Love beyond the mask201-300

Novel Catalog

Chapter_231

Ludwik’s footsteps echoed in the cold, sterile hallway as he walked away from Whitney’s room, her anguished cries still lingering in his ears like a haunting melody. The decision had been made. He had sent her to the sanatorium, far from the city, far from the chaos she had brought into his life. The facility was a private one—isolated, quiet, the perfect place for someone as unstable as Whitney to receive the care she needed. It was a decision born out of necessity, of protection.

Yet, as he moved through the corridors, each step seemed heavier than the last. The guilt gnawed at him, relentless, even in the face of his certainty. Despite all the rational reasons behind it, he couldn’t escape the feeling that something wasn’t right.

He was doing this for the children. For the twins. They were his last connection to her, the only reason he still clung to the fragments of his past with Whitney. He couldn’t afford to jeopardize their safety, not now, not ever. She had become unpredictable—dangerous even. Ludwik could not allow her to hurt anyone, least of all his unborn children. That’s why he’d chosen the sanatorium. It was temporary, he told himself. A necessary evil, one he had to live with for their sake.

But still, why did it feel like a betrayal?

Elaine’s voice broke his thoughts, soft and comforting, as she appeared at his side. Her steps were light, but there was a purposeful urgency in them. She reached out, her hand gently brushing against his arm. The touch was tender, soothing even, but Ludwik could sense the quiet triumph in her demeanor, the glint of victory in her eyes.

“You did the right thing, Ludwik,” she murmured, her voice warm, almost too warm, as if trying to wrap him in a blanket of reassurance. “It’s all for the baby.”

Ludwik didn’t answer immediately. His mind was still tangled in the image of Whitney’s tear-streaked face, the desperation in her eyes as she begged him, pleading for mercy, for release. He couldn’t shake the way she had knelt before him, her heart breaking in front of him, trusting him to make the right decision. He could still hear her voice in his head, raw and frantic, as she clutched at his legs.

But he had been resolute. He had seen the danger in her. She had become a volatile force in his life, a constant threat to his family and to the children they had yet to bring into the world. And despite the pain of her departure, he knew, deep down, that there was no other choice.

“I hope you’re right,” he muttered after a long pause, his voice softer than usual, the words carrying an uncertainty he couldn’t fully suppress. He wasn’t sure whether he was reassuring Elaine, or trying to convince himself.

Elaine’s smile widened, her voice lowering to a whisper as she leaned in closer, her words like honey, sweet and hypnotic. “You know it’s only temporary, right? Once she’s better, everything will go back to normal. We’ll have our life together, Ludwik. You’ll have the children, you’ll have peace. Whitney will be gone for good, and we can finally move on from all of this.”

Her words seemed to flow over him like a balm, soothing his frayed nerves, filling the space where doubt had crept in. The thought of peace, of a life free from Whitney’s turmoil, was undeniably appealing. The idea of raising his children with Elaine, building a future that didn’t revolve around the chaos Whitney brought into his life, seemed almost like a promise of salvation. He could feel himself leaning toward it, toward the image of a family without the constant threat of instability.

But then, just as quickly, a sharp memory cut through his thoughts—Whitney’s last words to him, the accusation in her voice.

“Why do you trust her?” she had asked, her voice trembling with fear and desperation. “Why do you let her manipulate you?” There had been so much hurt in her eyes, so much fear.

Ludwik couldn’t silence that voice, the one that asked him to question his trust in Elaine, to wonder if he had been blind all along. Could he ignore those words? Could he really move on, leaving Whitney behind without a second thought?

He shook the thoughts away, his fingers tightening around the cold, sterile railing of the hallway as he moved forward.

He had made his decision. There was no turning back now. Whitney was in the sanatorium, getting the treatment she needed—or so he hoped. He had to believe that. He had to.

With Elaine walking beside him, the pair continued down the corridor, her arm brushing lightly against his. Her presence, constant and steady, offered a comfort he wasn’t sure he deserved. For a moment, as they walked together, Ludwik almost believed that everything would be okay. He had done what needed to be done. They would have their life together, a peaceful future without Whitney’s influence.

And yet, even as he thought it, a knot of doubt twisted painfully in his chest.

Next Chapter