Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 527

Tiana guiltily snapped her phone shut, her cheeks burning as she shook her head. "No, no! Let's order another bottle of wine, shall we?"

Whitney, with a teasing glance, declined. "My stomach's not feeling great, no more wine for me. Let's just enjoy the view after dinner and head back."

Sandy, feeling the effects of the alcohol, suggested, "Let's just focus on the food."

It was past nine.

Ludwik was working late at the office when Parker walked in with takeout. "Your ex just had her fancy dinner and is heading home. She didn't drink. Here, have your takeout." Ludwik lifted his gaze, his actions elegant despite the simple meal. "What did they have?"

"French cuisine."

Ludwik, casually rolling up his sleeves, mused, "She'll need something warm tomorrow, to settle her stomach. Tell the chef to prepare something in advance."

Parker was incredulous. "She's just pregnant, not a pig to be fattened."

Ludwik's expression darkened, his concern evident. "If Whitney's unhappy, the baby will be too. I just want her to eat well."

Parker fell silent, contemplating the unresolved issues casting shadows over their happiness. "As soon as we replace Sammy, Hudson wakes up, and we handle Florence and her daughter, Whitney will be happy." Parker tried to console him. "Once Natalie has her transplant surgery and we get the spinal cord from Florence, things will get a lot easier."

He remembered something and asked, "Ludwik, has Florence contacted you these past few days?"

"Yes, I hung up on her." Ludwik finished his meal and stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window, lighting a cigarette.

Parker was taken aback. "You're so cold and dismissive toward her; she must be getting anxious?"

Ludwik squinted, "Let's see what she does next. Have you been keeping an eye on Dr. Ryan?"

Parker shook his head. "He goes between the hospital and home, almost nowhere else. I even pulled his medical records. He's an internist, but he's prescribed asthma medication a few times, which is odd since he's not a pediatrician. I'm looking into whether he has a child with asthma at home..." "Asthma medication?" Ludwik's nerves were on edge.

He vividly remembered Whitney crying and screaming that Sammy had asthma the night he was kidnapped, begging him to save their child quickly...

Ryan was treating Florence.

Ryan also prescribed pediatric asthma medication.

Sammy was in Florence's hands...

It couldn't be a coincidence.

Ludwik's eyes turned cold. "Track this Ryan. Can we replace out where the asthma medication went?"

"The hospital only has records of the prescriptions... You think the medication was for Sammy?"

Parker's eyes widened. "Do you suspect Ryan is helping Florence?"

"Florence hasn't let anything slip so far. She must have someone helping her control Sammy." Ludwik sat down on the sofa, cold and calculating.

He took out his phone and stared at Florence's missed calls, then, uncharacteristically, called her back.

---

Four or five days had passed, and Florence couldn't reach Ludwik. She knew he was at the Lippert Group but lacked the courage to face the Lippert family again and risk rejection. Her engagement, once a source of pride, had become a joke among the social elite, a cruel reminder of Ludwik's cold revenge.

Despite her high status at the Sheldon Group, bolstered by Hugh's support, the facade of respect and love from the shareholders was thin. Questions about Ludwik's absence gnawed at her, revealing the precariousness of her position should Ludwik's affections wane.

In a desperate move, Florence used Sienna to persuade her grandparents to intervene, hoping to secure Ludwik's presence at a family dinner. The call from Ludwik, unexpected yet eagerly anticipated, offered a glimmer of hope. She pleaded, masking her desperation with concern for their shared commitments and familial expectations.

Ludwik, however, remained

noncommittal, his cold indifference

a stark contrast to Florence's fervent

attempts to mend their strained relationship. The dinner at the Sheldon family mansion loomed, critical juncture for Florence her last chance to reclaim some semblance of control and affection in the complex game of social standings and personal relationships.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, marking the end of another workday, Florence's phone buzzed with anticipation. It was Ludwik, just as she had hoped. "Your grandfather mentioned dinner at seven, right? You want me to play along, act all lovey-dovey for the crowd? Fine by me. But, I've got a condition," he said, his voice carrying a hint of mischief.

Florence's heart skipped a beat. "What's the condition, Ludwik?"

"I'm not feeling all that great. Heard you've got a new hotshot doctor in your circle, Dr. Ryan, isn't it? I need him to take a look at me. Got some issues with my respiratory system. If you could bring him over to the Sheldon estate, that'd be perfect. I'll make sure to be on time," Ludwik explained, his request sounding entirely reasonable.

However, Florence was taken aback,

her doe eyes narrowing in suspicion. Ludwik suddenly needed Dr. Ryan? Her mind raced. Was he genuinely seeking medical attention, or was there an ulterior motive? She had meticulously reviewed Dr. Ryan's credentials and had made it explicitly clear to the doctor to avoid Sammy at all costs and to keep his whereabouts straightforward for the next few days.

There was no way Ludwik could have found anything amiss about Dr. Ryan!

"Just asking him to check me out. Is that a problem?" Ludwik's voice, cool and teasing, came through the phone, stirring a mix of emotions in Florence.