Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 548

Ludwik jerked his hand away as the cigarette ash burned his finger, his actions freezing in shock!

In front of Jason, Florence began to cry, her voice choked with emotion, “Jason Lippert, Ludwik, I swear I'm not lying to you. This baby, it came as a surprise. It... it actually happened half a month ago, when Ludwik stayed over at my place…”

Her face turned a shade of pink, her eyes darting down, stumbling over her words in a mix of shame and anger.

“Shut up!”

Ludwik reacted as if struck by a taboo, fully aware of what had happened that night. His gaze towards Florence was icy and mocking, “Ms. Sheldon, whose child you're carrying, I have no idea! Don’t try to pin this on me. Dad, her pregnancy has nothing to do with me. That's my final word.”

Florence’s complexion turned pale, tears streaming down her face in panic, “Ludwik! How can you be so heartless? We shared a night of intimacy, and you woke up in my bed in the morning. How... how can you deny it? I was 22, never even held hands with a man before you. Until you told me you liked me, proposed to me... I had eyes only for you. After you had too much to drink, I gave myself to you. And now, faced with this pregnancy, you're throwing the blame back at me, you can't do this!”

Drunk, waking up in the same bed.

Jason caught the gist of Florence’s words, his expression growing stern, “Ludwik, a man must own up to his actions. Florence is speaking in front of me, I believe she wouldn’t concoct a lie. Half a month ago, did you or did you not stay at her place?!”

Felix’s gaze flickered, and Parker also knew deep down what had happened that day…

Yet Ludwik remained silent, his expression turning cold as he faced Florence and Jason, the corner of his mouth twisting in disdain, “If you insist on pinning this unknown child on me, here’s my answer. I won’t accept this child. Except for Whitney's child, I acknowledge no other. Better get rid of it. If it’s born, I might as well end it! Or wait three months for a paternity test, hoping you miscarry?”

His merciless words were like daggers to Florence, slashing across her heart and face, leaving her utterly pale and slapped by his cold dismissal. He made it clear he wouldn’t take responsibility!

Florence, covering her face, collapsed to the ground, “Jason, I might as well be dead. I can’t face the Sheldon family elders, my parents, my grandparents. Ludwik, you're so cruel... you may not take responsibility for me, but this is a life, your child…”

Jason was moved, his loyalty to Ludwik notwithstanding, he felt Ludwik's attitude was too cruel!

“Ludwik, how can you say such irresponsible things?! This child is a Lippert, I will make sure it's kept. We’re in a hospital, let’s not cause a scene! You and Florence, come back to the Lippert mansion with me, and we'll discuss this matter properly!”

Before Ludwik could retort, his father grabbed his arm, turning his head to whisper sternly, “Ludwik, you haven't seen the news. You don’t know the mess Mrs. Sheldon has made! West City is fanning the flames... you understand? The reason I had to come find you is that this has blown up. As the CEO of Lippert Group, shareholders and financiers are all watching how you handle this. You were on the verge of breaking the law today, do you even realize? Come back and sort this out, do you want to ruin the reputation and prestige of the Lippert family in one fell swoop?”

Ludwik’s lips thinned. With his father speaking so, under such pressure, he felt he had no choice. From that moment on, all he could think about was Whitney, the thought of her causing true panic. What if she found out? He couldn’t even begin to imagine her reaction, his heart filled with pain and a sense of helplessness spreading through him. He had no idea what news had broken out.