Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Justin: "When it comes to running the show, you've got more chops than I do. You used to have the Lippert family eating out of your hand.

There's no such thing as a free lunch, my old man used to say!

You're not planning to use me as your frontman, are you?"

Right.

But Jarvis couldn't help but smirk inwardly, though his face was a mask of righteous indignation, "My beef is with Ludwik! This is a golden opportunity.

You have no idea how deep our feud goes, do you?

When I hit Banyan City, my Jar Rail Corporation was totally sabotaged by him!

Now that I'm back, this bastard has wormed his way into the Lippert family, and my stepdad treats him like the crown jewel!

Ever since, my place has been non-existent. I've been exiled.

You know what exile means?

If I could claw my way back up, why the hell would I be helping you to take the helm of the Lippert family?"

Jarvis feigned outrage, kicking over a cab in the process. The loud crash revealed his despair to Justin. With bloodshot eyes, Jarvis turned back, "Justin, you're the only one who can take Ludwik down now!

As for who takes the CEO seat, I couldn't care less.

Whoever makes Ludwik bite the dust, I'm on their side. I'm all out for revenge!"

His seemingly heartfelt confession sparked something in Justin's eyes. Indeed, Jarvis must despise Ludwik to his core.

Jarvis no longer had the power to confront him directly, while Justin had both the means and the influence. Thus, Jarvis wanted to use him for his vendetta.

After all, the CEO position was destined to be his. Justin figured this partnership was a good deal.

"Alright, I'm in. Ludwik's too much of a golden boy. Only if he goes down can I stop being the laughing stock!"

"There you go! Bro, just remember me when you're at the top," Jarvis said with a sycophantic smile.

This kind of flattery made Justin quite smug, confirming his role as the only one capable of dethroning Ludwik.

He frowned, "But Jarvis, even though I can follow my dad into the lab, Parker is practically living there now, never leaving his side. What do we do?" "To get him out, we need a plan."

Jarvis smirked mysteriously, signaling his bodyguard who then showed Justin a photo.

Justin's eyes widened at the sight of Parker holding a two-year-old baby girl, with a woman by his side, "Who's this?"

"Parker's Achilles' heel, perhaps!" Jarvis said with a cold laugh, his eyes bloodthirsty, "So don't you worry, just follow my lead to bait Parker.

This thorn in Ludwik's side, I'll make sure to pull it out thoroughly."

Justin shivered uncontrollably but thinking of the ripe-for-the-taking Lippert family, he kept his mouth shut and listened to the plan...

On the island.

Days turned into weeks.

The morning sunlight crept in, illuminating the disheveled bed and the two bodies entwined in sleep.

Ludwik woke up, the woman in his arms still deep in slumber, exhausted from the night's endeavors. Her skin, marked anew atop old bruises, still hinted at her delicate beauty - a testament to his love.

He smiled contentedly, wishing for such days to never end.

His gaze softened on the blanket - her flat belly beneath. He had been diligent, hardly sparing her.

They had conceived so easily before,

This time, surely, it would be quick...

He gently tucked the blanket around her and got up, only to pause. There was a bloodstain on his white pants.

He checked his thigh but found no injury.

Where did the blood come from?

Frowning in silence, he lifted the blanket, careful not to wake her, only to discover her bottom covered in blood.

Even he couldn't be that clueless; he knew it must be her period.

But he had just seen signs of her menstruating some ten days ago, lasting six days.

Why would it happen again so soon?

Ludwik sank into thought, his eyes narrowing as he pieced it together.

His face darkened instantly, staring down at the peaceful sleeper.

What if, the last time wasn't her period at all?

Considering the actual timing now, the last occurrence should have been her ovulation period.

The most fertile days...!

But if last time wasn't her menstruating, where did the blood come from?

His gaze scoured her body, landing on an arm wound from a fall days before.

Upon closer inspection, besides the deep cut, there was a slight mark from a sharp object.

In an instant, it all clicked.

From the beginning, she had been deceiving him.

On the days most likely for conception, she had calculated carefully, using 'blood' as a means to evade.

Fooling him for days, treating him like an idiot.

Whitney woke up, quickly realizing the slight pain in her lower abdomen.

This sensation was all too familiar; she was on her period.

She scrambled up, reaching back to feel a damp trace, cursing silently for staining her pants.

Quickly checking the pure white bedding, she found marks there too!

Luckily, no one was around, hoping Ludwik hadn't noticed.

But she couldn't hide this; menstruation would last a few days, and he would touch her every day. Her mind raced with excuses for the early period...

As a doctor of traditional medicine, she could come up with many reasons.

Whitney relaxed slightly, thinking as she headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Suddenly, she saw a tall shadow sitting on the couch connecting the bathroom and dressing room. The man's profile was bathed in the dim morning light, making his intentions unreadable.

His legs were crossed, a cigarette between his elegant fingers, the smoke swirling around his chiseled jaw.

In that breathtaking visage, Whitney only felt a chilling aura approaching her.

Ludwik slowly turned his head, his gaze piercing cold.

In that moment, Whitney's heart skipped a beat.

Having been with him this long, a slight change in his expression was enough to alarm her.

She stood frozen, instinctively covering her back,

Ludwik chuckled softly, his laughter

etnoveldrama

carrying a touch of irony as he put out his cigarette. Rising from his seat, his tall frame loomed over her, his eyes icy yet fractured like shattered glass. "Monthly troubles?" he inquired with a thinly veiled sarcasm.

Whitney's gaze flickered, betraying a hint of anxiety.

Ludwik produced a razor, casually showing it to her. "Last time, you

used this to cut your arm, letting the blood drip onto your jeans, for six days straight. Then, to cover up the wound, you 'accidentally' fell off a rock. You went to great lengths to deceive me, sweetheart."

Whitney's face turned ashen, her eyelashes trembling like fragile feathers. He had figured it out so quickly. With that realization, she felt no need to explain herself. After all, it was the truth.

"Why?" Ludwik's anger surged as he grabbed her slender shoulders. "Do you think that because I've been spoiling you and showering you with affection lately, you can just play me for a fool? Hurting yourself just to avoid me, darling, you truly are my wife, cunning and ruthless. But you picked the wrong target this time!"