Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 99

The sting at the core of her chest was impossible to suppress.

Elaine nudged the brawny arm of the man beside her, "Bro, look who's here—Whitney!"

Ludwik's face stiffened, his deep-set eyes quickly turning cold and eager as they swept over the diminutive figure approaching them.

His gaze narrowed slightly, a flicker of astonishment passing through.

Whitney had not dressed up, simply wearing a black V-neck evening gown, no high heels, her hair soft and cascading down her shoulders. She stood there like a fairy, her delicate features stunningly beautiful, her skin smooth and almost translucent. A subtle pink blush adorned her cheeks, probably from her blusher.

Just standing there, she had already drawn the attention of numerous men.

Ludwik's expression turned to ice. He had not seen her for days, and the image of her had thinned considerably.

Taryn mentioned she had not been eating well.

Seeing Ludwik transfixed, Elaine swallowed hard, her hand tightening into a fist.

"Bro, did Whitney come to see you? I'll go check on her," Elaine offered with a conspiratorial wink, suggesting she would help him gauge Whitney's mood.

Ludwik’s approval was evident in his satisfied nod.

Elaine quickly approached Whitney, concern lacing her voice as she said, "Whitney, you finally made it. I was starting to worry about you and Bro. What's going on?"

Whitney's brows knitted in concern, but a hidden triumph gleamed in her eyes—she had not missed a thing.

Moving closer, Elaine continued, "Don't worry, Bro’s been working these past few days with me. That night, he got drunk; it was me who took care of him all night. No other woman took advantage of him!"

Elaine's playful smile was sharp, her eyes gleaming.

Whitney could hardly miss the hostility. Elaine was finally dropping her harmless facade, her provocations becoming more overt.

Whitney glanced at the cold man in the distance. She would not be fooled. Elaine was trying to incite a fight.

Her eyes narrowed into a chilly smile as she said, "With you taking care of him, I'm quite at ease. After all, L himself told me I needn't be jealous of anyone, especially you. He sees you as a sister. Besides, you might look after him for a day, but I'm the one who'll be caring for him for a lifetime. We have endless moments of affection to count."

Elaine's face tightened, but she maintained a placid smile. "That's wonderful, Whitney. No misunderstanding, then. Bro’s over there; shall I take you to him?"

Her offer seemed kind but was laced with insinuation—'take her to him.' Whitney locked eyes with Elaine, a cold laugh bubbling inside her. "Couples meet when they wish; no need to trouble you, Ms. Elaine."

Elaine got the message loud and clear.

She walked away with a smile, her fists clenched. Whitney was proving challenging to provoke. If Whitney had just slapped her, Ludwik would definitely give her hell tonight.

Nevertheless, Elaine had other plans. Returning to Ludwik, she urged with feigned concern, "Bro, Whitney seems upset, unwilling to talk to me. Maybe you should go and charm her?"

At the suggestion, Ludwik's gaze snapped to Whitney's solitary figure. His face turned stormy, a cold laugh escaping him. "Am I out of my mind? That kind of fickle woman is better off gone!"

Pride and possessiveness burned fiercely in him, especially for someone of his standing with an ego so formidable.

He could not tolerate any hint of flirtation or deceit.

Elaine's spirits lifted at his response, her eyes shifting to Hannah, signaling her with a glance.

Hannah immediately slipped into the crowd, intent on Ludwik, having also spotted Whitney. Elaine whispered slyly, "Hannah, I'm only Big Bro's date tonight to keep an eye out for you, but Whitney's here, and his heart seems preoccupied with her. So, you might want to..."

Whitney scoffed at their antics, alone and unabashed, her gaze instinctively seeking out L.

The man noticed the commotion at the party, but he was still chatting away with his buddy, cool as a cucumber.

Whitney's brows furrowed with hurt, and with a cold glance towards Hannah, she grabbed a couple of glasses of wine from a passing waiter. Without wasting words, she doused Mrs. Wendt, Hannah, and Scarlett in succession, their elegant gowns now soaked.

Silence fell upon the immediate vicinity, which was promptly broken by Hannah's shrill scream, “Whitney! Have you lost your mind? How dare you splash us like that!”

Whitney cracked a smile, her eyes flashing with reckless danger. “Right, I've gone mad, haven't you heard? Kidnapped and left with a mental scar messed me up. I'm sharp in business but not so much in playing nice, especially when faced with provocations from two-faced sirens. I meet one, and I fight one; if they come in twos, I'll take them on together.”

With that, Whitney reached out and grabbed a handful of Hannah's hair.

Hannah was stunned, her strapless gown restricting her movements, making her easy to topple.

Elaine watched the drama unfold from afar, her ears catching every word. Whitney's takedown of Hannah seemed like a stern warning to the rest.

Hannah was her pawn, and clearly, Whitney knew it. This was a slap to Elaine's face, her lips pressing in a cold smirk.

But then she saw Mrs. Wendt and Scarlett jump into the fray, yanking at Whitney's hair.

It looked like a brawl was about to break out when Whitney looked towards L with an icy stare. He turned around...

Suddenly, a surge of strength emerged beside her, and Bryce's refined hand pulled her to safety. “What in the world is going on here? Ms. Valentine, are you alright?” Bryce asked with concern.

He immediately positioned her behind him, shielding her.