Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_197
Elaine watched Ludwik’s retreating figure, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the weight of the room pressing down on her, the silence thick with unspoken tension. Her hands shook slightly, but she clenched them into fists to regain control. No matter how much she loathed Whitney in that moment, she couldn’t afford to lose this fight—not when she was so close.
She had played her cards well, but now, it seemed as though Whitney’s accusations had managed to crack the fragile facade she’d worked so hard to build. Elaine knew she had to act fast, but the last thing she wanted was to lose Ludwik. He was her anchor, and without him, everything she’d done would unravel.
Turning toward Whitney, Elaine forced a smile, though it was colder now, laced with venom. “You really think you can win this, don’t you?” she said, her voice soft but dangerous. “You think I’ll just sit back and let you destroy everything I’ve worked for?”
Whitney’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a tight line. “You’re not going to win this, Elaine,” she replied, her voice steady but sharp. “No more lies. No more manipulation. I’m done letting you pull the strings.”
Elaine’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, her eyes flickering with the hint of something darker, something more desperate. “You have no idea what you’re up against,” she whispered. “I’ve already won, Whitney. You’re just too blind to see it.”
With that, Elaine turned away, her movements slow and deliberate, as though she were in full control of the situation. But in reality, the unease gnawing at her insides was beginning to swell. Ludwik was slipping away, and if she couldn’t keep his focus on her, all of her plans would collapse.
Whitney stood there, watching her with a cold, calculating gaze. She knew the battle was far from over, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she might be on the verge of something bigger. The truth was out there, and she wasn’t going to stop until she exposed every lie Elaine had built her empire on.
The door clicked shut, leaving both women to stew in their own thoughts. In that silence, the storm continued to brew, and neither of them was willing to back down.
As the days passed, Ludwik remained distant. The confrontation had left a mark on him—an emotional scar that couldn’t be easily healed. But in his heart, he knew he needed to find the truth. Elaine had been there for him in ways Whitney never had, but something about her actions, her consistent deflection of his questions, didn’t sit right with him. Was he being manipulated, or was Whitney truly the one who had crossed a line?
He had to know the truth—and he would find it, no matter what. But first, he had to decide who he could trust, and that decision was becoming harder by the minute.
The storm was far from over, and the ultimate battle for control had only just begun.
