Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 216

Tiana closed the room door as Valerie sat at the bedside, handing a glass of water to Whitney.

Turning around, Tiana couldn’t help but vent her thoughts. “You know, I used to think Ludwik was the

epitome of charm. But now? Bryce, he’s like the George Clooney of men – mature, suave, and just as

alluring. Sure, he may not have the old-money background or the clout Ludwik has, but he’s not far off.

It’s like choosing between ice and fire. If it were up to me, I’d go for the one who knows how to treat a

lady right, and that’s Bryce all the way.”

She finished with a sly glance at Whitney.

Valerie saw Whitney’s distant gaze and nudged Tiana, whispering with a sigh, “After what Whitney’s

just been through, you know as well as I do, the last thing on her mind is another

man.”

“But she’s a catch, isn’t she? Simon, Ludwik, Bryce… Apart from Simon, which one of them isn’t. a

one-in-a-million guy? Whitney is a knockout.”

Whitney managed a small smirk at Tiana’s teasing.

Delighted, Tiana patted her shoulder. “Look at yourself, Whitney. Ludwik has turned you into a shadow

of yourself. If you ask me, he’s no better than a manipulative jerk, not the only one suffering, and yet he

believes every word from that bitch, time and again misunderstanding you. Let him stew in his own Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

mess.

Now he’s set to get hitched to Elaine in four days, and you’re supposed to be getting engaged to Bryce

the day after. Time to move on and stop pining over him. He wasn’t even there for his own child.”

Tiana trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Whitney’s heart skipped a beat, still haunted by the recent events. Shaking her head, she muttered,

“Maybe there’s no future for us. Ever since Natalie’s accident, it’s been one long explanation after

another. He wouldn’t listen and wouldn’t believe. I’m tired. I almost lost my child. I’m scared now. It’s

time to let go of him.”

Though the pain lingered, voicing her thoughts seemed to bring relief.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, revealing a faint smile.

Valerie and Tiana came over, tenderly stroking her hair. “Whether you let go or not, you can fool others

but yourself. Whitney, you still have your child to stay with you. And if you want, Bryce could be by your

side too.”

Whitney gave Tiana a speechless look, shaking her head. “Let’s not talk about feelings. I’ve been hurt

enough. I just want to protect my child right now. I’ll focus on giving birth and not dwell on anything

else. Don’t worry, I’m not knocked down yet. There’s so much more for me to do. Oh, Tiana, any

updates about that investigation into Elaine’s surgery?”

“Just about to tell you,” Tiana began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I found out that on

the day of Natalie and Elaine’s surgeries, two doctors were on call, neither the top experts from TriMed

Hospital’s renal department. Ludwik is a major investor at TriMed, and his mother’s surgery should

have had the best resources. But Elaine claimed Natalie’s condition was sudden, and the other doctors

were all unavailable.”

Tiana’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Guess where those two doctors used to work?”

Whitney understood immediately. “The Bartels family’s medical center in Emperor City?”

“Exactly. That part of their resume vanished, and it’s old history. I had to hack into the medical system

multiple times to find any trace.”

Taking a deep breath, Whitney’s eyes flashed with resolve. “Tiana, check how many kidney transplants

were scheduled that day, especially during the same time as Natalie’s. Find out who those patients

were!”

At Whitney’s suggestion, Tiana and Valerie paused, exchanging knowing looks.

Tiana’s eyes widened. “Are you suggesting Elaine might have-”

Before she could finish, Whitney nodded, a silent understanding between them. “Be careful!”

After a few hours, Bryce returned swiftly from a meeting in the afternoon. Tiana and Valerie exchanged

winks and discreetly made their exit.

Whitney rolled her eyes at her friends, trying to dispel the awkwardness. “Don’t mind their looks.

They’re just being fanciful and leaving us with embarrassment.”

Bryce chuckled. “I don’t find it embarrassing at all. In fact, I quite enjoy it.”

She deflected, changing the subject. “Bryce, if I may be so bold, how old are you?”

“Thirty-two. Do you think that’s a bit too old for you?” He kept the mood light, signaling to the nurse to

help Whitney out of the hospital room.

Whitney cleverly avoided answering his question, asking instead, “Where are we headed now?”

“I promised to help your apartment hunting. I’ve shortlisted a few suitable places.”

Whitney got into his Cayenne, noting the understated luxury that matched his demeanor. The watch on

his wrist spoke of subtle affluence, and his light gray shirt softened his presence.

Unlike Ludwik, who even in the simplest white shirt seemed to radiate an imposing presence, Bryce

was all ease and quiet strength.

Shaking off the thoughts of Ludwik, Whitney felt a tinge of defeat.

Sensing the dip in her mood, Bryce turned on the radio, deliberately playing a light-hearted broadcast.

He didn’t say much, but the gesture was thoughtful and warming.

Whitney glanced at him, receiving a comforting smile in return.

The car came to a stop in front of a serene high-rise apartment complex.

“This is the place,” Bryce said as they walked in. “I’ve checked the area, and this is the safest and most

comfortable option. It’s on the fourth floor, which is good for you given you’re about to giving birth in two

months. Even in a blackout, you won’t have trouble getting up and down.”

Whitney liked the apartment, but as she approached the window and her gaze fell on a nearby lakeside

villa, her brows furrowed. “Mr. Lutz, this seems awfully close to where you live. And it’s quite a distance

from Skye Gem Ltd. The commute would be inconvenient for me.”

“You’re right,” Bryce admitted with a hint of a smile.

Bryce chuckled with a touch of sincerity in his voice, “I get worried with you living so far away, Whitney.

It’s not convenient for you either. Now that we’re ‘engaged’, it’s easier for you to pop over when my

relatives come visiting. As for commuting, I’ll drive you to and from work.”

Whitney wanted to argue, mentioning she was planning to buy a place near her friend Tiana’s.

But if she needed to play along with his charade, it seemed she really had no choice but to live nearby.

She wasn’t picky about accommodations and pulled out her credit card, “Then let’s buy this place.”

“Do you really think you need to pay?” Bryce pushed her hand back gently.

Politely shaking her head, she replied, “Mr. Lutz, we’re not in that kind of relationship. Even though

Skye Gem Ltd. is on the brink, I can afford this. I never thought about buying a place before because I

felt I had a home, but now… it’s time to start anew.”

Bryce frowned at her constant reminders of their clear-cut agreement.

But at her last sentence, he felt comfortable, smiling slightly, “Starting over, you’ll find happiness again,

trust me. It’s not that hard.”

“Before our engagement party, I’ll invest in Skye Gem Ltd. No matter how much they try to suppress

us, I can hold my ground. For the next two months, don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on having the

baby, and I’ll support you returning to work after. I know you’re a strong, independent woman.”

Whitney was touched by his willingness to take on the risk for Skye Gem Ltd.

They say the best way to get over a relationship is to start a new one, but did she have the courage?

All Whitney could do was quietly squash any fantasies he might have, “Thank you for helping me so

much, Bryce. I can’t repay you, but I’ll help you secure your position at the Lutz Group. After the baby is

born, we might have already made things clear to the Lutz family, and I hope your parents will forgive

us.”