Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Her words tugged at my heartstrings, leaving me deeply distressed.novelbin

Ludwik's lips twisted into a slight, chilly smirk. "So, the soft approach isn't working, huh? Time to play it hard?

Can someone terminally ill even think about having kids, let alone have the capacity to do so?

Imagine, two years from now, you're still alive, and voila, you've got yourself a great-grandchild for the Lippert family."

Whitney had mentioned that perhaps Florence was feigning her illness.

And here I was, pitying her because she claimed to be terminal, a gesture of humanity on my part!

But what if her terminal illness was a lie?

The ambition she's showing now is far from what one would expect from someone on their deathbed. Perhaps, as Whitney suggested, this was all a scheme, and Florence's ultimate goal was me all along.

Florence, her eyes brimming with tears, met Ludwik's stern gaze. "It's true, my condition isn't ideal for pregnancy. But I'm willing to take the risk for you, as my last wish before I die. How could you think there's an ulterior motive? I just wanted to leave a child behind to make my parents, and my grandma happy..."

Ludwik gazed at her, his eyes sharp as daggers. "Whitney and I have two children, enough to keep your parents and grandma happy. Besides Danny, there's Sammy. He was kidnapped. Florence, who do you think took my child?"

His accusation was like a noose around Florence's neck!

She trembled inwardly, knowing this question was inevitable.

But she was confident, like a player who had already mastered the game. They wouldn't find anything, except for that handkerchief. And 'the person' was safely in her grip, of course referring to him and Whitney.

Florence looked bewildered, tears in her eyes. "Ludwik, how could I possibly know who kidnapped him? I wasn't even aware that you and your sister had children until today. That scene at the Sheldon family's place caught me off guard as well. Thankfully, my parents know I'm innocent."

She denied any involvement with a face that didn't show a trace of guilt.

Ludwik's fingertips were cold as he pondered.

He needed to understand this woman better.

Florence, with her eyes lowered, finally spoke, "Ludwik, about my condition, have you made your decision? Agree to it, and I'll donate my marrow in a month, allowing Natalie to undergo surgery. If you refuse... well, I'm sorry, but I'll have no choice but to withdraw my offer. Donating my marrow poses a risk to my life, and without a fair exchange, I can retract my promise. And you can't force me to donate."

Her words were laden with threats.

She was exploiting Ludwik's vulnerability, knowing full well he had no room to negotiate unless he was willing to risk Natalie's life.

Ludwik, however, couldn't possibly do that.

He tilted his head slightly, lighting a cigarette, the smoke swirling around his more ferocious eyes as he smirked at her audacity. Deep down, he was plotting, invisible to others.

Florence didn't know what he was thinking.

With thin lips parting, he simply said, "Okay."

His quick agreement took Florence by surprise, her eyes wide with disbelief and a surge of joy. "Ludwik, you really agree? To engage with me, to have a child with me?"

Excitement sparkled in her eyes.

Just thinking about securing her place as Ludwik's spouse and becoming the first lady of Harmonia Country made Florence's heart flutter. Ludwik looked at her coldly. "I only need a healthy spine. Weigh your options carefully this month. Without the marrow, there's no child." He had her cornered, and Florence knew it.

Her smile hadn't faded when Ludwik's expression turned to disgust. "You can leave now."

He couldn't bear another moment with her.

Myra watched Florence silently.

The girl straightened her neck, her fingers clenched, her gaze filled with a feigned smile. "Ludwik, about announcing our engagement..." "Isn't there a one-week deadline?"

"That you remember is good."

Florence left with a smile.

As the door closed, Felix looked at Ludwik, his mind swirling with thoughts but still shocked. "Mr. Lippert, how could you agree to Florence's blatant extortion? You're actually going to have a child with her?"

Ludwik sat by the window, the cold moonlight casting shadows on his inscrutable face.

He crushed his cigarette, scoffing, "Just agree for now. She wants a child, but who says it has to be mine? Once the donation is done, accidents happen."

The ruthlessness in his gaze reassured Felix. Florence thought she could manipulate Ludwik, but she had another thing coming.

Relieved, Felix heard the doorbell ring.

Ludwik, frowning due to the pain from his wound, said, "Answer it."

It was Parker. "Ludwik, you wanted to see me?"

"Take a seat."

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Parker sat, his brow furrowed. "I just saw Florence leaving the hotel, smiling. You've suspected her of kidnapping Sammy, yet you didn't confront her about his whereabouts, break up with her, or force her to return Sammy?"

Parker couldn't understand Ludwik's actions.

Ludwik shook his head gravely. "Not yet."

"Why?"

"Parker, you've always wanted to know my reasons, right?" Ludwik knew Parker must have talked to Whitney. Otherwise, Whitney wouldn't have shifted from despising him to doubting him,

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wondering if he had his reasons.

Parker listened as Ludwik revealed, "My mother has leukemia. Her bone marrow no longer produces blood cells, and Florence is the only match worldwide."

Parker's gaze, magnified behind his glasses, was intense.

He had an inkling, sure, that Natalie was unwell.

But the connection with Florence-it was a shock!

Their eyes met, and Ludwik, closing his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose. "When I first found Florence, she wanted us to be an item. I turned her down.

Back then, all I wanted was to get back with Whitney.

But after she rejected me, and my mom fell ill, I was cornered.

Dr. Ford mentioned that my mom needed Florence's blood transfusion once a month. So, I had to ensure Florence was in top health. My mistake I never realized Florence had ulterior motives, constantly clashing with Whitney. I was forced to protect her.

Inadvertently, I kept hurting Whitney.

Truth is, I wasn't really looking out for Florence. I was..."

"You were just concerned about Natalie, about her life," Parker concluded heavily.

So, that was it. All the misunderstandings were born of necessity.

"Natalie's life is literally in Florence's hands, and she's pulling your strings."

"I need one more month. After I secure Florence's spinal fluid for my mom's transplant, I'll handle her personally!

Within this month, I must retrieve Sammy from her grasp. She's no simpleton.

You said the Sheldon Mansion's basement had no trace of Sammy's fingerprints, and those belonging to a Mr. Lewis were destroyed in advance by

her.

These facts alone show how cautious she is. Currently, there's no evidence to pin the kidnapping on her.

When confronted, she outright denied it, which shows her confidence.

She's a master of concealment. For now, I can't touch her. So, I'll just have to play her game." Ludwik's voice carried a chilling determination.

Parker nodded. "For at least this month, you can't lay a finger on Florence. She's practically Natalie's lifeline.

I also get why you haven't mentioned Sammy to Whitney, Ludwik. No one's under more pressure than you.

Why didn't you tell me sooner? And about Natalie's leukemia, why haven't you been upfront with Whitney?!" But Ludwik just bit his lip, offering a bitter smile.