Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Whitney hardly ever saw him like this; the memory that stuck with her the most was three years ago, when Natalie ended up in a coma, and he had one of his episodes. During those times, his face would twist with rage, and he'd seem almost bloodthirsty.

He was breathing heavily, hands pressed on his temples, clearly in agony. She couldn't even speak to him, too scared to make a sound. Ding Ding-

Her phone vibrated. Whitney sneakily took it out to see a message from Bryce.

[Whitney, I don't know why he thinks you're carrying his child, or if he's having one of his episodes, imagining you're pregnant to keep you from leaving. He's taking you to the hospital now, probably to check if the 'baby' is still there. I might have impulsively made things worse... I provoked him, told him you got rid of the child. Sorry, he seems to have lost it! But if you want him to give up on you for good, I think it might just be the radical solution we need.]novelbin

Whitney's grip on her phone tightened. Everything felt so surreal-how could she be pregnant? She touched her stomach, feeling nothing. Why would Ludwik think she was pregnant? Was Bryce right in guessing he was delusional, on the verge of another episode? Or was this an excuse, a desperate attempt to keep her? Her mind was a mess, her gaze fixed on the last line of Bryce's message: it might just be the radical solution we need.

She didn't want this endless cycle of manipulation and oppression. Tears started to fill her eyes. She held her breath.

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Ludwik seemed to come back to life, coldly getting out of the car. He came around to Whitney's side, opened the door, and without waiting for her to speak, he forcibly lifted her out. "Felix, clear out the ER, get the OB/GYN down here." His voice was clear, but his breath made one shiver involuntarily.

In his arms, Whitney could feel the strong beat of his heart, cold and unyielding. She chose to remain silent, enduring his bizarre actions. Soon, the ER was cleared out. In the OB/GYN examination room, the female doctor waited nervously, immediately preparing the bed when the tall man entered. Ludwik placed the silently protesting woman on the bed.

"...Ludwik, should we start with a blood test or an ultrasound?"

"Which one is quicker?"

"Considering you mentioned the patient is about a month pregnant, an ultrasound might not be very clear; it could be inaccurate. A detailed ultrasound might take a bit longer."

"Do the blood test." He moved to the window, chain-smoking, his icy gaze fixed on the needle entering Whitney's arm.

The results were rushed. Minutes later, the female doctor came in with the papers, her eyes darting between the man by the window and Whitney on the bed.

"Ms. Valentine... your hCG levels are normal..."

“Ludwik, Ms. Valentine's hCG levels are not consistent with early pregnancy. This means..."

"Means what?" Ludwik's ears rang, his voice sounding distant to him. His cigarette ash fell to the ground as he breathed heavily.

"What does it mean, speak up."

Felix closed his eyes tightly. The doctor went pale. "It means Ms. Valentine isn't pregnant, or the embryo is no longer viable."

Whitney lowered her head, touching her stomach. She racked her brain, wondering if she had ever been pregnant. She was sure she hadn't been; otherwise, how could she be unaware?

Ludwik crushed his cigarette on the desk, leaving a burn mark, his arm knocking over a water glass. Whitney's heart skipped a beat. In the next moment, he stormed over, pulling her off the bed, dragging her upstairs without care for her balance, muttering, "Quacks! Your tests are inaccurate, we're going to a specialist. Whitney, we're going to a proper OB/GYN. The child must still be there, just not detectable right now."

"Ludwik, please don't..."

"Are you happy? Is this what you wanted? To be rid of me? You'd better hope the child is still there, otherwise... I don't know what I might do."

His eyes were filled with rage, a terrifying sight. He pushed her into another examination room, insisting on an ultrasound. After half an hour, several ultrasound results lay before Ludwik. The doctors stood in line, petrified by his gaze.

Ludwik let out a hollow laugh. "Give me some good news, tell me the child is still there."

Silence. Ludwik turned, his glare

menacing. The head of OB/GYN had

to speak up. "Ludwik, we're not

I

aware of the lady's previous condition, she hasn't been to our hospital before. We can only be responsible for the results of her examination today. This lady upon ultrasound inspection, shows no signs of pregnancy. Whether it was a natural miscarriage or surgical intervention, a comprehensive examination of the uterus is needed. But it's certain, right now, there's no sign of an embryo."

Whitney got off the bed, facing the man whose face was twisted in despair. She could feel his anguish, trying to calm him, "Ludwik, I told you I couldn't possibly be carrying your child..."

"Couldn't possibly be carrying my child? Because you couldn't bear it? Bryce said you'd deny it; seems like it was indeed your shame, because it was mine?"

"I can't communicate with you, I'm not pregnant and that's that... ah." His grip tightened around her neck. His imposing figure loomed over her, his eyes filled with a terrifying storm.

Ludwik shook his head, laughing

bitterly. "I never realized you hated me this much. To the point where you'd disregard even a small life. Whitney, is your heart made of stone? We had something real, we were in love, and you mercilessly killed our child. Everything you say is a lier When did you even find out you were pregnant? You watched me, sneaking around, filling up with hope for this child, and you thought you'd get back at me? While I was away these past two weeks, you just got rid of the child, all so you could marry Bryce, right? How could you be so cold-hearted...so cruel? I'll make you wish you were never born. You owe me for my child, pay up!"

Whitney couldn't take it anymore. His stubborn accusations and loss of control made her lose hers too. Struggling, she grabbed his arm, shaking him off. "So what if I did it Yes, I wanted to see you suffer, wanted revenge! You want

compensation for the e

who compensates me for a healthy, whole Sammy? Ludwik, it's over between us. You've caused me nothing but pain, and now I've done the same to you. We're even.

Goodbye."

Tears streamed down her face as a heart-wrenching pain numbed her features. She didn't care if he hated her, as long as she could free herself from

him.