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Chapter_190
Whitney’s hand trembled as she dropped the phone back onto the bed, her eyes focused on the screen as Elaine’s furious words scrolled past. The adrenaline of the moment coursed through her, mixing with the fatigue in her bones. She had done it—finally pushed back against the forces that had been tormenting her. Elaine had tried to control her, humiliate her, but now the tables were turned, and for once, Whitney felt like she had the upper hand.
But despite the small victory, the weight of the situation still clung to her, dragging her down. She glanced back at Ludwik, his sleeping form so still, his usual volatility replaced by an eerie calm. For all the hatred she felt for him in that moment, a part of her couldn’t ignore the overwhelming sadness that followed. He was still her husband, the man she had once loved, and seeing him like this—broken, vulnerable, and consumed by his demons—tore at something deep inside her.
Her thoughts scattered as she stared at the phone, the image of Ludwik beside her, the words she had sent to Elaine lingering in her mind. She had fought back, yes, but she hadn’t won. Not yet. There was so much more to unravel, so many more battles to fight, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up this charade.
A sharp ache in her chest reminded her of the baby. She pressed her hand to her belly again, feeling the reassuring movements that confirmed her child was still safe. That was the one thing she knew for sure—that child, the life growing inside her, was worth every bit of the pain she had endured. It was the only thing keeping her grounded, the only thing giving her the strength to stand up, even when the world felt like it was crumbling around her.
Her fingers hovered over the phone again. There was a part of her that wanted to send another message to Elaine, to rub her victory in even more. But a deeper part of her knew that engaging with the woman, or anyone who wanted to drag her back into this toxic game, would only keep her stuck. She had to keep moving forward. For her baby, for herself.
Whitney carefully placed the phone down and turned her attention back to Ludwik. Her gaze softened as she watched him sleep, but the softness was fleeting. She had to remind herself that no matter how much he once meant to her, no matter how much she wished he could be the man she had fallen in love with, he was no longer that person. He was lost in his own battles, and no amount of love or care could pull him back.
She stood up slowly, her body aching from the emotional and physical toll of the night. Every part of her felt heavy, weighed down by the choices she had made and the ones she still had to make. She glanced at the clock—time seemed to drag on in these moments of quiet desperation.
As she walked towards the door, the weight of Ludwik’s presence beside her lingered in the room. She wasn’t sure what her next step would be, but she knew that she couldn’t stay here forever, caught between the man she once loved and the life she had yet to build. The baby inside her was the only reason she needed to keep going.
With one last glance back at Ludwik, Whitney stepped out into the night, her thoughts clouded but her resolve growing stronger with each passing moment. She had made it this far. Now, she had to keep moving.
