Love beyond the mask1-100

Novel Catalog

Chapter_60

The man stood by the panoramic window with statuesque grace, cigarette in hand. A wisp of smoke curled lazily into the air, partially obscuring his mature, refined features. He exuded an aura of control, surveying the scene below like a king surveying his realm, his eyes fixed on the petite woman beneath him.

Felix, ever the observant assistant, handed him a pair of binoculars with a knowing grin. “Mr. Lippert, the view’s much better from up here. With these, you’ll see Ms. Valentine more clearly!”

Parker raised an amused eyebrow. “Felix, looks like you’ve earned yourself a raise.”

Nolan chimed in, “Definitely a raise for Felix.”

Felix blushed at the praise, but Ludwik glanced at the binoculars with a scowl. “What do you take me for? A peeping Tom?”

Felix froze, his body going rigid at the sharpness in Ludwik’s voice. But then, in a swift motion, Ludwik snatched the binoculars, raising them to his eyes, his expression one of keen interest.

The room fell silent.

Nolan whispered, “I think we just witnessed the fastest self-contradiction in history.”

Ludwik’s gaze remained fixed on Whitney below, watching as she struggled to sneak into the hedge, her cheeks glistening with sweat as she searched for the perfect vantage point.

With casual authority, Ludwik commanded, “It’s blazing out there. Send her an umbrella, but make sure she doesn’t spot you.”

Nolan snickered quietly, “Ludwik, you’re hopeless.”

The man turned to him, his expression icy. “I don’t want my child getting sunburned, alright?”

Nolan muttered under his breath, “Sure, flaunt your delicate wife while you can.”

But Ludwik wasn’t listening. His attention remained solely on Whitney. “She’s quick,” he murmured, as his mind began to turn over the possibilities. “Smart. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to outsmart me.”

Nolan agreed, “Stack another dime on that. She’s got no chance against Ludwik!”

Just then, the soft sound of a female voice interrupted the conversation. “What’s going on with Whitney? How did she manage to bring such cheer to you two young masters… and Ludwik?” The voice was laced with laughter.

Ludwik turned to see a woman in a chic business suit entering the room. She nodded toward him. “Elaine, you’re here for the meeting?”

Elaine offered him a graceful smile. “The board notified me. I drove over from the branch office.”

Parker greeted her with a composed nod, “Miss Elaine.”

Nolan, on the other hand, hesitated at the mention of ‘Whitney,’ her soft laughter still lingering in the air. Quickly, he smiled and greeted her with a polite nod. “Elaine, always a pleasure!”

Elaine’s gaze flicked between the men before she walked toward the window, a small smile playing on her lips. “I saw Whitney sneaking around downstairs, hiding from Ludwik. Quite amusing.”

The room fell into an awkward silence, none of the men quite knowing how to respond.

Ludwik, ever the professional, opened a file, his expression serious. “Let’s start the meeting.”

The meeting ended swiftly, with Nolan catching Parker’s eye, signaling for a private conversation.

Nolan nervously licked his lips. “Elaine’s mention of Whitney had me breaking out in a cold sweat. Her expression was so natural. If we didn’t know her history with Ludwik, I’d let it slide. But that soft laugh of hers… is she over him, or is she just playing nice in front of Ludwik?”

Parker seemed to contemplate for a moment before answering. “With her position at the Imperial Gem Corporation, and her connections to the Bartels family in Emperor City, she could hide any displeasure with ease.”

Nolan nodded, his brow furrowed. “That’s exactly what worries me. Elaine—she’s no fool. As the chief jewelry designer, with her family background, she holds significant sway in the Lippert family’s business dealings. Ludwik might not be able to just let her go if he wanted to. But here’s the thing: if Elaine doesn’t express an intention to leave, Ludwik will stay silent, won’t he?”

Parker looked at him, his gaze sharp. “Ludwik knows his own heart. Let’s not gossip about this.”

But Nolan wasn’t done. “The thing is, Elaine is patient. You know the story of the Ninja Queen, right?” His voice dropped into a more conspiratorial tone.

Parker shot him a glance. “Ludwik knows his own heart. We shouldn’t speculate.”

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the men, Elaine had been eavesdropping from around the corner. Though she maintained a composed facade, her clenched teeth and the tension in her posture betrayed her unease. She let out a deep breath and quietly retreated, leaving without causing a scene.

At quarter past ten, Ludwik was preparing to leave the Royal One Club.

Nolan glanced at a figure hiding among the flowers outside and smirked. “Looks like she’s set on tailing you today, Ludwik. What’s the plan for playing with your darling wife?”

Felix glanced at the schedule. “Mr. Lippert has a meeting at Alpine Springs Resort today to discuss a partnership. It’s chilly, and his mother needs the springs for her health.”

November had come, and Whitney was now over two months pregnant.

Ludwik let out a sigh, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as he glanced at Parker. “You go to Imperial Gem Corporation and pretend to be me.”

“What? Me, the decoy?” Parker looked at him with irritation.

Nolan, ever the troublemaker, grinned mischievously. “You know Whitney’s friend, the one with the cute, doe-eyed look? Maybe I should try my charm on her!”

“You’re not her type,” Ludwik replied sharply, without mercy.

Nolan was left speechless.

Elaine entered the room just then, holding a folder with a polite but efficient demeanor. “Ludwik, Mr. Lutz happens to be at the Alpine Springs Resort. Shall we ride together? I can drive.”

Nolan gave a meaningful glance to Ludwik and Elaine, but the man didn’t respond immediately.

Ludwik, finally breaking his silence, simply said, “Let’s go.”

Before they could leave, Elaine rushed over with an apologetic look in her warm eyes. “I’m sorry, Ludwik. My car broke down.”

With his usual businesslike manner, Ludwik offered a gentlemanly solution. “I can give you a ride.”

Elaine slid into the passenger seat of his car, but Ludwik’s attention was drawn to the red sedan following behind them. His eyes caught the motion of it as the car cautiously reversed. A smirk played at the corner of his lips—Whitney.

Elaine glanced back, noticing the red sedan as well. “Is Whitney following you?”

Ludwik’s response was nonchalant. “Hmm.”

Elaine went back to her documents, but Ludwik, now deliberately driving slowly, made sure not to lose the small car behind them. He reached for a cigarette and, as he did, a half-ring on a red string fell out from his jacket pocket.

“Let me get that for you, Ludwik,” Elaine offered, reaching over to pick it up. She had seen him carry that half-ring for years and had often asked about its significance.

Ludwik’s gaze softened as he looked at the ring. His thoughts momentarily wandered. “It’s a reminder. Of someone I’ll never forget.”

Elaine noticed the depth in his eyes and, though she didn’t ask directly, her expression said it all. She knew there was something more to the story.

With a slight smile, she ventured, “You haven’t found the person who saved your life yet?”

Ludwik’s gaze hardened a little. “I know it was a girl, but I’m afraid I’ll never find her.”

Elaine’s eyes lingered on him for a moment, a shadow of a thought flickering across her face. She hesitated before speaking again, her voice gentle. “Ludwik, you know my family has a long lineage in medicine, and I have some skill myself. Actually, I am…”

Suddenly, Ludwik braked the car sharply, his focus momentarily divided. His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, and he saw the red sedan coming to a halt behind them. He turned to Elaine, his gaze intense.

“You are what?” he asked, his voice filled with curiosity and a slight edge.

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