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Chapter_277
The air in the bathroom seemed to thicken, the tension between them palpable. Ludwik stood there, motionless, his hand still holding the towel as if it could shield him from the flood of emotions and memories crashing over him. He knew he shouldn’t be this close to her, shouldn’t let himself be so caught up in the past, but the pull was undeniable.
Whitney, her breath shallow, pulled away slightly, her eyes darting toward the towel he had draped around her. She could feel the heat of his body, the way his presence seemed to overwhelm her. She hadn’t expected to be in this situation, least of all with him.
“Get away from me,” she muttered, though her voice wavered, betraying the words. The vulnerability she felt was undeniable, and she hated it.
Ludwik, however, didn’t move. He was still staring at her, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You still know how to push my buttons, don’t you?” he said, his voice low and edged with frustration.
Whitney’s head spun with the mixture of embarrassment, anger, and something else—something far more dangerous that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. She couldn’t stand the way he still had this effect on her.
“You’re so messed up,” she spat, her fists clenched at her sides, her body still aching from the encounter earlier. “You think I want anything from you? You think you can just show up and pretend to care?”
Ludwik’s expression darkened further. “You’re right, Whitney,” he said, his voice cold but with a trace of something raw underneath. “I don’t care. I never did. I’m just here because you’ve made a mess of things, and I have to clean it up.”
Her heart sank at his words, and she fought to keep her emotions in check. “You don’t owe me anything, Ludwik,” she said, her voice cracking despite her best effort. “So stop pretending like you do.”
The silence stretched between them, heavy and thick. His gaze softened, just for a moment, but the weight of it was enough to make her stomach twist. She hated how much she still longed for something—anything—that might make this all right again.
Then, as quickly as it came, the moment passed. Ludwik cleared his throat and turned away, his demeanor hardening once more. “Get dressed,” he ordered, the imperious tone returning. “I don’t have time for this.”
Whitney stood there, her heart pounding, torn between the urge to throw something at him and the deep, gnawing need to hold onto some sliver of the past. She hated him, but she couldn’t deny the pull he still had on her.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” she said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion.
Ludwik paused at the door, his hand resting on the handle. He glanced over his shoulder at her, his eyes unreadable. “Don’t take too long. Elaine’s waiting for me.”
The words stung more than she expected, and before she could stop herself, she muttered under her breath, “Of course, she is.”
Ludwik didn’t respond. He just walked out, leaving her alone with the chaos swirling in her mind.
Whitney let out a shaky breath and finally allowed herself to break down for a moment. The room was silent, save for the faint sound of her uneven breathing. She was angry—furious, even—but a part of her knew she wasn’t done with Ludwik, not by a long shot. He might have left her in the dust, but she was still tethered to him, whether she liked it or not.
And as much as she hated to admit it, part of her still wanted him—desperately.
