Love beyond the mask101-200

Novel Catalog

Chapter_149

The tension in the car was suffocating as Whitney stared out the window, her mind a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. Felix’s words echoed in her ears: “They’re blaming Ludwik.” Her pulse quickened. This was spiraling out of control faster than she could process. Not only was Braxton’s life hanging by a thread, but now Ludwik was being accused of causing it all. The pieces of the puzzle—her uncle’s manipulation, Ludwik’s involvement, the hotel project—were all coming together in a way that painted an ugly picture, and Whitney was caught right in the middle of it.

She gripped her phone tightly, the screen now a lifeline that could either help or bury her further. The minutes seemed to stretch on forever as the car sped toward the police station, each passing second feeling heavier than the last. Her thoughts kept circling back to Braxton, lying unconscious in the Tarrington mansion, his life teetering on the edge, and how much she still didn’t know about everything that had led to this moment.

The deeper she delved into this mess, the more she realized that the stakes were no longer just about family secrets or business power plays. It was about survival—her own, Ludwik’s, and Braxton’s. They were all trapped in a game much bigger than themselves, and Whitney was afraid that no matter what she did, she might not be able to save them all.

When the car finally came to a halt outside the police station, Whitney barely registered the moment. She was out of the car in a flash, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she rushed through the entrance. Felix was right behind her, his face grim but determined. He had been her rock throughout this whole ordeal, but even his calm demeanor couldn’t mask the urgency of the situation.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. A couple of officers were gathered near the entrance, their conversations hushed but urgent. Whitney approached the front desk, trying to steady her breath. “I need to see Detective Rodriguez,” she said, her voice as calm as she could make it, despite the storm brewing inside her.

The officer behind the desk eyed her for a moment before nodding. “You’re Ms. Valentine, right? I’ll let him know you’re here.”

Within moments, Detective Rodriguez appeared, his tired eyes scanning Whitney before he gestured for her to follow him. His face was set in hard lines, but there was something more in his gaze—something she couldn’t quite read, but she could feel it. The pressure was on, and not just from the Tarringtons.

They walked down a narrow corridor, the muffled sounds of busy officers and ringing phones filling the space around them. As they reached a small interrogation room, the door opened, revealing Ludwik sitting at the table, his hands cuffed to the chair. His expression was unreadable, his usual cool demeanor now replaced with an icy silence.

Whitney’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, so vulnerable in a way she had never seen before. He looked up at her as she entered, his eyes locking onto hers with a mixture of anger and something deeper—something painful. The weight of their unspoken history hung in the air, but there was no time for it now.

Rodriguez cleared his throat, his voice low. “You’ve been accused of being involved in Mr. Tarrington’s collapse. We need to hear your side of the story.”

Whitney’s gaze flicked to Ludwik. His jaw was clenched, but he remained silent, waiting for her to speak. She couldn’t bear the thought of him sinking further into this mess. This is my chance, she thought. She had to make it right.

“I’m not here to make excuses,” Whitney began, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “But Ludwik didn’t do this. My uncle, Keegan—he’s the one who tampered with the proposal. He manipulated everything to get back at Ludwik. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s him.”

Rodriguez looked skeptical, his brow furrowing as he glanced between the two of them. “And you expect us to believe that? You want us to just take your word for it?”

Whitney nodded, her resolve hardening. “Yes. Because I’ve seen what my uncle is capable of, and I know what he’s done to Ludwik. I’ve been part of his game from the start, but I’m done being manipulated. Ludwik had no idea about Braxton’s condition or the extent of what was happening. This is bigger than any of us.”

There was a long silence, the detective studying her carefully. Finally, he sighed, clearly weighing her words. “I’ll look into it, but I can’t make any promises. If what you’re saying is true, it’s going to take more than just your word to clear his name.”

Ludwik remained still, his gaze never leaving Whitney. She could see the faint flicker of hope in his eyes, mixed with something darker—resentment, maybe, for all the damage that had been done.

“Please,” Whitney said, her voice softening. “You have to believe me. Ludwik didn’t do this.”

Rodriguez nodded slowly. “I’ll talk to the Tarringtons and the medical team. But you should know, this is far from over. There’s a lot at stake here.”

Whitney turned back to Ludwik, her heart heavy with guilt and determination. I will fix this, she vowed silently. For you. For me. For all of us.

But as she looked at him, still bound by the cuffs and caught in the mess her family had created, she knew that no matter how hard she tried, the road ahead would be fraught with danger—and the real test of loyalty, truth, and survival was just beginning.

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