Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 758

Bryce stared at the foggy silhouette through the frosted glass, his Adam's apple feeling as if it had been clawed by a cat. His desire for Whitney was unrelenting, an itch he couldn't scratch.

Especially since she wasn't playing by the rules. Despite being married to him, she continued to meet with Ludwik... Even though she was right there in front of him every day, Bryce felt her slipping through his fingers more and more. Particularly today, she had once again shrugged off Hudson's pressure.

That irked Bryce to no end.

A restless urge to conquer her ignited within him!

It wasn't as if he lacked female company. He could always seek satisfaction from Audrey Perlman and Florence, especially Florence, with her Whitney-like visage, who catered to his every whim with Valerie-like devotion, never running out of ways to please. But... none of them were Whitney.

No matter how similar, they were just a facade.

Whitney's beauty was one in a million; her physique, hidden beneath her clothes, was stunningly curvaceous. Her deep, almond-shaped eyes always seemed to hold a thin layer of moisture, making anyone who looked into them feel a stirring in their heart... and she was completely oblivious to it.

Bryce had long harbored the desire to make her cry out in his arms.

If it weren't for that night in the car, when a man with a hood over his head had pointed a gun at him....

Bryce menacingly walked to the window, lighting a cigarette.

-

Half an hour later, Whitney emerged from the bathroom after her shower, only to be startled by Bryce sitting at the edge of her bed.

She instinctively covered herself with the bath towel.

Why hadn't he gone back to his study?

She had been too tired earlier and had gone straight to the bathroom for a shower, forgetting to close the bedroom door since she usually had privacy. She hadn't expected him...

As Bryce's dark eyes caught sight of the curves she tried to shield with her arms, the breathtaking beauty of the woman before him, her cheeks flushed pink against her pale skin, contrasted by her damp, black hair draped over her neck and collarbones in a tantalizing manner, he felt a surge of desire.

Compared to Audrey and Florence, Whitney's beauty was so natural.

Just stepping out of the shower was enough to bewitch.

Audrey and Florence always met him with full makeup, and he had no desire to kiss their lipstick-coated lips.

"Whitney, you're done showering..."

Bryce's voice had a teasing lilt, his gaze sparked with a flicker of desire.

"Do you need something, Bryce?"

Whitney frowned, clearly uncomfortable under his intense stare.

"Ha," Bryce chuckled, a refined smile playing on his lips as he stood, his tall figure imposing. "We're husband and wife, can't I come to see you without a reason?"

His eyes lingered on her damp skin, his throat working as his gaze turned even hotter.

He couldn't stand it anymore!

Why should he endure seeing but not touching? The more he refrained from making a move, the more she drifted towards Ludwik.

Only by claiming her completely could she truly belong to him and settle down.

Even if those hooded men knew his secret, what of it? He had been investigating, but to no avail. Perhaps... it was just someone's idea of a scare.

Moreover, it was unlikely they could have bugged his house.

If he could just sleep with her, get her pregnant with his child quickly, everything would be set in stone, and her attitude towards him would naturally change. Whitney felt his gaze growing more intense.

Fear crept into her heart as she took a step back, stammering, "Of course, you can come to talk. But, I was about to go to bed, it's late. Whatever it is, can we talk tomorrow?" "I'm not here for anything specific, just wanted to see you, Whitney."

Bryce moved closer, disregarding her attempts to retreat, and took her hands in his, his touch firm yet tender, "You're right, it's late. Why don't we go to bed together?

Whitney, I've thought it over. We're husband and wife; there's no reason for us to sleep separately. It's not good for our relationship."

"But... didn't you say you'd give me time?"

Bryce pulled her into his arms, lifting her chin with a gentle smile, "How much longer do you need? Didn't you say you were ready that day?

Wife, if you're ready, what's stopping you now?"

Whitney was at a loss for words.

Her heart felt no desire, only a growing sense of unease.

She wanted to break free from his embrace, but knew she couldn't...

In that moment of hesitation, Bryce carried her to the bed, gently laying her down, "Whitney, there's no better time than now. The more we hesitate, the more distant we become. Let's not wait any longer." Whitney's mind went blank, her body tensing up!

She had told herself this was normal, that she had made up her mind that night.

But making up her mind then didn't mean she could do it now.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized she couldn't bridge the gap between herself and Bryce.

Clutching the sheets as a barrier against his warmth, she scrambled for excuses, "Bryce, wait, my hair's still wet."

"No need to dry it, I love how you look right now."

Bryce knelt by the bed, leaning in to touch her damp hair.

For some reason, Whitney found his words slick.

Despite his gentlemanly demeanor, such sweet nothings were normal between lovers.

But if Ludwik had said the same, she wouldn't have felt this repulsion; instead, she might have been annoyed yet flattered.

With Bryce, it just felt wrong.

Was it habit? Had she grown accustomed to Ludwik's shameless advances, to his touch?

As Bryce's hand slipped under the sheets, caressing her arm, moving up and down, Whitney couldn't bear it any longer. She couldn't control her revulsion, her mind flooding with memories of Ludwik's hands on her. The more she thought about it, the more repulsed she became by Bryce.

"Bryce, I'm sorry, I'm just so tired. Maybe some other time..."

She began to push him away.

But this time, Bryce didn't back off like a gentleman. Instead, he pressed closer, desperate to kiss her.

Whitney struggled to evade him, his grip on her waist painfully tight.

"Bryce, Bryce... let me go."

"Whitney, it's time you accepted me," Bryce's eyes darkened with a hint of madness.

Whitney caught a glimpse of that unfamiliar look in his eyes and was instantly afraid.

No matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't get him off her. Panicking and out of options, she grabbed the decorative porcelain vase from the bedside table and smashed it against the back of his head. "You!" Bryce's head snapped up, his warm eyes suddenly flashing a chilling menace as he stared at her.

That look terrified Whitney. She had no doubts that in the next moment, he could turn into an abuser. She couldn't understand how Bryce, normally so gentle, could suddenly show such a horrifying expression? Yes, horrifying...