Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 775

"It's not about Bryce," Shane said, stepping in front of Whitney, an eyebrow arching playfully. "I called you up here because someone might need your help. Cough, you better come with me." He led her to a bathroom door.

Through the frosted glass, Whitney could barely make out the suppressed gasps of a man inside. The voice was deep, rough, and carried a restrained sexiness she recognized all too well. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Ludwik...?

As the realization dawned on her about his probable condition, Whitney turned on her heel, wanting to escape.

Shane's towering frame blocked her way, his eyebrow cocked casually. "Whitney, are you really going to leave a man to suffer?

I ran into him downstairs. He claimed Elodie spiked his drink, and now he's in this state.

Elodie's scouring the place for him. If she finds him, she'll definitely...well, you know," he trailed off, his expression suggesting more than words could say, as he watched Whitney's face turn a deeper shade of red. Sandy, half understanding the situation but fully aware of the implications from the sounds inside, whispered, "Whitney...is that Ludwik in there?"

"Spot on," Shane gave her a knowing look before turning back to Whitney. "What's your plan?"

"What do you mean, what's my plan!"

Whitney was irked that Shane dragged her into this, her cheeks painted with a hint of anger. "Shane, why are you stirring things up? Ludwik and I are divorced...he can just take a cold shower, why involve me? And if Elodie does show up, just block her, right?

Why do you have to drag me into this..."

Shane sighed, a look of resignation on his face. "I mean, I am a distant cousin of the Miller family. If I get involved and this blows up tonight, not only will it be awkward between me and the Millers, but it'll also be a mess to clean up. Plus, if word gets out, Ludwik's going to be the laughing stock.

The news of Elodie drugging him to get her way would spread like wildfire. And right now, the Lippert family's already in a rough spot."

Whitney wondered when Shane and Ludwik became so close that he'd speak on his behalf.

Shane fixed her with a look. "With such a grand event tonight, Elodie daring to make a move must mean she has her parents' blessing. Ronan spoils her rotten, she's their only daughter.

Do you really want Elodie to get her way, making Ludwik the Miller family's son-in-law?"

His words darkened Whitney's mood, her lips pursed in annoyance. "Who asked him to attend the party.

He was the one who assured me that he had nothing to do with Elodie.

Well, let Elodie take care of him then. I hope he successfully climbs up to be the Miller family's son-in-law."

Sandy couldn't stand her sister's denial any longer. "Sis, you're just venting. If that really happened, you'd be bothered..."

As they spoke, the bathroom door suddenly swung open with a 'snap'.

A tall figure stood in the doorway, his suit jacket removed and his shirt askew, revealing a lean waistline above neatly pressed trousers. The shirt's open collar exposed his firm muscles and a handsome collarbone.

His face, flushed with a mix of desire and discomfort, his wet hair dripping, made him look irresistibly alluring, a fire burning in his deep-set eyes aimed directly at Whitney, as if wanting to consume her. "Ludwik," he spoke in a low, husky voice, "I didn't come to the party to climb the Miller family's social ladder."

He fought against the overwhelming heat and pain, his gaze deep and somber on her. "You mentioned you'd be here with Bryce, and I wanted to see you."

Those words felt hauntingly familiar...like at Phineas's party, he had said he wanted to see her.

Whitney was momentarily lost for words.

Seeing him struggling with his desires, more ruggedly handsome and mature than ever, made her cheeks burn. Why did he always have to say he wanted to see her? Just yesterday, she was with her sons. Was it because of her that he attended Elodie's party?

Caught up in her thoughts, Ludwik suddenly closed the bathroom door with a 'whoosh'.

Leaning against the heavy glass, Whitney could see his silhouette bending, the sound of his ragged breathing seeping out, intoxicatingly sensual, leaving her and Sandy flushed and hearts racing. Sandy, claiming innocence, blushed deeply, "Sis, maybe you should just go help him."

Whitney shot her a glare, wondering if her sister truly understood what helping him would entail.

With a face full of irritation, Whitney thought to herself. She was here for a party, without even the basic tools like acupuncture needles for bloodletting.

In these situations, other than acupuncture to control the acupoints and endure it, there was only one other way to relieve...

Shane became serious, urging, "Whitney, if Elodie comes here and hears all this, she'll definitely find him. Then she'll insist on being the antidote.

A man in his state can't control himself; if something happens, with all the guests tonight, the Miller family will force Ludwik to take responsibility. If he ends up marrying Elodie, it's a done deal."

Sandy whispered, "Sis, you wouldn't want Elodie to be Danny's stepmom, right?"

Whitney's face turned ashen. She indeed didn't want that, but helping Ludwik...

And with Bryce in the party, how could she betray her marriage again?

Her breathing became labored, her mind tangled in knots.

"Knock, knock!"—

Suddenly, there were knocks on the door, followed by Elodie's voice, "Xiu Yuan, are you there? Have you seen Mr. Lippert?" Whitney's expression shifted.

Shane frowned, making a split-second decision. He pushed open the bathroom door and, catching Whitney off-guard, shoved her inside.

"Hey..." Whitney protested, but the door had already mercilessly locked her in.

Sandy stood there, dumbstruck, a hint of disapproval in her voice, "Mr. Nelson, doing this to Whitney...isn't right, is it?"

Shane raised an eyebrow, a touch of resignation in his gaze. "If she really doesn't want to, she'll come out on her own after we've dealt with Elodie. Let's just lay low for now."

Sandy was speechless, but there wasn't much she could do.

However, after Whitney entered the bathroom, the sounds of Ludwik's heavy breathing seemed to quiet down a bit.

These two... Ludwik wouldn't possibly take his sister down right there and then, would he?

The thought made Sandy blush a deep crimson.

Meanwhile, Shane had already strode over and opened the door. Seeing this, Sandy quickly moved away from the bathroom door to avoid drawing Elodie's suspicion and sat down on the couch, clutching her clothes. As soon as the door opened, Elodie barged in, her eyes scanning the room, only to find Sandy, the lone girl present.

She shot Shane a peculiar look. "Shane, haven't you seen Ludwik around?"

"Nope!" Shane replied, feigning confusion.

Elodie continued to survey every corner of the room, then with a meaningful tone, she said, "Then why did you close the door? Unless you and your 'pretend girlfriend' here were up to something scandalous." Hearing this, Sandy was beside herself with anger.