Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174 

His kiss was gentle, and Elaine’s pale hands wrapped around Ludwik’s chest, her lips curved in a smile. 

Whitney staggered, as if a bucket of ice had been dumped over her from head to toe. 

The cookies in her hand was crumpled beyond recognition. Its distorted shape seemed to mock her naivety, to think that a bag of cookies could soften his heart. 

Believing that one night could heal and make him look back. 

But how could he kiss Elaine? Could affection really shift so swiftly? 

From the corner of her eye, Elaine caught a glimpse of Whitney standing by the doorway, pale as frost. Across the distance, Whitney couldn’t possibly hear the murmur of ‘darling‘ that slipped from Ludwik’s lips as he kissed Elaine. 

Elaine’s initially somber expression slowly gave way to enjoyment, her embrace around Ludwik’s neck growing more deliberate. Lost in his dream, Ludwik kissed her with a scent of tobacco and antiseptic on his breath, utterly intoxicating. 

Elaine blushed, mimicking Whitney’s tender whisper, “L..” 

L? Someone had whispered that in his ear last night, too, a gentle voice that comforted him, promising to heal him. But the only one person would call him ‘L‘ was… 

A shiver ran through Ludwik’s ears, and he gradually opened his eyes, sensing something was amiss with the 

voice. 

When his vision cleared, he sharply saw it was Elaine, her cheeks flushed with color. 

Ludwik’s brow furrowed, and he quickly pulled away, angered that he’d been dreaming of that other woman, longing for that ‘L‘ His face darkened with self–loathing. 

He steadied Elaine with a whisper, “Im sorry, Elaine, I thought…” 

Elaine hadn’t expected her ‘L‘ to awaken him. A tear threatened, but she quickly suppressed her voice, “It’s okay, Ludwik, you were dreaming.” 

He sank back into the bed, looking unwell. 

“Are w 

you feeling better, Ludwik?” Elaine feigned concern, checking his pulse. 

As she touched him, weary and worried, Ludwik’s gaze softened. Coming back to his senses, he found himself utterly lucid 

Did you stay 

“Much better,” Ludwik paused, then asked, “Did you stay with me all night?” 

“Who else would it be?” Elaine replied softly, her hand gently touching her right side as if to remind him of her recent surgery. “Even though I just donated a kidney and the doctors warned me not to move, I wouldn’t hesitate for your sake, Ludwik.” 

Gratitude filled Ludwik’s eyes as he replied, “Thank you, you’ve been through a lot.” 

He turned to wipe her brow with a tissue. 

Elaine closed her eyes, her heart pounding as she prepared to speak. But Ludwik’s cold question cut through, “Did anyone else visit the room?” 

Elaine opened her eyes to sp 

the icy depths of his gaze and swiftly played the understanding card, “Ludwik, are you asking about Whitney? If it would ease your mind to think she was here, then let’s say she was.” 

Her sigh sealed her deception. 

Whitney, who had been about to leave, retreated silently at the scene unfolding before her. 

But Elaine’s malicious lles rooted her to the spot. The memory of the previous night–Elaine pushing her into the room in a rush–flashed in her mind. 

And the morning call from the police station about her uncle causing trouble, his subsequent denial–it was all too suspicious. Now she realized it was a ploy to get rid of her. 

Was Elaine trying to take credit for healing Ludwik after pushing Whitney to treat him and then displacing her to claim the victory? 

Misunderstandings already marred their relationship; she couldn’t let Elaine drive another wedge between them. With pale lips, Whitney burst in, “Ludwik.” 

His face was expressionless, his cold indifference clear as he scoffed, “I wasn’t ask about her. Don’t mention that woman again. She’s dead to me.” 

Whitney froze. She was dead to him? Dead in his heart. Crushing the cookie in her hand, she approached him. As he heard her voice and looked at her with icy eyes, 

Whitney, undeterred, rolled up his sleeve to check his pulse and lifted his eyelid. 

“Get away from me!” Ludwik roared. 

Whitney explained calmly, “I’m here to check on you, I was the one who sat here all night, treating you, not Elaine. She couldn’t cure you, and after promising too much, she panicked and pushed me in to do her work. And when I did heal you, she sent me away!” 

Ludwik froze, his brows knitting together as he turned to Elaine.