Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



His eyes were a mix of confusion and regret, dim with the weight of his actions. Flashbacks raced through his mind like a chaotic carousel; since his mother had become comatose, his feelings towards her had been a blend of hatred and resentment. What he had done amounted to trampling over her feelings, causing her pain, pushing her away, cursing her, and even using Elaine to provoke and torment her.

Yet, she had never thought to leave.

She had promised his mother to bear his child, to stand by him and care for him no matter his wrongs. She had kept her promise, loving him unconditionally. Only today, three years later, did he truly understand.

And what had he been doing? Shielding Elaine, trusting Elaine, hurting her!

Why? Why did fate play such cruel games? From the start, he was mistaken in seeing Elaine as a good person. This led to three years of alienation from Whitney, a divide too vast to bridge, culminating in the tragedy of their child's birth, their separation...

It was all Elaine, starting with the kidney donation-a trap that blinded him for three years...

Ludwik's anger surged, his eyes reddening as the truth about Natalie hit him, a torrent of pain and regret overwhelming him. Clutching his head, he met Whitney's pale gaze, as if her tear-streaked eyes were burning his heart.

He trembled, his voice shaky, "Whitney..."Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Finally, Whitney saw his epiphany, a hint of regret, of pain. But her heart couldn't find joy. She looked at him, tears clear in her eyes, her resentment barely hidden, "You learned the truth from your mother that night. But what about when she couldn't speak for herself? Ludwik, you were so blinded by Elaine you lost all judgment! Do you remember the night I jumped into the sea? Tiana and I found the girl who donated a kidney to your mother..."

Ludwik's gaze froze.

Whitney sneered coldly, "You have no idea how Elaine twisted the truth after I jumped. But now you know, right? There was indeed a girl, used by Elaine for a kidney donation, while Elaine still has both of hers, doesn't she? That night, how did Elaine manipulate you into misunderstanding and hating me for three years?"

Ludwik felt as if he had been awakened, his body weak, his chest pierced by her words as if a cold wind had blown through.

Whitney finished attending to Natalie and stood up. "Whitney," Natalie looked at her pleadingly, desperate to reveal the truth, to prevent any further misunderstandings between these two.

Whitney, without looking back, coldly left.

"Son, what are you waiting for? You've done so much wrong, but you have to win her back," Natalie said.

Ludwik, heart pierced with pain, followed her, "Whitney!"

Upstairs, Parker paced anxiously, undecided. Whitney rushed to him, "Mr. Doonan, have you found my son Sammy? Ludwik asked you to search, did you find him?"

Parker looked away, guilt in his eyes. "Ludwik, Whitney, I'm sorry...I've searched this entire place, even the surrounding area, but I couldn't find Sammy."

Whitney's heart sank, her mind went blank. She laughed hollowly, "What? Mr. Doonan, did you even look properly?"

"Yes, I had over ten officers search every corner, but Sammy...he's gone. It's possible something bad has happened..."

"You're lying!" Whitney stumbled back, her face pale, shaking her head in denial, "Sammy was kidnapped along with Natalie. They must have been held in the same place. How could he just disappear? No!"

"Parker, keep looking. I haven't even met Sammy, he can't be in trouble!" Ludwik clenched his fists, trembling.

Whitney, frantic, ran outside, "Sammy, come out. Don't play hide-and-seek with mommy. You wouldn't want to worry me, right? Sammy! My child, where are you?!"

Desperation tore through Whitney as she had treated Natalie for so long, believing Sammy was nearby. How could he be gone? Where was he? Alive or dead, her heart was being ripped apart.

Ludwik came out, wrapping her in his coat as she broke down, "Whitney, calm down. I'll have Parker continue the search, but please, don't lose yourself..."

"Shut up!" Whitney turned on him, her face contorted with grief. "Do you understand my desperation? You never even met him. He was such a lovely child. Because you...didn't trust me, didn't let me treat your mother, I had to use Sammy as a way. And then Elaine saw him, kidnapped him. You didn't believe me, delaying their rescue. Ludwik, Sammy is missing now, and I hate you... I hate you and Elaine! If Sammy is dead, I'll tear Elaine apart!"

Whitney collapsed, sobbing, pulling at his clothes, "You too, you're even more to blame..."

Ludwik stepped back, his heart darkened as he watched her, a fresh thorn planted in his heart at his delayed trust. Now with Sammy gone, he had deepened her wounds. Had he learned the truth too late?

Sammy couldn't be in trouble... he was their son, the tie that bound them.

Ludwik clenched his eyes shut, a bitter pain flooding his heart. He placed an umbrella over her head, turned around, and his towering figure dashed into the rain, roaring, "Search, search everything! Leave no stone unturned!"

His roar echoed through the woods, shaking the very earth.

Two hours later, as dawn was breaking, the child was still nowhere to be found. Ludwik received a call from Parker, "Ludwik, Natalie's oxygen tank is nearly empty. You need to get her to the hospital by helicopter as soon as possible. And, instead of searching aimlessly, confronting Elaine about the child's whereabouts is the most direct approach."

"I know, I won't let that woman get away," Ludwik's voice was cold as ice, his gaze chillingly hollow.

He couldn't afford any more delays; his mother's life was hanging by a thread. In the pouring rain, Ludwik ran back up the hill, catching sight of Whitney's slender figure moving through the veil of rain. He gravely instructed Parker, "Look after her for me. Take care of her emotions, don't let her get hurt..."

Ludwik then boarded the helicopter, his voice cutting through the cold air, "Felix, find Elaine's location!"

Whitney was desperately searching through the rain, covering every inch, but still couldn't find her precious child.

Finally, the next morning, as the rain was about to stop, Parker returned from the bottom of the mountain with a tiny shoe. The sight brought a hidden redness to the man's eyes as he handed the shoe to Whitney. Parker's voice choked up, "Ms. Valentine, I found this little shoe by the roadside, it might belong to Sammy... Could you take a look?"

Holding the familiar little shoe, emblazoned with the Amoria Country team captain logo, Whitney's heart plummeted into an icy abyss. It was Sammy's. Her breath halted, fingers trembling, not daring to think further...

Blood seeped between her teeth as she looked up, her eyes rolling with a fierce red, "Where's Elaine? Take me to her."