Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 362

Ludwik, with deep-seated aversion, pushed her away forcefully. His face was a mask of disgust, a reaction anyone would have if publicly humiliated on their wedding day. His expression was as cold as ice, his eyes calm, but his lips curled into a sneer as he said to the woman, "No wonder I feel sick every time I touch you."

Elaine's face went deathly pale, as if she had just fallen from heaven into hell. She stammered in her defense, "I am clean, Ludwik, I haven't..."

"The video isn't fake, and it isn't doctored," Ludwik, who worked in tech, could tell at a glance.

The murmurs from the crowd reminded him to check the date.

And sure enough, it was from yesterday.

The woman had always claimed she was pure, doing everything for him, promising to remain chaste after marriage.

He had even felt guilty yesterday because of his fling with Whitney...

But it seemed they were both guilty.

It turns out Elaine wasn't the pure and innocent victim she portrayed herself to be, not the humble, pitiable figure that tugged at one's heartstrings. The woman in the video was a stranger to him, crass and vulgar.

A flicker of revulsion passed through Ludwik's eyes. How much more was this woman hiding from him? Who was she, really?

At this moment, he was filled with deep doubt.

He could have forgiven her infidelity, truth be told, he didn't care much about that.

But what he couldn't tolerate was being played for a fool, the deceit of pretending to be virtuous and innocent.

"Ludwik, let me explain this after, can we just get through the wedding first?" Elaine pleaded, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Just then, several police officers burst in. They quickly made their way to the stage, flashing their badges, and asked sternly, "Who here is Elaine?"

Elaine's face turned ashen.

Someone pointed her out.

The officer handcuffed her, saying, "Elaine, based on a kidnapper's testimony and an anonymous tip, you are a suspect in a child abduction case from a month ago. You'll need to come with us for questioning!" Elaine panicked. Hadn't the case involving Danny been resolved?

Damn it, had Jarvis not dealt with that maimed kidnapper?

She frantically looked around, denying any involvement, "I was a victim, too. Are you accusing me without evidence? Ludwik, you know I was kidnapped along with Danny..."

Ludwik frowned at the officers, "Do you have any evidence?"

"We received an anonymous tip, pointing to some incriminating evidence. Mr. Lippert, this concerns your son, I suggest you take this seriously."

"Ludwik, they can't just take me away, they're slandering me!"

"Yeah, why do you want to take Elaine without showing any evidence?" Ashton stepped forward, shocked by the video but still defending her.

The officer, growing impatient, reiterated, "The abduction case leads back to Jar Rail Corporation, and Elaine has known ties to a high-ranking official there. Mr. Lippert, did you really look at the video of your fiancée?" Ludwik's gaze snapped back to the large screen.

The man in the video with Elaine wasn't clearly visible. But having seen Jarvis's photos, Ludwik didn't replace it hard to make the connection.

Elaine was having an affair with Jarvis...

When the police caught the kidnapper, he had mentioned the Jar Rail Corporation.

Ludwik had suspected Jarvis's involvement from the start.

His icy gaze now fixed on Elaine.

"I didn't, Ludwik, remember how I was injured trying to protect Danny, covered in bruises..."

"Elaine, please come with us for questioning."

"I..." Elaine clenched her teeth in frustration, grasping Ludwik's hand, "Ludwik, I've waited so long to marry you, I can't let our wedding be ruined. Let's just finish the ceremony, please, I love you..."

"There's no need," Jason's authoritative voice cut through.

He frowned at Elaine, his dislike evident, "Elaine should go with the police to make her statement. If she's innocent, she can be released, and the wedding can be rescheduled. But if she's involved in any wrongdoing, the Lippert family will not accept her." "Jason!" Elaine looked at him, fear in her eyes.

Zane hurried over to plead with Jason, "Jason, the Bartels family has always supported you and Ludwik. Elaine loves Ludwik, and you've supported them. Please, give her a chance..."

Jason was unyielding, "Ludwik, the wedding can be rescheduled."

"Ludwik, I'm innocent, just give us a few minutes to finish the ceremony..."

Ludwik massaged his temples, weary, "Elaine, cooperate with the police. I'll get you a lawyer. Today's wedding is already ruined by your video. We'll talk later."

"Ludwik, I can explain the video, I had my reasons!" Elaine cried as the police took her away, pleading, "Ludwik, wait for me..."

What was supposed to be a joyous wedding turned into a scandal, leaving Ludwik cold and isolated, his gaze meeting Whitney's across the room.

He stiffened, seeing mockery in her eyes: This was the pure and kind woman you wanted to marry.

Whitney's accusations against Elaine had seemed like slander before.

But now, Ludwik wasn't so sure. Maybe, just maybe, Whitney was right...

Today, Elaine had shown him many sides of her, perhaps these were the real Elaine...

For some inexplicable reason, the video of Elaine's affair, while infuriating him, also brought an unanticipated sense of relief.

Pressing his fingertips against his temples, the man loosened the fiery Windsor knot at his neck, his features swiftly regaining composure. With a fierce determination, he strode back onto the stage, his lips pressed into a thin line as he announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the inconvenience, but today's wedding must be unfortunately postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. The reception, however, remains prepared, and you are all welcome to stay and dine." Zane and Delphine's faces turned a shade of green upon hearing Ludwik call off the wedding right from the stage.

The crowd was abuzz with shock.

Keegan, with a smirk, glanced around before asking Whitney, "Shall we get going, Whitney?"

"The show's over, and the food's nothing to write home about anyway," Whitney replied, a slight smile playing on her lips as she nudged her uncle forward, stepping away from the commotion.

Just then, they encountered Zane and Delphine, faces taut with anger, attempting to confront Ludwik on stage.

Whitney stopped, crossed her arms, and with a slight tilt of her head, remarked, "Mr. Bartels, your daughter has really outdone herself. Congratulations are in order, though belated."

Caught off guard, Zane and Delphine froze for a moment before their realization dawned upon them. Glancing at the large screen and then fixating on Whitney, Delphine exclaimed, "It was you!"

"You little snake..." Delphine's voice was laced with venom.

"Mr. Lippert, with your wedding called off and considering the upcoming release of Skyfaith's latest Sharp-F Chip at 2 PM today in the hotel's conference hall, will it proceed as planned?" a swarm of reporters surrounded Ludwik on the stage.

The scandal of the century involving the bride's video and the subsequent police involvement had already made headlines, and the media was eager not to miss the next big story.

Ludwik, surrounded by a sea of reporters, maintained his composure, his handsome face indifferent as if unbothered by the wedding's cancellation.

"The launch will proceed as scheduled. Everyone is welcome to attend the chip release conference," he stated, his deep voice resonating through the microphones and filling the air.

Under an unassuming parasol nearby stood two figures, two women. The younger one, delicate and frail, was dressed modestly yet elegantly, her face hidden beneath a lace sunhat, revealing only her vulnerable, pale jawline.

The older woman, pointing towards the proud figure of Ludwik on stage, said, "Ms. Sheldon, that's Ludwik..."

"He's the Lippert family's heir, destined to hold sway over Emperor City. Mrs. Sheldon has considered arranging a marriage for you, though you've just returned from abroad today..."

The young woman gently covered her mouth as she coughed, her delicate jaw lifting to glance towards the stage.

The man there stood tall and commanding, his features unlike any she had seen before-truly unmatched in grace.

As rumors had suggested, he was without parallel...

The young woman slowly lowered her gaze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, though she remained silent.

Her eyes then drifted to another part of the wedding venue as she softly inquired, "I heard my father has been searching for his illegitimate daughter. I decided to stop by after landing..." "That's her." The woman's voice turned cold as she pointed in a certain direction.

The young woman's gaze followed, settling on a striking woman in azure, bearing a slight resemblance to herself.

Her?