Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 337

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"What? Danny's coming over?"

Whitney was halfway through her meal when her phone began to buzz relentlessly on the patio table. Reluctantly, she picked it up, only to be hit with the surprising news. "Not in the mood?"

The man's voice was deep, wrapped in a frosty tone. She dared to ignore his calls twice.

Was he really that unwelcome? Or was she just too happy sharing a meal with Bryce?

Hearing about this Bryce guy twice in one day was getting on Ludwik's nerves. Fidgeting with his tie, he muttered, "Fine, forget it then."

"Wait! Where's the kid?"

"In my car."

Whitney's face fell, her tone laced with irritation, "What, you're coming too?"

The vein on Ludwik's forehead throbbed at her tone, "You think I want to come? Do you expect a three-year-old to drive himself?"

"If it weren't for his tantrum, begging me to bring him to you, I wouldn't have bothered. You've got ten minutes to meet us outside your place."

Click. The line went dead.

Whitney, listening to the dial tone, was seething. She wanted to throttle Ludwik.

Meanwhile, in the car, Danny sat in the backseat, silently judging his dad for blatantly lying. He hadn't thrown a fit at all. His dad was shamelessly using him to see his ex-wife. Seriously...

-

Danny grimaced, not even wanting to talk to his dad, and instead texted Sammy.

Back at Whitney's, panic set in.

Damn Ludwik was coming, and she had to hide Sammy.

Luckily, the dinner with Bryce had just ended. Bryce dropped them off at the apartment complex.

Whitney asked him to stop at the entrance, turning to him apologetically, "Sorry, Bryce, I can't invite you up. Danny's coming over, and Ludwik's bringing him. I need to prepare." Bryce clenched the steering wheel, a flash of annoyance in his eyes.

The situation he dreaded was unfolding.

Yet, he managed a calm smile. "Of course, seeing the kid is important. Just call me if Ludwik gives you any trouble."

Whitney nodded gratefully and got out.

She hurried to the apartment, thankful she had bought the unit next door to hide Uncle Joe and Yael.

Whitney pulled Sammy aside, hiding him.

Her phone rang incessantly with Ludwik's number.

Annoyed, she knew they had arrived. She rushed downstairs, taking a deep breath, somewhat excited to see Danny.

But as soon as she reached the lobby, she saw them waiting by the flowerbeds.

Ludwik, nearly six-foot-three, towered over Danny, creating a comical contrast. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, his silhouette was striking under the dim lights, the shirt hugging his back muscles, the collarbone peeking out, exuding a mature charm. Indeed, such a man would stand out anywhere.

But when he turned, his cold face and the sharp gaze he fixed on her for a few seconds spoke volumes of his displeasure, "Took you long enough."

Who does he think he is, royalty?

Whitney rolled her eyes internally, ignoring him and instead addressed Danny warmly, "Sweetheart, wanna go up with mommy?" "Sure, mommy! I got all wet waiting."

Danny abandoned any pretense of coolness, hugging Whitney's leg eagerly.

Watching Whitney ignore him in favor of their son, Ludwik's handsome face darkened, "Daniel, did I say you could go up?"

Daniel looked back at his dad with disdain. Who was he to talk, driving like a madman on the way here?

He tugged at Whitney's clothes, "Daddy got wet too..."

"Oh, a shame he didn't get soaked," Whitney quipped with a smirk, "I don't have any men's clothes in my place, no help there."

Ludwik, stung by her first comment but oddly pleased by the second, narrowed his eyes and moved closer, lifting Danny in his arms. To Whitney's protest, he coolly stated, "Unless you want your son to catch a cold?" Whitney, frustrated yet concerned for Danny, reluctantly pressed the elevator button for the 8th floor.

Upon entering the apartment, she hadn't even had a chance to react before Ludwik made himself at home, heading to the bathroom with Danny and commanding her, "Get two towels."

Whitney fumed, hands on hips, "Ludwik, what's the big show? I can bathe Danny just fine, thank you. Please, make yourself scarce."

Ludwik chuckled, his tall frame inching closer, then dropped a bomb, "As if you know how. Have you ever done it in these past three years?"

"I don't know how?" Whitney gritted her teeth, recalling the hard times she had raising Sammy while Ludwik probably had a fleet of nannies for Danny.

"You know how," Ludwik conceded, as if wanting to avoid further argument. Yet, he provocatively added, "You have the... equipment."

For a moment, Whitney was stunned by his deep, resonant voice.

But she got the innuendo, her ears burning with embarrassment.

Glaring at him, she spat, "Mr. Lippert, I'd advise against discussing such matters in front of our child."

"Then stop harping on it," he countered, his gaze threatening.

With a huff, Whitney stormed off to grab the towels.

Returning, she heard Danny innocently ask, "Daddy, what's 'inappropriate"?"

Through the crack of the bathroom door, Whitney and Ludwik locked eyes, both caught in an awkward moment.

Ludwik answered gravely, "Adult stuff, kiddo. None of your business."

Danny, tired of being brushed off with the same line, huffed, "What could you possibly have to discuss with mommy? She doesn't even want to talk to you!" Ludwik...

Whitney couldn't help but smile as she closed the door.

A few moments later, Ludwik called out, "Bring him out."

After Whitney fetched Danny, she realized she forgot his shirt and went back to the bathroom. The steam obscured her vision as she groped for the shirt but touched something entirely different - a patch of warm, firm skin. "Ah..." Whitney gasped, retracting her hand instantly.

The embarrassment was palpable. She knew exactly what she had accidentally touched.

Out of the blue, Whitney's delicate hand hadn't even retracted when the man's firm grasp caught it. Ludwik pinned her by the waist, spinning her around and pressing her against the wall.

In that moment, his breathing seemed to deepen, a rough edge tinting his voice.

His breaths, now ragged, hovered above her head, "What were you fumbling for?"

As the steam cleared, Whitney's gaze landed on a sight she hadn't prepared for - Ludwik, fresh out of the shower, his muscles glistening, not a stitch of clothing on him.

Dripping wet, his toned abs were in full display, not even a towel in sight.

Her mind went blank, a rush of heat flooding her cheeks, "Ludwik, are you insane? Taking a shower in my place?"

"Caught in the rain and I can't shower? I was minding my own business, and here you are, poking around. Do you even realize what you were touching?"