Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 310

"Shush," Cherry scrunched her eyebrows in a serious manner, "Even though I have no clue what twins are, I won't tell. We're in this together!" Danny rarely relaxed his furrowed brows, replaceing her naively charming.

"Back to business, Danny," after a brief tease with Cherry, Sammy pulled out his modified laptop from his backpack.

Upon opening it, they were shocked to see the live feed from the surveillance camera in the penthouse suite upstairs!

Danny was impressed, giving his little buddy a thumbs up, "Wow, you actually managed to sneak into Elaine's room and plant a camera?"

"Hmph, if she's up to no good, I'm not just gonna sit around!"

The three kids huddled together, six wide eyes glued to the screen.

"Let's see what this wicked woman is up to," Sammy said.

But suddenly, in the monitor, Elaine approached their dad, Ludwik, and hugged his tall, imposing figure. Ludwik's ears turned red. What was going on?

Sammy and Danny exchanged puzzled looks, instinctively covering Cherry's eyes with their hands.

"Hey, hey... Why can't I watch?" Cherry struggled, her round face twisting.

Sammy frowned, "Why's this bad woman making dad look all feverish? No way, I need to check this out! Danny, we split up. You go to mom, make sure this woman doesn't get to her!"

"Got it!"

In the penthouse suite, Ludwik felt his head buzzing with heat, swiftly spreading throughout his body. He thought the heating was cranked up too high, loosening his tie to reveal a well-defined collarbone, yet still puzzled. Until Elaine approached him, her eyes deep pools of concern, "Ludwik, you're sweating. Do you need to take a shower?"

Ludwik fixed his gaze on her. His body reacted swiftly, his handsome face slightly darkening as he forcefully grabbed her wrist when she reached out.

"Elaine, what did you do to me?"

"Me? Nothing!"

Elaine looked innocent, her fingers reaching to unbutton his shirt, "Ludwik, you're burning up... Let me check on you, okay?"

"Back off."

Ludwik shivered with cold, yet the woman's body was oddly enticing. This need, he knew all too well, was just like that first time with Whitney three years ago, under the influence of a drug!

"Are you playing me?" Anger flared in Ludwik, "Even if you're desperate, this is foolish. You know I hate being manipulated!"

"I didn't..."

"Mr. Lippert, I'm sorry, it was the milk, it was all my doing!"

That's when Lyra rushed in, falling to her knees, tearfully confessing.

Ludwik paused, "You did this?"

Elaine feigned shock, "Lyra! Why would you do such a thing?"

Lyra slapped herself, crying out to Ludwik, "Mr. Lippert, I saw how miserable Elaine was, hiding in her room, crying because you've been distant. And the doctor said she has only one kidney, and it would be harder for her to conceive as she gets older! Mrs. Zane is even more anxious, they're not getting any younger and had all their hopes on you. I just thought, I could help Elaine! Punish me if you must, Elaine is innocent, it was all my fault..."

"Lyra, are you crazy? I love Ludwik too much, but I didn't want you to do this, it makes me lose my dignity..."

Elaine wept, hugging Lyra.

Ludwik watched them, frustrated yet helpless.

"Elaine, I..."

"Ludwik, if you're unwilling, I won't force you. But I'm so afraid, the later it gets, the less likely I'll be able to conceive. If I can't have a child with you, I'd rather die... How will I explain this to my parents... Ludwik, please pity me, give me a child! It's inevitable anyway..." Elaine sobbed pitifully, clinging tightly to his muscular waist, her proximity and the allure of his masculinity making her want to throw him onto the bed right then.

In their pushing and shoving, Ludwik found himself by the bed. His long legs over her, Lyra blushed and quickly left the room. Elaine, flushed and heart pounding, began to undress, her hands feverishly working on his belt.

Ludwik clenched his eyes shut, telling himself to endure. Over the years, he owed her that much. Yet, closing his eyes, he saw only Whitney's delicate beauty, her slender figure, her smile burning through his body and soul. Why was she the one he thought of?

Damn it.

Ludwik couldn't understand, but his body tensed further with the thought of her. Elaine, mistaking his arousal for her provocation, moved to kiss his enticing lips, but Ludwik, unable to bear it any longer, pushed her away. Thrown off the bed, Elaine landed on the floor, her face a mix of shock and confusion.

Ludwik's eyes reddened as he quickly got up, biting his lip in apology, "Sorry, Elaine, I just can't..."

He resisted! Buckling his belt, he swiftly left the room.

"Damn it, why can't you be a man!" Elaine pounded the bed in frustration, helpless as she watched him leave.

Ludwik rushed downstairs to book another room on the ground floor. Once inside, he immediately made a call. "Parker, get me a doctor!"

Parker, having just finished a contract, was puzzled by Ludwik's hoarse and unusually sexy voice, He gasped, "Ludwik, what happened? Don't tell me Elaine drugged you?"

"...No more questions!"

"Dang, it's true," Parker's tone changed.

Ludwik hung up, frustrated, stripping off his shirt and pants. His reflection in the mirror caught his eye, his eyes burning with an unquenchable fire.

Entering the bathroom, he let the cold water cascade over him, fighting the urge that Whitney's persistent image brought. Even after five minutes, when Parker knocked, Ludwik couldn't shake her from his mind.

When Ludwik swung the door open, the hallway was eerily silent, void of the support he desperately sought. His face darkened with frustration. "Where's the doctor?"

Parker coughed awkwardly before laying it out, "Well, I asked, and the hotel's medic said there's no cure for what you've got, unless you, well, involve a woman. If you're adamant about not going down that road, you'd need a major hospital, but given we're out in this secluded resort, the nearest one's a two-hour drive. I'm worried you might not make it, what with your condition."

Sneaking a glance at Ludwik, Parker sighed internally at the predicament.

"You mean to tell me you have zero interest in Elaine? Even your little scheme didn't work?"

Ludwik, his handsome face scowling, leaned heavily against the wall. He hadn't confessed to Parker that it wasn't just Elaine; he felt disconnected from other women, too.

"What now?" Parker continued, "Whitney is here, in the hotel."

"Shut up!" Ludwik snapped, his temper flaring like a cornered leopard.

"Uh oh, got your sights on her?" Parker teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief as if he'd stumbled upon some juicy gossip.

"I did not," Ludwik denied, leaning against the wall and lighting a cigarette, his fingers crushing it in his agitation.

He wouldn't admit it.

Yet, Parker chuckled softly, shaking his head, "Your body doesn't lie, man. Just the mention of her gets you all fired up. Let me ask you something, Ludwik?"

Ludwik's forehead glistened with sweat, his lips pressed tightly together, clearly not in the mood for Parker's banter. "Move," he demanded.

But Parker stayed put, his voice sharp with intrigue, "When you first felt the effects, who did you think of?"

Ludwik remained silent, his chiseled face darkening further.

Parker smirked, seemingly replaceing his answer. "You know, Ludwik, maybe you haven't realized it yet, but you don't hate Whitney as much as you claim. Your physical reaction is the most honest feedback. When we truly despise someone, we don't even entertain the thought."

Ludwik's mind raced, a mix of confusion and denial swirling within him before settling back into a cold indifference.

"I'm heading to the pharmacy for some over-the-counter relief," he said, his voice calm but his stride quick with irritation. Parker, leaning against the doorway, whistled nonchalantly, his gaze suddenly catching Whitney stepping out of the elevator. And her destination? Seemed she was also headed to the pharmacy outside the hotel.