Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 286

Stepping into the night, Elaine made her way to the private room of the bar. Delphine was already there. The reason for choosing this place was to lie to Ludwik, telling him she had plans with friends, a perfect cover for her tracks.

As soon as she sat down, Delphine frowned, "Elaine, you're moving too slow. You've been at this for three years and still haven't managed to tie down Ludwik, and now Whitney has made a comeback. That little witch, I can't believe she's still alive and kicking." Thinking about Whitney's smug face over the past few days made Elaine's blood boil. "How was I supposed to know? I thought I had her burned to ashes three years ago."

"I found out it was a fake body Orion used, a sleight of hand. You were careless not to verify the DNA."

Feeling her mother's dissatisfaction, Elaine clenched her fists. Delphine passed her a small vial filled with powder, lowering her voice, "The strongest kind. Just a touch, and he'll have to be with a woman that very night. Make sure you get pregnant with Ludwik's child as soon as possible. That way, he'll have no choice but to marry you, and Daniel and Whitney, those two pests, won't be a problem anymore."

Elaine knew what she had to do. Gripping the vial tightly, she nodded, "Don't worry, Mom. If I could make Ludwik despise Whitney to the core for losing a child three years ago, I can make him loathe her even more now."

"Speaking of which, isn't Keegan Tennyson about to be executed? Before Whitney gets wind of it, have Dad expedite the process. If necessary, take care of him in prison."

"It's probably too late for that." Delphine's expression darkened, "Suddenly, some civil rights lawyer has taken up Keegan's appeal, drawing unwanted attention to his case. It's now harder to deal with Keegan quietly. My husband checked the lawyer's background, and it turns out Bryce hired him. But it can't be a coincidence that Whitney returns now, especially since she and Bryce are close."

Elaine felt a chill, "You mean, Whitney is behind Keegan's legal defense, brought in by Bryce?" That witch, silently pulling strings the moment she returned. And before they could even notice. Thinking about her ruthless moves against Skye Gem Ltd., Elaine realized she couldn't underestimate this witch any longer.

"It's not a big deal. Use Ludwik's influence to isolate the prison. Whitney won't be able to see Keegan, and with his lips sealed, there's no chance of an appeal."

Delphine took a drag of her cigarette, exuding an air of nonchalance. Elaine leaned back, a cold smirk on her face, "The incident a month ago has been washed clean of any evidence. I've made sure Jaxon took care of Lyle's family. Dead men tell no tales." Delphine nodded and stood up, "Elaine, I should go. Don't linger here; go home and play the devoted wife and mother. That's how you'll win his heart."

Elaine nodded, though her expression was tight. Play the devoted wife and mother? Hadn't she been doing that for three years, and yet Ludwik remained as cold and unapproachable as a stone? Feeling increasingly frustrated, Elaine, who used to be the life of lavish parties, felt stifled by her current life, constantly overshadowed by her troubles.

With these thoughts, Elaine coldly opened a bottle of wine and poured herself a drink, taking a large gulp. The familiar burn of alcohol brought a rare sparkle to her eyes, while the pulsating lights of the bar's dance floor tempted her restless heart. It was still early, and going back to Ludwik meant another night of him retreating to his study, refusing to share their bedroom. Thinking about this made Elaine even more miserable. When she was upset, she often called Ashton Fuller. After all, he was her loyal lapdog, hanging on her every word for years.

With a flicker of satisfaction, Elaine made the call. In less than half an hour, the tall figure of Ashton pushed through the bar crowd, standing out with his military bearing and rugged charm, a stark contrast to Ludwik's cold beauty. Elaine, a bit tipsy, flirtatiously eyed Ashton's sturdy form. ""Hey, Ashton," she cooed.

"What are you doing out drinking like this, Elaine? And to get this drunk... Where's Ludwik?"

Ashton approached, and Elaine, with a deliberate sway, leaned into his arms. "Ludwik's at home, buried in his work as usual. I was feeling down and thought, who better to brighten my mood than you?"

Elaine's words carried a mix of sweetness and sorrow. "Ludwik really doesn't know how to treat a lady. You used to be so high-maintenance, and now you're stuck taking care of his kid, making all these sacrifices," Ashton said, a touch of sympathy in his voice. "Ashton, you always understand me. After three years as a housewife, I feel like I'm losing my friends, and the only person I can trust and like is you."

Ashton felt a tug at his heart, looking at her with a soft smile, "You're not just a housewife. To me, you've always been beautiful and kind. You deserve happiness, Elaine."

"Do I? But who knows my suffering? I haven't even shared a bed with Ludwik..."

Elaine whispered into Ashton's ear, her voice laced with drunken melancholy. Ashton froze, disbelief in his gaze, "How is that possible? Ludwik doesn't seem like he's incapable."

"He is, Ashton. There are pains I can't speak of. Even though he claims to love me, I can feel his heart wandering the moment Whitney returned. It hurts so much. Can you comfort me?"

As tears started to form, Elaine leaned into Ashton, her body trembling slightly. Ashton's resolve melted, his hand gently patting her back, "Stop crying, Elaine. It pains me to see you like this."

"Do you really care? Then, could you... could you soothe my heartache? It's so quiet at night, and the pain is unbearable."

Elaine looked up at him, her hands subtly lowering her neckline to reveal a hint of her delicate curves, a silent invitation. If she could spend the night with Ashton, even just to spite Valerie Bartels, that little vixen, why not? Secondly, Ashton was always her knight in shining armor, never one to throw her under the bus when things went south.

Elaine was playing her cards right, figuring the alcohol would be a perfect excuse for what she was about to do. Leaning in with a sly smile, her lips painted red, she whispered, "Ashton, I think I'm drunk. I've never experienced a kiss before..."

She was hinting at her purity, a quality she knew would make any man's heart race. Ashton's Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze fixed on those approaching lips. Despite his deep affection for her, as their lips were about to meet, he froze. Damn it, Ashton quickly grabbed her hand, shut his eyes tight, his mind racing to Valerie.

The ringtone of his phone sounded like a lifeline, saving him from the moment. Ashton frowned as he fetched his phone, carefully pushing Elaine aside to stand up and answer. "The boss, the lady of the house suddenly fainted with a stomach bleed." "Valerie?" Ashton's concern was evident in his voice. "What happened to her, is she at the hospital?"

Without giving Elaine another thought, he grabbed his coat, ready to leave. The mention of Valerie's name and Ashton's instinctive rush of concern made Elaine's eyes narrow in the shadows. After hanging up, as Elaine tried to hold onto him in her tipsy state, Ashton dodged with a mix of embarrassment and avoidance, draping his coat over her shoulders, gently saying, "Elaine, something urgent came up, I'll have my bodyguard take you home."

With that, he hurried off as if escaping. Elaine clenched her wine glass, the next moment, frustration took over, and she hurled it to the ground. It had to be Valerie who called, that wench. Just like Whitney, always ruining her plans. Damn it, why were all men so useless? She had been ready to let loose for the night, but now caught in limbo, she doubted her own allure. Once the belle of Emperor City, men used to fawn over her.

When had she become this frustrated? All for the sake of trapping a Ludwik. Elaine bit her lip and staggered to her feet, leaning on the wall as she turned the corner.

Suddenly, someone approached from behind, a man's arm coiling around her neck, his fingers wandering down suggestively, his breath moist against her ear, "Don't move, Elaine."

Elaine jumped, startled, "Who are you?"

In the next instant, it dawned on her that this person knew her name! Shock and suspicion flashed through her as she turned to look-