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Chapter_138
Ludwik’s voice cut through the line, sharp and demanding. “A legitimate reason? Whitney, you’re playing with fire. You know better than to involve yourself with Simon, especially after everything that’s happened.”
Whitney took a steadying breath, trying to calm the flutter of nerves in her chest. She could hear the weight of his concern, but also the authority in his words, the kind that always made her feel as if her decisions were under scrutiny.
“L, I know what I’m doing. I had to get the contact book from him. It’s important.” She chose her words carefully, not wanting to reveal too much, especially not yet. She wasn’t ready to share the strange feeling of unease that had crept over her as Simon hinted at something she wasn’t prepared to face.
“You think I don’t know that?” His tone grew colder. “But you also know Simon’s methods. He won’t hand over something like that without a price, and you’ve played right into his hands. I won’t let you put yourself in danger for this.”
Whitney’s grip tightened on the steering wheel as she leaned back in her seat, feeling the weight of his words. “I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to protect me from him. Not anymore.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and for a brief moment, she wondered if Ludwik was about to say something more. Instead, he let out a soft, frustrated sigh. “Fine. But if you do this again without telling me, Whitney, I won’t let it slide.”
Her lips pressed into a tight smile, though he couldn’t see it. “I understand. I’ll keep you in the loop from now on.”
“Good.” His voice softened ever so slightly. “Now, go home. And remember, the contact book might tell you more than you want to know. Don’t make the mistake of rushing into things.”
She hung up without responding, her mind already racing with possibilities. The name Simon had mentioned was lingering at the back of her thoughts, gnawing at her. She could feel it—there was something there, something significant that she wasn’t seeing. But what?
When she arrived at her apartment, she headed straight for her desk, the contact book now lying heavy in her hands. With trembling fingers, she opened it, scanning the pages for any clues. The weight of Ludwik’s words echoed in her mind, but her need for answers pushed it aside.
And then, there it was. A name she hadn’t expected to see—one that made her pulse spike in a mixture of confusion and recognition.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could it really be? Was this the man behind the mask? The man she had been trying to figure out for so long?
Whitney’s breath caught in her throat as the name stared back at her, chillingly familiar.
