Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 374

In the hospital.

Elaine heard the steady footsteps and immediately lowered her eyes, feigning a look of silent tears and despair.

Ashton was still earnestly pleading, "Elaine, please, take care of yourself. You can't just let your wrist bleed out like that!"

"Ashton, I don't want to be treated anymore. No matter how much I beg Ludwik, he won't come to see me. My heart is breaking, I might as well be dead."

"What are you talking about..."

"Then go ahead and die!" Ludwik stormed into the room with long strides, his tone icy and inexplicably furious.

"Are you even speaking like a human, you monster!"

Ashton turned around, unable to hold back, and threw a punch in anger, pointing at the tearful Elaine, "Elaine is hurt today, and whose fault is that? Isn't it because of your rejection?"

"Sob... Ludwik, since you say so, then I..."

Elaine looked up, her face pale and tragic as she attempted to throw herself against the wall.

Ludwik's gaze softened when he saw the blood staining her jeans from her thigh and the bloody marks on her pristine wrists.

At first, he suspected Whitney was right, that she was just putting on an act.

But at this moment, as she moved to hit the wall, spurred by his provocation, it seemed all too real.

With a heavy sigh, Ludwik rushed to stop her.

"Sob, Ludwik!" Elaine took the opportunity to cling to him in despair.

"Calm down, Elaine!"

Ludwik tried to pull away, his brows furrowed, annoyed by her touch, especially since he had promised Whitney...

"Do you really despise her that much? Let go of her! Look at her, all bloodied and bruised from being thrown down the stairs. Ludwik, do you have to be so harsh? Elaine is fragile and pitiful. What did she do wrong? You say you won't marry her, and that's it? I bet you think it's because the Bartels family isn't what it used to be, that she has no one backing her up. Well, let me tell you, Ludwik, I'm her support, and with me, Ashton, around, you won't be able to ditch her that easily..."

Ashton's voice thundered without restraint.

Elaine smirked internally, weakly sobbing, "Ashton... don't provoke Ludwik like that. The wedding is my fault; I'm the one who dragged Ludwik down."

"But you were forced into sleeping with Jarvis! Elaine was coerced into cheating, she was Jarvis's puppet! And let's not forget, you haven't touched her in three years. As a normal woman, she has her needs. What era are we living in that you can sleep around and then expect her to be a virgin? Is that why you called off the wedding?"

"Ashton!" Ludwik's eyes darkened, chilling, "Calling off the wedding has nothing to do with that video. Why don't you ask her what she and Jarvis did."

"I know!" Ashton, completely swayed by Elaine, scoffed, "Kidnapping Danny, stealing chips, but she was coerced by Jarvis. She's a gentle woman, only wanting the best for you. How could she harbor any ill intentions towards your family! Why don't you think about it, Ludwik? If Elaine really had bad intentions, why would she have donated a kidney to save your mom three years ago? Everyone values their own life. Anyway, I've known Elaine since she saved me from the icy lake as a kid. She's a good person! You're just swayed by Whitney, unable to see who truly cares for you!"

Ludwik frowned, looking at the injured Elaine. She looked pitiful, and after all, it was because of her love for him that she lost a kidney and tortured herself this way!

Did he have a responsibility for Elaine hurting herself? Yes.

But what was his fault? He simply didn't want to marry because he had seen her true colors, not as kind as he thought.

"Elaine was forced to sabotage your company, and you're using that as a reason to break up. What about Whitney? She also collaborated with Jarvis, bringing you those bribe documents. Doesn't she harbor ill intentions towards you?"

"She ultimately didn't go through with it," Ludwik retorted, his lips tight.

Ashton laughed loudly, "Are you kidding me, Ludwik? You're blinded by her! After how she treated you three years ago, you're grateful she didn't betray you this time? How do you know it wasn't Whitney playing a long game? At least the bribe documents prove she harbors resentment towards you, with no good intentions!"

Ludwik was exhausted, his handsome face numb.

Elaine kept throwing herself at him, and he couldn’t let go; if he did, her injured leg would hit the floor.

The man coldly said, “Lie down and get your wounds treated first!”

“No, Ludwik, if you don’t agree, I don’t even want this leg…” Elaine’s voice trembled as she clung to his arm, tears streaming down her face.

-

Ashton was outside, smoking and tending to the wound Ludwik had given him.

At the entrance of the emergency room, his eyes caught Whitney, who, along with her best friend and child, was waiting for an IV.

In that moment, Ashton remembered Elaine’s tearful request, “Ashton, after Ludwik visits me at the hospital tonight, could you please talk to Ms. Valentine privately? I had no other choice; as long as Ms. Valentine keeps Ludwik on a leash, he will abandon me. I’m forced to defend my love.”

It was all Whitney’s fault, her return had been disrupting the relationship between Elaine and Ludwik.

Ashton flicked off his cigarette butt, his gaze turning cold, and he walked over to grab Whitney by the wrist.

“Hey… Ashton?” Whitney turned around in surprise, her wrist caught, and her face cooled a notch.

“What do you want?”

“You shameless woman, won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin, huh? I’ll show you a real drama!”

With a cold smirk, Ashton completely ignored Whitney and Tiana's struggles, dragging the woman swiftly towards Elaine’s hospital room!