Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 33

“Sotankadent The door knocked, and Xandra came in with a tray of warm comfort food, saying. Ser

asked me to prepare something light for you. The old lady has already eaten. No need to wait up for

her?

When did he instruct Xandra? They had been arguing all the way here

Whitney took the trey sullenly

The rise had spent quite a while in the bathroom, doing who knows what. After he came out, Whitney

finally went in wash her hands.

That was when she spotted a jade ring on the vanity, but it was only half of one as if it had been

snapped in

two

Because of her background in jewelry design, Whitney instinctively picked it up. A memory surfaced

unbidden–the man she saved that year gave her a half–ring as a token of gratitude. At the time,

Whitney had not paid much attention. After her business bid failed, she had returned to the Valentine

family, and within a few days, the ring was lost.

Their meeting was a fleeting connection, and Whitney had long stopped dwelling on his promise of

repayment. But whose half–ring was this? Whitney lifted her head and walked out, bumping straight

into L, who was returning to the room.

The man saw the object in her hand and immediately took it, saying. “Thank you.”

Whitney watched him carefully pocket it, treating it with such importance. “Is it something very

important?”

“Yeah

So important, who gave it to him?

Whitney’s eyes deepened. She could not help but ask, “Mr. L, is this from a girlfriend?”

The man glanced over, his tone teasing, “What are you trying to find out?”

Whitney immediately pursed her lips, pretending to be indifferent, “Before you and I entered our

marriage agreement, did you perhaps have a girlfriend?”

He propped his hand against his chiseled jaw, chuckling, “Who was it just now who wanted to set clear

boundaries, and now you’re prying into my private affairs? Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction?”

Whitney turned red–faced, caught off guard. “No one wants to know. If you won’t tell, then don’t.”

The man walked back to the door, his lips curling slightly, “I have a wife, but she’s not very obedient.”

He stepped out, and his assistant asked him in a low voice, “Sir, are you still giving the departure gift to

Madam?”

The man spoke indifferently, “A little ingrate, what’s the point? Toss it in the trash.”

The assistant was speechless.

Very astutely, he walked in and threw something into the trash can next to Whitney’s feet.

Sipping her soup, Whitney looked down and saw “Gemstone Gazette“! She was surprised and quickly

picked it up. This was an original, hard to come by. It contained jewelry knowledge compiled by the

world–renowned master L.C., a mysterious prodigy who gained fame at a young age and was

Whitney’s idol. Unfortunately, he was so low–profile and rarely released his work!

Whitney clutched the book to her chest in adoration. Then her face went blank.

Was this the gift L brought her from his trip? How did he know she was preparing for a design

competition? Oh, she had let it slip while having spaghetti that day.

1/3

17:47

Chapter

Her heart fluttered like ripples on the water.

Whitney looked at the table full of appetizers, biting her lip.

This man, was he good or bad? Or was he just too sophisticated, his aloofness hiding the kind of

attention to detail and allure that women found irresistible, and he had perfected the art? And that

teasing answer just now, was he denying he had a girlfriend?

Whitney could not read him, mysterious men were too dangerous, drawing one deeper and deeper into

their

orbit

She needed to build walls.

Outside the hospital room in the corridor, Nolan saw Ludwik approaching, smoking a cigarette, his stern

features as expressionless as ever.

Nolan asked, perplexed, “Ludwik, what’s your deal with this Whitney? Were you planning on continuing

your advances in her room just now?”

The man barely glanced at him, uninterested in responding.

An assistant approached, handing over a file, “Sir, there’s been–no progress on the night you were set

up, and whether Ms. Valentine is a suspect is still…”

“Keep investigating.”

With a playful glint behind his glasses, Parker said, “Nolan, Ludwik is still observing the lady. In his high

position, he’s naturally suspicious. Plus, Natalie’s safety is paramount. But while he doesn’t trust easily,

he can’t resist teasing the girl in his loneliness. He’s not far from letting passion cloud his judgment.”

Ludwik flicked away the cigarette butt and fixed Parker with a cold, inscrutable look, then strode away

with a swift kick.

Parker chuckled softly. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

The next day, while Natalie stayed in the hospital for recovery, Whitney was taken for her first official

prenatal checkup.

The baby was five weeks along, just over a month old.

Although she frequently monitored her blood pressure at the villa, seeing the tiny seahorse–like blob on

the ultrasound made Whitney’s emotions a mix of strange and complex.

She had to start coming to terms with this child.

L’s child-did she really plan to keep it? After a year, to give the child to L and cut all ties, returning to a

state of strangers–could she bear parting with her baby?

These complicated questions fogged Whitney’s mind as she looked at the path ahead, knowing she

could only take one step at a time.

Without a doubt, the child was vital to pacifying Natalie’s health for the time being.

Natalie looked at the tiny seahorse and smiled all day long.

Whitney diligently stayed by her bedside, opening her laptop to start on her designs.

Before she knew it, the evening had fallen, and the tall figure of the man entered, his suit jacket

elegantly slung over his arm.

He switched on a lamp, but the woman did not budge.

Not until a commanding warmth enveloped her from behind did she realize he was there. Looking at

her laptop,

213

17.17

Her heart fluttered like ripples on the water.

Whitney looked at the table full of appetizers, biting her lip.

This man, was he good or bad? Or was he just too sophisticated, his aloofness hiding the kind of

attention to detail and allure that women found irresistible, and he had perfected the art? And that

teasing answer just now, was he denying he had a girlfriend?

Whitney could not read him, mysterious men were too dangerous, drawing one deeper and deeper into

their

orbit.

She needed to build walls.

Outside the hospital room in the corridor, Nolan saw Ludwik approaching, smoking a cigarette, his stern

features as expressionless as ever.

Nolan asked, perplexed, “Ludwik, what’s your deal with this Whitney? Were you planning on continuing

your advances in her room just now?”

The man barely glanced at him, uninterested in responding.

An assistant approached, handing over a file, “Sir, there’s been no progress on the night you were set

up, and whether Ms. Valentine is a suspect is still…”

“Keep investigating.”

With a playful glint behind his glasses, Parker said, “Nolan, Ludwik is still observing the lady. In his high

position, he’s naturally suspicious. Plus, Natalie’s safety is paramount. But while he doesn’t trust easily,

he can’t resist teasing the girl in his loneliness. He’s not far from letting passion cloud his judgment.”

Ludwik flicked away the cigarette butt and fixed Parker with a cold, inscrutable look, then strode away

with a swift kick.

Parker chuckled softly.

The next day, while Natalie stayed in the hospital for recovery, Whitney was taken for her first official

prenatal checkup.

The baby was five weeks along, just over a month old.

Although she frequently monitored her blood pressure at the villa, seeing the tiny seahorse–like blob on

the

ultrasound made Whitney’s emotions a mix of

strange and

1. ex.

She had to start coming to terms with this child.

L’s child–did she really plan to keep it? After a year, to give the child to L and cut all ties, returning to a

state of strangers–could she bear parting with her baby?

These complicated questions fogged Whitney’s mind as she looked at the path ahead, knowing she

could only take one step at a time.

Without a doubt, the child was vital to pacifying Natalie’s health for the time being.

Natalie looked at the tiny seahorse and smiled all day long.

Whitney diligently stayed by her bedside, opening her laptop to start on her designs.

Before she knew it, the evening had fallen, and the tall figure of the man entered, his suit jacket

elegantly slung over his arm.

He switched on a lamp, but the woman did not budge.

Not until a commanding warmth enveloped her from behind did she realize he was there. Looking at

her laptop,

2/3

17:47

he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Stuck for inspiration?*

Whitney turned her head, her forehead brushing against his attractive lips, her skin burning hot. She

cleared her throat. “The most important judge of the jewelry competition is the Imperial Gem

Corporation. I can’t get a read on my archenemy’s preferences, and this submission is crucial for me.”

She had to defeat Monica at every turn. This competition was vital to overcoming the Valentine family

and reclaiming Skye Gem.

The man’s eyes twinkled mischievously, “So you need to cozy up to Mr. Lippert, inside and out?”

Such a pointed way to put it, inside and out‘.

“There’s no theme for the preliminary round, right? What elements are you considering?” He asked.

Whitney was surprised by his tone–it seemed like he knew a thing or two about the jewelry industry?

She lifted her fluttering eyelashes, skeptical, “Mr. L, are you offering to guide me now? Do you know

jewelry design?”

The man let out a cool chuckle, glancing over the laptop screen. “These themes are too basic. The

judges at the jewelry competition are esteemed and respected. Many are antique connoisseurs. Why

not consider blending vintage flair with contemporary jewelry design?”

Whitney’s gaze trailed over his casually sprawled legs against the desk, and suddenly, her mind clicked

as if struck by lightning.

“Of course, vintage is all the rage now. This could be a groundbreaking idea…” Her eyes sparked with

excitement.

The man’s lips curled into a slight smirk.

As Whitney rapidly sketched out her thoughts, she suddenly looked up, forced to reassess this

enigmatic man. “L, you seem pretty savvy! How come you know so much about the niche field of

jewelry design, and your insights are so unique?”

Leaning close, his eyes twinkling with amusement, he said, “I know a little about everything, enough to

always stay on top of you.”

He emphasized the words ‘on top, causing a blush to dance in the depths of Whitney’s eyes.

“You get one compliment, and you’re off in the clouds!” She pouted.

“Don’t believe me? Test me on something else,” he teased with a mischievous glance.

She believed him; the aura of distinction that enveloped him, filled with the depth and complexity of a

leader, layered with a sense of danger, was not something an ordinary man could possess.

Staring at his mask, Whitney felt an overwhelming curiosity. She yearned to peel it back and see the

face beneath.

Who was he, really?

3/3