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Chapter_214
Whitney clenched her fists, fighting to contain the words threatening to spill out. The audacity of Elaine was staggering—her smug smile, her calculated poise, standing beside the man who had once vowed to protect Whitney. Her voice, though shaky, rang with defiance as she stared them both down.
“You’re not even pretending anymore, are you?” she said, her eyes locked on Ludwik. “You’ve written me off completely. And now you’re using your own child to punish me.”
Ludwik’s expression was a mask of ice, his stance rigid and unreadable. But in his eyes, a storm swirled—jealousy, rage, a deep resentment that refused to die. His gaze shifted to Bryce, who stood beside Whitney like a shield, calm and resolute, offering the kind of support Ludwik never had.
“You don’t belong here, Lutz,” Ludwik spat. “This child isn’t yours. You have no claim to it. You’re just a man playing house.”
Bryce didn’t flinch. His arm tightened around Whitney, his voice steady. “It’s not about blood. It’s about doing what’s right. What you’re doing here isn’t justice—it’s cruelty. I won’t stand by and let you ruin an innocent life just to feed your ego.”
Relief bloomed in Whitney’s chest at Bryce’s words. They wrapped around her like armor, a lifeline in the chaos. But Ludwik was far from done. His face contorted with fury as he jabbed a finger toward Bryce.
“You’re a stepdad—nothing more. Don’t think for a second you have a say in my affairs. No one tells me what to do with what’s mine.”
Elaine stepped forward smoothly, her voice oozing false sweetness as she slipped her hand onto Ludwik’s arm. “Ludwik, darling, calm down,” she said gently. “You’ve already shown your strength. Don’t let this turn into a circus. We’re about to start our life together. There’s no need to make more enemies. If Bryce wants to play daddy, let him. He’ll get bored soon enough.”
Whitney’s stomach turned at Elaine’s words—coated in honey, sharpened like daggers. But what chilled her more was the look Ludwik gave Elaine—so full of affection, so painfully real. It was the kind of look he once gave her, back when love still existed between them.
She wasn’t just fighting for her child anymore. She was fighting for her dignity, for her right to exist outside of Ludwik’s control.
“You’ve already made your choice, haven’t you?” she said softly, bitterly. “Elaine gets everything. And me? I get left with nothing.”
Ludwik turned back to her, eyes narrowing into hard slits. “You should’ve known better than to cross me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ll regret it.”
Bryce stepped in front of her, his posture unwavering. “If you think threats will scare her, you don’t know her at all,” he said coldly. “We’re done living by your rules.”
The room pulsed with tension, each second taut as a drawn wire. Ludwik stood still, his jaw tight, a retort forming—but before he could speak, a uniformed voice cut through the standoff.
“Mr. Lippert,” the police officer said, stepping forward with calm authority, “You’ll need to come with us. We’ve been instructed to ensure the safety of all parties involved.”
Ludwik’s face twisted with rage, but he held back. The officer’s presence was a boundary even he wouldn’t dare cross—not here, not now.
With one last venomous glance at Whitney, Ludwik turned and stormed out, the door slamming behind him like a closing chapter.
Whitney collapsed into Bryce’s arms, her body trembling from the adrenaline crash. “I thought… I thought he was going to take the baby,” she whispered, barely audible.
Bryce held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head. “He won’t,” he murmured. “Not while I’m here. I promise you, Whitney—he’ll never touch you or the baby again.”
And as the echo of Ludwik’s departure faded into silence, Whitney allowed herself to breathe—just for a moment. A small, fragile victory. The war wasn’t over. There were still battles ahead, pain yet to be endured. But she wasn’t alone.
She had Bryce. And for now, that was enough.
