Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1284

Shane was cursing this jerk out in his head, but his face stayed as thick as ever. “Heh, still mad? C’mon, it’s been like three seconds. We’re brothers, right? No need to sweat the small stuff! Tell you what, I’ll personally wheel you out when you get discharged, deal?”

Ludwik: “…”

That guy could switch gears faster than a magician. No way he was up to any good.

Ludwik narrowed his deep-set eyes, face going stone cold for a second as he stared at Shane’s annoyingly handsome mug. He snorted, “Oh? I bet Sandy’s planning to head back together with her big sis Whitney, right?”

The look in his eyes was all mockery—Shane could see right through it.

Shane’s lips twitched, his thick eyebrows arching up. “Man, you hold a grudge over everything. Are we brothers or not?”

“Beg me.”

Ludwik’s jaw tilted up in a perfect, smug arc.

No room for negotiation.

Shane’s eyes darkened, fists clenching as he fought the urge to deck that stupidly attractive face. He took a deep breath. “Don’t push it.”

“Who’s pushing it?” Ludwik raised an eyebrow, voice cool as ice. “You keep changing my doctor’s orders—just for a girl? What happened to your Hippocratic oath, Shane? Guess I’m not your brother anymore, huh?”

He’d never seen a grown man this dramatic before.

Shane gritted his teeth. “With how petty you are, if you actually win Whitney over, I’ll change my last name to yours. Seriously, help me out here. If I can’t get with Sandy, trust me, she’ll be glued to Whitney, and you’ll have zero chance anyway.”

...

Damn it, he had a point.

Ludwik knew exactly what was up.

He wasn’t mad at Shane, just annoyed that Whitney was spending all her time and energy on someone else. “You’re hopeless, Shane. Whitney’s a saint for even trying to set you up. You’re thirty-something and still can’t talk to women. If I put Sandy right in front of you, what’s the use? You’ll just mess it up.”

“…Still better than you.”

Shane all but growled, shooting a glance at Ludwik’s muscular legs and letting out a mocking laugh. “At least I look good and work just fine. You? All show, no go.”

“I don’t waste chances on hopeless cases. If you’re too dumb to date, nobody can help you.”

Shane held back, barely. “If I get Sandy, Whitney might finally notice you.”

“…”

Ludwik wanted to strangle him.

Just then, Whitney walked in. Ludwik shot Shane a look, and the two men quickly teamed up.

“Whitney, Shane insists on driving me home—says he won’t rest easy otherwise,” Ludwik announced smoothly.

Whitney’s eyes flicked between the two of them. She wasn’t stupid.

She glanced at Shane, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Well, Sandy’s coming by later. If these two gentlemen help out, little Ben can get home safe too.”

“Whitney, you’re the best!” Shane piped up, shooting Ludwik a cold glare behind her back.