Love beyond the mask101-200

Novel Catalog

Chapter_145

The air in the café crackled with tension, a pressure that seemed to suffocate everything in its path. Whitney sat rigid, every muscle in her body tense as her uncle’s eyes flicked between her and Ludwik. She could feel Ludwik’s gaze like a weight on her skin, too heavy to ignore, but too painful to bear. His silence, his cool detachment, made everything feel even more suffocating, like the walls were closing in on her.

Keegan’s voice shattered the silence again, his words coated in mockery. “I suppose I’m just being meddlesome,” he said, his smile thin and calculating. “But I couldn’t help but notice that you two have been avoiding each other. Something’s changed, hasn’t it? Perhaps Mr. L has had some reservations about the family connection after all?”

Ludwik didn’t flinch. His response was quick, sharp, and professional, though there was an edge to it that made it clear he wasn’t comfortable. “No, Mr. Tennyson, you’re overthinking it,” he said, his eyes hardening as he steepled his hands together. But Whitney saw the briefest flicker of something in his expression—something that made her heart ache.

Her stomach churned as she tried to process the undercurrent of his words. He was being polite, distant even, but something about his tone, his words—they felt hollow. She felt like she was on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge into a chasm that had no end.

Keegan’s gaze shifted to her, a slow, almost predatory smile curling his lips. “You don’t have to pretend, you know,” he said, his voice low and almost coaxing. “I can see it. You’ve been avoiding him. Avoiding everyone, really. Something’s changed, hasn’t it?”

Whitney’s heart clenched in her chest. She wanted to run, to escape this conversation, this moment, but her feet were frozen in place. Her uncle’s words twisted inside her, making her feel small, as if her emotions and her pain were nothing more than a game to be played.

She swallowed hard, her voice coming out in a strained whisper. “What do you want, Uncle?” she asked, the weight of the question pressing on her chest, each word an accusation in disguise.

Keegan’s expression shifted, his smile becoming darker, more calculating. “What do I want?” he repeated, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. “I want you to remember what we’re fighting for. Our family’s legacy… your future, Whitney.” His eyes darkened, and the warmth of the café seemed to dissipate under the weight of his words. “I’ve made a plan. You know what needs to be done.”

Ludwik remained silent, his posture rigid, his face a mask of indifference. But Whitney saw the smallest shift in his expression—the tightening of his jaw, the way his eyes darkened slightly as Keegan spoke. She felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly swallowed by the realization that her uncle’s plan was the only way forward. Or was it?

Her uncle’s words weighed heavily on her. She could feel the gravity of the situation pulling her in, the temptation to take control, to fight back. The promise of revenge, the idea of reclaiming what had been stolen from her family, it all felt so… compelling. Yet, in the back of her mind, the image of Ludwik lingered, his gaze heavy on her, silent but filled with so much unspoken emotion.

“Stop it,” she finally whispered, unable to keep the tears from welling up. Her hands gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white with the strain. “Stop using me like this.” Her voice cracked as she continued, “I can’t—” But the words faltered in her throat. She couldn’t even finish the thought.

Keegan raised an eyebrow, as though surprised by her outburst. “You can, Whitney. You’re stronger than you think. And if you’re willing to help me, you can get everything you’ve ever wanted.” The words hung in the air, promising power, revenge, control. But beneath them, Whitney felt something darker—something dangerous.

A part of her wanted to say yes, wanted to take her uncle’s offer and tear down everything that had hurt her family. But the other part—the part that still cared for Ludwik, the part that still loved him, despite everything—recoiled in horror. How could she walk down that path? How could she betray everything she had once believed in?

Her gaze drifted to Ludwik, and in that moment, everything seemed to freeze. She saw him watching her, his eyes intense and full of understanding. But there was something else there, something heavier—resignation. He knew what was at stake. He knew what she had to do, just as much as she did.

“Whitney,” Ludwik’s voice was low, steady, but it cut through the tension like a blade. “This isn’t just about you and me anymore. If you’re involved in this, there’s no turning back. You need to choose.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Whitney’s breath caught in her throat. It felt like the ground had dropped away beneath her, and she was falling into an abyss with no way to climb back out. The choice was hers, but it felt like there was no real choice at all.

Keegan’s laughter broke the moment, cruel and sharp, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “It’s already too late for that, Whitney. You’re already involved.” His eyes shifted to Ludwik, the challenge in his gaze unmistakable. “If you’re smart, you’ll step aside. Let her do what needs to be done. For her family, for her future.”

Ludwik’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he held her gaze, his expression one of silent urging. He wasn’t telling her what to do. He was letting her decide. Letting her make the choice that would change everything.

Whitney’s mind raced. Her uncle’s words, his plan, her future—it was all swirling together in a haze of uncertainty. But the only thing that felt clear now was Ludwik’s gaze, steady and unyielding. The man she had once trusted, the man who still held a piece of her heart. Was he worth the sacrifice?

She stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. Her body felt numb as she walked away, the cold air of the café biting at her skin as she stepped outside.

The door closed behind her with a finality that echoed in her chest. Keegan’s laughter followed her, sharp and cruel, but she didn’t look back.

There was no turning back now.

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