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Chapter_292
Ludwik and Elaine stepped into the lavish private dining room, each carrying their own thoughts. The manager led them on a brief tour of the room, but Ludwik’s attention appeared distracted, and, whether by accident or design, he chose to sit directly opposite the ‘Garden Room.’ This subtle choice did not go unnoticed by Elaine, and it seemed to sour her mood even further.
She tried to shake off the discomfort bubbling inside her, initiating a conversation with Ludwik in an attempt to reestablish some connection. But each time she spoke, she felt as though her words fell flat, as if Ludwik was miles away, lost in his own thoughts. She glanced at him, only to find his eyes fixed firmly on something across the room, completely indifferent to her attempts at conversation. Under the table, her fists clenched with rising frustration.
Unable to contain her growing irritation, Elaine snapped, her voice sharp. “Ludwik, are you so curious about Ms. Valentine’s company celebration next door? Why don’t you just go join their party? I can dine here alone if that’s what you want!”
Ludwik paused, slowly shifting his gaze back to her. Elaine expected him to soften, maybe even offer a reassuring word, but instead, he laid his napkin on the table calmly, his brow furrowing slightly as he spoke, his tone cool and somewhat indifferent. “Elaine, what are you implying? What’s the point of this conversation? You’re usually more understanding than this. Let’s not make this lunch as tasteless as chewing on wax.”
Elaine froze, momentarily stunned by the unfamiliar coldness in his voice. Had his view of her changed because of Keegan’s case? The thought made her blood run cold. Damn it, it was Whitney’s fault for causing this mess.
“Ludwik, I didn’t mean it like that…” Elaine quickly backpedaled, reverting to her softer, more familiar demeanor. But Ludwik only gave her a fleeting glance, his expression weary and unamused.
“You eat first. I need to use the restroom,” he said, his words clipped.
The moment Whitney was mentioned, his patience seemed to evaporate entirely, a fact Elaine could feel deep in her gut. She watched him stand and leave the room, her fists pounding the table in frustration. She was helpless against the storm building within her.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Whitney had just finished her conversation with Bryce. As she pushed open the door to the ‘Garden Room,’ she suddenly remembered that Ludwik was dining next door. A flash of concern crossed her face, and her thoughts immediately shifted to Sammy. Had the little guy wandered off? She turned to Bryce, her voice low and urgent.
“I guess we won’t be enjoying this lunch after all. I can’t risk Ludwik finding out about Sammy. It’s safer if we leave now. Can you handle the folks from Skye Gem Ltd. for me?”
Bryce seemed disappointed but nodded in agreement, “Alright, then.”
But just as Whitney turned to leave, she froze. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the high chair where Sammy had been sitting was empty.
“Where’s Sammy?” she asked, panic rising in her voice.
Bryce followed her gaze and confirmed her worst fear. “I swear, when I went out to find you, Nyx was supposed to bring him here…”
“Maybe the little guy got bored and went looking for us, or maybe he went to the restroom?” Bryce suggested, but Whitney wasn’t comforted by the idea.
Her heart raced at the thought of Sammy wandering off alone, especially with Ludwik so close by. “Damn it, I’ll go look for him,” she muttered, already turning toward the lobby.
“Whitney, don’t panic! Keep calm,” Bryce called after her, his voice laced with concern.
She nodded quickly, but her steps quickened into a run as she rushed toward the nearest restroom. The lobby where she had confronted Ludwik earlier was empty, and Sammy was nowhere in sight. Whitney’s mind raced. Her son wouldn’t just run off on his own. He was likely in the restroom.
Inside the restroom, Ludwik finished his business and zipped up his trousers, turning to head out. Suddenly, a small figure bolted out of one of the stalls. At first, Ludwik assumed it was just another unruly child. But as the child came into view, his eyes widened in recognition.
It was his son, Sammy.
Ludwik’s lips tightened into a thin line. His face shifted from surprise to irritation. “Danny!”
Sammy, caught off guard, spun around in shock. “Dad…?” His voice faltered, guilt flooding him.
Ludwik’s gaze hardened as he knelt down, grabbing Sammy by the leg and pulling him closer, his voice cold with reprimand. “I told the driver to take you to preschool. Why aren’t you there? Skipping school to follow me here, and dressed up too? What’s the meaning of this?”
Sammy, momentarily speechless, absorbed the scolding with the quiet submission of a child caught in the act. But something strange happened: the scolding didn’t sting as much as it normally would. Ludwik wasn’t scolding Danny, he was scolding Sammy. The realization gave Sammy a strange sense of relief.
Lowering his head, Sammy adopted an apologetic tone, his words coming out in a small, meek voice. “Daddy, I didn’t mean to…”
“Intentional or not, skipping school and running around like this is trouble,” Ludwik continued, his voice low and sharp as he examined Sammy’s attire. The little boy was dressed up too well for a casual trip out. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Seeing his son dressed so sharply, Ludwik’s mind raced. Had Sammy come here for someone? Was he aware of something he shouldn’t be? The thought of Whitney lingered in his mind, darkening his mood.
Ludwik stood up, his tone growing more stern. “Are you here to meet someone? What have you found out? Tell me!”
Sammy felt a flicker of opportunity rise in his chest. He could use this moment to test his father’s feelings toward Whitney, to see if he could learn something about their relationship. Sammy tilted his head defiantly, his voice sharp. “Should I know something, Daddy? Or is there something you’re hiding? Like, is my real mom here?”
Ludwik’s eyes widened at the mention of Whitney. His heart rate quickened. The possibility that his son had figured out Whitney’s presence sent a surge of conflicting emotions through him. His love for her, his jealousy, his resentment—all of it clashed within him. How could his son so easily acknowledge the mother who had never been there?
Ludwik’s expression darkened, and he grabbed Sammy by the arm, his voice turning cold and clipped. “She’s not here. She’s gone. Don’t bring this up again. Let’s go.”
“But…” Sammy tried to protest, but Ludwik’s grip tightened, silencing him.
Just then, the sound of a door burst open, and Whitney, hearing Sammy’s voice, rushed in, disregarding the men’s restroom sign. When she saw Ludwik holding Sammy, her heart sank. The moment she had feared had arrived—Ludwik had discovered their secret. He had found out about their child.
“Sammy…” Whitney’s voice was barely a whisper, edged with panic. Her words seemed out of place in the men’s restroom, making Ludwik snap his head up in surprise.
Standing before father and son, Whitney looked pale, devastated. Her eyes locked on Sammy in Ludwik’s grip, her worst fear realized.
Ludwik’s gaze grew icy, his emotions a tangle of love, hatred, pain, and resentment. Three years had done nothing to diminish the tumultuous feelings he held for her. His heart raced with the weight of the moment, and as Sammy called out “Mummy…” Ludwik’s fury reached its peak.
He tightened his grip on Sammy’s hand, his voice cold and commanding, “You’re my son. You’re not to call her that!”
