Love beyond the mask1-100

Novel Catalog

Chapter_82

Whitney’s gaze fell to the floor as Tiana’s question echoed in her mind. She hadn’t expected her friend to ask about L’s possible misunderstandings, especially after everything that had happened. Whitney had been so caught up in the chaos that she didn’t know what was real anymore, what was a misunderstanding, and what was not.

She remained silent for a moment, her heart heavy. The weight of Simon’s words, the accusations, and the confusion of the whole situation felt suffocating. Her hands, which had been nervously clutching the sheets, now fell to her lap. She felt vulnerable, exposed. Could it be a misunderstanding? she wondered. It seemed impossible, not with everything that had unfolded.

Tiana noticed her hesitation and gently squeezed her hand. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now, Whitney. Whatever’s going on, we’ll work through it. Just know I’m here for you.”

Whitney blinked away the moisture that had pooled in her eyes, trying to gather herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate Tiana’s support; it was just that, at this moment, she felt more lost than ever. “I… I don’t know, Tiana,” Whitney finally whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s all so tangled. I can’t tell where one problem ends and another begins.”

Tiana, ever the supportive friend, sat beside her. The worry in her eyes softened as she carefully replied, “You don’t need all the answers right now. You just need to know you’re not alone. We’ll get through this together, okay?”

Whitney gave her a small, grateful smile, but inside, her mind continued to race. Her emotions were a jumbled mess, and Tiana’s comfort didn’t quite erase the weight of her thoughts. She had tried, so hard, to do the right thing, but it seemed like nothing was going right anymore. Had she really done something to make Ludwik doubt her? Every accusation, every mistrust seemed to pierce deeper than the last. She had tried to reach out, to prove herself, but it wasn’t enough.

The pain in her abdomen was a constant reminder of the life growing inside her, the child she wasn’t sure Ludwik even wanted. She’d hoped, for a moment, that everything would work out. But now, it felt like that hope was slipping away.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Tiana,” Whitney murmured, her voice breaking slightly. “I just… I want everything to be okay. But Ludwik… he doesn’t trust me. He doesn’t believe me.” The bitterness in her tone surprised even herself. She hadn’t realized how much it hurt until she spoke the words aloud.

Tiana gave her a long, searching look. “You don’t deserve to be treated like this, Whitney. You deserve trust. You deserve someone who’s there for you, no matter what.” She paused, her expression softening. “If Ludwik really cared, he would have been here for you. Instead, he’s pushing you away.”

Whitney’s heart clenched at Tiana’s words. She wanted to believe that Ludwik cared, but right now, it didn’t feel like it. “I just wanted him to see me—not just the woman who’s pregnant with his child,” she admitted quietly. “I wanted him to trust me, to believe in me. But it feels like he never really did.”

The weight of the words hung heavy between them. Tiana looked at her with sympathy, but Whitney could see that she was struggling to find something to say that would help. “I know it’s hard, but you can’t keep blaming yourself for his insecurities. You deserve someone who sees you, Whitney. All of you.”

Whitney closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. Tiana was right, of course. But the truth was that no matter what, she couldn’t stop loving Ludwik. She couldn’t stop wanting to believe that he would change, that things would get better between them.

Tiana’s voice, soft and steady, broke through her thoughts. “You don’t need him to validate you, Whitney. You are strong, and you’re not alone in this. You’ve got me, and we’ll get through it, okay? You’ve got a future, even without him.”

Tiana’s words wrapped around Whitney like a warm blanket. She was so grateful for her friend, for her unwavering support. She didn’t feel completely better, not yet, but maybe—just maybe—she could find a way to move forward. Even if Ludwik wasn’t by her side.

A sigh escaped Whitney’s lips, but there was a sense of relief in it, too. The path ahead wasn’t clear, and it was terrifying to think about facing it alone. But maybe, with time, things would get better. Maybe she could learn to stand on her own, to fight for what she deserved.

The feeling of Tiana’s hand in hers was grounding, a reminder that, no matter what happened with Ludwik, she had someone who cared about her, who wasn’t going anywhere.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy, and the uncertainty of the future still loomed large. But for the first time in a while, Whitney felt a flicker of hope—hope that she could rebuild, piece by piece, and perhaps even find happiness, regardless of the storm that had shaken her world.

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