Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Hudson's steady heartbeat reassured Bryce Lutz that the old man was simply asleep. "Well, his heart's beating at a normal pace. Must be dreaming," he mused.

The nurse, relieved, approached Bryce. "Mr. Lutz, it's getting late. Since the boss is resting, maybe you should head home to your daughter." Bryce, hands in pockets, nodded with a slight, knowing smile. "Guess I'll leave him to it then."

With a confident stride, he left the room, a determined grin playing at the corners of his mouth as he disappeared into the hall.

The next morning saw Ludwik Lippert, fresh from his hospital discharge, heading straight to work at the Lippert Group.

Jason, his father, arrived looking worse for wear, anger etched on his face as he took in the visible injuries on Ludwik. "Have you lost your mind? Go home and rest. Rushing to work straight from the hospital, are you trying to give me gray hairs?"

"Father, it's not as dramatic as you think. Besides, you were the one who always said 'bounce back quickly."

Ludwik's nonchalance as he took his seat behind the desk left Jason speechless. It was as if his son was suddenly supercharged, a stark contrast to his recent despondency.

"Was last night's brush with death a wake-up call?" Jason wondered, still shaken by the events that had unfolded at the Wilsons' gala-an explosion that had the police and fire departments scrambling, rumored to have been an assassination attempt on Ms. Miller, or perhaps a direct threat to Ludwik himself.

"Could it be the Patricks?" Jason fumed, having heard rumors of Jarvis Patrick's vendetta against Ludwik at the gala.

"Everyone knows it, but we lack proof."

Jason's fury was palpable. "The audacity of the Patricks, to come after my son, my family, after everything. They already have everything they could want; why can't they leave us in peace?"

"Father, don't dwell on it. The Patricks have always been ruthless. Last night was likely Jarvis acting out again, with Wade ready to throw Brielle under the bus to save his skin. She publicly clashed with me, after all. We'll see soon enough how this plays out."

Jason's eyes hardened. "Wade Patrick is a snake."

Ludwik, however, was already looking ahead, planning to leverage his recent ordeal into a business advantage. "I believe Phineas will see through the Patricks' schemes. I've already laid the groundwork for a partnership with Inko Group that the Patricks can't match. I'll meet with Phineas tomorrow."

Reassured, Jason left with a warning for Ludwik to stay vigilant against the Patricks' machinations.

Ludwik suspected last night's explosion involved more players than just Jarvis-perhaps even Bryce had a hand in it. The thought lingered as he opened his files for the day's work.

Soon after, Felix, his assistant, announced an unexpected visitor. "Mr. Lippert, a Miss Elodie insists on seeing you."

With a nod, Ludwik allowed her entry.

Elodie breezed into the office, her summer dress and chic blazer paired with pink heels making a statement. Her makeup was subtle yet cunning, her demeanor a mix of innocence and allure.

"Mr. Lippert!" she greeted with a familiar smile, placing a carefully dry-cleaned suit on his desk. "I wanted to thank you for saving me last night." Ludwik remained focused on his work, barely acknowledging her, leaving Felix to handle the formalities.

"But I came here for more than just thanks," Elodie continued, clearly attracted to the rugged charm Ludwik exuded, even in his state of dishevelment. Despite his indifference, Elodie was determined to win him over, captivated by his strength and authority.

This man, she decided, was worth pursuing.

Elodie took a deep breath in her mind, her dimples creating a charming smile as she moved closer, "Mr. Lippert, I truly want to repay you for saving my life.

Do you have some time? Maybe we can have lunch together. I own a little bistro in Emperor City, a gift from my dad..."

She was confident, after all, she was Ronan's daughter. Given Ludwik's current predicament, she was sure he would seize this opportunity.

But to her surprise, the man just gave her a cold glance and continued signing documents. "No need for repayment. I'm also busy."

"How about dinner then?"

Ludwik lost his patience, "Elodie, I made it clear last night. Saving you was only to avoid being hunted by your father. It had nothing to do with you personally."

Elodie was momentarily stunned. She had thought he would definitely grab the olive branch she was offering.

But this man was not swayed by her tactics at all. His eyes were like millennia-old ice, devoid of the calculating and impure thoughts typical of worldly

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Nor did it seem like he was playing hard to get.

At that moment, Elodie felt a sudden surge of affection, liking this genuine and proud man even more!