Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"Doc gave the green light, but Danny was bawling his eyes out looking for you, so we just hung around waiting," Ludwik's towering figure rose, handing over the mushy little bundle that was Danny. "Mind holding him for a sec? I'll pull the car around."

Whitney immediately took Danny into her arms. Despite the little guy's lean frame, she had been feeding him well enough to turn him into a little chunk. She pressed her cheek against his forehead, relieved to find his fever seemed to have broken.

At that moment, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Danny," Whitney whispered, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Danny, feeling utterly blissful on his mommy's shoulder, decided to play possum.

However, once in the car, he genuinely fell into a deep sleep.

The sleek Land Rover cruised out of the hospital, the city's neon lights casting silhouettes through the windows. The autumn breeze was crisp, yet the inside of the car was cozy and warm.

Ludwik's deep-set eyes caught Whitney's tender embrace of their son in the rearview mirror. She had carefully tucked her long hair behind her ear to avoid it falling on Danny's face, revealing her graceful neck. There was a soft, feminine aura about her that Ludwik found profoundly beautiful and

serene.

It was a moment so perfect he wished time could stand still.

If possible, he yearned to spend the rest of his life with her, hell as the price for afterlife be damned.

But his current condition had robbed him of that right.

Half an hour later, the Land Rover pulled into the driveway of Ludwik's modest two-story house.

Whitney looked puzzled. "Didn't Danny say he was living with his grandma? Didn't you take him there?"

Ludwik answered honestly, "We did, for a few days. But grandma's place is a bit far, and since I've been taking care of Danny these past few days, we stayed at this villa nearby."

He got out of the car, his long legs carrying him gracefully over to open Whitney's door, taking Danny into his arms, "Let me, he's getting heavy, and I don't want you to strain yourself."

Whitney didn't protest. Standing in the night air, she frowned, "Since Danny's asleep, you should get him changed. I should head out." She had moved into Bryce's place, deciding to build a life with him. Hanging around Ludwik, especially alone, didn't seem appropriate.

Ludwik's eyes narrowed slightly, lost for words, "But the doc said Danny's fever might come back, and what if his injuries from the accident get infected? I'm not exactly a whiz at dressing wounds, how would I manage?"

Whitney glared at him, torn.

After a moment, her heart softened. She was, after all, trained in traditional medicine, and she felt more at ease overseeing Danny's care. She eventually followed Ludwik inside.

Upstairs, Ludwik laid Danny on the master bed, and Whitney fetched some water to wash his face and limbs.

"Whitney, why don't you crash in the guest room next door? I'll keep an eye on him," Ludwik suggested gently.

"And what good would that do? You just said you can't even dress a wound," Whitney shot back with a light scoff, instructing, "Leave the thermometer and fever medicine here. You go sleep next door. I'll watch over him."

Ludwik, not wanting to push her away, nodded and left.

Whitney stood by the bed, surveying Ludwik's bedroom. It was unmistakably his style-simple, masculine, without a trace of female presence.

But that wasn't her main concern; the real issue was she couldn't just climb into bed... And seriously, no couch?

She wondered if Ludwik had done this on purpose.

Left with no choice, she sat on the floor by the bed, sending Bryce a text to cover her absence: "Bryce, won't be home tonight. Got tied up with work and I'll crash here."

After sending the text, she felt a wave of guilt.

It felt like she was some wife sneaking out for the night.

But then she saw Danny's peaceful, sleeping face, and her maternal instincts kicked back in, unable to bear the thought of not being there for her little one at a time like this.

Sitting turned into slouching, and soon, weariness overcame her, leading her to doze off by the bed.

Just as she was about to fall into a deeper sleep, the bedroom door creaked open.

Ludwik's steady footsteps approached.

Whitney's eyelashes fluttered, but she kept her eyes closed, hoping to avoid an awkward encounter.

After all, it was just the two of them. What was she supposed to say to Ludwik now?

And why was he coming back in?

A bit annoyed and lost in thought, Ludwik's towering presence loomed over her. Then, suddenly, she was lifted and gently placed on the other side of the bed, away from Danny.

Startled, Whitney's eyes flew open, ready to scold, but then she caught the warmth in Ludwik's gaze, his hand reaching for her shirt buttons in a misguided attempt to make her comfortable.

"...Ludwik, what on earth are you doing?" she snapped, gripping his hand tightly, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"I thought you were asleep," Ludwik murmured, his voice husky, fingers paused at her chest. "You're overdressed and the room's set at a cozy temperature. I didn't want you to overheat... I was just trying to help."

"Help? Did I ask for help?" Whitney's voice rose, her cheeks burning as she pushed his hand away. "You just assume you can go around undressing people without permission. Typical."

Ludwik looked at her, a shadow passing through his deep eyes, "Whitney, if I didn't know better, I'd think you're jealous. I've never undressed anyone but you."

"Enough!" Whitney's frustration peaked, pushing him away, "Let me up."

"It's late. You might as well stay," Ludwik's gaze softened, tracing the lines of her face, "You were about to sleep uncomfortably. Stay in bed."noveldrama

Caught in the dim light, their proximity and the unresolved tension left words hanging in the air, unspoken but palpably felt.

Whitney instantly felt the awkwardness wash over her. Great, just what she needed.

Wasn't he supposed to be out of commission? Why the heck was his Adam's apple bobbing like that?

"I don't want to sleep," she grumbled, irritation creeping into her voice. "And I'm certainly not getting into your bed."

"Oh, come on. It's not like it's your first time in my bed," Ludwik retorted, his voice huskier than usual. He quirked an eyebrow, trying to keep his composure. But on this rare night alone with her, the thick layer of unspoken tension and longing was unmistakable in his gaze.

Feeling his bold stare, Whitney's cheeks instantly flared with heat.