Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 485

Sandy stumbled out of the bar, clearly inebriated. Wasn't she supposed to leave with Shane?

"It was a friend of yours, Parker, who contacted me. I had no idea who brought me home until I got the call and came straight here. What happened? You scared me to death!" Sandy was shocked to see the bruises on Whitney.

Helping her into the hospital room, Parker came over and explained, "You'll need new shoes and clothes. I don't really know about that stuff. This must be someone you know, right?" Whitney nodded, her nerves tensing at his appearance, "And him?"

"He's just come out of surgery, now in ICU."

At the mention of 'ICU, Whitney immediately stood up, "Is it just the anesthesia, or is there a 24-hour critical period?"

"24-hour critical period."

Her brows furrowed in worry, "I need to see him."

Sandy, still foggy from the alcohol, had no clue who they were talking about, but somehow guessed, could it be Ludwik?

"Sandy, thanks for tonight. You can head back now; I'll be okay."

Still somewhat drunk, Sandy nodded, "Whitney, I'll come and look after you tomorrow."

After sending Sandy off, Whitney quickly went to the ICU next door. Visitors weren't allowed now, so she could only look through the glass window at Ludwik lying still on the bed, his eyes shut, his eyebrows relaxed, as if lifeless.

Whitney felt a pang of regret. The knife wound was right above his heart, and he had lost so much blood. If it wasn't for her need for an antidote, out of control, she would rather die than drain his vitality at his dying moment. If he doesn't wake up, it would be her fault.

"I don't know what happened in the hour you were trapped," Parker spoke softly beside her, "But don't blame yourself. He chose to love you, risking his life."

Whitney's mind was tormented by hate, it sounded like a joke to her, "He loves me?"

Parker retorted, "Isn't it obvious? From your car accident to being kidnapped, to him rushing to save you, think about it, Whitney, every action was him caring for you."

"After moving to Emperor City, the harm he caused me for Florence, you have no idea!"

Maybe. Parker could never fully understand Whitney's perspective. Yesterday, Parker heard how Ludwik let Florence win some competition, purposely making Whitney lose. Anyone would feel trapped, despairing, heartbroken. But...

"Ms. Valentine, I've wanted to tell you something for a while but never found the right moment. Before, I was afraid of Ludwik too. But seeing him like this, I feel I must speak up, or it might harm you both." Whitney looked into the ICU, her voice cold, "What is it?"

Parker turned to face her, his brow furrowing, "Do you really think his sudden 'love' for Florence came without reason?"

Whitney felt cold inside, "He admitted it himself. After I rejected his proposal to get back together, he didn't want to waste time. He fell for Florence's youth and innocence, something I no longer possess!" Parker scoffed, "He doesn't like the weak and innocent. If he did, he would've been with Elaine years ago! If Ludwik was that shallow, why would he love you for so long? Have you thought about that?" "Mr. Doonan, he doesn't love me, you don't have to make excuses..."

"Ludwik confessed to me at the Lippert family dinner, burdened with heavy thoughts: 'How could I love another woman in this lifetime after loving you?"

Whitney was taken aback. Her eyes, cold, tried to read Parker's expression. She couldn't believe it! Because Ludwik's actions had deeply hurt her, contradicting everything Parker was saying!

"I think he's being blackmailed by Florence. Their relationship, to me, seems more like he's under some sort of duress." Parker said.

Whitney was shocked, how could it be? A man of his stature, being manipulated? But then, Danny also hinted, could Florence be holding something over him?

"What do you mean?"

"He doesn't like Florence, I can see that. But he's protective of her, which puzzles me. I've been guessing, what's really going on? For Ludwik to be threatened, it must involve someone very close to him, something beyond his power to solve. I thought, if not Sammy, then Natalie. But with Sammy gone, I wondered, what's the connection between Natalie and Florence? Tonight, he suddenly planned to take Florence to Banyan City to see Natalie. Whitney, you thought it was meeting his parents, but I don't. Because I called the hospital just now, Natalie has been in a coma for two days."

"What?" Whitney was astounded. No wonder he was absent from S-T Group the day before the contest; he must have gone back to Banyan City.

"Natalie's condition seems dire, in a coma. How could he have the heart to bring a girl home? Unless... Florence serves some purpose? That's why Ludwik was in such a hurry."

Parker's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Whitney clenched her fists, his words stirring a storm within her, pulling her thoughts in a direction filled with doubts and chaos.

"What role does Florence play in all this? It's unclear. But Ludwik being with her, it's definitely not as simple as you think. So, Whitney, he's not a jerk; he's just hiding something, perhaps even suffering. Otherwise, why would he leave Florence to save you tonight, proving how important you are to him. With the knife wound on his body, why would he risk his life if he didn't care for you? The last time I remember, it was three years ago. Even back then, he was totally smitten with you! But with Florence, aside from fussing over her whenever she sneezed or coughed, he practically did nothing. Don't you replace that strange?"

Whitney was profoundly shaken. His words from tonight kept replaying in her mind. One phrase stood out: "Tonight, I indeed had something important... But nothing is more important than you..." At the time, she didn't believe him. But now, as he lay unconscious, paying a steep price for whatever he'd done, her heart was in turmoil.

Could it be true? Was Parker right? What are you hiding? Do you really not love Florence? "Besides fussing over her health, he practically did nothing," Parker's words echoed in her head, like a revelation. She had been so blinded by jealousy, seeing only his doting attention on Florence. But now, thinking back calmly... it was true. Ludwik seemed exceptionally anxious whenever Florence was ill. The slightest cough or discomfort, and he was on edge. Why was that?