Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Whitney stumbled out of the hospital, her heart heavy and her mind a whirlwind of confusion. The last look Ludwik gave her haunted her, playing over and over in her head. She pressed her fingers against her wrist, feeling for her pulse as she tried to make sense of the past month. Had there been any signs?

No, there hadn't been anything out of the ordinary. Except for the day her father had an accident when she was diagnosed with gastritis after fainting from an acute episode. And then there was that night after eating some dodgy fast food that left her with stomach cramps. Later, she had some hormonal issues causing minor bleeding.

But if she had really miscarried, wouldn't there have been more pain, more blood, something more than just a slight discomfort? A real miscarriage would have involved severe pain and heavy bleeding, often requiring medical intervention.

"Driver, could you stop at TriMed Hospital?" Whitney said, looking up from her phone's map. She needed answers and was determined to get them even if it meant going to another hospital for a more thorough check-up. She chose TriMed because it was nearby and wanted to ensure she wasn't missing anything critical.

The doctor at TriMed, based on the ultrasound, had given her what felt like a death sentence. Yet, Whitney couldn't shake the feeling that Ludwik's assumption of her pregnancy was odd. After the check, the doctor confirmed her body was in good condition, with no signs of a recent pregnancy or any surgical procedure that would indicate a miscarriage.

Relieved but still confused, Whitney left the hospital with mixed feelings. If she had been carrying Ludwik's child, she wouldn't have ended the pregnancy as he had coldly suggested. She wasn't heartless. But neither would she have been happy about it. Pregnancy, at this point, would have been a disaster, dragging her into an abyss from which there would be no escape.

As Whitney left, a shadowy figure sneaked into the hospital, making a secretive phone call. "Ms. Sheldon, you were right. Whitney went for another check-up on her own after the fallout with Ludwik. Don't worry, we've got the doctor in our pocket. She won't find out about the pregnancy or the fact that the embryo was already extracted."

Florence, standing by her window, smiled darkly at the news. The child growing inside her was Whitney's, a secret no one would uncover. A child born into privilege, carrying Ludwik's legacy but also forever tied to Florence. She was determined to love this child as her own, despite its origins.

Back at Delight Mansion, Whitney's return was met with concern from Tiana and Bryce. Tiana rambled on about Ludwik's early morning antics, cursing her naivety for thinking he had any intentions of making amends.

Bryce, trying to calm the situation, reassured Whitney that Ludwik's actions were unfounded. "It's all a misunderstanding on his part. Let him believe what he wants if it means he'll finally leave you alone."

Tiana, puzzled by the talk of pregnancy, was shocked. "Wait, you were pregnant with Ludwik's child?" Bryce quickly covered, insisting it was all a delusion on Ludwik's part.

However, Tiana recalled a moment a month ago when Ludwik had oddly insisted on protecting Whitney from alcohol and medication, hinting at a possible pregnancy even though Whitney had found no evidence of it herself.

As the truth and the lies intertwined, Whitney couldn't help but wonder about the child that might have been, lost before she even knew of its existence.

Tiana pulled out the medical report from TriMed Hospital, her mind swirling with doubts. "This can't be right. Hospital results can't just be wrong..."

"Oh... so Ludwik's lost his marbles then! Whitney, don't worry about it, I didn't mean to stir anything up. You don't owe Ludwik a baby. What right does he have to expect anything from you? Don't stress yourself over this. Whatever he thinks is his problem, not yours. I doubt you could ever forgive him anyway."

With that, Tiana tried to offer some comfort.

Bryce squinted, pinching the bridge of his nose before speaking with gravity, "Ms. Melford, Whitney and Ludwik have had it out this morning. She's definitely not forgiving him!

And there's something I want to

make clear here and now. Whitney and are together now, and we're planning on walking down the aisle. So, please, let's not bring up people who don't matter anymore. It just makes everyone uncomfortable, especially Whitney. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Ah?!"novelbin

Tiana's face was a picture of confusion...