Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 342

Ludwik's phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he picked up, Ashton's irate voice came storming through. "Dude, where the heck have you been? Elaine's been drowning her sorrows at the pub, drinking herself into a stupor—you aware she's in the hospital now, stomach bleeding and all? She's been a mess, crying about you not picking up her calls. The bartender tried reaching you to no avail and had to call me instead. What kind of fiancé does that make you? I've just rushed her to the ER..."

Ludwik paused, his brows knitting together, his voice dropping to a chilly tone, "I'm on my way."

After hanging up, he glanced back at the firmly shut door of Whitney's apartment and reluctantly texted her: "Could you watch Danny for me?"

He then strode towards the elevator.

---

At the hospital.

Elaine was fuming, her hands trembling as she clutched the freshly snapped photos Lyra had obtained from a detective. The images showed Ludwik and Whitney in a close embrace on the balcony of her apartment, lost in a passionate kiss.

Each call she had made to Ludwik, pleading on behalf of the Bartels family, went unanswered. She had rushed back to their family estate, only to find he'd already left with Daniel.

Ignoring her, avoiding her!

And yet, there he was, refusing to lend a hand to the Bartels, instead choosing to cozy up to Whitney, the opportunist.

Elaine's anger reached its boiling point, tearing the photos to shreds just as Ashton's footsteps approached.

She quickly feigned a bout of weakness, vomiting pitifully.

"Elaine…" Ashton was shocked as he rushed in.

Tears in her eyes, Elaine looked up at him, despair in her voice, "Ashton, I feel so hopeless. Ludwik refuses to help the Bartels. Does he not want me anymore?"

A half-hour later, Ludwik arrived at the hospital. Ashton greeted him with a grim face, the tension palpable as Ludwik inquired about Elaine's condition.

"She’s had her stomach pumped and a minor surgery. Still under anesthesia," Ashton replied tersely.

Suggesting they find a quieter place to talk, they ended up in a nearby pub, where the bartender served them two shots of strong vodka. Ludwik downed his shot, and Ashton, fixing him with a steady gaze, sighed deeply. "What's going on with you, man?"

Ludwik remained silent, lost in thought. Ashton continued, expressing his frustration over Ludwik's apparent neglect of Elaine, who had given so much of herself to him, including a kidney donation to his mother.