he regained some calm and detachment, facing his father and weighing his words, then suddenly asked, "Can I trust you now?" "What do you mean?" Ludwik was serious, finding communication with his intelligent son incredibly challenging.

Sammy's self-mocking smile faded as he swallowed back his secret, "You're currently vulnerable. Clearly, you're not yet worthy of my complete trust."

"Do you want to tell me something, but you have reservations?" Ludwik's gaze was piercing.

"Yes." Sammy's sculpted eyes hid something, a mix of cautiousness and helplessness: "Anyway, if you attempt to harm her child, I will continue to stop you. Not for Florence.

But to prevent future regrets for both of you."

What does he mean? Prevent regrets for whom?

Ludwik was utterly confused.

"What exactly is your relation to this child?" he puzzled.

"Of course, there's a relation!" Sammy felt a surge of impulsiveness, insisting, "You might not want it, but it's still a life... once it's born, you'll understand."

Speaking out now would inevitably lead to dragging Florence into a paternity test, causing a spectacle and even alerting mom.

Besides, who knows if his dad might start another family in the future.

Perhaps, he thought, this baby could only be secretly raised by him.

Sammy sighed internally, his lips pressed tight, gently pushing his father away before turning to leave.

"Wait! Let me drive you, Sammy."

Ludwik, setting aside the myriad questions swirling in his mind, quickly followed, somewhat cautiously, fearing his son's disdain.

Sammy remained silent, perhaps to ensure he wouldn't go back on his word to find Florence, and didn't refuse the ride.

As the car came to a stop, Sammy, without a word, got out with his backpack.

"Sammy!" Ludwik, reluctant to part, hesitated before speaking in a hoarse voice, "Daddy wants to buy you some stuff, toys... would you accept that?"

"If you send them, accepting them is my decision," the little guy didn't give in.

Ludwik's gaze dimmed with complexity.

He watched as his son walked into the villa, his back to him.

Ludwik lingered, his expression a mix of helplessness.

Mending the relationship with his younger son appeared to require time; he owed him too much.

The man returned to his car, his thoughts circling back to the mysterious words Sammy had uttered at the hospital.

It all felt so strange.

Just then, Ashton called, "Heard Florence got away?"

"Yeah."

"You had two bodyguards, and she still slipped through?"

Ludwik was all bottled up, a storm brewing inside him. "Got a minute? Let's grab a drink."

"Huh?" Ashton was bewildered by the sudden invitation but agreed nonetheless, "Sure, why not. Felix is back in town too."

At the bar.

Ludwik marched over to the counter while Ashton furrowed his brows, "What's going on, man?"

"It was Sammy. Showed up out of nowhere, blacked out the hospital's power, and let Florence escape."

"Sammy?" Ashton's eyes widened in disbelief. "I haven't been around Emperor City for long, so I'm kinda out of the loop, but I've heard things from Parker. Sammy got brainwashed by Florence, didn't he? Or could it be..." "He denies it.

Sammy insists it wasn't for Florence.

He was eerily calm, you know.

And he mentioned some weird stuff too."