Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 315

Ludwik's face went pale.

"It's impossible. All love was replaced by hatred three years ago when she caused the death of one of my sons!"

His denial was cold, his gaze frosty. He conveniently forgot the satisfaction and shiver that coursed through him when he had impulsively hugged Whitney the night before. He forgot how absurdly he had whispered that he missed her. "Stop it, it was just the drugs talking." He was merely infatuated with her body. Forgiving her? Only if his son could be brought back to life!

He downed his drink and stood up, feeling colder than ever. Parker sighed, understanding his pain. If he had lost one of his twin sons, he wouldn't be able to let it go easily either. "What about Elaine..."

"Keep it from her for now... just say I went to the hospital." Guilt briefly crossed Ludwik's face.

"You're such a jerk."

"And you're not? Engaged to Endora and yet you're still snooping around Tiana."

"I..." Parker's face turned sour. "Why would I care about that woman?"

"Hah," Ludwik scoffed, a warning in his tone. "Just don't spill anything to Elaine. Besides, it's all before the wedding, it's not cheating."

Damn, the bar for being a jerk just got raised. Yet, Parker laughed, "Ludwik, haven't you noticed how casually you treat Elaine? You're fulfilling a duty without your heart in it."

"Who says I don't care about her," Ludwik muttered coldly, more to himself than to Parker, before walking away. Parker shook his head. Love truly blinds.

---

Early in the morning, around 6:30, the hotel parking lot was deserted. Watching three kids sneak out, the bodyguard pretended not to notice and called Bryce.

"Mr. Lutz, the two boys are together now, and Ms. Valentine isn't around. Perfect timing..."

Bryce, in Banyan City, pondered for a moment before responding, "Go ahead, lure Elaine there."

After the call, Bryce got dressed, the morning light casting a soft glow on his light blue shirt, mixing warmth with a chill. Whitney still had a son with Ludwik, and though she didn't know now, that didn't mean she wouldn't replace out in the future. Cutting ties with Ludwik would be harder with two sons involved...

Bryce didn't want any complications in his pursuit of Whitney, and this was also a perfect opportunity to create trouble for Elaine. A cold, vengeful glint passed through his eyes. Ludwik had used his connections to suppress him in Emperor City three years ago. That grudge wasn't forgotten.

---

Elaine woke up exhausted, only to replace Daniel missing! The house was in chaos, all the servants searching for him. If she lost the kid, not only would her night's vigil be in vain, but how would she explain it to Ludwik?

Just then, a hotel waiter appeared at the door. "Miss, are you looking for a boy, around three or four years old?"

"Our young master, where is he?" Lyra responded immediately.

"Some staff saw him in the underground parking lot. We're worried he might wander off on his own."

Elaine's face darkened, and she rushed down to the parking lot following the waiter's directions. It wasn't even seven, the lot empty, the morning light pouring in from the street. "Hey Cherry, did you eat your fill?" a gentle child's voice floated over.

"Ugh, Sammy, you spoil her too much. Early in the morning, catching toys and feeding her strawberry ice cream. She'll get a stomachache, and her mommy will blame you!"

"Number one brother, always talking bad about me," Cherry pouted at Daniel.

Sammy ruffled the little girl's hair, smiling. "It's boring in the hotel room. Let's sneak out and have some fun. Besides, Danny, you were the most excited catching toys, so clumsy yet so thrilled, young master."

"..." Daniel's cool facade darkened. Was he really that shameless? But it was indeed fun. He glanced at the handful of toys in his arms, handing them to Cherry, "Yours, keep them."

"Can't you be a bit nicer to girls?" Sammy sighed. "Cherry's only two. Let's carry her; we'll get back faster..."

"No way, she's already heavy from all that food."

"Bad brother, now you're calling me fat!" Cherry looked wronged.

"Go chase him, make him carry you," Sammy suggested. Daniel's little legs sprinted. "Okay, Sammy, you're cunning."

"Bad brother, I'll just stick to you," Cherry's tiny legs followed suit. The three kids made a ruckus in the empty lot, chasing each other.

And Elaine, arriving to see two identical faces under the light, was stunned. The reality of two identical boys, playful and alive, was not an illusion! She looked back and forth, shocked, her expression turning stormy with dread. Panic gripped her as she retreated into the shadows.

Damn it, there was another child identical to Daniel? She had suspected something was off with Daniel, but this was beyond her wildest thoughts! Was the child they buried in the cemetery not dead? Or did Whitney have triplets that night?

Elaine's mind raced with possibilities, including the horrifying thought that Whitney's death might have been faked. And if that was the case, the child's body they found could also have been a decoy? No wonder. No wonder she felt 'Daniel' had been acting differently, suddenly becoming more cunning and challenging her authority.

That asthma medicine... it all made sense now. The two little devils had been switching places behind her back! Jack had always been the troublemaker, weaving his way into Ludwik's life, stirring up drama just to torment Elaine. She had figured it all out now. Reflecting on the recent days where she felt provoked by a child's antics, she was livid to the point of nausea.

Could it be? Two kids involved, and Ludwik was clueless about it? He must be unaware... and that spelled major trouble for her! Hiding in the shadows, she watched with a chilling gaze as the three little schemers approached... Buzz, buzz-

Her phone vibrated, sending a wave of irritation through Elaine as she answered, "Lyra, what's up?"

Lyra, sensing the icy tone, hesitated. "Elaine... I just got word from someone I sent out last night. They said... they saw Mr. Lippert leaving that witch Whitney's room. Which means, Mr. Lippert spent the entire night there..."

Boom. Elaine's grip on her phone almost faltered, her mind clouded with dark thoughts, jealousy enveloping her.

"That witch... Find out her room number!" she screamed, losing control. In a flash, it dawned on her. The brat who had tried to keep her from leaving last night must have been Whitney's sidekick.

Oh, so that's how it is, huh? Sending her minion to Ludwik's side to create chaos, and then, both mother and child scheming together, with the little devil stalling her while the witch slept with her man? And to make matters worse, these two brats seemed to have become best buddies, with Daniel, turning his back on her to side with Whitney and that little devil.

A wave of dread washed over Elaine, her palms sweating coldly as her gaze twisted in furious rage.

---

Whitney, dressed and ready with documents in hand, was just leaving her room. The suite door was ajar, and a housekeeper was about to enter to clean.

"Go to hell, witch!" Elaine, driven by fury, snatched the broom from the unsuspecting housekeeper and swung it wildly at Whitney's head.