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Novel Catalog
Chapter_85
“You’re off the hook now, Carter might not want to cross you,” Ludwik scoffed, his voice tinged with feigned indifference.
“I won’t admit to something I didn’t do. I know you’re a business tycoon who looks down on female entrepreneurs, but I do have my principles,” Whitney replied with a light smile, her lips brightened by the warmth of the heater, making her look quite alluring. Ludwik’s gaze darkened, his eyes lingering on her mouth with a hint of longing.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke, his tone cold and sharp, “Congratulations. Getting caught was supposed to land you a life sentence. Who was blind enough to bail you out? Your husband?”
Whitney flinched at his words. Life imprisonment? “My friend said it would be just over a decade, tops,” she muttered, trying to brush off the sting of his remark.
“Ignorant,” he sneered. “Billions in counterfeit diamonds, and the Lutz family pressing charges—did you really think they’d settle for anything less than life? They wouldn’t bother otherwise.”
Whitney felt a chill run through her. His words cut deeper than she’d expected.
With a thin smile, Ludwik taunted, “Scared now? Do you honestly think that ex of yours could save you? Hunter’s temper is explosive, and Wyatt is slick as they come. Would he really risk angering the Lutz family for someone like you? If you’re blind, maybe it’s time to open your eyes.”
She sat there stunned, shocked by his furious words. But then, his reminder made her think. Wyatt was indeed cunning, and he wouldn’t risk his position with the Lutz family over a few words from Simon, the love child.
Tiana had also mentioned Simon being inconsequential, yet she hadn’t seen anyone but him.
“Mr. Lippert,” Whitney said, her voice steady despite the turmoil, “perhaps you know what happened that night? Then tell me, who saved me?”
Ludwik’s blood boiled with irritation, and he glared at her with a frosty sneer. “Apart from a husband saving his wife, who else saves someone else’s wife? Just because you’re pretty?”
Whitney’s face stiffened slightly. She had considered it, but L had never mentioned saving her—he had barged in, only to fight and berate her. Hurt flashed across her face, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Ludwik realized he had been harsh that night, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. And this stubborn woman refused to back down either. Their cold war had lasted until now.
Trying to assume the role of ‘Ludwik,’ he awkwardly explained, “If your husband is mad at you, did you ever stop to think why? Maybe he dropped everything to save you, went through all that trouble, and what does he see? An ungrateful woman, failing to recognize her savior, and tangled up with her ex. How do you think he feels? Isn’t it natural for him to lash out at you?”
Whitney stiffened again at his blunt words, realizing he might be right. She thought back to the heated argument that night—when L had barged in, she was thanking Simon, and in the heat of her anger, she had sarcastically accused L of being too busy to answer his phone.
If L had saved her, then perhaps he had misunderstood everything. No wonder he had been so angry with her.
Her delicate fingers twisted in self-reproach, her face paling as she silently reflected.
Ludwik’s eyes softened slightly. Had she finally realized her mistake?
But the next moment, Whitney bit her lip defiantly and looked up to challenge him. “Even if he misunderstood, he had no right to berate me without knowing the facts. Does he have any idea how much I’ve suffered?”
Ludwik frowned. “Suffered, how?”
It was just a scare, wasn’t it?
Tears glittered in Whitney’s eyes, and though he was a stranger to her, she felt an overwhelming sense of injustice. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing bruises on her delicate wrists. “I was beaten in the holding cell, and even my child was in danger. But you men, you’re all the same, only caring about pride and jealousy. He didn’t even see my injuries—just mocked me for being ‘just fine.’”
Ludwik’s pupils dilated as he saw the deep bruises. She had been beaten in jail? Why had no one told him?
He hadn’t noticed the injuries that night. He had been so cruel to her, and the caregivers these past days—had they been blind or mute?
His gaze hardened as he realized how fragile she was. She should never have been hurt. Damn, he had been blind with rage, oblivious to everything.
“Does it… hurt?” he asked quietly.
“What hurts more is my heart,” Whitney replied, her voice trembling. She pulled her sleeve back down, stubbornly holding back tears. “Thinking about how I was throwing up for his child in that bathroom… all Simon did was hand me a tissue, and L blindly accused me of kissing my ex. I’m about to die from this jerk’s rage.”
Ludwik’s eyes froze as he processed her words. How many more bruises like that did she have? Her face, so small, now even thinner, her eyes shimmering as if in pain—his heart softened with regret.
She was angry because he had been negligent and kept taunting her. He wanted to comfort her, but as he reached out with his long fingers, Whitney instinctively pulled away, startled.
“Mr. Lippert, what are you doing?” she asked, a hint of alarm in her voice.
His eyes narrowed. She still remembered she was married, even after everything. That day with Simon in the bathroom… maybe it really was just what it seemed.
“Thank you, Mr. Lippert, for listening to my explanation today and for letting me vent,” Whitney said, standing up and picking up her bag with a smile. “Skye Gem will slowly return to my hands. Watch out for me as a fair competitor.”
Ludwik leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretched out awkwardly, one ankle bare above his sharp leather shoes. His expression was stern as he muttered, “Damn,” and clenched his fist.
Felix followed Ludwik back to his office, sensing the temperature had dropped. Ludwik, deep in thought, ordered, “Find out exactly what happened to her in the holding cell that night. And why were her injuries not mentioned in her medical records these past days?”
Ludwik had been monitoring the baby’s condition daily, and he had seen the records, though he had never mentioned them before.
Elaine received a call from the hospital and entered her private office. The caller said, “Elaine, Mr. Lippert is suddenly questioning why Whitney’s medical records failed to mention her injuries. I told him it wasn’t reflected because pregnant women don’t take medication.”
Elaine paused, then responded, “You did well. Your director’s position is secure.”
After hanging up, Elaine’s eyes narrowed. She had instructed the doctor to hide Whitney’s injuries, hoping to fuel a misunderstanding between her and Ludwik, creating a rift. But why was Ludwik suddenly so concerned about Whitney?
An ominous premonition gripped her as she picked up a stack of documents and headed to the CEO’s top-floor office.
Felix was giving his report when Ludwik’s voice cut through the silence. “Find out why Whitney was sneaking off to the restroom every day. She’s probably self-medicating in secret.”
Felix looked confused. “What? She was taking medicine on the sly?”
Ludwik’s throat tightened. What had he overlooked?
He had been so focused on his anger and pride, he hadn’t seen how fragile Whitney really was. He had been blind to her suffering.
“Fire that doctor!” Ludwik snapped, his voice cold with fury.
Elaine walked in just in time to hear him demand accountability. Was it for Whitney? Her slender fingers curled into a fist.
Behind his desk, Ludwik stood tall by the window, his thoughts distant. A restless air hung around him, but he suppressed it with an air of nobility. “Felix, call Nolan. Tell him to set up a gathering night. It’s been too long since we’ve gotten together.”
“What? Mr. Lippert, aren’t you the workaholic type? Usually, when Nolan invites you out, you tell him to take a hike,” Felix thought.
Despite his confusion, he followed through, only to hear Ludwik add with a depth to his words, “Tell him to bring that woman along.”
“Which woman?” Felix asked, puzzled.
