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Chapter_128
Whitney’s heart thudded in her chest as Ludwik’s intense gaze fixed on her, the gravity of the moment hanging between them like an unspoken truth. His presence was overwhelming, but beneath the tension, there was a rawness in his eyes—an urgency that was almost palpable. His fingers gripped hers with a quiet desperation, as if he feared losing her forever.
“Look, I don’t want to be part of this anymore,” Whitney’s voice trembled, betraying the weight of her emotions. “I can’t keep being the one stuck in this mess, torn between you and Elaine. I don’t want to be the other woman. I’m not going to keep playing this game where I’m the secret or the afterthought. I need more than that.” Her words were edged with pain, the years of waiting, of uncertainty, pouring out all at once.
Ludwik’s jaw clenched as he tightened his grip on her hand, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Whitney, don’t you get it?” His voice was thick with urgency. “It was never about Elaine! It was never about any other woman. It’s always been you, but I—” He broke off, his words faltering as if trying to find the right way to express everything he’d kept hidden for so long. “I never wanted to show weakness. I never wanted to be vulnerable. But I’m done being stubborn. I’m done hiding behind pride and control.”
Whitney felt the weight of his words, but they didn’t reach the core of her hurt. She saw the truth in his eyes, but the years of doubt, the pain of being kept in the shadows, clouded her judgment. “But what about Elaine? What about the family, the life you’ve built without me? I can’t just pretend those things don’t exist.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, the uncertainty in her heart spilling out.
Ludwik’s frustration was palpable, his chest rising and falling with every sharp breath he took. “Elaine is nothing to me!” he exclaimed, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. “She’s been a part of my past, but you—” He stepped closer, his hands gripping her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You are my present. You’re the one I want, and I’ve realized that too late. But I won’t let you go.”
Whitney’s chest tightened as tears welled in her eyes. She bit her lip, trying to hold herself together. “I’m not a prize to be won, Ludwik. You can’t just decide that I’m the one you want now, after all this time. I’ve been waiting for you to make a choice, to put me first. But you’ve made me feel like I’m just an option.” Her words were raw, the hurt and frustration that had built up over the years spilling out uncontrollably.
Ludwik’s expression softened, and for the first time, Whitney saw the weight of regret in his eyes. He released his grip on her shoulders, his hands falling to his sides in defeat. “I don’t deserve you, but I won’t lose you,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “Please, Whitney, let me prove it to you. Let me show you that I can change, that I can be the man you deserve.”
Her heart ached as she stood there, torn between the man she had once loved and the man who had hurt her. She wiped away a tear, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need time, Ludwik. Time to figure this out. Time to decide what I want for myself, for the baby. I can’t keep living in this storm.” The words tasted bitter, but they were the truth.
Ludwik’s jaw tightened, but his resolve was clear. “I’ll give you that time. But know this,” he said, his voice unwavering, “I won’t give up on us. No matter how long it takes.”
Whitney stood still, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She could feel the conflict stirring inside her, the pull of something familiar and the sting of the past. The decision she was making wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. She had to choose her own future, for herself and for her child.
Slowly, she nodded, a faint, bittersweet smile tugging at her lips despite the tears. “We’ll see, Ludwik. We’ll see.”
And with that, she turned and walked away, her heart heavy but resolute. She knew the path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she would no longer be anyone’s afterthought. She would choose her own future, and that, for now, was enough.
