Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 62

The man's eyebrows arched with a hint of mischief, his lips curling into a sly grin. "Are you getting all snarky because you're jealous? Weren't you the one planning to hit the road after a year?"

He rubbed his chin, wearing a faux expression of concern. "I've got to think for the kid and myself. The baby's gonna need a mom, and I can't be without a woman by my side forever. I think Elaine's pretty decent."

Whitney barely had time to curse him out. Since when does a man die without a woman?

His words snagged her attention, drawing her gaze to her still-flat belly.

The seed was sprouting, silently and unseen. It was the first time she considered the stepmother issue after the baby would be born.

A pang of discomfort suddenly prickled her heart.

Was this man already planning to find the kid a stepmother, just waiting for her to pack up and leave?

Whitney clenched her fists. She always talked about keeping her distance, not wanting to fall too deep, yet she hadn't anticipated his pragmatism!

A stepmother for her child? Over her dead body.

Fear and loss flickered across her face, her eyes glistening with tears.

Ludwik paused, wondering if he'd gone too far with his harsh medicine.

She was young, still not fully grasping the gravity of the situation with the child.

His hand reached out, gently squeezing her ear as he asked indifferently, "What's wrong?"

Whitney, sullen and annoyed, pushed him away. "I'm just a house worker, right? Don't touch me."

His gaze darkened with amusement.

Elaine swayed over, having caught the tail end of his flirty touch on Whitney's hair.

Ludwik was usually frosty to the core. Elaine had only seen him ruthless in business, a cold-hearted king with no regard for kin, even toward her and his close friends.

Rare was the moment he'd dote on a woman like that.

Elaine's fingers tightened, her smile masking the storm within. "I've got the tickets! Oh, I forgot the worker's. Should I go back and get another?"

"No need to bother, thanks!" Whitney had no intention of soaking in a three's-a-crowd hot tub.

The sight of them together was more than she could bear. She shrugged off his hand and bolted for the open-air camp nearby.

"Bro, shall we..." Elaine's eyes brimmed with hope.

The soft look Ludwik had given Whitney was long gone, leaving Elaine to doubt her senses. He glanced at her indifferently, "Elaine, go ahead without me."

And with that, he sauntered toward the camp.

Elaine stood rooted; her jaw clenched.

Today's probing had revealed Ludwik's interest in Whitney was deeper than she thought. But why should this interloper matter? It was all a sham marriage, a contract. Did Whitney even understand her place with Ludwik?

Elaine's lips curved into a devious smile, her eyes narrowing with a chilly glint, still graced with a smile.

…

The camp was alive with a barbecue party, European style tables, and grills laden with an assortment of sweet treats.

The chill of the evening set in, and Whitney wrapped herself in a cozy apricot sweater dress, soft but hardly warm enough.

"Bro, it's so cold out here!"

A delicate voice drew Whitney's attention. Beneath an umbrella, Ludwik lounged with his legs crossed. Elaine was peeling a lychee, delicately offering it to his lips.

Ludwik frowned at Elaine's gesture.

Elaine hinted with a smile, "Act your part, she's watching."

Ludwik turned to look.