Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Could anyone truly challenge him now, with the power and influence he wielded at his fingertips?

Whitney shook off the distracting thoughts, annoyed at herself for zoning out. She snapped back to reality, hoping to explore further for any signs of an escape route.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from the distance, making Whitney think a hurricane was approaching.

But as she emerged from the palm trees, she realized it was a helicopter slicing through the sky.

...Could it be Ludwik returning so soon?

Bryce strode out of the helicopter on the sandy beach, followed by a group of people rushing out of the cabin.

Dressed in an elegant navy blue suit, his dark hair slightly tousled by the wind, his gentle eyes landed on Whitney with a flash of cold hardness, followed by a wave of complex emotions, and finally, sheer joy.

“Whitney... I'm here! After a whole month, I've finally found you."

Bryce rushed towards Whitney.

Frozen in place, Whitney was taken aback to see Bryce.

When Ludwik had taken her, she'd fantasized about Bryce coming to her rescue, but since the night she and Ludwik... she'd lost all hope.

Yet, here was Bryce, in flesh and blood.

Staring blankly, her eyes red, "Bryce..."

But before Bryce could reach her, the island's butler and servants hurried over, blocking Whitney, shouting, "Who are you, daring to trespass here? This is our madam, and nobody is taking her away!"

“Madam?” Bryce's eyes darkened, as if pierced by a spike.

His thin lips curled into a cold sneer, "Whitney is my lawful wife. You'd better let her go. A laughable madam?

Let me tell you, your boss has been arrested."

The butler froze. Mr. Lippert arrested?

Before he could recover, Bryce's bodyguards quickly subdued the unarmed maids.

"Whitney, you don't know how worried I've been, how much I've missed you."

Bryce rushed to embrace her tightly, his trembling fingers gently touching her cheek, though his gaze quickly turned cold.

This past month had been torture for him, living in humiliation as if being flayed alive, numbing himself with alcohol.

And her?

To his dismay, she looked even more radiant than before their wedding, her skin soft and supple, her cheeks slightly fuller. Ludwik must have taken good care of her... fed her well, made sure she was comfortable, even pampered her... extensively!

A deep hatred slowly brewed in Bryce's heart.

While he was in agony, she was hiding on this island, living a carefree life with Ludwik, indulging in forbidden pleasures...

He couldn't bear to think further. Looking at her pale, beautiful face, he wanted to ask her, Whitney, how could you be so heartless, so shameless? Do you even remember I am your husband?noveldrama

Yet, he never voiced these thoughts.

Bryce clenched his fists, pulling her closer to express his intense longing.

Whitney, feeling his tense embrace, was still in shock.

She was relieved yet overwhelmed with guilt.

In Bryce's arms, she stiffened, feeling tainted.

Especially with him holding her so close, she felt utterly lost and uncomfortable.

"Bryce..." her voice choked, her face a mix of embarrassment and agony, "I'm sorry, I..."

"Silly, as long as you're okay, we can talk about everything else later." Bryce's voice softened, yet filled with sorrow.

Tears welled up in Whitney's eyes as she instinctively asked, "How did you find me? Bryce, you mentioned Ludwik is going to jail, what happened?"

Bryce paused, then suddenly let her go, a dark shadow falling over his eyes as he stared at her, "You're asking about Ludwik? Are you worried about him?"

"I wasn't..."

Whitney was startled by his icy gaze, a look she'd never seen before.

So cold.

"I'm sorry, did I scare you?" Bryce realized his slip, immediately embracing her again, his tone becoming gentle but pained.

12

"I didn't want to be like this, Whitney, but this past month has been too hard. I've been living a nightmare, blaming myself for being useless, which led to Ludwik taking you I'm chied scared that spending every day with him, you might rekindle old feelings and decide to leave me..

Whitney's heart sank deeper with each word, her guilt unbearable as she struggled to explain, "Bryce, I'm really sorry, I..."

Thinking of her encounters with Ludwik made her despair, wishing she could slap herself.

She felt utterly unworthy of facing Bryce, especially after their wedding night, with Ludwik...

The more she thought, the paler Whitney turned, her head drooping, even attempting to pull away from Bryce, fearing she would contaminate him. "Stop this, Whitney, I believe it's not your fault. Stop crying.

Let's leave this place as soon as possible. Your uncle and friends have been worried sick."

Bryce quickly ushered her towards the helicopter.

Even on board, Whitney was in a daze, struggling to breathe, somewhat out of it.

Was she really rescued by Bryce? She looked down at the vast ocean below, the island shrinking to a speck in the distance.

She was saved, leaving that place behind.

But everything felt too late, as if she could never pretend nothing had happened.

Finally collecting herself, Whitney, holding a cup of warm water, asked with furrowed brows, "Bryce, can you tell me what exactly happened outside?

How did you find this place? And where are we now?"

"We're on one of the most secluded

et

islands in Hawaii, purchased by Ludwik two months ago under a different dentity, which is why your uncle and I couldn't track you down. I found this place because we alerted the police that he had kidnapped my wife."

Bryce gently draped his jacket over Whitney's shoulders, a trace of guilt flickering in his eyes. "Whitney, I

wanted to call the cops that dayet

really did. But when Ludwik took you, he used my folks as leverage They're getting on in years, and he had them tied up, right there in his private jet.

I was terrified they'd get hurt if I didn't comply. They're the only family I've got. I couldn't take that risk."

A chill crept over Whitney. Ludwik had outright told her he'd threatened Bryce using his family. But the thought of those two elderly people bound up

on a plane was monstrous!

"Bryce, were your parents okay that day?"

Bryce's voice was heavy. "My mom... her heart couldn't take the stress. Whitney, I would've gone to the authorities in a heartbeat if it wasn't for that."

Whitney clenched her fists tightly. "But you've gone to the police now. If he... I heard the Lippert Group's new chip is about to hit the market. It's supposed to be the best in the world, Ludwik's stock is going to skyrocket..."

"Karma's a bitch," Bryce cut in. "The Lippert family's chip launch tanked. The data got wiped. Gone in an instant."

Whitney's eyes widened in disbelief.