Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1268

“I’ll admit I’ve screwed up plenty in my life. But marrying you, Whitney? That was never a mistake. Not once.”

His voice had gone from playful and teasing to dead serious, all that warmth gone, replaced by a heavy, almost suffocating intensity.

The words landed in Whitney’s ears like a bell ringing in an empty church. For a moment, she felt like her heart just stopped.

They really had been good together, once. Really in love.

He didn’t want her to pretend none of it had ever happened—and deep down, she couldn’t deny it. Whenever things got tough, her mind always drifted back to those years when he was gentle, thoughtful, loving.

Whitney wasn’t sure how he managed to turn the conversation back to them.

She wanted to dodge it, so she bit her lip and said quietly, “Aren’t we supposed to be talking about Sandy right now?”

“Fine. If you need to bail out of this talk, I’ll give you a breather—but this is the last time. Once Sandy’s situation is sorted, we’re revisiting us.”

Ludwik’s tone was low and firm, making it clear this wasn’t up for debate. He kept going, switching gears, “Back to Shane—those two idiots couldn’t figure out romance if it hit them in the face. What do you need me to do?”

Whitney almost rolled her eyes. Like you’re any better at relationships, she thought. Look at the mess we made.

But she did need his help, so she swallowed her sarcasm and said, a little hesitantly, “Can you at least have the Lippert family’s media company keep Shane’s tabloid stories running for another week or two?”

“So you want to use public pressure against Sandy? That’s how you repay her trust?” Ludwik actually laughed on the other end.

That shut Ludwik up for a second. She could almost hear his jaw clench through the phone.

Finally, he spoke, voice rough. “So basically, you want me to keep Shane’s stories on the front page, right?”

Whitney heard the defeat in his voice and felt a twinge of guilt. Maybe she was being unfair—but so what? Why shouldn’t she be?

She rolled her eyes, but her tone softened. “Yeah. Please. I’d really appreciate it.”

“If you know how to say thank you, then get your butt back to the hospital and sit with me tonight. Parker Doonan’s had enough—he wants to go back to Banyan City to be with his wife.”

“You didn’t just kick him out on purpose, did you?” Whitney asked suspiciously.