Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1161

Outside the hallway window, daylight faded into a dim, gray dusk. At last, there came a sharp click—the hospital room door swung open.

A tired-looking resident stepped out and spotted the two little kids shivering by the door, both pale and hungry but stubbornly refusing to leave. The doctor sighed quietly to herself and said gently, “Hey, boys, could you get a couple of nurses? Ms. Valentine is wiped out in there. She could use some help—maybe someone to wipe the sweat from her forehead.”

“Mom?” Sammy’s voice trembled with worry as he tried to peer into the room.

Inside, Whitney stood frozen at the operating table, barely able to move. Her bladder ached from holding it too long, and her muscles screamed in protest.

Sweat beaded her pale cheeks and soaked her surgical mask. She pulled it down and forced a smile for her sons. “I finished the acupuncture and closed up the points. After that, the doctors made a small incision to drain her lungs. The surgery’s done now—she can breathe so much easier.”

Whitney’s voice was soft but hopeful. “As long as she can breathe, her brain and limbs can develop normally. Sammy, Danny—if all goes well, your little sister’s going to be okay. She’ll finally start putting on some weight.”

“Thank you, Mom!”

“Mom, you worked so hard! Look, your hair’s all soaked! Don’t move, don’t move—I’ll get you a clean towel!” Danny’s eyes were bright red with relief and excitement as he spun around, nearly tripping over himself, and dashed down the hall. “Nurse! Nurse, my mom needs help!”

Whitney couldn’t help but smile, exasperated and touched by her older son’s outburst.

Truth was, she really did need help. Supported by a nurse, Whitney finally managed to shuffle her stiff legs toward the restroom to deal with her own urgent needs.

Just then, Sammy grabbed her purse from a nearby chair and hurried over, frowning in concern. “Mom, your phone’s ringing again. It rang a little while ago, too. I checked the screen—it’s Uncle Shane.”

Sammy hadn’t dared answer it himself.

Whitney, pressing a hand to her aching stomach, walked out into the hallway. She stripped off her gloves and wiped her hands carefully with a sanitizing wipe.

She didn’t even have time to wipe the sweat from her face. Why was Shane calling and not Ludwik or Parker? She’d reached out to Ludwik earlier, and he’d always call her back once he was done with business.

“I—I need you to brace yourself,” Shane stammered, taking a deep breath. Suddenly, his tone turned sharp, almost frantic. “Ludwik’s in trouble.”

“What?” Whitney straightened, a chill running through her so fast it seemed to freeze the sweat on her skin. “What are you talking about? Wasn’t he heading to the Justice Department to testify?”

“Testify? Bryce was being transferred to prison, and someone—God knows who—broke him out. There was a shootout. One SWAT officer’s dead. Ludwik heard the news and dropped everything—he literally stopped the board meeting and rushed out to confront Bryce himself. He took a helicopter. I couldn’t even keep up with him.

“It happened on Bayview Way. That’s right over the Saltland Island bay. Cross the water, and you’re at the state line.

“You remember what happened to Parker out there, right? It’s a deadly spot.

“I just got a call from Parker. He said Ludwik’s badly hurt. He’s been brought back.

“And the people who broke Bryce out—who the hell are they? I don’t even dare ask if Ludwik managed to catch him…”