Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 532

The air was thick with tension!

Florence's gaze was stiff as she watched Ludwik dress with cold detachment, his presence chilling to the bone.

She was determined, refusing to let this go.

Tears trickled down her cheeks as Florence looked down, sobbing, "It's alright. Ludwik said he didn't touch me, so let it be. You deny that we slept together, for your sake, I won't spread the word. I'll just quietly cherish the sweetness and the pain of last night..." "I've said it before, I would never touch you!" Ludwik spun around, towering over her, his face etched with scorn. "Other than Whitney, I have no interest in anyone. You probably don't get it, but I have my quirks. So framing me? Forget it!"

His voice was not loud, but it froze the room.

Grabbing his tie, he strode towards the door.

Florence called out from behind him, her voice laced with self-mockery, "Ludwik, have you forgotten? Last night, you held me, calling out 'Whitney' all night long. You were drunk, mistaking me for your sister. Think about it!" Ludwik's stride faltered.

His mind wasn't entirely blank; fragments of memories lingered. In those fragments, he vividly remembered seeing Whitney. A Whitney who paid him attention, smiled at him, snuggled against him with a flirtatious charm. He had a drink, then found himself over Whitney. But Whitney couldn't have been here.

This was the Sheldon family mansion, Florence's bedroom!

Damn...

Did he really mistake Florence's somewhat similar face for Whitney's?

No, his tolerance for alcohol wasn't that poor.

Why would he mistake someone?

What exactly happened last night?

As he strained his memories, all he could recall was taking an amoxicillin pill given by Dr. Ryan. Everything after was a blur.

Ludwik's eyes flashed with a sharp, icy depth as he turned back to face Florence.

Florence was pale, her flirtatious demeanor seemingly unchanged, shrinking back against the headboard, clutching the sheets. Yet, despite the apparent terror in her eyes, a layer of composure was unmistakable beneath.

"I wouldn't mistake Whitney even drunk. What did you do to me?" Ludwik leaned in, his gaze threatening enough to make Florence believe he was moments away from strangling her.

Tears welled up as she shook her head, "Ludwik, you were so strong last night, how dare I do anything to you? You were just too drunk, there are bottles and your glass on the floor." "Why would I go upstairs to drink with you if I was about to leave?" he demanded, darkly.

Florence sobbed, "It's my fault... I invited you. But after you drank too much, everything spiraled out of control. It's my fault for not resisting you."

She was lying, Ludwik was sure of it. His sober self would never follow Florence upstairs. Something went wrong in between. The headache and fatigue made him suspicious! "Did you drug me?" he asked with disdain, pulling out his phone, "Felix, get me a doctor!"

"Ludwik, if you don't believe me, then go get checked. At the end of the day, you just don't want to take responsibility for what happened between us last night, do you?"

Ludwik sneered, his expression merciless as he tossed a check at her, each word dripping with contempt, "You guessed right. It doesn't matter if I touched you or not. Even if I did, what makes you think I'd take responsibility? I don't like you. How much I despise you, don't you understand?! Our engagement was a transaction, you and I both know it was bound to end. If you cause any more trouble, I'll make sure you pay tenfold. Keep your mouth shut!"

Florence glanced at the check's amount, ten million dollars. Her face turned a shade of purple with rage. He was trying to silence her with a mere ten million dollars, his eyes, words, and actions all humiliating her!

She clenched her teeth in fury.

-

Ludwik picked up the wine bottle, his expression dark and fierce as he left the Sheldon family mansion.

At the hospital.

Felix had arranged for a doctor to run blood tests on Ludwik.

After drawing two vials of blood, the results came back quickly.

The doctor nervously reported, "Ludwik, there were no traces of aphrodisiacs in your bloodstream, but there was a significant alcohol content."

Ludwik's gaze was cold, both surprised and unsurprised.

"What if I had taken something? Is there a way it wouldn't show up in the blood test?"

The doctor replied, "It's hard to say. Your body metabolizes substances faster than the average person. If someone sped up your metabolism or gave you an antidote, then the blood test wouldn't show anything unusual." He turned to Felix, "And the wine bottle? No traces there either?"

"None, Mr. Lippert."

Whatever Florence had done, she had covered her tracks well.

Ludwik extinguished his cigarette and pulled a crushed capsule container from his shirt pocket, handing it to the doctor, "Test this for any drug residues."

"Of course, Ludwik."

As Ludwik left the hospital, the morning sun glared red, giving him a fearsome look.

Felix opened the car door, hesitating before asking, "Mr. Lippert, did you accidentally take some kind of stimulant last night at the Sheldon mansion? Did Florence deliberately give it to you? Did something happen between you two?"

"I refuse to believe anything happened. But I did mistake her for Whitney..."

Ludwik clenched his fists, his voice icy.

Felix was momentarily shocked. If Mr. Lippert was drunk and confused... could his judgment now be accurate?

He halted his thoughts, "Mr. Lippert, where to now?"

"Did Whitney get her breakfast?"

"Mr. Doonan is on his way to deliver it."

"Tell him I'll take it myself."

Felix glanced at Mr. Lippert, noticing his disheveled appearance, "Mr. Lippert, perhaps you should freshen up first."

Ludwik caught his reflection in a passing window and couldn't shake the feeling that he looked

somehow... off. He was a cocktail of emotions gloomy, guilt-ridden and in pain, all while desperately wanting to see Whitney.

-

At the hotel.

Tiana packed her modest luggage into Parker's SUV. Whitney came out holding Danny and Cherry by the hand.

Parker started the car and glanced at the calendar, "Ms. Valentine, looks like it's a perfect day for a new beginning. Your chauffeur, Mr. Parker, at your service!"

"Mr. Doonan, can you not be so sarcastic?" Tiana said, rolling her eyes.

Whitney got into the car, her smile lacking its usual spark, "Thanks, let's go."

Delight Mansion was basking in sunlight.

Parker drove into the private driveway and started unloading the luggage.

As Whitney got out of the car, she looked up. In front of Building Four, two figures stood, one notably tall and striking.

Her gaze sharpened, a chill passing over her, the anger in her heart cooling after a night of turmoil.

Ludwik, carrying a stylish insulated bag, strode over with his long legs, his eyes soft and deep, "Whitney... you're moving today? Why didn't you tell me It's good I came. I brought you breakfast. Eat it while it's hot!"

Whitney took the breakfast and, without a word, tossed it into the nearest trash bin.

Danny, who had been smiling, froze, "Mom, are you mad at Trash Daddy again?" Ludwik's attractive lips tightened, a flicker of unease passing through him. Did she replace out something?