Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 55

Inside the dimly lit bar, Tiana had drowned herself in alcohol to the point of staggering inebriation. Her mood hadn't been sour at first.

But after two phone calls both ended in arguments, it was clear that Gunner was on the other line.

Clinging to her friend, Tiana vented, "That jerk! He's asked for my hand in marriage, and yet he says he's in Grace City closing deals when I ask him to pick me up. He's paying less and less attention to me. Is he really that busy?"

Whitney flicked through her phone to catch up on Stella's latest news.

Turns out, Stella was filming in Grace City. What kind of 'deals' would he be closing at this hour? Whitney's face hardened as she looked at Tiana's dejected expression. Her heart was aching with a mix of pity for Tiana and loathing for that unfaithful pair.

But how to bring it up? How could she minimize the damage for Tiana?

"Whitney, let's go get a room and have some fun!" Tiana hollered, clearly gone off the deep end. Whitney steadied her.

The bar was a scene of drunken collapses, but there was one sober college guy called Cooper that Whitney barely knew. He mentioned he had returned from studying abroad and ran a diamond import business. Whitney's eyes gleamed - they were in the same line of work. Skye Gem Ltd. covered everything from jewelry design to production.

"Whitney, perhaps we’ll cooperate in business someday," Cooper said, handing her his business card with an impressed look.

Whitney took the card with a smile, struggling to support Tiana. Cooper offered a hand to help.

Suddenly, an icy pressure descended upon them.

"Oh, getting a room? Planning a threesome?" came a familiar, mocking voice tinged with chill.

Whitney's head snapped up to see her husband, shock written across her face.

Then it hit her – what did he just imply with that comment? Feeling awkward when she glanced at Cooper, she asked with a semblance of calm, "What are you doing here?"

Oh, the tone of her voice – as if he didn't have the right to show up?

Ludwik's aura turned even colder.

Cooper was clearly outclassed by the newcomer's presence. He offered a nervous smile and asked Whitney, "Who's this?"

Annoyed, Whitney said in a low voice, too quick to let the man decipher their relationship, "He's my roommate."

Ludwik's face became icy, "Whitney, do you need to be set straight? Repeat what you just said."

Whitney immediately clammed up, though she felt her analogy wasn't wrong.

To avoid further trouble, she quickly suggested to the college guy, "It's getting late, maybe you should head home, Cooper?"

Sensing the tension, Cooper excused himself with embarrassment.

The room fell into an eerie silence.

In her drunken stupor, Tiana giggled at the sight of ‘L’, "Why not a threesome? I'm totally down for the kind of man like Mr. L, and so should you, Whitney!"

Whitney sighed internally, wishing her friend would just keep quiet.

Tiana stumbled toward Ludwik, who coldly sidestepped her and let her fall flat.

Whitney shot him a glare but before she could help Tiana up, Ludwik's arm snaked around her waist. His gaze was dark and teasing, "My kind? What's that supposed to mean? Enlighten me."

Caught in his intense gaze, Whitney felt uncomfortable, "How would I know what kind you are? She's just drunk!"

"Oh, I thought you'd know very well," he murmured, his eyes hinting at something more sinister.

Whitney's cheeks burned with embarrassment – what was he so proud of? She pushed away from his crisp shirt with force.

Tiana had passed out on the floor, snoring softly.