Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 353

She flopped down at the table, eager to get the ordering over with.

"What'll it be?" the waitress asked, eyeing the imposing Ludwik with a mix of sympathy.

"Same as my wife."

The waitress's pity deepened as she shot Orion a look, "Seems like there's no shortage of guys on the side these days, not even half as good-looking as the real deal."

Orion?

Calling him the other man was one thing, but saying he wasn't as handsome as Ludwik? That was a low blow.

He scowled.

Ludwik stood up and made his way to the barbecue grill where the cook was preparing their food. His brows furrowed in disgust, his obsession with cleanliness kicking in, "Did you wash everything my wife ordered?"

"We wouldn't serve it if it wasn't clean, we've been in business for over a decade!" the cook retorted.

Ludwik tossed a wad of bills at the waitress, "Wash hers again, just to avoid any stomach issues."

The waitress looked conflicted, "And what about his?" She nodded towards Orion's order.

Ludwik didn't reply, instead, he walked over, picked up a handful of dirt, and sprinkled it over the skewers, "Just like that, the dirtier, the better."

The cook and waitress were both speechless.

So, it wasn't long before Orion was chewing on more grit than meat.

"This is ridiculous," he complained to Whitney, "Doesn't yours have any grit in it?"

"Not at all," Whitney replied innocently, her lips tinged pink from the spices, puffing her cheeks as she ate, her face a delicate shade of red. Ludwik's gaze deepened, reminiscing about the time, three years ago, when he introduced her to spicy street food.

Back then, she had none of the airs of a high-society lady, just a girl who loved the thrill of spice.

But those days were long gone, replaced by a cold, cunning woman, shrouded in mystery, slipping from his grasp.

He swallowed hard, his heart racing. Damn it, he was about to get married... He averted his gaze as she coughed, passing her a glass of water.

"Thanks," she murmured, looking at his elegant hands.

He just watched her eat, lost in the moment, thinking about Elaine's wild ways. Whitney felt a brief pang of sympathy for him before snapping out of it, "Aren't you eating?"

"It's dirty."

Fine, play the aristocrat.

After she finished, he handed her a wet wipe, and she accepted it, her heart feeling oddly heavy. When it was Orion's turn, Ludwik tossed the whole pack into the trash.

"Ludwik, you're unbelievable, favoring her like that?"

"Cut down on accompanying her to those jewelry expos, or I'll take down Imperial Gem Corporation myself," Ludwik warned Orion.

Orion was taken aback by the threat.

Ludwik turned to Whitney, stern, "I'm driving you home. Stay out of bars and maybe start reading some kindergarten material."

She rolled her eyes, thinking he should focus more on Elaine, with her wandering ways.

The moment was broken by Ludwik's phone ringing. "Felix?... Right, I'm on my way back to the company."

He looked at Whitney, "There's an urgent matter at Skyfaith Group..."

"I can get home myself, thanks," Whitney replied, waving him off.

Ludwik left in a Bentley that arrived for him, leaving Whitney to reflect on the night in the taxi with Orion.