Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1122

Ludwik saw Whitney's face as pale as a ghost, and without a second thought, he hoisted her onto his back. His strong physique made trekking through the dense forest seem effortless.

Whitney's eyes were wet with tears. The only thing that steadied her swirling emotions was the rhythmic thump of Ludwik's heartbeat through his sturdy back.

Choking back her sobs, she said, "It's all my fault for being so clueless. If only I had realized sooner that she was my mom."

"Whitney, everything happened so suddenly. I bet Bryce was planning something shady, but your mom caught on way quicker than he expected. They turned desperate, leaving no choice but to risk it all."

"Florence, Bryce—these two need to be locked up for good."

A single tear slipped from her eye, landing among Ludwik's short, bristly hair like a heavy stone.

Her anguish pained him, "Whitney, I promise, I will."

"Mr. Lippert!" A bodyguard ahead called back, shining his flashlight into the thicket on the hillside. "I found a trail through the bushes. Someone's gone up this way."

"Follow the trail to the top!" Ludwik quickly changed direction.

"My dad mentioned there's a cave at the top of the hill. They tied up my mom inside the mountain. There's not many places to hide; they must've gone into the cave."

"Alright, let's move fast." Ludwik picked up the pace, still carrying her effortlessly.

The moonlight broke through at the hilltop, making the forest less of a shadowy cover. From afar, a cave-like formation was visible on the rock face. Whitney slid off Ludwik’s back, her eyes fixed coldly on the entrance, "That's it! My mom's in there..."

Her heart pounding with urgency, she made a break for it.

"Let me see." Ludwik moved to the stone platform, trying to soothe the nearly hysterical Whitney. "Don't panic."

"Something's happened to her... Florence, Bryce! Come out, you monsters! Give me back my mom!"

Whitney was beyond rational thought, her tear-filled eyes blazing with fury. She turned, searching frantically, noticing the cave extended further in.

"Bryce, Florence!" Her voice was as cold as ice, as she prepared to delve deeper.

Just then—

Footsteps echoed behind them, a group of officers poured into the cave, calling out as they searched, "Listen up, we're the police! Stop right there! Nobody move!"